IRISH INFLATABLE HIRERS FEDERATION

State of the Irish Inflatable
Hire Industry Survey 2026

Survey Findings and Industry Priorities

82% Current IIHF members	79% Prices not keeping pace	87% Non-compliance creates an advantage

Published by the Irish Inflatable Hirers Federation

August 2026

Executive summary

The 2026 survey presents a picture of an established but increasingly pressured inflatable hire industry. Most responding businesses remain operationally stable and confidence in their own businesses is moderate. However, profitability is being weakened by rising costs, customer price sensitivity, low market pricing and competition from uninsured or non-compliant operators.

The clearest finding is that stability should not be confused with prosperity. Although 67% described their businesses as financially stable, 74% said inflatable hire is marginally profitable, increasingly difficult to make profitable or no longer profitable. Nearly four fifths reported that present hire prices are failing, or only partly succeeding, in keeping pace with rising business costs.

Insurance is the most serious individual financial pressure. Almost three quarters described its cost as very high or a serious threat to their business. More than half have seriously considered leaving the industry because of insurance costs, while a further 18% said they may have done so. The written responses repeatedly called for lower premiums, insurance arrangements appropriate to smaller operators and greater choice in the market.

The survey also identifies a pronounced competitive imbalance. Almost nine in ten respondents believe uninsured or non-compliant operators enjoy a financial advantage. More than three quarters report having lost bookings, at least occasionally, to operators they believe may be uninsured or non-compliant. At the same time, 85% believe customers have little or no understanding of the difference between a compliant, insured operator and a non-compliant operator.

Despite these pressures, the industry retains considerable appetite for growth. Two thirds have delayed or cancelled equipment purchases, yet 90% would like to expand moderately or significantly if the principal obstacles were removed. The findings therefore point to constrained potential rather than an industry without ambition.

Finding	What respondents told us
Profitability	74% regard the business as marginally profitable, increasingly difficult to make profitable or no longer profitable.
Pricing	79% say hire prices are not keeping pace, or are only partly keeping pace, with operating costs.
Investment	67% have delayed or cancelled equipment purchases because of cost or uncertainty.
Compliance	87% believe uninsured or non-compliant operators have a financial advantage.
Customer awareness	85% believe customers have little or no understanding of the difference between compliant and non-compliant operators.
Insurance	74% describe insurance as very high or a serious threat to their business.

About the survey

The IIHF State of the Irish Inflatable Hire Industry Survey 2026 was conducted between late July and early August 2026. It was open to IIHF members, former members and non-members and covered business profile, performance, prices, costs, investment, compliance, insurance and expectations for the future.

Percentages in this report are rounded to the nearest whole percentage and may not always total exactly 100%. A small number of questions were skipped by individual respondents. Questions asking participants to select up to three options are reported as the percentage selecting each option; consequently, their combined percentages may exceed 100%.

The survey was voluntary rather than a random national sample. Current IIHF members account for 82% of respondents, with 15% identifying as non-members and 3% as former members. The findings should therefore be understood primarily as evidence of the experience and perceptions of established, compliance-conscious operators. They should not be treated as a definitive measurement of every inflatable hire operator in Ireland.

Free-text comments have been anonymised and lightly edited for spelling and clarity. They are used to illustrate recurring themes and are not presented as independently verified factual claims.

Profile of responding businesses

The responses came predominantly from experienced and established operators. Approximately 59% have traded for more than seven years, including 26% operating for more than 15 years. Only 5% had entered the industry within the previous year.

Fleet sizes were also substantial. Approximately 74% operate more than ten inflatable units, 54% operate more than twenty and 21% operate more than forty. This indicates that the survey is not dominated by very small or newly established businesses.

Domestic and private hire remains the core of the sector. Approximately 79% said this type of work accounts for most of their business, while 15% reported a mixture of domestic, school, community, corporate or other work. Only 5% identified schools, clubs and community events as their principal market.

The sector supports a mixture of full-time and supplementary livelihoods. Approximately 31% said inflatable hire is their main income, 28% described it as seasonal and 41% said it is not their main source of income.

Business performance and financial health

Business performance over the previous three years was mixed rather than uniformly negative. Approximately 31% reported increased bookings, 26% reported no material change and 31% reported lower bookings. The remainder had not traded for three years.

Turnover followed a similar pattern: approximately 32% reported an increase, 24% remained broadly unchanged and 34% reported a decline. Profitability was more concerning. Only 24% reported improved profitability, compared with 34% reporting deterioration. A further 32% said profitability was unchanged and 11% were unsure.

Although 67% described their present financial health as stable and 8% as strong or very strong, approximately 23% were under some or significant financial pressure and 3% regarded the business as unsustainable in its current form.

The wider assessment of profitability was subdued:

• 36% said it is increasingly difficult to make a profit.
• 31% described the sector as only marginally profitable.
• 8% said it is no longer profitable.
• 23% considered it reasonably or very profitable.

