Start A Wedding Gown Rental Business - Business Ideas

Updated: September 15th, 2022
Start A Wedding Gown Rental Business

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

A wedding gown rental business allows brides-to-be to rent high-quality wedding dresses at a fraction of the cost of purchasing one. The business typically keeps a selection of dresses in various sizes and styles, and customers can come in to try them on and choose the one they want to rent.

Running a successful wedding gown rental business requires a few key elements:

  • A wide selection of dresses: To attract a diverse range of customers, it’s essential to have a range of dresses in various styles and sizes. This could include traditional white dresses and more modern or unique styles.
  • Quality dresses: Customers will pay to rent the dresses, so it’s essential to ensure they are in good condition and well-maintained. Regular cleaning and repairs will be necessary to keep the dresses looking their best.
  • Vital customer service: Brides-to-be are often under a lot of stress when planning their wedding, so it’s essential to offer excellent customer service to help alleviate some of that stress. This could include offering flexible rental periods and assistance with finding the perfect dress.
  • Marketing and advertising: To attract customers, it’s essential to advertise the business through various channels, including social media and local wedding directories. Offering promotions or discounts can also help attract new customers.
  • Overall, a wedding gown rental business can be a lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs with a passion for fashion and a desire to help brides-to-be find the perfect dress for their big day.

Starting a wedding gown rental business requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.

If you're interested in how to sell wedding gown rental, or selling wedding gown rental online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.

Key Stats

market size
$73.3B
starting costs
$18.9K
gross margin
43%
time to build
270 days

Startup Costs

Min Startup Costs Max Startup Costs

Equipment & Supply Expenses

$66

$1,200

Retail Business Expenses

$1,250

$11,650

Inventory Expenses

$350

$14,750

Advertising & Marketing Costs

$75

$9,636

Software Expenses

$0

$425

Website Costs

$13

$215

Total Startup Costs

$1,754

$37,876

Successful Businesses

Business URL Rank

Pronovias

pronovias.com

142,806

Adrianna Papell

adriannapapell.com

176,892

Maggie Sottero Designs

maggiesottero.com

203,994

Pre Owned Wedding Dresses

preownedweddingdresses.com

245,767

WATTERS

watters.com

321,361

Cocomelody

cocomelody.com

335,110

Mama Bump Rentals

mamabumprentals.com

467,440

Berta

berta.com

548,414

Poshare

poshare.com

550,659

White One

whiteonebridal.com

685,892

Sydney's Closet

sydneyscloset.com

757,726

Pros & Cons

Pros Description

Rewarding work

Starting a wedding gown rental business can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

Meaningful business connections

You never know who you will meet as a wedding gown rental business. This could be the start of an incredible business opportunity!

Daily physical activity

Wedding Gown Rental Business's typically involve a much greater degree of movement than other lines of work. Most days, you will spend your day walking, running errands for your business, and performing a multitude of tasks. This can have a positive impact on energy levels and your overall health.

Amazing perks and discounts

Working in the wedding gown rental business comes with its perks! As a seller for these products/services, you typically also get to enjoy industry perks and discounts.

You are your own boss!

With starting a wedding gown rental business, you are the one to make decisions for almost all of the operations. Calling the shots can be empowering and liberating!

Local Community

One of the best parts of starting a wedding gown rental business is that you can develop a local following by selling your products at craft shows, farmers' markets, or even local storefront businesses! This gives you access to additional revenue streams and loyal customers.

Cons Description

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your wedding gown rental business, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Finding The Right Supplier

Most businesses in this space go the supplier/manufacturer route, which isn't a bad thing! However, finding the right supplier can take a lot of time, energy and trial/error. If done properly, this process can save you months (if not years) of time and energy. More on this below in the "finding a supplier" section.

Motivation of employees

If you plan to have a sales/content team on board, finding creative ways to motivate them can be a challenge. It's important that you're able to offer great incentives and a good work environment for your employees.

Low margins

The gross margins for your wedding gown rental business are typically around 43%, which can make it more challenging to incur new expenses and maintain profitability.

High employee turnover

In the wedding gown rental business, employee turnover is often high, which can be quite costly and time consuming for your business. It's important to try and avoid this as much as possible by offering competitive pay, benefits, and a positive work environment.

Taxes

As a wedding gown rental business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.

Marketing Ideas

  • 1

    Direct Sales

    Direct sales strategy implies a direct contact between a seller and a consumer without the involvement of any third party. Direct selling is popular in sectors where sellers communicate with their clientele personally. The sales technique occurs at non-store locations which include at home, work, or online.

    For direct selling to succeed, hire a few (or many) salespeople to support the sales conversion process. It's critical that you assign them specific roles and responsibilities to nurture the client and provide excellent support.

    Learn more about direct sales ➜

  • 2

    Word of mouth

    Word of mouth is when a consumers reflects their interest in a company’s product or service in their daily dialogues.

    Therefore, word of mouth advertising is essentially a free advertising triggered by the customers experience.

    According to Nielsen, 92% of people trust recommendations from friends and family.

    Therefore, in today’s hyper-connected world, a single recommendation through a word of mouth can have a huge impact to your business.

    Learn more about word of mouth ➜

  • 3

    Social Media Advertising

    Social media advertising is the use of social media platforms to connect with your audience with the objective to build your brand, increase sales, and drive website traffic.

    According to Oberlo, approximately 48% of the global population use social media, and the number is ever-growing.

    Therefore, social media allows brands access to cost-effective advertising by enabling them to interact with a large audience.

    Learn more about social media advertising ➜