1. The Client reaches out to the Balloon Artisan Team (BAT) regarding their event.
2. BAT will gather all necessary event details and a general estimate of what balloon deliverables the client will be needing. (Date of Event, Address, Setup / Cleanup Times, etc.)
3. BAT will ask the Contractor (That's you!) if they wish to take on the project. The Contractor is free to turn down the project without any consequences at this point in time.
4. BAT finalizes the Scope of Work (SOW) for the project and then requests a final bid from the Contractor.
5. BAT will send over a formal contract for the project using the Bat Cave.
6. BAT will send over all of the relevant event details in the Bat Cave so the Contractor can add those details to their calendar.
7. BAT will invoice the Client and once the invoice has been paid, BAT will give the Contractor the go-ahead to order materials for the project.
8. The Contractor will finalize all plans related to the actual completion of the installation. BAT will assist in any necessary information gathering.
9. BAT will follow up with the Client prior to the event to confirm that there have not been any changes to the project / event.
10. The Contractor builds the project per the SOW.
11. The Contractor photographs the completed project (make the photos pretty so we can use them for social media and send you even more projects) to the Bat Cave and requests payment through the Bat Cave.
12. BAT will send the Contractor the agreed upon payment for the project within 24 hours (we are usually much faster than that).
13. BAT will follow up with the Client regarding their experience and conduct a Client Experience Survey.
14. Rinse and repeat!

Q:  Does working with the BAT mean my company can't take on our own projects?
A:  Absolutely not! You are free to continue to run your business as you have been. When it comes to your business, you do things your way, charge your prices, work with whomever you please, wear whatever you want, etc. Just make sure when you are working on a Balloon Artisan Project that you and your team are complying with the Balloon Artisan Contractor Standards.

Q:  Does it matter which brand of balloons we use to build the projects?
A:  Yes. We want all of our Contractors to use balloons created by either Qualatex, Sempertex, Tuftex or other professional brands. If for whatever reason those materials are not available for a specific project, reach out to us for approval. Under no circumstances are you to use a "Garland" or an "Arch Kit".

Q:  Can I send referrals to Balloon Artisan?
A:  If you'd prefer that our team handles all of your office-esque functions so you can just focus on creating incredible balloon art, you can definitely send as many referrals as you like our way. Just make sure we know you sent them so we can pay you a finder's fee. :)

Q:  Can you teach me how to build my team and can you help me to train my team members?
A:  Definitely! Reach out for more info.

Q:  How do BIG projects work? Will I ever be able to make any of those?
A:  Great question! Big projects are obviously a much more challenging beast than smaller projects but we are confident that you can create them too. If we ever get a request for a large project in your area, we will work alongside you to handle the completion of the project. We require someone from the BAT to supervise a Contractor's first 2 large projects to ensure that things go as smoothly as possible.

Q:  Can I share images of the things I build for Balloon Artisan projects on my Company's social media pages, website and marketing materials?
A:  Nope :) You can post any of your business's content you'd like as long as it's not something that Balloon Artisan has paid you to build. Also, do not refer to any of Balloon Artisan's Clients in your marketing materials.

Q:  Am I required to continue to work on Balloon Artisan projects for any set length of time?
A:  Nope! You can work on as many or as few projects as you'd like. In full transparency though, we are looking to partner with dependable Contractors who we can count on. So if we get a sense that you don't have the bandwidth nor desire to work with us, we'll likely have to find someone else in your area to take your place.

Q:  Does Balloon Artisan want me to build the balloon decor on site or can I build it beforehand and transport the decor?
A:  We have found from years of experience running a 6-figure balloon decor company that it is often easier to build projects on site but sometimes overlapping events or a tight schedule make that very difficult. So basically, it's your preference and we are fine with either approach as long as the quality of the finished project is amazing. :)

Q: Do you recommend that I buy a cargo trailer for my business?
A: We purchased our own trailer (6'x12') a few years back and it was one of THE best investments we have ever made. We'd highly recommend purchasing one for your business if you're looking to grow. For starters, the cost of renting Uhaul trucks adds up very quickly so you may find that buying a trailer will immediately begin to pay for itself. We paid $3000 to put a wrap on our trailer and that turned out to be a very poor investment. So in hindsight I would not wrap my trailer. One thing to consider as well is we do not want you to arrive on a Balloon Artisan project with a trailer with your branding on it if at all possible so I wouldn't wrap my trailer for that reason alone. ;)

‍

This video walks you through our subcontractor agreement (found below). This agreement is digitally signed using the Bat Cave for each project. We don't have any sort of "long term" contract. Each project is treated as its own freestanding agreement.

Subcontractor Agreement
‍This Subcontractor Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of the DATE ("EffectiveDate"), between Utah Balloon Guru, LLC dba Balloon Artisan ("the Company"), a Utah limited liability company, and SC NAME ("theSubcontractor"), a company operating in the state of STATE ("Service Region"). Both parties maybe referred to as "Party" or collectively as "Parties."

