Event and Wedding Valet Parking Business

Event planners, wedding couples, venues without enough parking, country clubs and nonprofits running galas.

A flat fee or an hourly rate per attendant with a minimum number of hours per event. Some clients add a per-car charge. Tips are often collected by the crew.

• Safe, confident driving, including manual cars
• Organizing people and traffic flow
• Friendly, professional customer service

• Garage keepers legal liability insurance, since regular general liability often excludes customer vehicles, so check with an insurance broker
• Check with your city or county whether valet operators need a permit, especially for using public street space
• Workers' compensation rules once you hire attendants, and whether your state treats them as employees
• Checking drivers' licenses and driving records for everyone who parks cars
• Damage claims, so photograph cars on arrival and use a written check-in ticket

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your equipment, signage and how many attendants you plan to use. Treat this as an estimate and get insurance quotes early, since cover is a key expense.

Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $5,000, depending on how many events you book and the size of your crew. Work is booked event by event on evenings and weekends, so income can vary from month to month.

Check garage keepers legal liability insurance with a broker, since regular general liability often excludes customer vehicles. Also check with your city or county about valet permits, especially for public street space, and workers' compensation rules if you hire attendants.