Amy Jean Peters - How to Start a Home-Based Childrens Birthday Party Business

Thank you to the many folks who lent a hand in the creation of this book, including Laura Lenahan, Leslie Bullock, Lili Foggle, Heather Howard, Michelle Kaufman, Darlene LaFontaine, Nancy Lavin, and Shannon Ludwin. And, of course, thanks always to my three guys, Peter, Max, and Chet Sims.

From moon bounces to piatas and everything in between, these online party supply stores offer a vast array of wares.

Andersons Giant Party Store, www.giantpartystore.com

Balloon Time, www.balloontime.com

Birthday Direct, www.birthdaydirect.com

Birthday in a Box, www.birthdayinabox.com

BirthdayZ by ShindigZ, www.birthdayzbyshindigz.com

Celebrate Express, www.celebrateexpress.com

Oriental Trading, www.orientaltrading.com

Party Pro, www.partypro.com

Party Supplies Hut, www.partysupplieshut.com

Party Supplies World, www.partysuppliesworld.com

Pinatas.com, www.pinatas.com

From customized banners to disposable cameras emblazoned with the birthday childs photo, customized supplies add extra flair to a childs birthday party.

Balloon City U.S.A., www.ballooncity.com

Cameras for All, www.camerasforall.com

Custom Camera Collection, www.customcameracollection.com

Marco Marketing Solutions, www.marcopromotionalproducts.com

My M&Ms for Promotions, www.mymms.com

Party 411, www.party411.com

Personalized Party Favor, www.personalizedpartyfavor.com

Personalized Party Favors, www.personalizedpartyfavors.com

Goldsmith, Richard. Direct Mail for Dummies. New Jersey, IDG Books, 2002.

Mailing List Buying Guide, www.mailinglistbuyingguide.com; this useful Web site offers information about direct mail campaigns as well as guidance about companies offering mailing lists for sale.

Meisner, Chet. The Complete Guide to Direct Marketing. New York, Kaplan Business, 2006.

It is vital in any event-planning business to keep abreast of current trends. Make sure to track current books and magazines that will influence your work as a childrens birthday party planner. Check your library or bookstore often for the most up-to-date books.

Developing a Niche

These books are useful as you choose and develop a niche for your birthday party planning business. I especially enjoy the Penny Whistle party guides. They are charming and inspiring.

Baltrus, Susan. The Ultimate Birthday Party Book: 50 Complete and Creative Themes to Make Your Kids Special Day Fantastic! Colorado, Cook Communications, 2002.

Brokaw, Meredith and Gilbar, Annie. The Penny Whistle Birthday Party Book. New York, Fireside, 1992.

Brokaw, Meredith and Gilbar, Annie. The Penny Whistle Party Planner. New York, Fireside, 1991.

Hetzer, Linda. Fifty Fabulous Parties for Kids. New York, Three Rivers Press, 1994.

Krull, Sharron. That Was the Best Birthday Party Ever: How to Give Birthday Parties Kids Will Never Forget. California, Play Power, 1995.

Smith, Anita M. Theme Birthday Parties for Children: A Complete Planning Guide. North Carolina, McFarland & Company, 2000.

Vansgarg, Amy. Hit of the Party: The Complete Planner for Childrens Theme Birthday Parties. Pennsylvania, Diane Books Publishing Company, 2000.

Warner, Penny. Birthday Parties for Kids: Creative Party Ideas Your Kids and Their Friends Will Love. California, Prima Lifestyles, 1998.

Warner, Penny. Kids Party Games and Activities: Hundreds of Entertaining Things to Do at Parties for Kids from 212. California, Meadowbrook, 1993.

General Event Planning Guides

Although none of these titles specifically addresses childrens party planning, they do offer general and helpful advice for developing an event-planning business. When looking for useful guides, always check the books copyright. Event planning is a fast paced and always changing field. Books that are more than five years old will probably be of little use.

Kilkenny, Shannon. The Complete Guide to Successful Event Planning. Florida, Atlantic Publishing Company, 2007.

Moran, Jill S., CSEP. How to Start a Home-Based Event Planning Business. Connecticut, The Globe Pequot Press, 2007.

Peters, Amy. Start Your Own Event Planning Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success. California, Entrepreneur Press, 2007.

Inspiring Magazines

Although these magazines are not specifically directed at the childrens party planners, I find they offer creative and interesting ideas that are useful for planning kids events.

Family Fun Magazine: This publication offers advice on everything from creating the ultimate cupcake to designing games and activities for tots to teens. Subscriptions are $10 for ten issues and are available at www.familyfun.com.

Martha Stewarts Good Things for Kids: Crafts: This charming magazine offers ideas for creative craft and art projects. For more information, go to www.marthastewart.com.

These are good resources when choosing to hire other professionals to help with your business. Check these Web sites to find lawyers and accountants in your area and to check their references.

American Bar Association, www.aba.net

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, www.aicpa.org

National Association of States Board of Accountancy, www.nasba.org

For better or worse, there is no official certification for childrens birthday party planners. For the better, because you dont need to acquire any specific certification to open your business. For worse, because if you are looking for training or certification, it can be a bit frustrating.

A good place to find informal training is at your local community colleges, which often offer classes in catering, food and floral design, web design, marketing, and other areas of interest to event planners. Community College School Guide (www.collegebound.net) offers information about community colleges throughout the country and the types of classes offered.

The two organizations below offer certification for event planners. This certification, while not specifically targeted to childrens party planners, is still useful. Some clients look for a professional certification when hiring party planners. I have found, though, that typically, my clients do not look for or feel the need for certification.

Convention Industry Council, www.conventionindustry.org; this group offers the training to become a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).

International Special Events Society, www.ises.com; this group offers certification as a Certified Special Events Professional (CSEP).

Often you can find free, professional help in your community or at your fingertips when you access these Web sites:

Americas Small Business Development Center Network, www.asbdc-us.org

Service Corps of Retired Executives, www.score.org

Small Business Administration, www.sba.gov

Small Business Development Center Network, sbdcnet.org

Ive found that networking locally has been the best way to grow and promote my business. Your local chamber of commerce will likely prove invaluable in helping you to network and to make important business connections (www.chamberofcommerce.com). However, as your business grows you may want to attend the meetings of national organizations to learn more about event planning.