Online wedding dress rental business

Budget-conscious brides, elopement and courthouse brides, destination wedding brides and bridal parties who only need a dress once.

A flat rental fee per dress for a few days around the wedding, plus add-ons like veils, accessories, shipping and optional cleaning or insurance fees.

• Good eye for bridal fashion and fit
• Basic photography and online listings
• Organized with bookings and inventory
• Customer service with nervous brides

• Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and your state's sales tax rules for rentals
• Home try-on appointments may need a home occupation permit and must respect HOA or lease rules
• Damage, stains and late returns: use deposits, clear terms and ask an insurance agent about coverage for rented goods
• Dry cleaning turnaround between rentals limits how often each dress can be booked
• Check designer brand rules before renting out dresses you bought, and avoid selling or listing copies

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $4,500 to $15,000, depending on how many gowns and accessories you buy, and what you spend on photos and your website. A smaller starting collection keeps costs near the low end.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on the size of your collection, your rental prices and how often each dress can be booked. The estimate assumes about 8 hours a week or more.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license, and your state's sales tax rules for rentals. If you offer home try-ons, check home occupation permit, HOA and lease rules. Also check designer brand rules and insurance for rented goods.