Should You Make a Photo Booth Investment?

TL;DR: Starting a photo booth rental business is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity with strong market demand and minimal startup costs. The industry is growing, competition is low, and marketing is easy. Investing in photo booths now can generate a steady income and scalable business.

Low Risk, High Reward: Minimal startup costs, no employees needed, and high demand.
Strong Market Growth: The photo booth industry is projected to double in size by 2032.
Limited Competition: Few large corporate players make it easy for small businesses to thrive.
Affordable Investment: Entry-level booths start at ~$5,000 with rental rates of $600–$1,000 per event.
Easy Marketing: Social media and event attendees drive organic promotion.
Scalability: Expand by adding more booths, upgrading technology, or hiring staff.
Diverse Opportunities: Serve weddings, corporate events, trade shows, and more.

If you’re interested in breaking into special event rentals, now is the perfect time. In recent years, photo booths have grown into a billion-dollar market, and it’s not slowing down any time soon. The global photo booth market is projected to roughly double from ~$600 million in 2023 to over $1.2 billion by 2032.

All signs point to strong, sustained revenue growth. Making a photo booth investment now can get you in on the ground floor of this exciting, expanding industry.

That’s not just hearsay, either. Based on the experiences of PBI entrepreneurs currently making six figures, a photo booth is a good investment. If you’re willing to put in the work, you can reap ample financial rewards.

If you’re on the fence about making a photo booth investment, we have some specific insights that can help. Continue reading to learn why it’s not too late to make a photo booth business investment and boost your income.

1. A Photo Booth Investment Is Low-Risk

When people ask, “Should I invest in a photo booth?” they’re really asking about risk. Before making an investment, entrepreneurs should know about the risk/reward ratio. This ratio marks the prospective reward you can earn for every dollar you risk on an investment.

You don’t want to spend a lot of money on a business that won’t make you more income in the long run. Luckily, starting a photo booth rental business comes with low risks and major rewards if you put the work in.

Why? Foremost, there are minimal costs associated with running a photo booth business. There’s no need for employees, an office, or excess inventory. All you need are high-quality booths, quality photo booth software, and time. If you’re smart, you can even market your business in bed from your phone.

With booths in high demand, you can begin reaping the rewards quickly. And they are in high demand. Photo booths have become a staple at weddings, parties, and celebrations.

Nearly 3 out of 4 weddings in 2024 featured a photo booth. That statistic becomes more powerful when you recognize that there are over 2.5 million weddings each year!

In the age of social media, and as social integration becomes more mainstream, the demand for booths will likely rise. It adds an irresistible viral component to any event. After all, everyone wants a great picture after going through the trouble of getting dressed up for a celebration. You can be the smart investor who is ready with the camera.

The bottom line? Demand is consistent and rising, making a photo booth investment not only safe, but smart.

2. Photo Booths Are Always in Demand

As we mentioned up-front, the high demand for photo booths makes a photo booth investment a smart choice at this moment in history. Research by Straits Research predicts that Photo Booth Market Size is projected to reach USD 719.91 million by 2030. That is great news for entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in a photo booth.

3. The Photo Booths Industry Is a Favorable Competitive Landscape

The photo booth industry is unique because individual entrepreneurs are in control of the market. There are virtually no large corporate players in the industry who take business away from independent business owners. Not only does that mean low barriers to entry for new entrepreneurs, but it’s easy to carve out a local niche. You don’t need industry connections to break in.

The lack of competition from large monopolies means your pricing can be more stable, too. That makes it much easier to predict profit margins and calculate the ROI on your photo booth investment.

4. Photo Booth Businesses Have Minimal Starting Costs

Offering photo booth services comes with minimal running costs and only a few upfront costs.

Ultimately, how much to invest in your photo booth business varies based on the booth you choose and its capabilities.

An investor can purchase a professional booth setup for as little as $5,000. According to PBI entrepreneurs, the average price for a photo booth rental is about $600–$1,000 per event. That’s roughly ~$200–$400 per hour, depending on the package.

The more unique features you offer, the more you can charge. With that in mind, high-tech photo booths may be the wisest investment.

