How to Avoid Bounce House/Water slide Rental Scams: 7 Things to Check Before You Book"

Written By Tiffany Iniestra

All too often families get burned by "companies" that take a deposit and disappear, show up with dirty or unsafe equipment, or double-book and cancel at the last minute. A few minutes of homework can save your party. Here's what to look for before you book.

1. Make Sure It's a Real Business

  • Look them up on Sunbiz. In Florida, every legitimate business should be registered at sunbiz.org. Search the company name, if nothing comes up, that's a red flag.

  • Check for a real online presence. A legitimate company has a website, a Google Business Profile, and a Facebook page that's been active for more than a few weeks. A brand-new Facebook page with no reviews and stock photos is a warning sign.

  • Reverse-image search their photos. Scammers often steal pictures from real rental companies. If their "equipment photos" show up on a dozen other websites, walk away. Real companies post photos of their actual units at actual local events.

2. Ask for Proof of Insurance

  • Any legitimate inflatable company carries general liability insurance. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) — a real company can send one over without hesitation. If they dodge the question or say "we've never needed it," that tells you everything.

  • Parks, churches, and venues usually require a COI naming them as additional insured. If a company can't provide that, they can't set up at most public venues anyway.

  • Insurance matters because if a child is hurt on an uninsured unit, the financial and legal burden can fall on you, the host.

3. Get Everything in Writing

  • A real company sends a written contract or invoice through booking software, not just a text message saying "you're all set."

  • The contract should spell out: the exact unit you're renting, delivery and pickup times, total price, deposit amount, and the weather/cancellation policy and terms and conditions.

  • No contract = no booking. A handshake deal is how double-bookings happen. If they don't use any booking system, there's nothing stopping them from renting "your" unit to someone else who offers more money.

4. Watch How They Take Payment

  • Be cautious of anyone demanding full payment upfront via Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle to a personal account. These payments are nearly impossible to recover if the company ghosts you. Don’t lose out on a deposit sending through these platforms either!

  • Legitimate companies typically take a deposit through an invoice or card payment, with the balance due at or before delivery. You should receive a receipt and booking confirmation immediately.

  • If the price seems too good to be true, half of what everyone else charges, it usually is. Scammers use rock-bottom prices to collect deposits fast. Or they probably have old, worn out and damaged units. 

5. Ask About Cleaning and Safety

  • Ask how units are cleaned and sanitized between rentals. You should get a confident, specific answer, not a shrug.

  • Ask how the unit will be secured. Inflatables must be properly staked into the ground (or weighted with sandbags on concrete) per manufacturer guidelines. Units that blow away in wind gusts cause serious injuries every year.

  • The company should ask you questions too: surface type (grass vs. concrete), access to power, space available, and gate width. 

6. Look for Signs of a Professional Operation

  • Reviews with history. Read Google and Facebook reviews going back months or years, not just a burst from last week. Look for reviews that mention delivery, setup, and cleanliness.

  • Trained delivery staff. Ask who delivers and sets up. Professional companies set up, anchor, and inspect the unit themselves and walk you through safety rules — they don't drop off a rolled-up inflatable and drive away or offer customer pickup.

  • Responsive, professional communication. A real business answers its phone or returns calls promptly, and confirms your booking as the date approaches.

7. Ask "What If" Questions Before You Pay

  • What happens if it rains or there's a wind advisory?

  • What happens if the unit breaks down or won't inflate?

  • What time exactly will you deliver, and what happens if you're late?

  • Is delivery, setup, and takedown included in the quoted price?

A trustworthy company has clear answers to all of these. A scammer or fly-by-night operator gets vague, defensive, or stops responding.

The bottom line: Registered business, proof of insurance, written contract, traceable payment, and real reviews. If a company checks all five boxes, you can book with confidence. If it misses even one or two, keep looking. A cheap deposit lost to a scammer costs a lot more than the difference in price, and your party (and your guests' safety) is worth doing it right.


Planning a party in Putnam County or anywhere in Northeast Florida? Janie's Party Rentals checks every box on this list — a registered, fully insured local business with written contracts, secure online booking, and trained delivery crews who set up and anchor every unit properly. We're happy to send a Certificate of Insurance for your venue anytime, no hesitation. Browse our bounce houses and waterslides → www.janiespartrentals.com/inflatables or give us a call with any questions. We'd love to make your next party unforgettable — and worry-free.

Tiffany Iniestra