Event furniture hire
Hire out tables, chairs and lounge furniture for weddings, parties and pop-ups, delivered from your garage or a small store.
- £2k-8k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
1,108 UK companies in this field, 41% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 77299 “Renting and leasing of other personal and household goods”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small stock of event furniture such as chairs, trestle and cocktail tables, sofas and bar stools. You deliver, set up and collect it for one-off events, working from home storage or a small rented space.
Your first three steps
- Look at local event hire prices and pick one style, such as rustic wedding or kids' party, to build a first stock of 50 to 100 items
- Sort out insurance and a safe, dry place to store and clean the furniture
- Set up a simple website and social page with photos, then contact local wedding planners, venues and caterers
Who pays
Couples and private party hosts, event planners, caterers, community groups, and small businesses running pop-ups or open days.
How it makes money
A hire fee per item or per package for each event, plus charges for delivery, setup and collection. Repeat work from planners and venues helps fill quieter weeks.
Skills that help
- Organising and keeping track of stock
- Careful lifting and van loading
- Friendly, reliable customer service
Watch out for
- Public liability insurance, plus cover for your stock and goods in transit; check what your van insurance allows for business use
- Upholstered furniture supplied for hire may need to meet UK fire safety rules, so check with Trading Standards before buying sofas or padded seating
- Damage and loss: use clear terms, deposits and a condition check on return
- Storing stock at home may need permission from your landlord, mortgage lender or council, so check first
- Demand is seasonal and weather-dependent for outdoor events
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: event furniture hire
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an event furniture hire business?
Startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £8,000, depending on how much stock you buy and whether you use home storage or a small rented space. These are estimates, so price your own stock list.
How much can I earn from event furniture hire?
Monthly revenue is typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on your stock, how many events you supply and the time of year. Demand is seasonal and weather-dependent for outdoor events, so earnings may vary.
What should I check before hiring out furniture for events?
Check public liability insurance plus cover for stock and goods in transit, and what your van insurance allows. Ask Trading Standards about fire safety rules for upholstered furniture, and check whether home storage needs permission from your landlord, lender or council.
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