Obviously, higher-tech models will cost more than simpler ones. Consider the smaller Cloee Ring Light photo booth. While a great starter booth, more advanced features will be easier to market.

In comparison, high-tech models like the Astro Mirror Photo Booth have features that may be in demand in the age of social media. Some can post directly to social platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

All to say, a photo booth business investment is an investment. Think less about how much you’re spending up front and more about earning potential for the future.

Additionally, photo booths make a great investment because they come with everything you need to run them. They’re user-friendly, meaning you don’t need special training to start. Once you have your equipment, there aren’t many operating costs beyond paper and ink to print photos. These low costs pave the way for higher profits!

5. Photo Booth Rentals Are Easy to Market

You want people to know about your photo booth rental business. Luckily, you don’t have to be a marketing wizard to promote this side hustle. In fact, photo boots often market themselves!

Many people are already looking to rent a photo booth. Every attendee at an event is a potential future customer. Deliver great customer service and you can expect instant, nearly free word-of-mouth marketing. Always keep business cards on hand.

The best part of the biz is that it yields incredible photos that instantly and effortlessly become marketing collateral. Use social media and Google for marketing and share pictures of your photo booths and events. Social proof is invaluable, and photo booth entrepreneurs have it in droves.

For smart photo booth business owners, marketing takes time, but not a ton of money. Leverage local Facebook groups for events, such as wedding groups and Sweet Sixteen groups. You’ll put your business right in front of an audience already looking for your services. As long as you follow the posting rules, you can get free promotions right in your hometown.

6. A Photo Booth Business Is a Breeze to Scale

Ensuring your business is scalable is the key to long-term success for your photo booth rental company. Business.com explains that scalability allows a business to grow without being held back by a lack of resources. In other words, the more you earn from your business, the more money you’ll have to invest back into it.

In some cases, scaling your business might mean investing in special features, props, and add-ons. You might buy a better printer or a more high-tech booth. At a certain point, you may even need to hire your first employee.

As demand for your photo booth rentals grows, you don’t want to miss out on potential revenue by not having enough booths available. However, you don’t have to let your inventory hold you back. It’s easy to add more photo booths to your rotation when you can afford them and demand is high.

7. Photo Booth Rentals Offer Endless Opportunities

With your equipment on hand, the world is your oyster. The beauty of photo booths is that they can be used for a variety of events. Opportunities range from bridal showers and trade shows to corporate events and wedding receptions.

Some people find their niche in wedding photo booths and stock up on themed props and backdrops for the big day. Others cast a wider net. This also affords them the flexibility to focus on events they enjoy attending or have experience with.

For example, if you’re a wedding day photographer who wants to also offer photo booth services. This flexibility helps them adapt to the seasons. They can cater to holiday parties in the winter and weddings in the summer.

In recent years, corporate event planners have widely adopted photo booths as an engagement tool, too. You can offer photo booth rentals at trade shows, product launches, conferences, and retail promotions. Branded photo booths give participants a fun takeaway and provide the host company with organic promotion. If you choose to branch out from weddings and parties, you’ll have plenty of opportunities.

Start Your Photo Booth Rental Business Today

There’s no denying that a photo booth is a good investment for anyone looking to pocket some extra money this year. A well-run photo booth business can achieve a fast ROI and steady income. For an investor or entrepreneur, this means the risk is relatively low and the upside is compelling.

At Photo Booth International, we help entrepreneurs like yourself start your business. New business owners love our cutting-edge photo booths and world-class customer service.

Our wide variety of models includes convenient portable photo booth options like our mirror booths, iPad kiosk, and more. No matter which you choose, you can rest assured that your equipment is created with expert craftsmanship. You’ll be investing in the highest quality portable booths that money can buy.

At PBI, we have all the resources you need to get started. start with our free Photo Booth Boss Webinar. You’ll learn what it takes to make six figures with a Photo Booth Business. You can also check out our eBook, Photo Booth Secrets.

Once you’re feeling confident, you’ll be ready to join our Photo Booth Business Club. You’ll be in a community with other investors who have taken the leap. It’s the best way to continue to invest in your business and yourself.

Are you ready to start your photo booth rental business? Check out our photo booths today!