How to Start a Soft Play Hire Business in the UK: Costs, Suppliers, ROI

Starting a soft play hire venture can be a sensible way to build a family-friendly business with modest gear, short set-up times and steady weekend demand. Keep the offer simple, presentable and safe, and you can fill a diary in most towns.

How the model works

You assemble a portable kit that fits into an estate car or small van, deliver and set it out on clean mats, photograph the layout, then collect after the party. A neutral colour set suits christenings, birthdays and nursery sessions. Add-ons such as a square ball pool or a compact inflatable can create premium tiers once bookings build.

What to buy and what it costs

Below is a RaynesBabyWorld price snapshot. Use it to shape your starter basket and upgrade path.

RaynesBabyWorld pricing (incl. VAT)

Category	Item	Notes	Guide price
Soft-play set	Beam, Step & Slide	Pastel colourways	£137.99
Flooring	Deluxe Tumble Mats (pack of 4)	Hall-friendly surface	£252.99
Safety mats	Deluxe Crash Mats (pack of 3)	Standard 3×5 ft; Wide 3.3×5 ft	£174.99 (Wide £187.99)
Ball pool	Square, 14" height	4–6 ft, ball options	from £304.99
Ball pool	Round, 14" height	4 or 6 ft	£659.99
Ball pool	Square, 16" height	4–8 ft options	£394.99
Inflatable	Midi A-Frame bouncy castle	Accessory pack optional	£763.99
Inflatable	Kids H-Frame bouncy castle 10×12 ft	Larger sizes cost more	£847.99

Figures come from Raynes product pages and the commercial ball pool collection. The Beam, Step & Slide listings show £137.99 across several colourways. Tumble Mats list at £252.99. Crash Mats show £174.99, with a wider variant at £187.99. Commercial ball pools price at £304.99 for square 14", £659.99 for round 14", and £394.99 for square 16". The Midi A-Frame castle lists at £763.99, and the Kids H-Frame 10×12 ft at £847.99. Raynes also flags a “Create your own Softplay Bundle” saving of 10 percent on 2 or more eligible items, plus VAT and UK delivery included on inflatables.

Example starter basket. Beam, Step & Slide £137.99, Square Ball Pool 14" £304.99, Tumble Mats (4) £252.99, Crash Mats (3) £174.99. Subtotal £870.96 before any bundle saving. Allow £150–£250 for crates, a trolley and wipes to reflect real-world set-up.

Suppliers and stock choices

Raynes sit among UK soft play equipment suppliers with broad colour runs, commercial-grade ball pools and inflatables. Lead times and add-on options are clear, PIPA testing is included as standard on the Midi A-Frame, and the bundle tool takes 10 percent off qualifying carts. VAT and UK delivery are shown on inflatable listings, with free delivery over £50 flagged across the site.

Safety and compliance

Write a simple risk assessment that covers level floors, tidy cable runs, age guidance and supervision. If you add any inflatable, follow BS EN 14960 practice and keep proof of a current inspection. HSE’s advice points to independent schemes PIPA or ADIPS for annual testing, and sets out practical measures for safe operation. Keep user numbers within the device manual, monitor wind when outdoors, and anchor correctly every time.

Insurance and booking terms

Most venues and schools ask to see a certificate, so arrange public liability insurance UK early and include it in your enquiry pack. Add storage cover for stock at home, and hired-in equipment cover if you plan to sub-hire. Photograph the layout on delivery and again on collection to document condition, and set clear terms for stairs, late collections and cleaning.

Pricing your packages

Check local listings to benchmark soft play hire prices before you launch. Build a simple ladder: a compact home set for smaller rooms, a hall set with extra mats, then a premium tier that adds a ball pool or an inflatable where space allows. Offer weekday or Sunday rates to fill quieter slots, and keep delivery zones straightforward rather than charging complex mileage bands.

Payback and margins

Treat early revenue as a sprint to break even and track soft play ROI in hires. Using the Raynes starter basket above at £870.96, plus £200 for basic kit like crates and a trolley, your outlay sits near £1,071. Price a hall package at around £150–£170 with local delivery. At £160 per booking, payback arrives in roughly 7 hires. Two weekend bookings per week can retire the spend within a month, after which your main costs are cleaning time, fuel and wear items like spare balls.

Operations that keep calendars full

Show tidy photos on your site, list clear inclusions and reply fast. Bag shapes by zone so set-ups are repeatable, rotate ball sets and keep wipes and a handheld vacuum in the van. A short checklist helps new helpers load correctly. As bookings grow, add a second neutral set to double Saturday capacity rather than chasing distant jobs that increase travel time.

Step-by-step to launch

Register the business name, open a separate bank account, buy the core kit, then build a one-page site with real photos and a booking form. Prepare your risk assessment, insurance certificate and rules sheet as a ready-to-send pack. Start with nurseries, church halls and parent groups, and ask each host for a review. Consistent presentation, punctuality and spotless equipment will do the heavy lifting from there.