How to Start a Profitable Photobooth Business in 2025
Written by Jailyn | September 2025 | Photobooth Business - 6 min read
How to Start a Profitable Photobooth Business in 2025
The photobooth industry isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s growing—corporate events, weddings, birthdays, and even brand activations are all adding photobooths to their must-have lists. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own photobooth business in 2025, now is the perfect time.
I built my business, Premier Photobooth Chicago, from the ground up and learned a lot of lessons along the way. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you launch a photobooth business that not only books clients but stays profitable.
Step 1: Decide What Type of Booth You’ll Offer
There are so many booth styles out there—mirror booths, 360 booths, roaming booths, and open-air setups. Before you invest, decide:
Who is your ideal client? Weddings? Corporate? Birthdays?
Do they want sleek, modern booths or fun, interactive options?
Do you want to focus on luxury events or volume-based parties?
💡 Pro Tip: Start with one booth, perfect your process, and scale later.
Step 2: Invest in the Right Equipment
Your booth is the star of the show, but don’t forget the essentials. You’ll need:
A reliable booth setup (camera or iPad-based).
Backdrops (neutral and themed).
Good lighting—don’t skip this!
Props (digital or physical).
A CRM system to manage bookings and contracts.
This is where a lot of new owners waste money—buying too much too soon. Start lean, then add as you grow.
Step 3: Set Your Prices for Profit, Not Popularity
The biggest mistake I see new owners make? Underpricing. Just because someone down the street is charging $200 doesn’t mean you should. Remember: you’re not just renting out a booth, you’re offering an experience.
When setting prices:
Factor in travel, setup, teardown, and event time.
Have a minimum (ours is 3 hours).
Create packages (ex: Standard, Premium, Luxe) to encourage upsells.
Step 4: Protect Yourself with Contracts & Policies
I cannot stress this enough—your contract is your best friend. It protects you and sets expectations for clients.
Your contract should include:
Non-refundable deposit policy.
Cancellation terms.
Liability clause for damage.
Power/Wi-Fi requirements.
Model release for using photos in your marketing.
Without a solid contract, one bad event can cost you more than you made.
Step 5: Build Your Brand & Market It
You could have the best booth in the city, but if no one knows about you, you won’t book. In 2025, your marketing should include:
A clean website that shows your work.
SEO-optimized blog posts (like this one!).
Instagram/TikTok for showcasing events.
Vendor relationships (wedding planners, venues, corporate event managers).
Step 6: Learn from Mistakes & Keep Growing
Your first event won’t be perfect—and that’s okay. I learned the hard way about lighting, Wi-Fi issues, and managing large crowds. Each event is a chance to improve your process and build confidence.
Final Thoughts
Starting a photobooth business in 2025 is an amazing way to create a profitable side hustle—or even a full-time business. With the right equipment, pricing, contracts, and marketing, you’ll be on your way to consistent bookings.
✨ Want the full step-by-step playbook? Grab my eBook, The Ultimate Guide to Starting and Scaling a Photobooth Business. It’s packed with the exact strategies I used to build my business from scratch.