Imaginative Play and Parties in Clermont
Indoor Playground Started and Growing with Assistance from Florida SBDC at UCF – Lake County
Janselis Maldonado wasn’t daunted in the least. She knew she wanted to start her own business, and she knew she needed funding to do it. What she didn’t know was where to begin or how to go about it, and so she turned to the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida (FSBDC at UCF) in Lake County for assistance. By taking advantage of the FSBDC’s no-cost, expert consulting, business training and market research resources, today Maldonado is the proud owner of Fun For Tots, an indoor playground in Clermont, FL, that is profitably making children and their caregivers happy at birthday parties, open play hours and special events.
Indoor playgrounds are a fantastic way to support the holistic development of young children while ensuring they have fun and stay active. Fun For Tots caters to ages 7 years old and younger and offers an open play area with learning toys and multiple themed playhouses including a nursery, veterinarian’s office, grocery store (with real groceries!), even a ball pit, to name a few. “What makes us special is that we focus on imaginative play and pretend play,” says Maldonado, “allowing the child to explore and expand their imaginations through play.” The emphasis is on providing a safe, sanitary and fun space for children, and a relaxing and comfortable environment for their waiting caregivers.
Fun For Tots is off to a great start, but it took work to get it started. Maldonado was smart and didn’t try to do it alone. “As a young entrepreneur and new business owner, I was looking for help and seeking guidance on how to start a business,” she recalls. “That is why I found the FSBDC and they helped me a lot, and helped make my dream come true.”
Maldonado started by attending a How to Start Your Business business training class, then scheduled a meeting with FSBDC Lake County Area Manager and consultant Jose Molfino. “I set up a consult so they could guide me on the right way to find funding to start my business and then be able to make the business come true,” she says. “The SBDC was the easiest part of creating my business. There were no complications. They meet with you and give you all the information and orientation that you need. They guide you in the right way, without you losing any time.”
Working with the FSBDC really paid off for Maldonado. With Molfino’s help, she secured the funding she needed and navigated some hiccups in the permitting process. “The FSBDC helped me to find the startup capital I needed and guide me in the right direction to find the right bank to work with. If I had to use one word to describe the FSBDC, it is “supportive” because they have given me all the help I needed from the very beginning. I have to say that the FSBDC is the best thing because they are available for you, guide you in the right way and make things as easy as possible.”
