Why You Should Hire an AV Company That Owns and Maintains Its Own Equipment

October 16, 2025

If you’ve ever planned an event—whether it was a team retreat, a corporate conference, or a fundraiser—you know how stressful it can be. You’re dealing with lots of moving parts, and you need to get them to all align at the right time. The audio-visual (AV) setup is crucial. Immersive sound, crisp visuals, and seamless transitions take your event from “pretty good” to “unforgettable.” You need an AV company that delivers every single time. Don’t leave it up to chance.

At Catalyst, we own, maintain, store, and transport all our own AV equipment. We don’t rent anything. This may seem like a small detail, but it actually reduces risk at every level. 

From AV event design to equipment teardown, a provider that owns its own gear can provide better, more reliable AV services. Let’s take a look at 7 reasons why you should hire an AV company that owns and maintains its own equipment.

1. Better Reliability

AV equipment is complex and sensitive. Each piece of gear needs proper maintenance and storage for optimal performance. Regular cleanings, firmware and software updates, and cable inspection are non-negotiables. Equipment needs to be stored in the right conditions, with good ventilation and regular checks.

A company that owns its own equipment will:

  • Know every component inside and out
  • Have documentation on storage, maintenance, and testing
  • Ensure compatibility across systems

Companies that rent equipment from third parties typically receive it close to the event day. They can’t personally guarantee the gear they offer is reliable and up-to-date.

2. Faster Setup and Strike Times

Timing is everything when it comes to running a successful event. You need to rely on your team to have your system fully operational before start time. Setup and teardown require efficiency and confidence. A team that isn’t fully familiar with the tech is far more likely to run into problems.

A company that owns its own equipment will know exactly how long setup and teardown will take. They can install your systems, conduct thorough checks, and make any necessary adjustments well before the ball gets rolling. 

3. Transparent Pricing

When budgeting for a big event, you should be able to rely on transparent AV pricing

When your provider rents equipment from third-parties, it introduces layers of complexity and additional fees. Price markups, delivery fees, last-minute surcharges, and potential late fees can drastically increase your total equipment costs.

AV companies that own and manage their own equipment can offer you more transparent and predictable pricing, because you won’t be paying for:

  • Middleman rental fees
  • Extra insurance costs
  • Emergency replacement costs

Instead, you’re trusting one full-service event production partner to manage the process from start to finish.

4. Improved Flexibility and Customization

For large-scale events, customization is a major advantage. From interactive experiences and unique branding to accessibility features and specialized control systems, customized AV solutions take your event to the next level.

If you need a personalized setup, then choosing a company that owns its equipment is the way to go. These companies can mix and match equipment, alter settings to suit your needs, and adapt quickly to changing circumstances

5. Accountability and Specialized Support

When your AV partner owns its own gear, they’re taking full responsibility for how it performs. They can’t pass the buck to a rental house or third-party logistics vendor. This creates a culture of accountability, quality control, and pride of workmanship.

You’ll feel the difference right from the get-go. Because your provider is taking responsibility for their own equipment, you’ll get a higher level of maintenance, better-trained technicians, and a problem-solving attitude. If something goes wrong, your team will have all the tools and knowledge they need to fix the issue on site.

6. Consistency for Recurring Events

If you’re planning a series of events, consistency is paramount. Companies like Catalyst that own their own gear can replicate setups across venues, maintain branding standards, and switch out compatible equipment as needed. 

We regularly work with the same clients and don’t rely on third-party logistics or equipment-rental companies. When we introduce you to our catalogue of AV equipment, we can answer all your questions personally.

You’ll get to know our equipment offerings and our technical teams. That means if you have a good experience with a certain type of microphone setup, speaker system, or screen type, you can trust that you’ll get that same consistent quality every time you work with us.

7. Environmental Sustainability

Owning your own equipment doesn’t just lead to better AV performance. It’s also better for the planet. Shipping gear to multiple locations can lead to unnecessary carbon emissions, wasted packaging materials, and excessive fuel consumption.

With a company that manages its own technology, you can significantly cut down on transportation and reduce disposable materials. 

Because companies like Catalyst are fully responsible for the maintenance of our inventory, we ensure proper care and upgrades, allowing us to reduce waste by making our tech last longer.

Get Reliable AV Equipment and Unmatched Support With Catalyst Companies

Whether you’re hosting a one-time exclusive event or an annual large-scale event, you need to be able to trust your AV gear and your production team. 

At Catalyst, we’re a results-driven company. We’re only happy with our performance if you’re happy with your event. Let us provide the full-service AV solutions you need to get the job done right, every time.

Get in touch today to get a personalized quote and schedule a free consultation!