Expectations for the next twelve months are cautious. Approximately 44% expect to remain at their present size, 26% anticipate some growth, 18% expect to reduce in size and 8% may cease trading. Average confidence in respondents’ own businesses was 61.5%.

Hire prices and customer behaviour

Nearly three quarters of operators have increased their prices during the past three years, but the increases have generally been limited. Approximately 51% increased prices only slightly, while 23% introduced moderate or significant increases. A further 26% made no increase.

Despite those increases, 79% said their present hire prices are not keeping pace, or are only partly keeping pace, with rising operating costs. Only 13% said prices are keeping pace.

Customer behaviour is making price adjustment difficult. Two thirds believe customers have become more price-sensitive, including 38% who consider them much more price-sensitive. Almost half said customers ask for discounts frequently or very frequently, while the remainder encounter negotiation occasionally or rarely.

Low pricing by competitors is widely viewed as damaging. Approximately 79% believe it is negatively affecting the industry significantly or to some extent. In local markets, 36% described prices as relatively stable, 31% reported wide variations between operators and 21% said prices are falling. Only 5% believed prices are increasing.

“Stability of hire prices and operators valuing their service and pricing it appropriately would improve the industry.”

Operating costs and profitability

Fuel was the most widely reported cost increase, selected by approximately 79% of those answering the question. Insurance followed at approximately 71%, while wages were selected by approximately 39%. Equipment, certification and vehicle costs were also recurring pressures.

When required to identify the single cost placing the greatest pressure on their business, respondents selected insurance by a very wide margin. Approximately 59% identified insurance, compared with about 18% selecting fuel. Wages and inflatable equipment were each selected by approximately 8%, with all remaining categories receiving only isolated selections.

Reported profit margins reinforce the picture of a sector operating with limited financial room:

• Approximately 38% reported that no more than 10% of turnover remained as profit after costs.
• Approximately 26% reported margins between 11% and 20%.
• Approximately 10% reported margins above 20%.
• Approximately 23% were unsure of their margin and 10% preferred not to state it.

These answers are self-reported estimates rather than audited financial results. Nevertheless, they indicate that a substantial portion of the sector has little capacity to absorb further cost increases, cancellations, equipment failures or reduced demand.

Investment and capacity for growth

The survey identifies significant postponed investment. Approximately 67% have delayed or cancelled purchases of new equipment during the previous two years because of cost or business uncertainty. Only 26% said they had not done so.

Plans for the coming year remain mixed. About one third may invest, a further third intend some or significant investment, approximately one fifth plan no additional purchases and 13% intend to reduce the amount of equipment they own.

The leading obstacle to growth was the cost of insurance, followed by difficulty recruiting suitable staff and competitive pressure. Uninsured or non-compliant operators, low hire prices, equipment costs and customer demand were also identified.

The appetite to expand remains exceptionally strong: 51% would like to expand significantly if the principal obstacles were removed and 38% would like to expand moderately. Only 5% said they would not wish to grow. The challenge is therefore not an absence of entrepreneurial ambition, but the conditions under which compliant operators are trying to trade.

Compliance, enforcement and fair competition

Concerns about uninsured and non-compliant operators were among the strongest and most consistent findings. When respondents selected the three greatest problems facing the industry, approximately 53% chose uninsured operators, 45% chose hire prices that are too low, 45% selected insurance costs and 37% selected operators using uncertified inflatables.

Almost nine in ten respondents believe uninsured or non-compliant operators have a financial advantage over compliant businesses, including 67% who regard that advantage as significant. More than three quarters said they had lost bookings frequently or occasionally to operators they believe may be uninsured or non-compliant.

Perceptions of enforcement were also weak. Approximately 59% said enforcement of inflatable safety legislation is inadequate and 18% said it is only partly adequate. Approximately 64% believe stronger enforcement of safety and certification requirements would benefit their businesses significantly or to some extent.

Customer awareness is a critical part of the competitive imbalance. No respondent said customers generally understand the difference between a compliant, insured operator and a non-compliant operator. Approximately 85% said customers understand the difference very little or not at all.

“Uninsured and uncertified operators are pricing at half the cost of a properly run company.”

“Lower insurance premiums and a way of rooting out non-compliant operators would improve the industry.”

The written answers also called for greater public awareness of fully insured operators using tested equipment and suggested that online advertising platforms should take a more active role in preventing misleading advertisements. These comments show that enforcement and consumer education are viewed as complementary rather than separate measures.

Insurance and industry support

Approximately 82% of respondents said they were insured. Half of the insured respondents intend to remain insured without qualification, while the other half said rising costs are a concern. Approximately 10% stated that they were uninsured because insurance was too expensive, while 8% preferred not to disclose their position.

Every respondent for whom the affordability question was applicable said they would definitely or probably consider suitable insurance if it became more affordable. This is an important finding: the stated barrier is affordability, not an absence of willingness to insure.

The cost of insurance is regarded as severe. Approximately 49% described it as very high and 26% described it as a serious threat to their business. A further 21% considered it high but manageable. Only 5% regarded the cost as reasonable.

