How to Open Your Own Hot Air Balloon Business

So, you are a hot air balloon enthusiast and you love to spend as much time as possible with your balloon. Have you thought about making your hobby into a business? There are thousands of people around the world who make a very good living providing hot air balloon rides for customers. If you would like to do this then first you need to do is learn the things you need to do before opening a business.

You will need to find a piece of land, and the land must be zoned for giving hot air balloon rides. If you visit your local municipal building you can find out all the requirements as far as the land is concerned. Of course you will need to be certified by the FAA to fly a hot air balloon and this is achieved by taking an exam and logging a number of flight time hours with a qualified instructor.

You could start off working for someone else and many people start off by giving hot air balloon rides for a company before starting their own business. This way you get to learn and the money you make working for someone else can be used as capital for your own business. A hot air balloon will cost you about as much as a new boat or car -- anywhere from $10,000 to $30,000 and then you will need accessories such as extra tanks, repair kits, and other components to make your flights safe as possible. These extras will run a few thousand dollars on their own.

Insurance is crucially important. You will need hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of insurance coverage to make sure you do not get wiped out by an unhappy customer. It rarely happens, but if it did and you weren't insured, you'd be in big trouble. Most customers won't even consider a hot air balloon provider who has no insurance.

One more small detail, you'll need a crew! Your crew will help set up and take down the balloon, they also need to follow the balloon on the ground to meet it when it lands and collect passengers and equipment and cart it all back to your base. This is what is called a chase crew. Wages for a chase crew will vary depending on your local area and personal preferences. Pay your crew fairly to ensure you'll get the best workers your money can buy. A happy crew is a successful crew...and a pilot is nowhere without one!

Deciding how much to charge for a hot air balloon ride is entirely up to you! There are many creative ways you can make money, including special package deals for groups, families, and couples. Hot air balloon rides range in price from $100 up to $500 or more per person, depending on the company and amenities offered. Most companies offer post-flight brunches complete with champagne to celebrate a successful flight, and some offer commemorative photographs as well so you can charge a little extra for these or include them in the price.

If you plan it right, get the right training and are prepared for a lot of hard work, you can own and operate a thriving hot air balloon rides business that will keep customers coming back for more!

Copyright 2006-08 Tim - All Rights Reserved

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