Before you can order from your shortlist in part two, you need to think of a business name. It’s easy enough to think of a catchy name with bounce or jump, but you need something original that doesn’t infringe on any other trademarks or copyrights. This is where the Internet comes in handy, so check that no one else is using it and that the domain name is available. Once this task is completed, you can give it to the manufacturer, who can put the name and a mobile phone number on the front of the bouncy castles or bouncy houses for you. We’ll talk about marketing in part four, but obviously having the name and contact number at every party you throw is a great start.

So now you have chosen the manufacturer and placed your order. We hope you have a good idea of ​​when the inflatables are likely to be delivered. This is crucial as between now and then, there is a lot of groundwork to be done.

The next piece of the puzzle, and probably your biggest expense, is deciding which vehicle you need to deliver the goods. Again, you have a number of options depending on the funds available, but before you jump in, consider the fact that you are just starting out on a small scale at this stage, to see if the business is for you. In other words, don’t go out and spend a fortune on a high-end truck. If you already own a car, consider a used trailer (check the weight it can legally carry). This is by far the cheapest option and if you find that renting inflatables really isn’t for you, you can sell them again or keep them.

Another alternative to buying a new vehicle is to share it with someone you know. Remember that most of your trading will be done on weekends, so a friend or acquaintance may have a van but only use it during the week. They may be interested in renting it to you cheaply. If you don’t know of anyone in this role, why not place an ad in your local press or talk to a van rental company and see what deals they have to offer? Remember to mention that this could be a regular occurrence.

If you’ve decided to buy your own van, get a used one from a reputable dealer that includes a safety check and, if possible, a long warranty. The costs that this will entail will be insurance, road tax and maintenance, so do not forget to save a percentage of the collection to cover these expenses and, of course, fuel.

If possible, have the truck “pop out” at the rear so the surface is smooth. This will make it much easier to slide the castles in and out.

The size of the van will depend on how confident you are in expanding the business in the future, but again, I recommend that you be careful about buying something too big, unless you’re used to driving one. Driving a long wheelbase van takes some getting used to!