Insurance costs have also affected decisions about remaining in the sector. Approximately 54% have seriously considered leaving because of insurance costs, with a further 18% saying they may have considered it.

Price is important, but the survey does not support the view that operators choose insurance on price alone. When asked to select their three most important factors:

• Approximately 69% selected premium price.
• Approximately 59% selected the quality and extent of policy cover.
• Approximately 28% selected the stability of the insurance provider.
• Around one quarter selected industry knowledge, indemnity documentation, claims support or broker service.
• Access to industry support and clear policy wording were also valued.

Written responses called for premiums that better reflect business size and risk. Suggestions included separate approaches to domestic hire and public-event work and greater choice in the insurance market. Respondents also reported that insurance restrictions affecting schools, preschools and indoor venues may be reducing bookings, particularly during the winter.

“Many schools and preschools are not booking because their own insurance does not cover bouncy castles.”

Confidence in the future

Confidence in the future of the wider Irish inflatable hire industry averaged 56.9%, lower than confidence in respondents’ own businesses. This difference suggests that many operators retain faith in their own ability to continue while remaining concerned about the direction of the sector as a whole.

Asked whether they would enter the industry if starting again, 46% said no, 28% were unsure and only 26% said yes. Looking five years ahead, 36% expect the industry to be smaller or significantly reduced and 46% expect it to remain broadly the same. Only 8% expect it to be stronger.

Approximately 76% have seriously or occasionally considered leaving during the previous three years. This includes 26% who may leave soon and 29% who considered leaving but intend to continue. Only 24% said they had not seriously considered leaving.

There were also grounds for cautious optimism. One respondent observed that the industry remains strong for well-organised operators and that practical equipment improvements have made some aspects of the work easier. Another expressed hope that conditions would improve. These comments underline the resilience within the sector, but they do not diminish the clear demand for change.

What operators say must change

The free-text question asking for the one change that would most improve the industry produced two dominant and closely connected themes.

More affordable and appropriate insurance

Approximately half of the written answers referred directly to insurance affordability, insurance structure or greater market choice. Respondents called for lower premiums, better treatment of smaller operators and cover that distinguishes between different types and levels of work.

Effective enforcement and compliance

More than one third referred directly to enforcement, certification, uninsured operators or fuller disclosure of equipment. Respondents believe that businesses avoiding insurance and certification costs can substantially undercut compliant operators.

Other priorities

Other proposed improvements included more sustainable hire pricing, lower testing and equipment costs, improved access to competent testers and training, financial support for equipment investment, stronger customer awareness and further digitalisation of bookings, terms and conditions and business records.

Conclusions

The 2026 survey depicts an industry with experience, resilience and a strong appetite for growth, but operating under mounting pressure. The majority of responding businesses remain stable, yet most regard profitability as marginal or increasingly difficult. Prices are not keeping pace with costs, customers are more price-sensitive and investment is being delayed.

Insurance is the most acute financial pressure and the leading obstacle to growth. At the same time, respondents perceive that uninsured or non-compliant operators can avoid costs and compete on price without customers recognising the difference. Inadequate enforcement and limited public awareness therefore have direct commercial consequences for businesses attempting to meet their legal, safety and insurance obligations.

The survey does not suggest that operators lack commitment. Most insured respondents intend to remain insured, every relevant uninsured respondent expressed willingness to consider suitable affordable cover, and nine in ten businesses would like to expand if the main barriers were removed. The central risk is that continued cost pressure and unequal competition will discourage investment and drive experienced operators out of the sector.

IIHF priorities arising from the findings

The survey evidence supports a coordinated programme of work across government, enforcement, insurance and public awareness.

• Seek consistent national enforcement of safety certification requirements and clearer responsibility across local authorities and other relevant bodies.
• Promote public understanding of the difference between a compliant, insured operator and an uninsured or non-compliant operator.
• Work with insurers and brokers to improve affordability, proportionality, market stability and recognition of different risk profiles within the industry.
• Encourage event organisers, schools, venues and public bodies to verify insurance, safety certification and the identity of the equipment being supplied.
• Support transparent fleet declaration and traceability so that insurance schedules and safety certificates accurately reflect equipment in use.
• Improve access to competent testing, industry training and practical compliance guidance.
• Help operators adopt digital booking, hire agreement, inspection and record-retention systems.
• Repeat the survey periodically to measure whether profitability, enforcement, insurance affordability and confidence are improving.

Overall finding
Compliant operators are willing to work, invest and grow, but the present market is widely perceived to reward those who avoid the costs of insurance, certification and proper compliance. Addressing insurance affordability, enforcement and public awareness together is essential to the long-term sustainability of the Irish inflatable hire industry.

Publication note

This report presents the aggregated findings of the IIHF State of the Irish Inflatable Hire Industry Survey 2026. Individual respondents and businesses have not been identified. The report reflects the answers and perceptions supplied by participants and does not make findings about the conduct or legal status of any individual operator.