‍Recitals In light of the recitals stated above and the covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties agree to the following terms:

‍I. Terms of Contractual Relationship

A. Scope of Work The Company will engage the Subcontractor to perform balloon art services, as detailed in the "Scope of Work." The Scope of Work will include event details, deliverables, and the negotiated price the Subcontractor will be paid for completing the Scope of Work. The Subcontractor must accept or decline each job through the Company's proprietary web interface (“the Batcave”) within 48 hours of receiving the offer. Acceptance confirms the Subcontractor's agreement to the terms and obligates them to perform the services and the Company to pay the Subcontractor accordingly. If the Subcontractor fails to perform the Scope of Work and doesn't provide at least fourteen (14) days' notice of inability to complete the job, the Subcontractor agrees to pay the greater of $2,000.00 or two times (2x) the total project value. The Subcontractor must use high-quality materials, such as Qualatex, Tuftex, Kalisan, or Sempertex brand balloons, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by the Company.

‍B. Communication/Marketing Policy Effective communication is essential for a successful working relationship. The Subcontractor agrees to respond to communications from the Company within twenty-four hours of receipt. The Subcontractor may not post pictures of jobs performed for the Company on the Subcontractor’s social media pages, website, or in marketing materials, nor reference the Company client names or logos.

‍C. Independent Contractor Status The Subcontractor will work as an "independent contractor"and not as an employee or agent of the Company.The Subcontractor is solely responsible for filing required income tax returns and paying applicable taxes on payments received from the Company. The Subcontractor shall receive a1099 tax form by February 28th each year. Moreover, nothing in this Agreement should be construed to imply that the Company is a franchise and that the Subcontractor is merely a franchisee of Company. The Parties expressly acknowledge that there is no Franchisor/Franchisee relationship even though you are completing the work on behalf of the Company.

‍D. Work for Hire The Parties agree that the Subcontractor's services to the Company constitute work made for hire. All rights to the work, including copyright and images taken by the Subcontractor which depict the work, belong solely to the Company.

‍E. Termination This Agreement may be terminated at any time by either Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Scope of Work is pending, the Subcontractor is obligated to provide a minimum of fifteen (15) days’ notice of termination prior to the completion date of the Scope of Work. The Subcontractor shall remain obligated for any scope of work still yet to be completed if fifteen (15) days’ notice is not provided and such obligation will not be waived without the express consent of the Company.

‍F. Insurance The Subcontractor is responsible for any damage they cause to the venue as a result of their work. The Subcontractor agrees to pay for the necessary repairs resulting from any damage they cause during the process of completing the Scope of Work. If the Subcontractor refuses to pay for the repairs, the Company may seek legal action to collect the amount owed for the repairs. The Subcontractor is responsible for securing their own insurance under which the Company must be added as a covered party listed under the policy.

‍G. At-Will Status This Agreement does not guarantee the Subcontractor employment for a specific period or number of project hours.

‍H. Compensation The Subcontractor will only receive compensation as outlined in an accepted bid. Any variance, overage, or changes must be approved in writing by the Company.

‍I. Scope of Work Cancellation by the Client In the event that the Client decides to cancel their project after they have paid the invoice, the Company agrees to reimburse the Subcontractor for any and all materials the Subcontractor purchased exclusively to complete the Scope of Work plus an additional 10% of the Subcontractor’s total bided amount for the project to compensate for lost time.

‍J. Non-Solicitation The Subcontractor agrees not to solicit business from the Company's customers, prospects, or vendors for twenty-four (24) months after termination of this Agreement regardless of the cause for which this Agreement was terminated. The Subcontractor also agrees not to recruit or induce any of the Company's employees for twenty-four (24) months after the termination of this Agreement. The Company places a tremendous amount of trust in theSubcontractor and relies on the Subcontractor to act ethically and not to steal clientele from the Company. The Parties agree that determining damages for violating this provision is very difficult to determine and as a result agree that a provision of liquidated damages for any violation of this provision amounting to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) per violation regardless of the actual damages that either Party may be able to prove.

‍K. Confidentiality The Subcontractor agrees not to use, disclose, or transfer any confidential or proprietary information disclosed by the Company, except as required to perform their duties under this Agreement.

‍II. General Provisions

A. Governing Law This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Utah. Any disputes shall be resolved in Utah courts, with the substantially prevailing party entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees and litigation costs.

‍B. Entire Agreement This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties, supersedes all prior communications, and may only be amended in writing and signed by both Parties.

