How to Start a Home-Based Children's Birthday Party Business (Home-Based Business Series)

From a $250,000 fête for a seven-year-old Florida girl, complete with helicopter rides, to $100,000 first birthday parties as reported in the __New York Times__, this is rapidly becoming the gilded age of children's birthday parties. The cost of these events now averages between $200 and $400, fueled by pressure to "keep up with the Joneses." Couple this surge in interest with the fact that births in the United States have exceeded 4 million each year since 2000, and you have a waiting and growing market. Planning such events has become a profession in itself. More and more, parents are turning to event consultants to plan their children's celebrations. If you've dreamed of your own home business, planned parties for your own children, and want to put your creative ideas to work, this book is for you. Packed with organizing tips, guidelines, checklists, and more, **__How to Start a Home-Based Children's Birthday Party Business__** will help you hit the ground running. Make a kid’s big day your business! From modest festivities that parents typically shell out $200–400 for, to $100,000 first-birthday bashes as reported in the New York Times, the twenty-first century is rapidly becoming the gilded age of children’s birthday parties. Planning these events has become a profession in itself. The children’s birthday party business is booming—and it offers an ideal entrée for those hoping to start a home-based business with low financial risk. This book shows you how. Combining straightforward language with a host of essential organizing tips, useful checklists, and easy-to-follow worksheets, Amy Jean Peters takes you through every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based children’s birthday party business. Whether you’re just starting to explore your options for a home-based business or are used to being your own boss, this guide helps you channel your creativity and shows you how to get your business off the ground. You’ll be the one parents turn to! Part-Time and Full-Time Options
How to Create a Work Space at Home
The Nuts and Bolts of Establishing a New Business
Preparations for Your First Party
The Basics of Record-keeping
Legal Matters A Timeline for Opening Your Birthday Party BusinessThe Finish Line; Frequently Asked Questions; 05 Hanging Out Your Shingle; Preparing for Your First Party; Avoiding Common Early Mistakes; Your First Event; From Cakes to Party Hats, Finding the Right Suppliers; Fantastic Food; The All-Powerful Goody Bag; Say Cheese, Please!; Keeping the Beat; Working with Your Client; Crowd Control; Developing References and Referrals; Documenting Your Successes; Frequently Asked Question; 06 Planning Your Finances; Managing Your Money; How Much Do You Hope to Earn?; Being Realistic about Creating a Budget Pricing Goods and ServicesFrequently Asked Question; 07 Tracking Your Money; The Bottom Line; Help Is on the Way; Key Financial Statements; Billing Your Clients; Making Cents; Frequently Asked Questions; 08 Tax Time; Managing Your Taxes; Recordkeeping to Ease Tax Time Stress; Tracking Deductions; Hiring a Professional to Help with Your Finances; Audit Advice; Financial and Recordkeeping Software; Frequently Asked Question; 09 Keeping It Legal; Choosing a Legal Eagle; When to Hire a Lawyer; Why You Need an Attorney; Choosing the Lawyer Who Is Right for You; Written Agreements and Contracts Legal Advice When Interviewing and Hiring EmployeesInterviewing Potential Employees; Frequently Asked Questions; 10 Start Spreading the Word; Letting Everyone Know about Your Business; Creating a Marketing Plan; Advertising; Newsletters; Direct Mail; The Power of Word of Mouth; Making and Distributing Brochures and Business Cards; Networking News; A Few More Ideas!; Frequently Asked Question; 11 Strength of the Web; The Power of a Provocative Web Site; Creating a Persuasive Web Site; Building a Blog Presence; Using Online Sources; E-mail Newsletters; Time to Boot Up and Log On Acknowledgments; Introduction; 01 Happy Birthday Party Business to You!; Why Now Is the Moment; Top Five Reasons People Hire a Party Planner; Birthday Party Traditions from around the Globe; Self-Assessment; Challenges of the Field; Opportunities in a Rapidly Growing Area; Frequently Asked Questions; 02 Envisioning Your Business; From Princesses to Ponies: Finding Your Niche; Choosing Where to Conduct Parties; Who Is the Audience for Your New Business?; Weighing Part-Time and Full-Time Options; Specialization; A Checklist of Popular Party Themes; Frequently Asked Questions 03 Setting Up Shop at HomeCreating a Work Space; Buying Office Equipment; Selecting and Purchasing Party Supplies; Zoning Issues; Applying for Licenses; Choosing Insurance; Keeping It Professional; Frequently Asked Questions; 04 Ready, Set, Start; The Nuts and Bolts of Establishing Your New Business; Research, Research, Research; Keeping an Eye on the Competition; Creating a Niche; Naming Your Business; Trademarking Your Name; Creating Your Unique Logo; Crafting a Compelling Mission Statement; Selecting a Business Structure; Writing a Business Plan; Financing Your Business "Combining straightforward language with a host of essential organizing tips, useful checklists, and easy-to-follow worksheets, Amy Jean Peters takes you through every aspect of setting up and running a thriving home-based children's birthday party business. Whether you're just starting to explore your options for a home-based business or are used to being your own boss, this guide helps you channel your creativity and shows you how to get your business off the ground. You'll be the one parents turn to!"--Page 4 of cover From first birthdays to sweet sixteens, the children's birthday party business is booming and offers an ideal entrée for those hoping to start a home-based business with low financial risk.