Family play cafe with its own premises

Parents, grandparents and carers with babies, toddlers and young children, plus families booking birthday parties.

Food and drink sales, entry or play fees if you charge them, party packages and sometimes memberships or class rentals. Quiet winter weekdays can be filled with toddler groups and indoor-play demand.

• Running a food service operation
• Customer service with families
• Managing a small team and budgets
• Awareness of child safety and allergies

• Food premises permit and inspections from your local public health unit
• Commercial general liability insurance, and check whether your insurer has requirements for play areas
• Check play equipment safety standards and flooring for your province, and keep parents responsible for supervising their children
• If you offer drop-off care, you may fall under provincial child care licensing, so check before advertising it
• Allergy handling, especially nuts, and clear allergen labelling
• WCB/WSIB registration once you hire staff, and lease terms and fit-out costs, which are a big commitment

Startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $180,000, depending on the premises, fit-out and play equipment. Lease terms and fit-out costs are a big commitment, so check them carefully before signing.

Monthly revenue is typically around $12,000 to $45,000, depending on location, size, menu and extras such as birthday party bookings. Plan for at least about 40 hours a week of work.

Check the food premises permit and inspections from your local public health unit, insurance requirements for play areas, and play equipment safety standards. If you offer drop-off care, check provincial child care licensing. Also check WCB/WSIB registration once you hire staff.