25 BIZ FOR KIDS

Businesses that cater to children and their time-starved parents are really booming.

We’ve rounded up 25 businesses that cater to the booming children’s market.

1. ART CLASS:
   If you don’t want to host this service in your own home, check with the local church or fire department and see if you can use their facility once a week for your class. You can make a donation to their organization in exchange for the space.
   
2. THEATER GROUP:
   There are plenty of budding stars in your community, but they just don’t know it yet. You can start by hosting two plays a year and have the kids rehearse, make costumes, design sets and programs, and sell tickets. You charge a fee per child and pocket a tidy profit while the kids and their proud parents have a ball. Check with local schools to see if you can use their stage or gym.
   
3. PHOTOGRAPHY:
   Start your own photography business. You can photograph birthdays, outdoor events, school picnics, sports competitions and more. Advertise and show your portfolio to generate clients.
   
4. MUSIC LESSONS:
   Play an instrument? You can teach the lessons at the kid’s home and charge by the lesson, which will probably last from 30 to 40 minutes. You can sell books to the kids and have them rent the instruments from a local music store that will provide you with a commission for each student brought to them. Consider putting on a concert at the end of each year to showcase the kids’ talents.
   
5. PERSONALIZED PRODUCTS:
   Put the child’s name on an item and it will sell. You’ll need to hook up with suppliers so turn to your local phone book and check out our biz opp directory on page 68.
   
6. COACH A TEAM:
   There are probably teams in town that could be playing and having a ball, but there aren’t enough coaches to go around. You can be the coach and take a fee for your work from the busy parents who can’t step in when junior calls!
   
7. PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB:
   Start a photo club. You’ll be meeting with children once a week to go on a photo outing such as to a park, a beach or some other public place. You’ll help the kids make photo albums of their work based on a theme they’ve chosen. You’ll collect a weekly fee for the club.
   
8. DAY CARE:
   You might have to be licensed to set up a day care center in your home so do some checking first. You’ll probably want to be heavily insured and bonded to protect yourself from liability. Purchase toys, art tables, come up with activities, love to be with kids and you will be on to quite a moneymaker.
   
9. LESSONS:
   Teach kids when parents don’t have the time. You can have a kite day at the beach and sell kites who all arrive empty-handed. Same with scooters, bikes and skis.
   10. CHILD ID & FIND SERVICE: Child Shield, U.S.A. has a package that begins at $495. Call 800-488-2445 for info.
   
10. SUPPLY CAPS & SHIRTS:
    You can be the supplier for local teams, community clubs, civic groups, school events and more. You’ll buy the shirts, caps, whatever, at rock-bottom wholesale prices, have them embroider or monogrammed with the group’s name and sell them at a nice profit. You’ll need a re-sell license to buy the goods wholesale and then you can contact wholesalers in your area or use mail-order catalogs to order the goods and set up shop.
    
11. KEEPSAKE DISPLAYS:
    Start a business as sentimental as shoe bronzing, but this is modern. Take a treasured item, such as the child’s first sneaker, baseball, baton, etc., and create a great display for the item.
    
12. SCRAPBOOKS:
    Take family photographs and postcards, letters, ribbons, bows and other memories of special events and moments in the lives of your clients’ families. You’ll present the scrapbooks to the families and collect your fee for putting together these wonderful memories.
    
13. ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS:
    You will arrive at the home where the “dig” will take place, one day in advance to plant your fossils and fake dinosaur bones in a pre-determined spot by the homeowner. Return the next day with your safari suit and get kids to dig up the fossils with brushes and small shovels you distribute. The kids can keep the tools for an extra fee. This will take a couple of hours and is perfect to market as a birthday party game or activity.
    
14. INFLATABLES:
    You take your inflatable to parties and events. Rent it out or charge for the kids to use it for 10 minutes. There are several great companies that manufacture and sell those fun inflatables. Turn to page 68 and see our Business Opportunity section for a listing of inflatable companies.
    
15. INTERIOR DESIGN FOR KIDS:
    Start an interior design business that specializes in creating themed rooms for children and for babies. Nursery set-ups are a natural add on to this business. Makeover a room in your own home or do one for a friend. Photograph it and it will act as a “reference” for your new design business.
    
16. KID-PROOF HOMES:
    Is there bleach under the sink or other harmful chemicals within reach of the children? Could a child fall down a staircase or from a deck? These are the types of situations you’ll be looking to uncover as you help parents childproof their home from potential disaster. You can generate additional income by offering to fix what’s wrong and to install special locks, clamps, etc.
    
17. DANCE CLASS:
    Find some teachers who can organize dance classes. Book a space. Start thinking about where you are going to host your recital. Attend one in your region to see the moneymaking potential.
    
18. PARTIES FOR KIDS:
    Plan parties for children. Buy the party fair and drop it off, or you can also provide the cake, the entertainment and even be on hand to supervise these events.
    
19. SPECIAL EVENTS VIDEOS:
    Take your video camera and start a business recording special events around town for your neighbors and business associates. Your jobs could range from a school picnic, a special town club event, a marathon, a local bands’ gig, you name it.
    
20. PARTY ENTERTAINING:
    Start your own entertainment business. You will be hired to perform at parties, or be the agent and book the talent. You’ll need a good rapport with people and a good costume: gorilla, historian, clown, etc.
    
21. TREASURE HUNTS:
    Create a personalized map of the site—which must be done in advance of the planned treasure hunt day. You’ll plant tokens, charms, toys and candies in a treasure chest. Arrive dressed in full pirate regalia on the day of the treasure hunt armed with maps for each of the kids present. Yes, “x” will mark the spot of the buried treasure.
    
22. LATCH KEY PROGRAM:
    You’ll offer activities and perhaps a snack to tide the kids over until their parents pick them up. This business is only run a few hours a day and if you have a dozen kids and charge $50 per kid per week, that translates to $600 a week. You can tie this in with the taxi service and really pull down a bundle of extra dough every week.
    
23. EXERCISE CLASS:
    Kids are getting bigger. Offer fun exercise classes for kids and their friends. Hold class in clients’ homes. You don’t have to be licensed to be instructor in many states, but check with the country clerk’s office to see what your state’s regulations are.
    
24. KID TAXI SERVICE:
    You can establish your own shuttle/taxi service for entire teams or individuals. Charge by the ride and you can set a minimum. Check into your insurance to make sure you’ll be fully covered.

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