Exhibitor planning guide

What does a trade show booth really cost?

The floor-space fee is only the beginning. Use this checklist before committing to a show.

Direct show costs

Booth space, required furnishings, electricity, internet, badges, insurance, material handling, drayage, union labor, cleaning, lead retrieval, sponsorships, and onsite storage.

Travel and logistics

Freight, shipping, hotel rooms, flights or mileage, parking, meals, local transportation, and the labor hours spent traveling and staffing the booth.

Sales follow-up

Budget for samples, promotions, CRM work, lead qualification, and post-show outreach. A cheap booth with weak follow-up can be more expensive than a well-run premium show.

Measure the result

Track total spend, qualified leads, orders, attributable revenue, cost per lead, and whether you would exhibit again. ExpoSetGo’s private planner keeps those results tied to each show.