- 01. Required: scope and constraints
- 02. Required: deliverables
- 03. Skip: detailed creative
- 04. Evaluation criteria
Bad RFPs produce incomparable quotes. Good RFPs produce 3–4 clean proposals you can evaluate side-by-side. Here's the structure.
Required: scope and constraints
Show name, dates, booth number, size, height limits, hanging-sign allowance, in-booth requirements (meeting rooms, demo stations, storage), brand guidelines link, target budget range, key dates, single point of contact.
Required: deliverables
Concept renders (2–3 directions), line-item quote (booth, freight, drayage, I&D, electrical, AV, graphics), timeline, change-order policy, insurance limits, references.
Skip: detailed creative
Don't ask for full design specs at RFP stage. You're paying for unpaid speculative work — the quality drops accordingly. Concept directions are enough.
Tell us about your event, budget, and timeline. We'll line up vetted booth builders that fit — usually within 48 hours, no commitment.
Get matched with buildersEvaluation criteria
Weight: relevant experience (30%), design quality (25%), total cost (25%), team and supervision plan (15%), references (5%). Pure-price selection produces regret 70%+ of the time.
- Require scope, deliverables, and timeline — skip full creative
- Demand line-item quotes, never lump sums
- Weight design and team — not just price
- Three RFPs is the sweet spot — more burns builder goodwill
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Part of the Exhibit Bridge editorial team — ex-exhibitors, marketers, and builders writing the guides we wish we'd had when we were on the show floor.
Zoom out to the full playbook
This article is part of a deeper hub — the pillar page collects every related guide on the topic.
Plan around your show, city, and industry
Use these directories to pressure-test the guide against your specific show, venue, and vertical.
Keep reading
Cancellation clauses, IP ownership, hidden labor markups, and the booth builder fine print that costs exhibitors thousands every year.
A 10-question framework for vetting rental partners — most exhibitors only ask 3.
The 6 milestones every custom booth project moves through — and the 3 where most projects slip.