Starting a Children's Party Planning Business

Event Planning is a business for adults, everyone knows that. As an Event Planner who has done my fair share of Corporate Event Planning that are usually themed towards adults, I have been mistaken in the assumption that the "Kids" market is mostly left towards those stay-at-home moms with lots of time on their hands. 

To say that a themed Event aimed towards a segment of the sector that seeks to raise funds for children is not a Children's Party.  It is still usually an adult themed Event that serves to get adults involved with some aspect of raising funds for a children's charity.  Trust me, I have come across Event Planners that see it in that vein.

So, I have turned my idea around as of late, as I have gotten to know some in the Children's Party Planning business fairly exclusively, or at least, those who do a fair chunk of their business in the kids market.  I guess the biggest drawback I always saw as a Children's Party Planner was that most parents didn't want to spend that much for Kids Party Planning.

I was wrong.

There are plenty of parents, and not just "Rich Folks," who want to give their kids a memorable experience for one reason or another.  It doesn't really matter the reason.  As a fantastic Party Planner, it is your responsibility to give the best Event you can plan no matter who is your client.

So what are the basics of setting up a great Party Planning business?  Well, as I have mentored others to do, the basics are fairly similar to setting up any Event Planning Business; Niche, Operations, Marketing and Execution.

So, your Niche.  Well, you have already decided to be someone who does Children's Party Planning.  That is all well and good.  But really take the time to discover what aspect of that market will you do.  What I mean is are there certain Party themes that you love to do?  Are there certain monetary limits that you must insist on to make it profitable?  You see, you have to ask yourself serious questions or you will be running around doing a bunch of small events that you end up hating to do.

Operations comes from the question I ask most who are starting an Event Planning Business.  How are you going to operate your business?  Where?  In your home?  An office of some kind?  There are a myriad of scenarios that you could do, but please be very careful if operating from home.  It is imperative that you carve out a space that is solely for your business and nothing else.  This may be hard to do, but make it so.  If your family knows that the area  is your "Work Space" and when they see you in it, they will come to know when you are "Doing Business."  You have got to set the groundwork for that mindset to happen.

The Marketing aspect is usually a monetary one at first glance.  People always equate how much money they have to what and how they can market.  That is a terrible approach and one that should be avoided.  You have to be creative at the outset and there are fantastic ways to let the people know that you are doing what you do.  Now, notice that the Marketing is third on the list as you can not Market until you have a pretty clear picture of who you are and how you will operate.

Finally, Execution is paramount and funds everything else.  Face it, if your Execution is lacking, the rest does not matter.  This is why it is clear who you are, how you will do business and how will you Market yourself. 

Eventually, your Execution will be that part of you that will be the true measure of how you interact with your clientele.  This will be your "Calling Card" and will get you countless opportunities to do more Event Planning.

One thing that I must advise you on due to the nature of Children's Party Planning.  Be as professional as if you you were Planning a Corporate Event.  People will appreciate you for it and you will be considered the "Pro" for what you do.

Remember...Every Event in Your Life Should Be A Party.