Impacts of Tariffs on the AV Industry: A Survival Guide

If you’re in the business of managing AV gear, this year comes with a new twist: tariffs.

As AV professionals, it's crucial to understand these challenges and how to protect your projects from rising costs and supply chain disruptions. This blog shows you practical ways to keep equipment costs down, meet project deadlines, and maintain equipment quality despite these new trade challenges.

We dove into this AV Nation article and sat down with Oswaldo, our in-house Equipment Management expert, to unpack what this all means and what you can do to stay ahead.

What You Need to Understand About Tariffs

In simple terms, tariffs are taxes that countries place on goods coming in from abroad. The idea is to protect local industries or create leverage in trade negotiations. But for AV professionals? Tariffs often feel like surprise price hikes for the same gear you’ve been buying for years. The U.S. government has reinstated Section 301 tariffs on products imported from China, including a wide range of AV gear. Starting August 1, 2025, these tariffs will slap a 25% surcharge on select equipment categories. So, unless you’re sourcing gear locally or from low-tariff countries, expect your procurement costs to jump significantly.

Why does this matter for AV professionals?

For buyers, integrators, and production managers, these aren’t abstract policy shifts, they hit real budgets, real timelines, and real projects.

1. Equipment Costs: Imported AV components like projectors, cameras, and audio processors face tariffs ranging from 10% to 46%, with these additional costs typically passed on to you once the importer pays the increased fee.
2. Compromised Options: Suppliers may substitute original components or equipment with whatever is available, potentially resulting in lower quality.
3. Supply Chain Disruption: These changes lead to supply chain delays, product scarcity, and inventory shortages. When manufacturers move production to avoid tariffs, you'll face longer wait times, unpredictable availability, and significantly higher prices for essential equipment replacements or upgrades, which can delay projects.

Tariffs and Their Effects on AV Equipment Cost and Availability

Risk to watch and plan for:

1. Procurement Costs Will Spike: Budget planning just got a curveball. Whether you’re buying gear now or in Q4, those increases could add tens of thousands to your annual spend.
2. Project Timelines Will Suffer: With longer customs clearance, shifting suppliers, and more conservative ordering supply chains are slowing down.
3. Quality May Take a Hit: Vendors may sub-in “equivalent” parts to avoid tariffs. Spoiler: that doesn’t always go well.

How to Prepare for and Navigate Tariff Challenges

Here's Oswaldo's Guide to Staying Agile Through the Tariff Storm:

The global supply chain isn’t going to stabilize overnight. But that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. You can stay on schedule by using different suppliers, planning ahead, and using the right management tools.

1. Look at the Calendar. Not Just the Catalog

Don’t wait for equipment needs to appear on your install schedule. Think six months out. Gear that you might need in Q4 should be ordered before August.

“If you’re running multiple installs or production cycles, now is the time to get ahead of the spike,” Oswaldo explains. “Forecasting demand is the difference between staying on budget, or blowing it.”

2. Audit Your Existing Equipment

Start with what you already have. Use equipment management tools (like Cheqroom 👋) to identify:

• What’s fully functional
• What’s underutilized
• What requires maintenance or upgrades

It’s not uncommon for teams to rediscover thousands of dollars worth of gear they forgot they had, or thought was out of commission.

3. Diversify Your Supplier Network

If you’re working with one primary vendor, start shopping around. Look for partners based in tariff-neutral countries or who have access to bonded warehouses or free trade zones.

4. Use Rentals to Fill the Gaps

Let’s say you missed the August window or got hit with an unexpected delay. Don’t panic—short-term rentals can bridge the gap without locking you into high-cost buys.

Renting is especially useful when:

• You need extra gear for short-term events
• Your owned equipment is out for maintenance
• New tariffs make buying impractical in the short term

Why equipment management is now a strategic priority

With cost and availability in flux, gear visibility becomes your greatest asset. Cheqroom isn’t just a tool. It’s your real-time command center for smarter decisions, faster allocations, and tighter cost control. Here's one way we help AV teams like yours stay ahead: We automate maintenance schedules to extend equipment life and provide insights into equipment usage patterns, showing you which gear gets used frequently and which sits idle, helping you make smarter budget decisions.

Renting vs Buying AV Equipment

If you’re reevaluating whether to buy or rent equipment in today’s climate, here’s a breakdown to guide your choice:

Rent When:

• Equipment is only needed occasionally.
• You want access to up-to-date technology without long-term commitments.
• Maintenance and storage are constraints for your team.

Buy When:

• Frequent use makes long-term ownership more cost-effective.
• You need a consistent, customized setup for complex projects.
• Full control over equipment is crucial for maintaining quality.

Use tariffs as a catalyst, not a crisis

Change is inevitable in AV, and that includes the macro stuff like Global trade policy. But with the right mindset, tool, and strategies, your team can turn these tariffs into a growth moment. While tariffs and supply disruptions could be seen as roadblocks, they also present an opportunity to rethink workflows, enhance asset management, and adopt more creative, scalable solutions.

Use this time to:

• Reassess your supplier and equipment strategy
• Upgrade your asset tracking and forecasting systems
• Strengthen your vendor relationships
• Tighten up your ops before peak season hits