Why Buying a Van Transformed My Balloon Business
One of the absolute best investments I've made in my balloon business is purchasing a van. It quickly changed my business in ways I didn’t expect.
Like so many of us, I spent years thinking, “One day I’ll get a van… eventually.” And for five years, I made do with renting U-Hauls for big events, blowing up balloons on-site and squeezing into every last inch of my SUV. But after one busy month of back-to-back large installs (and a painful U-Haul bill) I knew it was time.
This post shares the details of what van I bought, how I decided and why this upgrade quickly became one of the most impactful investments in my business.
The Sticker Shock Is Real
First, let’s talk numbers. New cargo vans can run around $45,000, which kept me on the sidelines for years. Even used vans can be tricky because smaller dealerships (where the affordable ones live) often don’t offer financing. And I didn’t want a loan or a monthly payment so I had been saving and watching the market closely.
For months, I set alerts on every car-buying app, watched listings come and go and refined exactly what I wanted.
What I Chose (and Why)
I knew three things for sure:
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I wanted to truly upgrade (not just switch from an SUV to a minivan).
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I wanted to be able to stand up inside the back.
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I needed at least one passenger seat for my daughter in a pinch.
That immediately narrowed it down to the Ford Transit 15-passenger van - much like a shuttle van. They’re big, tall and surprisingly comfortable to drive. And then came my unicorn: a van with a medium roof, only two seats installed, around 125,000 miles and a solid price tag. Because I had saved, researched and set clear boundaries for myself, I could act fast. I put down the deposit and picked it up a week later.
The Immediate Impact
I knew the van would be helpful.
I didn’t realize it would be life-changing.
Within the first week of owning it:
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I fit an entire weekend of events into one load. (Previously I had to reload between every job.)
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I stood full columns upright in the back.
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I built a column inside the van.
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I did a curbside pickup of conduit and PVC without worrying about measurements or weight.
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I stopped stressing about what would or wouldn’t fit.
After years of renting U-Hauls, coordinating pickups and paying mileage fees, the mental relief alone felt worth the price.
Should You Start Planning for a Van?
If you’re newer in business, here’s my honest recommendation:
You don’t need a van right away. Renting U-Hauls is a perfectly good strategy until your workload makes owning one practical and profitable.
But you can start planning now:
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Set aside a small van fund.
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Begin browsing listings to learn the market.
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Decide what size and features matter most.
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Set alerts on Cars.com, Carvana, Facebook Marketplace, and Autotrader, etc.
This was a five-year decision for me, but the payoff was instant.
A Final Thought: Community Makes Growth Easier
One of the reasons I felt confident pulling the trigger was the encouragement and advice I received inside Balloon Boss Mastermind. When I hit the financial milestone that made this purchase possible, I was able to share the win with people who understood what it meant. If you’re looking for that kind of support, learn more about Mastermine here.
