Pop-Up indoor play sessions

Parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers looking for weekday play, and families wanting a themed birthday party.

Ticket price per child per session, session packs, private party bookings and optional sales of packaged snacks or drinks from a partner.

• Comfortable running sessions with kids
• Organizing set-up and pack-down
• Social media and local marketing
• Calm customer service

• General liability insurance that covers you at rented venues, and check what the venue's own policy requires
• Check your city or county for a business license, and whether any permit is needed for events with children
• Safety of equipment, set-up on hard floors, cleaning between sessions and parent supervision rules
• Background checks and staffing rules for adults working with children, check your state's requirements
• Food rules: stick to packaged items unless you check with the health department
• Hall availability and price changes, and storage space for equipment, plus a vehicle to carry it

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on how much soft play equipment you buy, storage, a vehicle to carry it and insurance. Hall hire costs can change, so build in some flexibility.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many sessions and parties you run, ticket prices and hall costs. Hall availability and price changes can affect what you take home.

Check whether your city or county requires a business license or a permit for events with children. Also check insurance that covers rented venues, state background check and staffing rules for adults working with children, equipment safety, and food rules if you offer snacks.