Starting a Summer Camp Business

Do you have a plan of starting a summer camp business of your own but you are not sure of how to manage this lucrative business?

It is now time to make your dream business into reality as we show you some informative guidelines on how to start a summer camp business legally.

The Benefits of Starting a Summer Camp Business

Children want to make their summer vacation a remarkable break to remember and they are looking for best ways of how to spend it more noteworthy after several months in school. For this reason, before summer arrives many entrepreneurs are thinking of a profitable business which may bring more income and at the same time fun and relaxation for the youth as well as to the younger children. This is the appropriate time to start a summer camp business because most of the youth are searching for places where they can learn more skills or enhance their talents in different sports like swimming, gymnastics, basketball and martial arts or improve their dancing, singing, and also playing musical instruments like guitar and piano. However, starting your own summer camp takes a lot of planning and you need to choose a good theme to catch the attention of your target audience specially the youth. Remember that you need to take the opportunity of the summer break where most parents are willing to spend money for their children just to make their summer vacation a worthwhile experience. If you aren’t sure of the proper ways of running the business, we have some useful tips that will help you to start your own summer camp business effectively and legally.

Things to Consider and Tips on How to Start a Summer Camp Business

If you would like to succeed in your plan of starting a summer camp business, you should begin creating your business plan as early as possible before summer breaks in. This will give you more time of thinking of good themes that will attract your target audience and to prepare the place where you want to establish the summer camp. The success of every business always rely on a well-written business plan, it serves as a guide and contains the goals and the purpose of your business.

Your next goal is to decide on the type of camp you want to open like a day camp, travel camp, or a resident camp. Then figure out suitable themes that is catchy to the attention of your clientele and also determine if the operation of your business will run only during summer or you can manage it all year round, likewise this is dependable on your capital and pricing strategy. Look for a good place with enough space for accommodation and facilitate it with proper equipments. To run your business legally, apply for the necessary permits and licenses, acquire insurances, and know the existing laws and regulation in your state in running a camp business. This will ensure the legality of your business and safety of your customers. Hire experienced employees and advertise your business to reach your target audience.

19 Comments

  • Kaley Keirstead said on March 8, 2011
    More information would be a wonderful help. Not sure if you can help me i'm in Canada but anything at all would be wonderful. Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada.
  • James expert adviser said on March 9, 2011
    @Kaley Keirstead, i can help you for sure but let's go one after other. Let me know where you are stuck in the process of setting your business. We will go from there.

    Jestin James
    Startup Biz Hub - Senior Advisor (Staff)

  • KASHIFA SHAH said on March 4, 2012
    Hi I am in the Western Cape, South Africa. I would like to start a camp as an outreach programme. This is only but an idea and need assistance in what is needed in order to achieve this goal. Please forward any information available. Kind regards, Kashifa Shah
  • jordan said on April 22, 2012
    i am interested in running a day summer camp. I'm located in Ontario, Canada. I'm having difficulties finding out what is required legally; do you have any information.
  • Sue Ouellet said on May 18, 2012
    I operate a music school in Canada through the evenings. This year I would like to run a music day camp through the summer months. Do I need to get a special license to run a day camp? I already have liability insurance and a business license. Is there anything else I require? Any additional information you can give me would be appreciated.
  • Pete said on May 26, 2012
    Hi Sue, Jordan. i wonder you guys got your answer yet? i operate a after school program in ontario too and this year i like to operate a camp, i wonder do i need special license?
  • Mona said on May 29, 2012
    Hi, I got the same questions too. I operating a tutorial center and not sure what other License I need if I want to have a day camp this summer. What's the regulations?
  • Ashton Henriksen said on June 13, 2012
    Good day I am in cape town and I would like to open up a summer camp.(Where the children stay over)! I would like to know are there any regulations and license/permits do you need in order to start the camp! And what is required ? Please help me !
  • Jeannette said on October 23, 2012
    Hi, I would love to start a non profit tech camp for kids in Africa, precisely in Rwanda and i would love to know where to start to make this idea happen in at most the next 2 years. Thank you very much!!
  • Giuliana said on January 27, 2013
    Hello! I am from the San Francisco area of California. I am very interested in opening a mind, body, spirit day camp for kids and eventually a summer camp for kids. Please let me know if you have a template bus plan outline that I can follow and IMPORTANT financial/insurance/Permit information I will need to know for my business. This is the area that truly makes me apprehensive. I don't want to miss anything. Thank you so much.
  • Young H. Tom said on April 16, 2013
    Hello, I live in San Franciscc. I have a group of children from South Korea who like to visit United States for their summer vacation to learn English, and to experience the different culture at the same time. I am a Registered Nurse with very little business background. I need to develop a program for a possible continuation. I need some experts guideline how to start the operation especially in legal points. This business includes memorable education,accommodation, and transportation. Initially, I would like a 2 week program in small group 6-8 for a start. Thank you
  • Shaista Zafar said on May 21, 2014
    Hello, I am an RECE and would like to get the information regarding the licensing and legislation. I am located in Windsor Ontario .I want to start with a small group.
  • T said on June 22, 2014
    Hello, I live in London England. I want to start a summer camp for young children with special needs. I would appreciate any advice.
  • kiesha said on June 24, 2014
    Hi I live in toronto Ontario, would like to start a day camp for children ages 4-10, do I need to be licensed?
  • Erika Burger said on July 9, 2014
    Hi, I have some grade 11 students who are entering an entrepreneurial competition who would like to offer sports day camps during vacation time to primary school children and also to extend the camp to disadvantaged children. Would this idea be something they could venture into?
  • Rob Klikorka said on July 24, 2014
    I have a business plan and I have funding but the municipal, provincial and federal government are all giving me the run around. I am trying to find out what the Licensing Requirements are - its not a home day care and its not a child care center either. It's a day Camp.

    I can give you examples of government run programs that have people looking after kids without any qualifications what so ever and they are operating still today and have been for many years - One of them is the Navy League and the other is the Canadian cadet Program - I have worked in both and no one even has an ECE that over sees the kids at the locations. Please help me I just want to be sure I am not doing anything illegal.

    The program I am planning on running is going to be located in a Halton Hills Park Land in Milton, Ontario Canada - and no... they could provide me with a response either. So I am a bit frustrated.
    I have equipment
    Funding
    Meals
    Transportation
    Advertising
    Employment Contracts
    Daily Schedule of Events
    Emergency Plans
    expected enrollment is already figured out as well.

    Keep in mind its at a park with no shelter available so rain days the kids are relocated somewhere appropriate to a different site. I need help with insurance and licensing. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated
  • Nehal Naik said on March 17, 2015
    I am in Mississauga, Ontario. We coach cricket to kids and youth. This year we want to start cricket camps for kids during summer. Do we need any sort of licensing? What are the exact legal requirements to start summer camp in ontario?
  • Sharyce said on May 9, 2015
    I am currently a school district employee in Philadelphia. Just like kids are out of school for the summer, I'm off from work for the summer and I trying to open a summer camp. So far i pretty much have everything planned out from what kind of camp, staffing, planned activities, to age range, camp fees, and providing meals for the campers. The only problem I have is finding a location. I asked the principal at the school I work at if i could use the building since it's vacant for the summer. She thinks it's a good idea however she's still on the fence about it and hasn't given me an answer so i need a plan b.
  • Lisa said on January 10, 2016
    What kind of license do I need to run a mobile day camp? There is not a permanent location we will go on adventures ( field trips) every day. The kids will be picked up and dropped off at certain locations.

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