I am being asked more often if I rent cake/cupcake stands along with my cakes/cupcakes. I have sold a bride a 9 dozen cupcakes along with a cutting cake. She inquired on renting my cupcake tower stand.

What is the typical cost for rental and setup? Am I responsible for returning to the venue to pick it up the next day? The location is about an hour away... 

Thank you! :)

The deposit + rental is the cost of replacement.  If the stand isn't damaged then you can refund the deposit.  Typically I required the customer to return the stand within 3 days of the event, or I kept the deposit.  Had to replace two over the years, but I had the money to do so (their deposit + rental.)

Seems like many charge 1/3 of the item's cost for rental fee. So a $90 stand, that cost $15 to ship is $105 to replace.

Fee to rent is $35 plus a $70 deposit. You don't get it back? You buy a new one to replace it. Normally return is handled by the customer (or their relatives). Chasing down equipment is not fun. Only way that would be "waived" is if you served and were paid a cake cutting fee----so you take it with you when you leave.

different view alert -- you didn't ask this - just another idea -- i made and sold disposables -- plateaus an separators -- when I turned my back to the cake table to leave after delivery -- all involvement was over -- those picky little details got on my nerves--

best to you