The business in one offer
Who it serves
Couples planning receptions in plain halls, barns or hotel ballrooms, and venues or planners who want to add a lighting package to their offers. They want the room to look warmer or match colors, and prefer a single vendor who installs, programs and removes everything.
What to sell first
A reception uplighting package: 16 battery LED uplights placed around the room, one color or two-color scheme, delivery, setup and programming two hours before the event, and strike after the event on the same night. Excluded: ceiling rigging, overhead draping, dance floor effects, power distribution, and work requiring a licensed electrician.
A standard 16-light package fits most small and mid-size rooms, so quotes need only a date, room photos and access times. Battery fixtures avoid power planning and trip hazards, and one setup routine means faster installs and fewer mistakes.
What could it cost to start?
This is an original example budget for the limited pilot described above. It is not a researched market average or a complete quote for every location.
| Item to price | Example allowance |
|---|---|
| Sixteen battery LED uplights with remote | $1,600.00 |
| Road cases and charging station | $300.00 |
| Commercial string lights, clamps and stands | $350.00 |
| General liability and equipment insurance allowance | $600.00 |
| Website, sample photos and quote template | $200.00 |
| Step ladder, gaffer tape and safety gear | $150.00 |
| Example total | $3,200.00 |
What this assumes—and excludes
Assumes you have a van or SUV, a place to store and charge equipment, and basic comfort with ladders. Excludes owner pay, hired helpers, venue fees, electrical permits for wired installs and local business licenses. Confirm venue rules about ladders, tape and hanging items before buying gear.
Collect actual supplier, insurance and local-authority information. Add a reserve for delays and unexpected costs; the example total is not a funding recommendation.
How the unit economics work
At an assumed $650.00 per event and $45.00 in direct costs, contribution is $605.00 before monthly fixed costs, owner pay and taxes. With 7 all-in working hours per unit, that is $86.43 per delivery hour before those deductions. These inputs illustrate the arithmetic; they do not establish a market price or expected earnings.
The example also allows $120.00 in monthly fixed costs. Include unpaid acquisition and administrative time when deciding whether the offer is worthwhile.
Try your own numbers
These are editable planning assumptions, not prices we have verified. Calculations stay in your browser.
Operating result = (price − direct cost) × units − monthly fixed costs. Before owner pay, taxes, financing and startup recovery. At these inputs, delivery requires 70 hours per month, plus any work not included in your per-unit estimate. Sales volume is a scenario, not a forecast.
How to find the first customers
Test a small offer before scaling traffic. Record the source of each enquiry, whether it fits the offer, and whether the buyer pays.
- Light a venue's empty room for free and take before-and-after photos with permission. Give the venue copies so they can show couples, and ask them to mention your name.
- Contact DJs who do not offer lighting and propose a referral partnership. Make any referral fee clear to clients, and track bookings from each partner.
- List your standard package and add-ons with clear prices on your site. Note the venue access times you need so couples can check before booking.
- Attend local wedding shows only after checking booth costs against your first bookings. Bring a few lit fixtures to demonstrate colors rather than relying only on photos.
What to validate before spending more
- Ask three venues their rules on uplighting, string lights, ladder use and tape. Some ban attaching anything to walls or ceilings, which changes what you can sell.
- Test battery run time for a full reception plus setup on every fixture model you consider. If any unit dies early, buy spares before your first paid event.
- Get insurance quotes that cover equipment damage and general liability, and ask whether venues will require a certificate naming them as additional insured.
- Time a full setup and strike of 16 lights in a practice room. If it takes longer than expected, simplify your package or add a helper to the cost.
The operational catch
Late-night strikes are where profit disappears. Receptions often run late, venues want you out quickly, and you may wait an hour while guests leave. Charge a separate strike fee, confirm end times in writing, and add an overtime rate if the venue or client changes the timeline.
A practical way to fund the first step
Take a deposit at booking to cover new fixtures, and start with a smaller fixture count rented from a supplier for the first events. Buy your own units after you have booked enough events to cover the cost.
Separate cash already available from money still to earn. Count only proceeds after direct expenses, and do not spend customer funds needed to fulfill their existing orders.
Questions before you start
Do I need an electrician?
Battery uplights usually do not need one, but hard-wired fixtures, new circuits or connecting to venue power systems may require licensed electrical work. Keep your offer to plug-in or battery equipment unless you hire a licensed electrician.
How many lights does a room need?
It depends on wall length, ceiling height and the look the couple wants. Ask for room photos and dimensions, and test spacing in a similar room. Many planners space uplights a few feet apart along main walls.
Can I offer draping too?
Draping often needs rigging, ladders and fire-rated fabrics, and venues may have strict rules. Start with uplighting and string lights, then add draping only after learning the venue requirements and safety rules.
Source-backed checks
These references support the specific checks below. They do not endorse this business idea or substantiate the example prices, costs or demand.
OSHA's small business page describes its On-Site Consultation Program as a no-cost and confidential source of safety advice. OSHA: Small Business.
SBA explains that business insurance helps cover losses from events such as property damage or liability claims. U.S. Small Business Administration: Get business insurance.
The IRS says business records help identify sources of income, track deductible expenses and support tax return entries. Internal Revenue Service: Recordkeeping.
- Small BusinessOSHA · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- Get business insuranceU.S. Small Business Administration · Reference checked September 8, 2026
- RecordkeepingInternal Revenue Service · Reference checked September 8, 2026
Turn this into your own plan.
Start with this offer, then add your actual budget, skills, weekly hours and location. Your generated plan starts private.
Plan this business →