Custom booths, props and stage builds
Build custom trade show booths, stage sets and props in a rented shop for brands and event planners.
- $8k-40k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
What it is
A small workshop that designs and builds custom exhibit booths, display counters, stage pieces and themed props from wood, metal, foam and graphics. You deliver and install on site, or hand off crated pieces.
Your first three steps
- Price a small shared or rented workshop unit and list the core tools you need (table saw, drills, clamps, paint gear)
- Build three portfolio pieces, such as a small booth, a counter and a prop, and photograph them well
- Contact local event producers, convention centers and exhibit houses and ask to be on their vendor list
Who pays
Event producers, exhibit marketing teams, brands at trade shows, experiential agencies, theaters and venues.
How it makes money
Fixed project quotes based on materials, labor hours and install time, plus fees for design, delivery, storage and repeat show rebuilds.
Skills that help
- Carpentry or general fabrication
- Reading drawings and sketching to scale
- Quoting and meeting tight deadlines
- Clear communication with clients
Watch out for
- General liability insurance, and check whether venues or clients require a certificate of insurance naming them
- Local zoning and business license rules for a workshop, plus fire code for storing paint and foam
- Convention centers often have rules on materials, fire-retardant treatment and union labor for install, so check each venue
- Workers' compensation insurance once you hire helpers
- Late changes and tight deadlines, so build contingency into quotes and take deposits
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: custom booths, props and stage builds
Researched with live web search for United States: 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 a booth and stage fabrication shop?
Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on workshop rent, tools and materials. These are estimates. Taking deposits and building contingency into quotes helps with late changes and tight deadlines.
How much can a custom booth and prop workshop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically around $3,000 to $15,000, depending on the size and number of builds, your clients and your hours. Plan for around 30 hours a week at minimum.
What rules should I check before opening a booth and prop workshop?
Check general liability insurance and whether venues or clients require a certificate of insurance. Also check local zoning, business license and fire code rules for storing paint and foam, and each convention center's rules on materials, fire-retardant treatment and union labor.
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