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Launch Checklist

Pre-Launch: Business Foundation

  • Choose a final brand name — currently placeholder "Claw Game Rental Company"; domain is clawgamerental.com
  • Register the business (LLC in Illinois) and open a business bank account
  • Research Illinois sales tax on equipment rental services — not yet resolved
  • Get liability insurance

Equipment & Logistics

  • Purchase enclosed trailer for deliveries
  • Confirm all 8 rental machines are ready (2 each: Space, Monsters, Rubber Ducks, Ice Cream)
  • Source prize inventory — 80-unit packages of generic plush ($0.50–$1.25/unit) + premium licensed options (Pokémon, Disney, etc.)
  • Build out themed prize packages (princess/unicorn, superhero, Pokémon, sports, seasonal)
  • Create a rental agreement / liability waiver

Tech Setup

  • Set up Booqable Grow plan ($69/mo) + Deliveries add-on ($9/mo)
  • Configure Booqable:
    • Delivery-only (hide pickup)
    • Two delivery tiers: $0 within 15 mi, $50–75 beyond
    • Max distance cap to block out-of-range bookings
    • Each of the 4 machine themes as separate inventory items (2 units each)
    • Packages as bundles (base, standard, full-day, multi-day)
    • $50–75 non-refundable deposit + balance-due-1-week-prior flow
  • Connect Stripe to Booqable for live payments
  • Point clawgamerental.com at Booqable
  • Build the website (priority order): Homepage → Packages → How It Works → Service Area Map → FAQ → Gallery
  • Decide remaining open booking questions: minimum lead time, max advance booking window, cancellation policy, damage deposit, customer info collected at checkout

Marketing & Distribution

  • Create Google Business Profile
  • Create TikTok and Instagram accounts
  • Do 1–2 free/discounted events for friends/family to generate photos, video content, and reviews
  • List on GigSalad, The Bash, or Thumbtack
  • Reach out to local bounce house companies (Jumpity Hoppity, Roundhouse Inflatables, Kids 4 Jump) for cross-referral relationships
  • Run paid social ads — Facebook/Instagram targeting parents in service zip codes

Nice-to-Have at Launch (not blockers)

  • Finalize logo and visual identity
  • Decide on early-bird or launch discount for first N bookings
  • Decide whether to collect reviews on-site or direct to Google/Yelp
  • Set up QuickBooks sync once Booqable ships it (marked "coming soon" as of 2026-04-09)

Phase 2 (post-launch)

  • /es Spanish-language site
  • Quinceañera landing page
  • Outreach to quinceañera venues (Royal Palace Event Centre, etc.)
  • Seasonal machine themes (Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's)
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