Starting a balloon styling business in Australia costs less than most people expect: an ABN (free), public liability insurance, an electric inflator, a starter stock of balloons in a neutral palette, and a way to take bookings. You can be quoting within a week. What takes longer is pricing properly, building a portfolio, and finding a supplier who stocks every colour in every size so you aren't buying from three places. This is the checklist I'd give my younger self — the order to do things in, what to spend on first, and what to leave for later.
Step 1 — Set up the business (one afternoon, mostly free)
- ABN. Apply free at the Australian Business Register. You'll need it for a trade account with any wholesaler, for insurance, and on every invoice.
- Business name. Register it with ASIC if you're trading under anything other than your own name. Check the Instagram handle and domain are free first.
- GST. Not required until turnover passes the ATO threshold; you can register voluntarily. Decide, and put "ex GST" or "inc GST" on every quote.
- Public liability insurance. Venues will ask for the certificate before you install. Get a quote for $10–20 million cover; it's a few hundred dollars a year for a sole trader.
- A bank account and a way to invoice. A separate account from day one. Any simple invoicing app, or Shopify/Square if you'll sell products too.
Step 2 — The kit (what to buy first)
| Buy now | Why | Buy later |
|---|---|---|
| Electric dual-nozzle inflator with sizer | You'll inflate 80+ balloons per garland; a hand pump is a false economy | A second inflator for big jobs |
| Dual-action hand pump | For 5" minis and 260s on site | — |
| Garland tape (strip) and fishing line | Tape is faster; line gives a tighter garland | Framing: arch frames, stands, sandbags |
| Glue dots and a low-temp glue gun | Attaching 5s and 260s | — |
| Command hooks, cable ties, weights | Mounting without damaging venue walls | Ladder, trolley, tubs for transport |
| Starter balloon stock (below) | Enough for three garlands in a reusable palette | Accent colours per job |
Step 3 — Starter stock
Buy from one range so colours match across sizes — mixing brands is where shade mismatches and "we're out of that size" come from. A first order that covers most briefs:
- 12" × 100 in White, White Sand and Blush
- 5" × 100 in the same three
- 18" × 25 in White Sand and Blush
- 36" × 2 in White Sand and Blush
- Chrome Champagne 12" × 50 as the accent
- A Sample Bag — one 12" of every colour, for matching clients' swatches
Add Black and Chrome Bronze Gold once milestone-birthday and corporate work starts; they're two of the most-ordered colours in the trade. The sizes guide explains what each size does.
Step 4 — Learn to build before you sell
Build three garlands at home before the first paid job: one single colour, one three-colour, one with a 36" and curls. Photograph each on a plain wall in daylight — that's your first portfolio. The garland guide has the build order; the counts guide has the numbers.
Step 5 — Price it properly
The mistake that kills most new styling businesses is pricing by what "sounds right". Use the five-line worksheet in how to price a balloon garland: balloons, hardware, labour at a real hourly rate, travel and install, then margin. Balloons are about a tenth of a quote; your time is most of it.
Step 6 — Get found
- Instagram first. It's where clients look for stylists. Post every build, tag the venue, use local hashtags.
- Google Business Profile. Free, and it's how "balloon stylist [suburb]" searches find you. Ask every client for a review.
- A one-page website with your portfolio, service area, and a quote form. It can be simple; it has to exist.
- Venues and planners. Drop a card and a photo at the three venues you most want to work in. One referral relationship is worth fifty hashtags.
Step 7 — Open a trade account
Wholesalers sell to businesses, not the public, so once you have an ABN you qualify. At Stylex, registration takes a minute and is usually approved the same business day; trade prices then show across the site, there's no minimum order, and orders in before 1pm leave Sydney the same day. The Quick Order Form lists every colour across every size on one page so you can order a whole job in a few minutes.
Quick answers
How much does it cost to start a balloon business in Australia?
Under a couple of thousand dollars for insurance, an inflator, hardware and starter stock — the balloons are the smallest part.
Do I need a licence to be a balloon stylist?
No licence; you need an ABN, insurance, and whatever the venue requires on the day.
How do I buy balloons wholesale?
Register for a trade account with a wholesaler using your ABN. Retail party shops are two to three times the price per balloon.
Where can I learn the business side?
Evra's Business of Balloons sessions — the first three are free — cover quoting, packages and standing out in a crowded market.
Evra is a Sydney balloon stylist and the founder of Stylex Balloons, a wholesale latex balloon range made for organic decor.