How to Launch a Six-Figure Sleepover Business - Side Hustle Nation

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      Imagine setting up the same tents and pillows every weekend and earning between $800 and $1,000 each time.

      That’s precisely what Anne McGraw has created with Firefly Slumber Parties, a premier tent slumber party rental service based in Nashville. Anne and her husband operate it as a side gig while both maintaining demanding full-time careers, and just last weekend, they hosted five parties, each bringing in $800 to $1,000.

      The concept originated from Anne’s daughter, who first discovered the idea on TikTok or Instagram in 2020. With no one offering such services in Nashville at that time, they decided to create it themselves.

      They reached out to a couple in Chattanooga who had a similar business and received initial guidance on what supplies to acquire and how to arrange setups. Years later, they ended up purchasing that Chattanooga business after its owners chose to close.

      Listen to Episode 737 of the Side Hustle Show to discover:

       what a slumber party rental business entails and how the finances operate,

       how to assemble a team so that the business doesn’t monopolize your weekends,

       the actual startup expenses and the time needed to reach profitability.

      Free Bonus: 25 Additional Things to Rent for Profit

      25 Other Unique Rental Concepts

      What else could you rent out for financial gain? Here are some suggestions!

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      What Is a Luxury Slumber Party Rental?

      Gone are the days of sleeping bags sprawled on the basement floor. A contemporary slumber party rental involves arriving at a client’s home with stunning canopy tents, high-quality air mattresses, themed decorations, and matching pillows, all set up and ready before the kids step into the room.

      The business is inherently hyper-local. Since each setup requires a significant amount of time for transportation, installation, and retrieval the following morning, there’s a limit to how many parties you can cater to each weekend. This aspect reduces concerns about competition.

      Even in a city like Nashville, there is space for various operators in different neighborhoods.

      The ideal age range for this type of party is from 10 to 15 years. Anne’s initial themes were too juvenile (like unicorns and ballerinas), but once she and her daughters (who were 10 and 12 at the time) identified the tween and teen market, the business flourished. Popular themes include:

      - Taylor Swift Eras

      - Harry Potter

      - Minecraft

      - Boho

      - Neon Glow

      - Superhero

      - And more!

      How Pricing Works for Slumber Parties

      Firefly's starting rate is $425 for a minimum of four tents, which is all-inclusive: delivery, setup, and next-day pickup.

      Clients can then choose additional options from an à la carte menu. Frequently added extras comprise:

      - Popcorn machine

      - Karaoke machine

      - Bubble machine

      - Custom pillowcases with the children's names

      - Candy bar

      - Sleep masks

      One unexpected upsell that gained popularity was the sibling tent. Time and again, Anne observed younger siblings feeling excluded and having meltdowns. Consequently, she began offering a separate tent and mattress for younger siblings (perhaps a Captain America pillow for a little brother) for a small additional fee. Customers appreciate this.

      Another effortless add-on: a $25 invitation graphic created in Canva. It only takes about five minutes to assemble, providing busy moms who are outsourcing the entire party one less thing to manage.

      When customers request a custom theme, Anne charges a nominal fee to cover basic supplies. Following that, the new theme is incorporated into the catalog and continues to generate revenue with future bookings.

      Startup Costs

      Anne estimates their initial startup investment was under $5,000. The tents are relatively inexpensive to build: you can buy wooden poles at a hardware store, drill some holes, and connect them using elastic hair bands. The fabric covers represent the more significant ongoing expense, making it crucial to keep them clean and well-maintained.

      The most significant recurring cost involves air mattresses. They initially started with foam camping mattresses, but transportation issues led them to switch to high-quality camping air mattresses at around $50 each, which have to be replaced more frequently than anything else.