041 · Offering an Advertising Space on Your Property

As you know, billboards are everywhere nowadays. If you are a homeowner, you could take advantage of this omnipresence to round out your income, thanks to the rental of private advertising spaces! And as you’ll see, it can sometimes even make you a lot of money.

• Here's the program
• How does it work?
• How do I go about it?
• Where can I find agencies that offer these services?
• What are the advantages?
• What are the disadvantages?
• What is the estimated income?
• Conclusion

How does it work?

The principle is simple: If you have a property (e.g. a house, a garden, a roof, land or even just a wall…), you can choose to put it at the disposal of a company that will then pay you a rent to place an advertising panel. The more interesting the location of the lessor is (close to a busy road, the city center, a shopping area…), the higher the rent can be.

Moreover, you don’t have to take care of almost anything since the company will take care of the administrative part (especially with the local authorities), the installation, the maintenance, etc.

How do I go about it?

First of all, find out what the rules are in your town/country: Certain panels may be forbidden, the dimensions may be regulated, the place protected against it, etc. Make sure you can obtain the necessary authorizations from your city hall. Finally, if you don’t see any obstacles, you can contact companies.

And if you can’t find the necessary information, don’t hesitate to ask one of these advertising companies directly. They are usually very knowledgeable on the subject and will be happy to answer all your questions (I guess).

Where can I find agencies that offer these services?

You can turn to companies like Clear Channel, the American company that is among the market leaders, or its French competitor JCDecaux, the world’s number one billboard advertising company. The European company Global is also a major player in the sector. There are also lesser-known billboard companies, which do not cover the whole world but only certain regions.

You can contact them via their respective websites, and after a preliminary telephone conversation and the sending of some photos, agents will come to your home to evaluate the location(s) you propose.

To find the right agency for you, don’t hesitate to do some research on Google if none of them suit you, and then compare them to determine which one offers the most advantages. Then you can start discussions about the panel (type, size), the price, the length of the lease (usually it’s six years, and never less than three). Don’t forget to ask about the possible reasons for breaking the contract, for example, if you want to sell your house.

If you have a property on Time Square in New York, you hit the jackpot 😁 – Photo by Joe Yates, on Unsplash

What are the advantages?

The main advantage of this process is that it offers you a passive income: You will have almost nothing to do! The billboard is your source of income, so once it is installed, you are safe. In addition, the installation and maintenance costs are paid for by the company. Most of them even take care of the administrative procedures with the local authorities.

What are the disadvantages?

You have no control over the advertising, so you may very well come across annoying ads. Imagine a large sign advertising a laxative in your garden! Some companies, however, accept special clauses on certain occasions. For example, if you are a vegetarian, you could ask not to see ads for meat or those promoting fossil fuels if you are concerned about the future of the planet.

The various inconveniences that these billboards can cause in your daily life: reduced access to your garden, light no longer entering certain rooms… Think of checking this parameter before signing a rental contract, because you can get a higher price!

Another possible disadvantage is the noise that can be caused by these panels, especially during windy or rainy days, but also because some panels are equipped with motors allowing multiple displays.

What is the estimated income?

The rent depends on the quality of your location, the format you can support, and the visibility that your space brings (many cars or pedestrians passing by, visible from far away…).

If your location is particularly advantageous, you can expect up to $5000 or $6000 USD/year, sometimes even more depending on the country/city where you live. But if your location is not very advantageous, you can expect only $100 or $200 USD/year. The range is very large, so make sure you know what you are getting because it is possible that a location that does not seem to be of particular interest to you may end up bringing you more than you expected!

Conclusion

Renting an advertising space on your property is a simple and above all passive way to earn money. There is also nothing complicated to do since the company usually takes care of everything for you, even the administrative side.

Earnings are variable, but you could make quite a bit of money if the locations you offer are optimal. Of course, it’s not pretty and it takes up a lot of space, but if you’re looking for a way to make ends meet, it might be an option to consider?