Starting a summer camp business can be financially rewarding, with many programs seeing a profit margin of 25% to 40 percent. If you want your camp to be a success, planning is critical. This article will outline some of the essential steps you need to take to launch your camp and welcome your first group.
How to Start a summer camp from the Ground Up
Every program, from day camps to overnight camps, is slightly different. Each state and municipality has its codes and regulations. Here are the steps you will likely need to take to start a youth summer camp.
Register your business
Make your new business legitimate and legal. How to Start a Small Business is a more detailed article, but Registering your New Business usually requires the following:
- Choose an incorporation type. The most common are sole proprietorships (sole traders), limited liability companies (LLCs), general partnerships, and corporations.
- Verifying the availability of a name is essential, as two businesses operating in the same niche and state cannot use words that sound similar. Grab the term before your competitor does.
Design a camp program.
A summer camp program begins with a general curriculum. Logistically, a sleepaway program is very different than an urban day camp. Working with young children is other than working with teenagers.
You’ll need to determine what activities you can offer with your resources. A great summer program requires money, staff, proper facilities, and even high demand. Planning also includes what to do with the resources you don’t use. What happens to the horses if your overnight camp offers horseback riding, for instance, during non-summer?
Locate a place for your camping.
The type of summer camp you are designing will determine the location. Some summer camps organize their activities at local attractions, such as museums and amusement parks. Be prepared to spend money on vans, buses, fuel and maintenance, insurance, or rental fees if transportation is required.
Health and safety research protocols
Your camp must meet building codes, fire safety rules, and other municipal permits, just as restaurants must undergo food safety inspections.
The safety regulations above are not specific to the location. These safety regulations also apply to any activities that you provide. Swimming pools, for example, often require lifeguards to be trained. Most facilities that serve children, whether in the city or rural areas, require various types of insurance.
You can start by contacting your local city hall to find out how to set up a day camp and what health, safety, and insurance requirements apply to you.
Hire and train staff.
The number of staff required by most daycares and summer camps is based on how many children are in the group. Your employees may require specialized training in CPR and first aid, depending on the type of program. If your program is seasonal, you might have to hire and train new employees yearly.
Find a method to accept payments.
Summer day camps can be a lot of fun but also chaotic. This is especially true during the drop-off and pick-up times. It’s essential to have a secure, easy, and fast way to accept payment. Our POS system will help. They can process cash, checks, credit cards, debit cards, and contactless mobile payments – on-site or online.
Our payment solutions include electronic billing as well as subscription billing. Both of these can automate your operations, so you can concentrate on having a good time with your campers.
Create a frictionless registration process.
The parents and guardians are ultimately your target market.
Here are some tips to get you started:
- Create a registration process that is as frictionless as possible, making it as simple as possible for parents to register or request information.
- Promote your new summer camp to first-timers so they know what you offer.
- To increase repeat business, use exclusive discounts and loyalty programs. Clover POS systems already include Customer Engagement functionality.