For many event-based businesses, winter is viewed as downtime. At Busy Bee Jumpers, the inflatables and party rentals franchise, founder Sal Longo sees it differently.
The colder months function much like the offseason for a championship sports team: a critical window for preparation, planning and strengthening operations so franchises are positioned for peak performance when warmer weather returns.
“The bulk of their work happens in one season, but to be successful in that season, there has to be a lot of preparation,” Longo said. “It cannot be taken lightly. It needs to be taken seriously.”
That mindset is what allows Busy Bee franchises to operate as true 12-month businesses rather than seasonal side hustles.
Rather than pulling back in winter, Busy Bee franchisees stay engaged with both existing and prospective customers. Longo said operators focus heavily on maintaining top-of-mind awareness through consistent outreach and marketing.
“They’re staying top-of-mind with their clients. They’re constantly engaging their clients. They’re reaching out to potential new clients,” he said.
Franchisees also use the offseason to closely monitor key performance indicators. Labor, insurance and marketing are the three largest cost drivers, and understanding how to balance those ratios becomes especially important during slower months.
“There are no days off. There’s no, ‘Okay, it’s December, we’re going to take the month off and go somewhere warm,’” Longo said. “We’re actively planning, working, onboarding new staff, and training new staff. We’re looking at what we did that was successful, but also what we could do to improve.”
Indoor events play a major role in keeping winter calendars full.
Churches frequently partner with Busy Bee for community gatherings and family events. Schools also represent a significant opportunity, particularly through fundraisers. “[Parents] are looking to get their kids out of the house,” said Longo.
Fundraisers create a win-win scenario: Children get social, active entertainment outside the classroom, while schools raise money for important programs and initiatives.
These types of bookings help smooth out seasonal fluctuations and introduce Busy Bee to new families who may later book private parties or outdoor events.
Another key to maintaining steady revenue is prebooking.
Busy Bee franchises consistently take deposits on future events year-round, building predictable cash flow and visibility into upcoming months. As prebookings across the system continue to rise, many competitors scale back marketing during slower seasons. Busy Bee encourages franchisees to do the opposite.
“There’s a big opportunity in the market right now,” Longo said. “A lot of other operators are choking back on their marketing dollars. We’re looking at different advertising and marketing mediums that we can run into.”
That proactive approach is paying off. According to Longo, franchises entering their second season are on pace to set record numbers.
Busy Bee’s corporate team plays an active role in helping franchisees maximize the offseason.
Ongoing training is a major focus, including expanded inflatable safety training through video and online courses, as well as driver safety programs for new hires. As franchises grow and onboard staff for the first time, the brand provides structured guidance to ensure consistency and professionalism.
“We’re standing there with our 15 managers and coaching them weekly through calls,” Longo said.
This hands-on support helps franchisees strengthen their operations during quieter months so they can scale confidently when demand surges.
Longo emphasizes that prospective franchise owners should approach Busy Bee as a full-time, year-round business.
“If our franchises take this business seriously, operate as a 12-month business, put a full focus on it, they can dominate their markets very, very quickly,” he said.
By combining offseason preparation, diverse booking channels, pre-sales and consistent franchisor support, Busy Bee has built a model that performs well beyond just the warm-weather months.
The result is a business that doesn’t rely on a single season — and gives franchisees the tools to keep momentum going all year long.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/busy-bee-jumpers.
Busy Bee Jumpers
SPONSORED
While spring and summer drive the highest volume of events, Busy Bee’s franchise model is built around preparation, pre-booking and relationship-driven sales that keep owners generating revenue.
For many event-based businesses, winter is viewed as downtime. At Busy Bee Jumpers, the inflatables and party rentals franchise, founder Sal Longo sees it differently.
The colder months function much like the offseason for a championship sports team: a critical window for preparation, planning and strengthening operations so franchises are positioned for peak performance when warmer weather returns.
“The bulk of their work happens in one season, but to be successful in that season, there has to be a lot of preparation,” Longo said. “It cannot be taken lightly. It needs to be taken seriously.”
That mindset is what allows Busy Bee franchises to operate as true 12-month businesses rather than seasonal side hustles.
Rather than pulling back in winter, Busy Bee franchisees stay engaged with both existing and prospective customers. Longo said operators focus heavily on maintaining top-of-mind awareness through consistent outreach and marketing.
“They’re staying top-of-mind with their clients. They’re constantly engaging their clients. They’re reaching out to potential new clients,” he said.
Franchisees also use the offseason to closely monitor key performance indicators. Labor, insurance and marketing are the three largest cost drivers, and understanding how to balance those ratios becomes especially important during slower months.
“There are no days off. There’s no, ‘Okay, it’s December, we’re going to take the month off and go somewhere warm,’” Longo said. “We’re actively planning, working, onboarding new staff, and training new staff. We’re looking at what we did that was successful, but also what we could do to improve.”
Indoor events play a major role in keeping winter calendars full.
Churches frequently partner with Busy Bee for community gatherings and family events. Schools also represent a significant opportunity, particularly through fundraisers. “[Parents] are looking to get their kids out of the house,” said Longo.
Fundraisers create a win-win scenario: Children get social, active entertainment outside the classroom, while schools raise money for important programs and initiatives.
These types of bookings help smooth out seasonal fluctuations and introduce Busy Bee to new families who may later book private parties or outdoor events.
Another key to maintaining steady revenue is prebooking.
Busy Bee franchises consistently take deposits on future events year-round, building predictable cash flow and visibility into upcoming months. As prebookings across the system continue to rise, many competitors scale back marketing during slower seasons. Busy Bee encourages franchisees to do the opposite.
“There’s a big opportunity in the market right now,” Longo said. “A lot of other operators are choking back on their marketing dollars. We’re looking at different advertising and marketing mediums that we can run into.”
That proactive approach is paying off. According to Longo, franchises entering their second season are on pace to set record numbers.
Busy Bee’s corporate team plays an active role in helping franchisees maximize the offseason.
Ongoing training is a major focus, including expanded inflatable safety training through video and online courses, as well as driver safety programs for new hires. As franchises grow and onboard staff for the first time, the brand provides structured guidance to ensure consistency and professionalism.
“We’re standing there with our 15 managers and coaching them weekly through calls,” Longo said.
This hands-on support helps franchisees strengthen their operations during quieter months so they can scale confidently when demand surges.
Longo emphasizes that prospective franchise owners should approach Busy Bee as a full-time, year-round business.
“If our franchises take this business seriously, operate as a 12-month business, put a full focus on it, they can dominate their markets very, very quickly,” he said.
By combining offseason preparation, diverse booking channels, pre-sales and consistent franchisor support, Busy Bee has built a model that performs well beyond just the warm-weather months.
The result is a business that doesn’t rely on a single season — and gives franchisees the tools to keep momentum going all year long.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/busy-bee-jumpers.
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