START A CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS

If you love children and enjoy having fun, starting a children’s entertainment business is something you should seriously consider.

Children, especially the younger ones, have lots of time in their hands during the weekends. Many of them easily get bored and parents have
devised ways to keep them busy by taking them out to have fun and get entertained.

There is therefore a great business opportunity in children’s events and entertainment business.

Starting a children’s event and entertainment business is a great way to earn good money every weekend, public holidays and on special occasions such as birthdays and other children’s parties. It will also help children and parents enjoy special occasions.

*Equipment*

To set up a children’s entertainment business, there are particular equipment that you will need to keep the kids entertained. Most of the equipment are available locally therefore this is a business you can start right away.

A bouncing castle, is one key equipment that such a business will
obviously require. These castles are available locally or can be imported. They come in a variety of shapes, colours and sizes. This is an inflatable toy designed like a house that is blown up using a pump and children pay inside. When not inflated, it can be folded and carried around easily. With less than Sh.100,000 you can get a good bouncing castle to start
with.

Another equipment that will come in handy is the trampoline. This is also for jumping and it is safer to have one that is secured on the sides with nets to prevent the children from falling off. These are also available locally and come in various sizes, most of them circular,
but there are also rectangular ones. These should cost you about Sh.40,000 to Sh.60,000 each depending on the size. They are assembled and disassembled on site so carrying them around will be easy.

You can also have other play toys such as clowns, masks, balls, balloons, etc that the children can play with for a change. Since you may have several children showing up at the same time, a variety of play equipment may be necessary to keep them busy throughout since not all may have the time or even space to jump in the castles or trampolines at the same time.

*Location*

Your children’s entertainment business will require to be located in a place that is frequented by parents and their children such as a busy shopping mall or a shopping center.

You may also look for an empty yard that is clearly visible and easily accessible, probably located next to a busy road or center.

Other places where parents frequent over the weekends such as a car wash yards, recreation parks, major restaurants etc may also be ideal locations for your children’s entertainment business. You can also set up your business in an open space in your estate.

Approach the management of the places such as a busy mall, shopping center, car wash or restaurant and request them to permit you to set up your temporary business within or next to their premises. It could be within or next to the car park or entrance of such a place, depending on the space available.

*Operation*

Having been granted permission by the management to set up within the mall, shopping center, restaurant compound, or wherever else you have settled on, it will be time to agree on the days you will be open for business.

These would be mostly weekends, Saturdays and Sundays. Public holidays will also be ideal as many children and their parents will be free.

Depending on your location and size of your main equipment, bouncing castle and trampoline, you may charge anything between Sh.50 and Sh.100 per hour of play.

The children need to be watched as they play to enhance safety of the children and of the equipment. Within a busy area, you are assured of 50 kids or more.

You may even entertain as many as 100 kids by the end of the day. That will translate into good income for you. Your return on investment will be very attractive. You are likely to bring back the cash you invested in your business

within months.

*Advantages of this business*

1. High Demand

2. It can be fun.

3. It can grow into other, complementary areas such as face painting, invitation to children events etc.

4. No special skills required.

5. Easy to start.

*Disadvantagees of this business*

1. Kids can be hard to handle and kept from being bored.

2. Weekend hours will be your primary work hours.

3. It can be slow and/or competitive depending on your area.

Apart from locating in a particular place, you can also offer your services at children special events such as birthday parties, baptism celebrations and more.

Word of mouth and building your reputation is key to a successful venture. Once parents see and hear about your wonderful talents and equipment, you will be booked up!

Remember, setup can take about 2 hours or more, therefore, always arrive much earlier to set up your equipment on time.

Keeping children waiting can stress them up and may make them not fully enjoy your services. Always make sure that by the time the first kid
arrives, your equipment are all ready for use. Kids can be very impatient, so don’t keep them waiting.

This is a business you can start very quickly and does not need many requirements.

Why not start one today?

By
Timothy Angwenyi
Business Consultant

Justine Nyachieo
Business Man & Mentor