Photo Booth International
About the Company
Photo Booth International (PBI) is a manufacturer of high-quality photo booths designed for entrepreneurs who want to start their own photo booth rental businesses. PBI offers a variety of booths, with the Miami Mirror Booth as their top product. The company provides a comprehensive package including the booth, equipment, and marketing training. With a focus on helping new business owners, many of PBI’s customers are individuals seeking a side hustle or a way to diversify their income streams. PBI has grown significantly since 2015, earning national recognition for its success.
Idea Behind Company
Josh Pather came up with the idea for PBI while running his first business, Photo Booth Dallas, which he started in 2012. Initially, Josh worked in a call center during the week and DJ’d on weekends. After seeing a photo booth at a wedding, Josh decided to build his own to complement his DJ services. His first DIY booth earned significant income despite being made with cheap materials. Realizing the demand for turnkey photo booth solutions, Josh saw an opportunity to help others start their own businesses by offering complete, ready-to-use photo booth systems.
Creating the Company
The journey of building PBI involved multiple prototypes and improvements. Josh’s first photo booth was made out of wood and stood on a tripod, but he quickly realized it needed to be more durable and portable. Drawing from his experience with DJ equipment, he designed a lightweight, durable road case for the photo booths. He sourced better electronics like DSLR cameras and faster printers, and refined the software, ultimately creating a more professional product. PBI now offers a range of photo booths that suit various customer needs, and the company continually innovates to keep up with industry trends.
Launching the Business
Launching Photo Booth International was straightforward, given the existing demand from Josh’s rental business. He funded the venture with $200,000, which allowed him to buy booth components and develop the models he would sell. Marketing efforts included creating a website, SEO, and a YouTube channel to share customer success stories. In its first year, PBI made over $156,000. Although the launch was smooth, Josh learned important lessons along the way, including the challenges of hiring family members and the value of focusing on business needs over personal relationships.
Earnings
Today, Photo Booth International generates substantial earnings with a monthly revenue of $400,000. The company operates at a 40% profit margin, with customer acquisition costs around $250 per customer and an impressive 10x return on ad spend. The average lifetime value of a customer is $10,000. PBI has built a large following online, including over 25,000 YouTube subscribers, and continues to expand its email list, which now exceeds 20,000. With a yearly growth rate of 50%, PBI is well-positioned for continued success in the future.
