10 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Party Rental Company

The 10-Question Party Rental Vetting Checklist

1. Are you registered with the Texas Department of Insurance and state-inspected?

Texas law requires all companies renting inflatable amusement devices to be registered with TDI and to have every unit inspected annually by a state-approved inspector. If a company cannot provide proof of current inspection, they are operating illegally. This is not optional — it is state law. Learn more about what state inspection means and why it matters.

2. What type of liability insurance do you carry, and what are your coverage limits?

Ask specifically whether the policy is occurrence-based or claims-made. Occurrence-based policies cover incidents regardless of when the claim is filed. Claims-made policies only cover claims filed during the active policy period — meaning if the company drops their coverage after your event, you could have no protection. Coverage limits matter too. The state minimum may not be enough for serious incidents. Ask for a certificate of insurance if you want to verify.

3. Do your employees have workers' compensation coverage?

If a rental company employee is injured while setting up equipment at your home or venue and the company does not carry workers' comp, you could be held liable as the property owner. This is a risk most people never think about. A professional company carries workers' comp to protect both their staff and their customers.

4. How long is the rental period, and what is included in the price?

A company advertising $99 for a bounce house might only include 4 hours, charge extra for delivery and setup, and require you to inflate and anchor the unit yourself. A company charging $162 might include 8 full hours, professional delivery, setup, takedown, insurance, and sanitized equipment. The advertised price means nothing until you know what is included. Compare the total value, not the sticker price. See our complete breakdown of what is included in every rental.

5. Who sets up the equipment — your trained staff or me?

Professional companies send trained, background-checked crews who know how to safely anchor, level, and secure inflatable equipment. Some budget operators drop off a deflated unit and leave you to figure it out. Improper setup is one of the leading causes of inflatable accidents. If you are setting it up yourself, you are also accepting full responsibility for anything that goes wrong.

6. How do you clean and sanitize equipment between rentals?

Ask for specifics. A professional company uses commercial-grade or hospital-grade disinfectants and has a documented cleaning process. If the answer is vague — "we wipe it down" — that should concern you. Your kids will be putting their hands, feet, and faces on this equipment. You deserve to know it was properly sanitized.

7. Can you provide a certificate of insurance for my venue?

Parks, churches, schools, HOA clubhouses, and many commercial venues require a certificate of insurance (COI) naming them as additionally insured before they allow inflatable equipment on their property. If a company cannot provide a COI, you may not be able to use their equipment at your venue — and you will not find out until it is too late. Professional companies issue COIs routinely.

8. What is your cancellation and weather policy?

Texas weather is unpredictable. You need to know before you book: What happens if severe weather forces a cancellation? Do you lose your deposit? Is there a raincheck? What are the cutoff times? A fair policy protects both sides. A company that keeps your full payment when a storm cancels your event is not one you want to do business with.

9. How long have you been in business, and can I see reviews from real customers?

Longevity matters in this industry. Side-hustle operators come and go every season. A company that has been in business for 10 or 20 years has a verifiable track record. Check Google reviews — not just the star rating, but the actual content of recent reviews. Look for consistent mentions of on-time delivery, clean equipment, and professional staff.

10. Do you provide written safety rules for each rental item?

Every inflatable has specific capacity limits, age recommendations, and usage rules. A professional company provides written safety rules before your event and posts them on the equipment. If a company does not provide safety rules, they are leaving you to guess, and that is a liability risk for you. Read our Bounce House Safety 101 guide for a deeper look at what safe operation requires.

Red Flags vs. Green Flags When Choosing a Rental Company

Beyond the 10 questions above, here are warning signs and trust signals to watch for during the booking process.

Why These Questions Matter More Than Price

When you are comparing party rental companies, the natural instinct is to compare prices. But price tells you almost nothing without context. Here is what actually determines whether your event goes well or turns into a disaster.

Liability protection. If a child is injured on a bounce house that has no insurance, you as the homeowner or event host could be personally liable. An occurrence-based liability policy from the rental company means their insurance covers the incident — not your homeowner's policy.

Equipment safety. State inspection exists for a reason. Inspectors check structural integrity, anchoring systems, seams, blower connections, and fall zones. Equipment that has not been inspected could have compromised seams, worn anchor points, or damaged safety netting that is invisible to an untrained eye.

Reliability. A company with 20 years of continuous operation and 1,200+ verified reviews does not no-show. A person selling bounce house rentals on the side has no reputation to protect and no accountability if they take your deposit and disappear.

Cleanliness. Children touch everything. They put their hands in their mouths. They sweat. They track in grass and dirt. Commercial-grade sanitization between every rental is not a luxury — it is a health standard. If a company cannot tell you exactly how they clean their equipment, assume they do not.

The difference between a $150 rental with none of these protections and a $162 rental with all of them is not a price difference. It is a risk difference. See our full pricing breakdown and value comparison for the complete picture.

Extra Questions for Churches, Schools, and Corporate Events

Organizations face additional liability exposure that families booking a backyard party may not. If your church, school, or business is hosting an event with rental equipment, add these questions to your vetting process.

Can you name our organization as additionally insured on your policy?

Most venues and organizations require this. If the rental company cannot add you as additionally insured, their policy may not extend protection to your organization in the event of an incident.

Do you carry commercial auto insurance?

Rental companies drive heavy trucks loaded with equipment onto your property. If a company does not carry commercial auto insurance and their vehicle damages your parking lot, building, or landscaping — or worse, injures someone on your property — your organization could be drawn into the claim.

Can you provide trained attendants for our event?

Large church events, school field days, and corporate gatherings often have too many participants for volunteers to safely monitor. Professional attendants trained in inflatable safety protocols ensure proper capacity limits, age separation, and emergency procedures are followed throughout the event.

Have you worked with organizations like ours before?

Institutional events have different logistics than backyard parties — parking lot setups, power distribution across multiple units, crowd flow management, and coordination with venue staff. Experience with your type of event matters. Inflatable Party Magic has worked with churches, corporate event planners, schools, and municipal organizations across DFW for over 20 years.

If your school requires vendor approval documentation, our step-by-step guide to vendor approval for school event rentals walks you through exactly what you need and when.

Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing a Party Rental Company

Related Resources from Our Party Rental Resource Center

Our Safety Standards and Insurance Coverage — See exactly how we protect your family at every event.

Bounce House Safety 101 — The complete safety guide every parent needs before renting inflatables.

Party Rental Pricing and Flexible Payments — Full pricing transparency, value comparison, and payment plan details.

Vendor Approval for School Events — Step-by-step guide for PTA volunteers and school administrators.

Browse All Resources — Expert guides, planning tips, and safety information from 20+ years in the DFW party rental industry.