How to Run A Children's Tea Party Business

Tea time

When you want to run a children's tea party business you will need to treat the venture like a business and not a hobby. Running a children's tea party business is suitable to people who like children and know how to diplomatically handle parents. If you consider yourself an organized person who would like to specialize in a party planning business, running a children's tea party business may be the venture for you.

Things You'll Need

• Advertising budget
• Business plan
• Local baker or baking skills
• Strong organization skills

Instructions

1. Educate yourself about running a small business before you invest your own money. The Small Business Administration offers free online courses for anyone interested in running their own business. They also have local offices with volunteers who have successfully operated their own businesses and can help you answer any questions about the ins and outs and legalities of running a business, including a children's tea party business.

2. Proceed by pricing out how much it will cost you to run a typical children's tea party. Shop around for appropriate tea cup sets and tableware accessories. Rent them or invest in one set a time when you are starting your children's tea party business. As the business grows, expand your equipment and decorations to cover a variety of themes. Remember to price out baked goods, teas, cakes, creams, sugar and lemon for the tea party. If you are more of a party planner and not a baker, establish a relationship with a local bakery or bakeries to get the best prices on baked goods.

3. Create a menu of children's tea party themes. The menu may be based on your preferences, traditional tea party themes, current trends, or on the availability of theme-related decorations and foods. Some theme ideas include Alice in Wonderland Tea Party, Victorian Tea Party, a Birthday Party Tea Party, a Teddy Bear or Doll Tea Party, or a Princess Tea Party. Offer theme related foods, games, decorations and special events. Price each theme accordingly.

4. Advertise the children's tea party business by posting flyers on public bulletin boards. Invest money in the business by purchasing advertisements in any programs for school events or local events. Set up a booth at a local event to gain community exposure. Most of all, spread the word yourself.

5. Throw your first children's tea party for a group of your friend's children, for free. Consider it market research. Plan your event based the number of children and adults attending, create a schedule of events. On the day of the event, bring the decorations and the tea party treats and do a trial run. Keep notes on what worked and what did not work.

6. Organize and file all receipts related to the children's tea party business for filing with the IRS. Even if you are not technically an incorporated business, if you made a profit, the IRS will consider you a sole proprietor of the business and you will need to file taxes and pay taxes accordingly.

7. Grow the business slowly, tweaking your themes and your menu with each party. As your children's tea party business begins to grow and you cannot handle all of the requests, consider hiring some help.

Tips & Warnings

• Be firm on pricing.

• Have the foresight to accommodate additional guests and bill accordingly.

• Remember that the client is the child and the parent is the bill payer.

• Pay close attention to the details of each party.

• Follow local Board of Health rules regarding food preparation.

• Do not give away too many extras for free.

• Do not place flyers on cars, as it is illegal in some places.

• Do not underestimate the power of word of mouth advertising.

Resources

• Small Business Administration