Birthday parties as a business?

[doulanobles]

I'm always trying to come up with ways to help make ends meet and wanted to run this one by all of you.

We have a lot of specialty farms nearby but none offer kids birthday party packages. We have 20 acres, animals, ample parking and creative minds. So...I'm thinking of offering kids b-day parties here. Maybe with themes tied to the seasons ans giing some city/suburban kids a chance to experience rural life.

Has anyone done this? I know I need to check zoning, etc.

Thanks!

[calliemoonbeam]

I don't know if it's feasible or not, but it's on my list of possible business ideas to check out for when I get my own place. I've got tons of ideas, but I'm just afraid the insurance required will be prohibitive. Sorry I can't help, but it seems like a great idea to me, if the insurance pans out. GMTA (great minds think alike), lol.

[Beeman]

Unfortunately the insurance thing always comes to mind first. Wasn't there a kid that got sick at a petting zoo not long ago. I guarantee the parents called the lawyer from the hospital.

[Maura]

It sounds like a fun idea. You should run it by a lawyer first (liability and insurance, etc), but do check it out. You could even have two party options. One would be to come to the farm. The other would be to put on the whole party at the child's house. I'm sure many parents would love to hire someone to bring cake, balloons, games, etc. for their child's party.

[chickenista]

I don't think doing it at your house would work...again..insurance. But at other people's houses might work..you need to network with clowns, jugglers etc.. oh and the balloon animal guys. But taking the worry and hassle out of it for the mom's would get you business! My only thought..why would you want to? Sreaming sugared up kids! Everday! Aarrgghh!

Oh, that's right..some people like kids! Just kidding!

[Jenn]

www.finkleydownfarm.co.uk/ have a farm petting zoo and host b'days and other parties there at a restaurant they have on site.

They have a young family which they choose to school at the local for pay school- fancy jackets and all- and having their daughter in MY daughter's class was no doubt part of the reason half the class had their parties there.

It was always cute to see the father or mother in their muddy wellies and muddied landrover used on the farm (the smaller kind they have in UK- like a Jeep- not the land yachts we think of over here) picking up their kids along with the sleek Jags and German sports cars of the London commuter parents.

[Wildwood Flower]

Hi Doula,
What a great idea! I would not necessarily let insurance costs scare you off. My husband used to train horses and we had people around all of the time.

Of course you would have to carry some kind of insurance, but it might not be that bad--considering the amount of money you could make at it.

Sometimes there is a way around it by a waiver from the parent(s) before they come to the party.

That farm in UK is awesome! It looks so clean and tidy. Now that would be a full-time endeavor!

My experience has been that whatever you are wanting to do, find somebody who's already doing it--maybe you could email the people at this farm in UK...or find somebody else in USA.

Good luck!

[ihedrick]

I had researched doingthis with small animals, including mini horses. Once I got a few insurance quotes I gave up the idea. I would have to do alot of parties to cover the insurance costs. That was in San Diego, CA. Not sure what the insurance would be for your area, but take a look at that and see how feasible it would be.
If you are mobile, you'll need sturdy/quality pens to contain the animals and enough animal handlers on hand to keep the kids from irritating the animals. If you have it at your place; keep parking in mind along with how you'd separate "off limits" places. Also handicapped accessibility may be an issue at your place.
Just some thoughts from someone who has thought about it. Now you may want to think about doing classroom presentations with your animals; a little more control over what is going on and you are still exposing children to wonderful farm animals.

[Ken Scharabok]

None of these are on a party business, but might give you some ideas:

• Birthday Parties for Children: How to Give Them, How to Survive Them by J. Marzollo, Harper Collins Publishers, 10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299.
• Entertaining Children: Theme Parties, Activities, Games and Fun Ideas for Groups by J. Amos, McFarland and Company, Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640-0611.
• Great Parties for Young Children by C. Barron and C. Scherzer, Walker and Company, 435 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014.
• Great Theme Parties for Children by I. Watts, Sterling Publishing Company, 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810.

[crashy]

Don't forget to check out face painters. We can make a party great!!! Esp. theme parties princess parties..spiderman parties stuff like that will draw folks to your place.
Insurance may cost but it takes money to make money. If there is a will there is a way.

[Wolf Flower]

There is a gal in my hometown that does it. She has a petting zoo and hosts birthday parties at her farm, and on location. I don't know that she makes a profit, but it does help to pay her feed bill. http://twobytworanch.com .

[busybee870]

My mother made clown cosutmes and bought her makeup and funny clown stuff and when to customers home, she did real good. you could alos buy other costumes if you search hard. you can make alot, no insurance, no mess to clean up after. $$$$$

[doulanobles]

Wow! Thanks for all the great input! The insurance thing just occured to me after I posted.

We are zoned ag. here in Spokane county and have to prove some sort of financial gain for 3 out of 5 years in order to keep our lower tax rate and ag. classification. I wonder if I sold produce, eggs, etc as part of the party if it could be counted as farm income...hmm...

We don't expect to strike it rich but it'd be nicwe to pay for feed and other hobbies.

My daughter's b-day is Sunday adn we're doing a pumpin hunt, bobbing for apples, caramel apples and of course our 'petting zoo' (2 goats, 2 ducks and 10 chickens, 2 kittens). It'll be a good practice.

If it won't work at our place, we'll probablt abandon the idea. I try not to leave the house a lot. I go to town twice a week(15 miles each way) and we homeschool and I take 1-2 doula clients a month so I certainly don't need anything else to take me away from all the work here!

Thanks all!