HerOverMe
03-06-2006, 10:39 AM
So here's my idea to slowly ease into working from home. First I want to create a website with a directory for local parents planning parties for their kids. This would not be a moneymaker, although I would want to offer affiliate advertising in order for it to pay for itself. The site would offer a simple listing of venues, entertainers, etc. I'd work in a review system. I know basic web design and have a genius other half who is a programmer if I get stuck on anything. :)
Once I got that up and running I would offer sort of pre-packaged parties. You may be thinking offering a directory and then advertising myself as a planner may seem a little contradictory. The way I see it the moms that are looking at that directory to plan a party themselves will look at my all inclusive prices and decide to take the easy way out. :) We're talking a wealth of information to sift through and errands to run - or pass the money onto me and let me handle it. Then again there are the moms that love to plan - like me!- and I don't think they'd ever use my services either way.
I have a ton of ideas for little girls' parties!
Spa Parties: I'd come to the party place with everything required to have the girls feel pampered for a couple of hours. We would make our own facial products and send the girls home with recipe cards. I'd bring teen magazines for them to read while waiting for their turn with the professional stylist (my sister.) They would each get a manicure and have their toe nails polished. I'd provide water bottles, fresh fruit and cupcakes. I'm thinking this would be a $250 party @ 2 hrs up to 8 girls. $15 each additional child. $50 for an additional hour. At an additional fee my sister could also provide up-dos for each girl. We discussed $15-$20 per child for that service.
Baking Parties: I found this neat site that sells Greeting Cakes. They are little 4 inch cakes shipped to you prepackaged that 'bake' in about 2 minutes in a microwave. I would offer aprons and chef hats for the kids to personalize. We'd bake and decorate the cakes. They could eat them then or I'd offer boxes for them to personalize and take the cakes home. This would be a $200 party for up to 10 kids. $10 each additional child.
Starlet Parties: Dress up accessories - hats, boas, sunglasses, costume jewelry galore. We'd do a make-up application lesson. I'd set up a runway and or a photo shoot for a fashion show. Lots of pictures! Each girl would get sent home with a personalized make-up bag, purse or hat box. We'd also do a themed craft project, I was thinking a picture frame. This would be another bottled water, fresh fruit, cupcakes menu. The up-do option could easily be added into this party as well.
So many ideas...tea parties, garden parties - but you get the idea. I like themes! Haha. I'm still brainstorming on boys, but I've got ideas worked up on a space/aliens theme and a superhero party. Oh and a pirate party! These are all birthday party ideas, but I also have great spring break, Christmas, and Halloween party ideas.
I wasn't sure what to charge at first, but 8 kids at Chuck E Cheese easily runs you $150-$200. This is much more personalized and I'm coming to their location. (Which I'd be willing to set up for an additional cost if the parents just really want a no fuss experience.)
Other ideas I had were to offer Mother Daughter (mommy& me) parties. It could be any of the above, but at an extra cost could include the moms.
I also love to do scrapbooks so I thought about offering scrapbooks of the parties for anywhere from $40-$80 depending on the size. I could even offer a scrapbook party theme. :)
I would love to be given a theme and a budget and just be able to go with it, too. I just think these prepackaged ideas would be easy to advertise and schedule. :)
So I'm at the point that I need to stop talking about it and do it. I guess I just don't know where to start. What licenses, permits will I need? How do I find that out? What sort of taxes will I need to charge/pay/file? What sort of insurance liability am I facing here? I need to set up some sort of contract for clients to sign....This isn't exactly the area where my creative mind comes into play. I found a woman who runs a similar business in another state and she sells paperwork packages and a how-to-get-started package, but I'm wary of that. Do I really want to pay $40 for info on a business started in another state? Then again it's $40 I have and it could be a great resource.
Anyway I just wanted to fill you ladies in on what my dream is. I'd love to hear any feedback.
Once I got that up and running I would offer sort of pre-packaged parties. You may be thinking offering a directory and then advertising myself as a planner may seem a little contradictory. The way I see it the moms that are looking at that directory to plan a party themselves will look at my all inclusive prices and decide to take the easy way out. :) We're talking a wealth of information to sift through and errands to run - or pass the money onto me and let me handle it. Then again there are the moms that love to plan - like me!- and I don't think they'd ever use my services either way.
I have a ton of ideas for little girls' parties!
Spa Parties: I'd come to the party place with everything required to have the girls feel pampered for a couple of hours. We would make our own facial products and send the girls home with recipe cards. I'd bring teen magazines for them to read while waiting for their turn with the professional stylist (my sister.) They would each get a manicure and have their toe nails polished. I'd provide water bottles, fresh fruit and cupcakes. I'm thinking this would be a $250 party @ 2 hrs up to 8 girls. $15 each additional child. $50 for an additional hour. At an additional fee my sister could also provide up-dos for each girl. We discussed $15-$20 per child for that service.
Baking Parties: I found this neat site that sells Greeting Cakes. They are little 4 inch cakes shipped to you prepackaged that 'bake' in about 2 minutes in a microwave. I would offer aprons and chef hats for the kids to personalize. We'd bake and decorate the cakes. They could eat them then or I'd offer boxes for them to personalize and take the cakes home. This would be a $200 party for up to 10 kids. $10 each additional child.
Starlet Parties: Dress up accessories - hats, boas, sunglasses, costume jewelry galore. We'd do a make-up application lesson. I'd set up a runway and or a photo shoot for a fashion show. Lots of pictures! Each girl would get sent home with a personalized make-up bag, purse or hat box. We'd also do a themed craft project, I was thinking a picture frame. This would be another bottled water, fresh fruit, cupcakes menu. The up-do option could easily be added into this party as well.
So many ideas...tea parties, garden parties - but you get the idea. I like themes! Haha. I'm still brainstorming on boys, but I've got ideas worked up on a space/aliens theme and a superhero party. Oh and a pirate party! These are all birthday party ideas, but I also have great spring break, Christmas, and Halloween party ideas.
I wasn't sure what to charge at first, but 8 kids at Chuck E Cheese easily runs you $150-$200. This is much more personalized and I'm coming to their location. (Which I'd be willing to set up for an additional cost if the parents just really want a no fuss experience.)
Other ideas I had were to offer Mother Daughter (mommy& me) parties. It could be any of the above, but at an extra cost could include the moms.
I also love to do scrapbooks so I thought about offering scrapbooks of the parties for anywhere from $40-$80 depending on the size. I could even offer a scrapbook party theme. :)
I would love to be given a theme and a budget and just be able to go with it, too. I just think these prepackaged ideas would be easy to advertise and schedule. :)
So I'm at the point that I need to stop talking about it and do it. I guess I just don't know where to start. What licenses, permits will I need? How do I find that out? What sort of taxes will I need to charge/pay/file? What sort of insurance liability am I facing here? I need to set up some sort of contract for clients to sign....This isn't exactly the area where my creative mind comes into play. I found a woman who runs a similar business in another state and she sells paperwork packages and a how-to-get-started package, but I'm wary of that. Do I really want to pay $40 for info on a business started in another state? Then again it's $40 I have and it could be a great resource.
Anyway I just wanted to fill you ladies in on what my dream is. I'd love to hear any feedback.