‍C. SeverabilityIf any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable under any controlling law, it shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions.The parties can sign this Agreement in multiple copies, and each copy will be considered an original. All copies together form one complete documentThis Agreement and the conditions therein are entered into and agreed upon on this day DATE.Subcontractor Signature: SUBCONTRACTOR NAME

Our relationship with you as a Contractor works by pairing the Balloon Artisan Team's expertise at marketing, selling, supporting customers and coordinating project logistics with your ability to create amazing balloon art! By taking that load off of your plate, you will be able to take on many more projects than you are currently fulfilling (which will provide more consistent revenue and make it easier for you to grow your team).

When you submit a bid for a Balloon Artisan Project, do your best to not factor the costs associated with the roles the Balloon Artisan team will be fulfilling into your project bid. We want to make sure you are being paid well and that this relationship is financially beneficial to you, but we also need to make sure we make money on our team's end to keep things going.

For example... Let's say through your own marketing means you end up closing a project that you'd charge the client $1000 for. If you are running your business well, a certain amount of that $1000 should be allocated towards marketing expenses, planning costs, rendering / brainstorming, customer support etc. Let's say that you determine based on the amount of time your team spends doing all of that, those costs amount to about $300 of the project.

In this case, a good "bid" to submit to us would be $700 (keep in mind you'll be supplying the materials when you create your bids).

Have you done the math on how much money you are leaving on the table? Some Balloon Artists are losing an entire house payment in revenue EACH month from working with the wrong supplier. Watch this video to make sure that's not you...

Most of our clients only need their balloon arches for a short duration (1-3 days) and the balloons generally hold up just fine for that duration. If balloon arches are indoors they can easily last several weeks and still look great!

We can't make any definitive promises but your balloon arch should generally last a day outdoors without too many issues. It's important to know that direct sun exposure, extreme heat (above 95 degrees) and wind can be very unkind to your balloon arch. Our team has a secret process we've developed over our 10+ years decorating for outdoor events that will maximize your balloon arch's chances of survival though.

After sending out dozens of 1099 forms I realized most of the people we received W9's from are setting up their legal business entities incorrectly. It is costing them thousands of dollars and causing them to take on a LOT of unnecessary risk. Don't let that be you, watch the video!

Are you ready to grow the size of your Balloon Business? In this video you'll learn 2 of the easiest strategies you can implement immediately to grow your business while reducing the amount of stress you experience and the amount of work you personally have to put into your business.

In this video you'll learn some of our favorite hacks for creating projects much more quickly. Learning these hacks will reduce the time it takes for you to create a project and will allow you to take on more projects in less time.

Here are my best tips for cutting and installing vinyl logos. In this video I also teach about how to use vinyl logos to increase your profit in a project as well as how to close competitive sales using logos as a tool.

In this video I do a comparison between plywood chiara arches, Amazon chiara arches and the ones I use from U Backdrop. The short version is you should only use the ones from U Backdrop. The amazon ones are cheap and don't deliver professional results.

Here's a link to U Backdrop's website: https://www.ubackdrop.com/search?q=chiara&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

In the video I mentioned linking to my favorite clamps but Walmart no longer sells them. I try to get ones without teeth (the sharp things that can cut the fabric) to protect the chiara fabric. But ultimately it's a pretty small detail.

Learn everything you need to know to implement helium balloons in your business.

This video will teach you how to:
- Keep your balloons from getting tangled during transport
- Use hi-float
- Set your balloons at the perfect height
- Determine which nozzle is right for you
- Pull helium tanks out of your vehicle- Cut ribbon efficiently
and more!

For standard size walls (up to 8' x 10') we use the same frame we use for our shimmer walls. For balloon walls larger than that, we usually use our balloon column bases to span the width of the wall.

For this wall, the client did not want the colors blocked together AND we only could get 5" and 17" balloons in the shade of blue we needed. We connected 2 white quads, 1 quad with 3 white balloons + 1 blue balloon, then 1 mustard quad. Only adding one blue balloon per quad allowed us to stretch our limited supply of blue balloons a long way. We didn't stick to this pattern exactly but that's the general idea.

The first step is to set up your frame to just shorter than the dimensions the wall will be (a 10' x 8' balloon wall should use roughly an 8' x 7' frame since you'll have about 1' of balloons extending outside of the perimeter of the frame. Then you fill in the middle of the wall by weaving your garland into the perimeter. This entire wall took my team and I 1 hour from start to finish.

Sorry this video is old school back haha... The video itself isn't great but the content is awesome! In this video I teach several of my favorite techniques for rigging balloon installations from ceilings, poles, railings, etc..

Our Freestanding Balloon Garlands are one of our most popular installations that we sell but most people have no idea how to make them. They may seem intimidating but they won't be once you watch thise!

I am VERY efficient at creating balloon garlands. I actually haven't met anyone who can make them faster than me (but I'm eager to find that person). In this video I explain my process for making my organic garlands as well as my "color blocking" technique. I even show you how my inventory system works (although I had $13,000 of projects in 4 days so the entire thing was a mess).