Contact Us
October 16, 2025

If you’ve ever planned an event—whether it was a team retreat, a corporate conference, or a fundraiser—you know how stressful it can be. You’re dealing with lots of moving parts, and you need to get them to all align at the right time. The audio-visual (AV) setup is crucial. Immersive sound, crisp visuals, and seamless transitions take your event from “pretty good” to “unforgettable.” You need an AV company that delivers every single time. Don’t leave it up to chance.

At Catalyst, we own, maintain, store, and transport all our own AV equipment. We don’t rent anything. This may seem like a small detail, but it actually reduces risk at every level. 

From AV event design to equipment teardown, a provider that owns its own gear can provide better, more reliable AV services. Let’s take a look at 7 reasons why you should hire an AV company that owns and maintains its own equipment.

1. Better Reliability

AV equipment is complex and sensitive. Each piece of gear needs proper maintenance and storage for optimal performance. Regular cleanings, firmware and software updates, and cable inspection are non-negotiables. Equipment needs to be stored in the right conditions, with good ventilation and regular checks.

A company that owns its own equipment will:

  • Know every component inside and out
  • Have documentation on storage, maintenance, and testing
  • Ensure compatibility across systems

Companies that rent equipment from third parties typically receive it close to the event day. They can’t personally guarantee the gear they offer is reliable and up-to-date.

2. Faster Setup and Strike Times

Timing is everything when it comes to running a successful event. You need to rely on your team to have your system fully operational before start time. Setup and teardown require efficiency and confidence. A team that isn’t fully familiar with the tech is far more likely to run into problems.

A company that owns its own equipment will know exactly how long setup and teardown will take. They can install your systems, conduct thorough checks, and make any necessary adjustments well before the ball gets rolling. 

3. Transparent Pricing

When budgeting for a big event, you should be able to rely on transparent AV pricing

When your provider rents equipment from third-parties, it introduces layers of complexity and additional fees. Price markups, delivery fees, last-minute surcharges, and potential late fees can drastically increase your total equipment costs.

AV companies that own and manage their own equipment can offer you more transparent and predictable pricing, because you won’t be paying for:

  • Middleman rental fees
  • Extra insurance costs
  • Emergency replacement costs

Instead, you’re trusting one full-service event production partner to manage the process from start to finish.

4. Improved Flexibility and Customization

For large-scale events, customization is a major advantage. From interactive experiences and unique branding to accessibility features and specialized control systems, customized AV solutions take your event to the next level.

If you need a personalized setup, then choosing a company that owns its equipment is the way to go. These companies can mix and match equipment, alter settings to suit your needs, and adapt quickly to changing circumstances

5. Accountability and Specialized Support

When your AV partner owns its own gear, they’re taking full responsibility for how it performs. They can’t pass the buck to a rental house or third-party logistics vendor. This creates a culture of accountability, quality control, and pride of workmanship.

You’ll feel the difference right from the get-go. Because your provider is taking responsibility for their own equipment, you’ll get a higher level of maintenance, better-trained technicians, and a problem-solving attitude. If something goes wrong, your team will have all the tools and knowledge they need to fix the issue on site.

6. Consistency for Recurring Events

If you’re planning a series of events, consistency is paramount. Companies like Catalyst that own their own gear can replicate setups across venues, maintain branding standards, and switch out compatible equipment as needed. 

We regularly work with the same clients and don’t rely on third-party logistics or equipment-rental companies. When we introduce you to our catalogue of AV equipment, we can answer all your questions personally.

You’ll get to know our equipment offerings and our technical teams. That means if you have a good experience with a certain type of microphone setup, speaker system, or screen type, you can trust that you’ll get that same consistent quality every time you work with us.

7. Environmental Sustainability

Owning your own equipment doesn’t just lead to better AV performance. It’s also better for the planet. Shipping gear to multiple locations can lead to unnecessary carbon emissions, wasted packaging materials, and excessive fuel consumption.

With a company that manages its own technology, you can significantly cut down on transportation and reduce disposable materials. 

Because companies like Catalyst are fully responsible for the maintenance of our inventory, we ensure proper care and upgrades, allowing us to reduce waste by making our tech last longer.

Get Reliable AV Equipment and Unmatched Support With Catalyst Companies

Whether you’re hosting a one-time exclusive event or an annual large-scale event, you need to be able to trust your AV gear and your production team. 

At Catalyst, we’re a results-driven company. We’re only happy with our performance if you’re happy with your event. Let us provide the full-service AV solutions you need to get the job done right, every time.

Get in touch today to get a personalized quote and schedule a free consultation!

Contact Us

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Ensure Your Event Exceeds Expectations With Cutting-Edge AV Production

Are you planning a shareholder meeting, conference, product launch, trade show, or other type of major event? You need to make sure the production value matches the quality of your event’s content. Working with a reliable, proven leader in audio visual event production like Catalyst ensures your event runs smoothly, exceeds the expectations of your audience, and has the impact you want.

Get in touch today to schedule a free consultation, learn more about our services, and tell us about your event.