Don’t do it yourself.
It can be tempting to try to build your own display. But unless you’ve got phenomenal construction and design skills or professional experience building trade show displays, we strongly advise against it. If your trade show looks amateur, your company image will suffer—and that will cost you more in the long run than you’ll save by doing it yourself. There are plenty of other ways to save money on your trade show booth without taking risks with your appearance.

Use a pop-up.
Pop-up displays can save you a lot of money over heavier panel, modular, or custom displays. They’re much less expensive up-front. While shipping a heavier, more complex display can be expensive, a pop-up folds easily into a single wheeled case and can be transported in the trunk of your car. Pop-ups are popular because they’re portable, affordable, and save you money on shipping.

Rent a booth.
For some companies, renting a booth can be a better option than buying. If you’re attending your first trade show, renting can be an economical way to test out the trade show environment without investing in a booth of your own. Once you’ve experimented with a few trade shows, decided that you’d like to attend regularly, and found the booth and design that works best for you, you’ll be ready to buy your own booth. Some companies even let you put the money you spend on rentals towards a new booth purchase in the future.

Look into used and refurbished displays.
Some trade show equipment vendors will sell refurbished displays for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Check with your vendor to see if they have any used displays for sale. Many displays, particularly pop-ups, are flexible enough so that you can change the graphics easily and make your used booth look like new.

Use a tabletop display.
If you’re exhibiting in a small space, a tabletop display may be the best choice for you. Tabletop displays can look polished and professional, and they cost much less than full-sized displays. Tabletop displays are a popular choice for companies looking to save money, as they look professional without the high price.

Use banner stands.
Banner stands are economical and eye-catching, and they’re easy on the budget as well. Combine a tabletop display with a few well-placed banner stands, and your exhibit will stand up well against more expensive displays. Banner stands can add to the visual appeal of your exhibit, display a call to action, and draw passing attendees into your exhibit for a closer look.

Consider co-marketing.
An educational author wanted to bring his textbooks to a trade show, but knew his two titles would make for a bare display. So he got in contact with other publishers in the industry and sold space at his booth, exhibiting a range of titles including his own. He effectively got paid to be at the show, and sold plenty of his own books as well as competitors’.

If a trade show display would put a dent in your company’s bank account, look into co-marketing. While some businesses do well sharing space with competitors, it may be better to choose businesses whose products compliment yours, instead of competing directly. See if there are any businesses willing to share a booth or table with you. This can seriously cut down on costs, and if done right, it can boost sales as well.

There are plenty of ways a trade show can make you money. From gathering a strong mailing list to meeting thousands of pre-qualified leads, your next trade show appearance has the potential to pay off. It’s a shame to let a small budget keep you off the trade show floor—and with all the inexpensive options out there, there’s no reason why it should. Use these tips to save money on your trade show booth, and your appearance is likely to be worth it.