Are Bar Stools a Profitable Investment? Here’s the Math.
Written by: Marcelo Flores
Bar stools might not be the first item you think of when building your event inventory, but they can be one of the most profitable. Whether you’re running a party rental company or managing an event venue, bar stools give you the opportunity to upsell and increase the average booking size without a major increase in cost or logistics.
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Table of contents
1. Why Bar Stools Are an Upsell Opportunity
Bar stools are incredibly versatile and can be added to almost any event setup:
- Cocktail hours
- Lounge or bar areas
- High-top table setups
They don’t replace chairs, they complement them. That’s what makes them a fantastic way to upsell. This applies to both event venues and party rental businesses. Every time a client adds a bar or cocktail area, it’s a chance to increase your ticket size.
They’re also ideal for bundling: add a bar, a few stools, and high-top tables into a single package and sell it as a premium upgrade.
2. Common Uses and Client Expectations
If you want to stand out within your competitors, you need to offer different options. Offering bar stools in styles that match your chairs – Chiavari, Cross Back, etc – helps you meet those expectations.
And here’s the bottom line: if you don’t offer bar stools, someone else will. Party rental companies that lack key inventory pieces risk losing full-package clients to competitors that provide one-stop solutions.
3. Profit Breakdown: How Fast Can They Pay Off?
Let’s look at the numbers:
- Chiavari Bar Stool Cost: $80–$140 (depending on material)
- Rental Price Per Event: $14–$22
That means in as few as 5 to 10 events, you can recover your initial investment—and after that, it’s pure profit.
Even factoring in light maintenance or storage costs, bar stools pay themselves off quickly. Their higher rental price compared to regular chairs makes them ideal for boosting your ROI.
💡 Tip: Use our free ROI calculator to plug in your numbers and forecast profits before you buy.
4. Choosing the Right Bar Stools (and Avoiding Costly Mistakes)
Not all bar stools are created equal. Consider the following when buying:
- Material: Wood looks elegant but may chip. Resin is more durable but heavier. Aluminum is lightweight and rust-resistant.
- Stackability: If you’re delivering and storing them regularly, stackable models are a must.
- Durability: Look for reinforced legs, high weight limits, and finishes that are easy to clean.
- Style Match: Ideally, your bar stools should match or complement your most-rented chair models.
Poor-quality bar stools might look good initially, but can cost you more in repairs or replacements and drastically reduce the profitability of your investment.
Bar stools are one of the best-kept to increase profitability of your events. They’re stylish, functional, and, most importantly, profitable. If you’re looking to expand your inventory and increase ROI, bar stools are one of the smartest smart choices.
