The Profitable Play Podcast

If you’re already open, you know this — and if you’re getting ready to open, you’re about to find out: managing a team is one of the hardest, most complex, and most draining parts of running an indoor playground or play café. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 leadership habits that have helped me earn the respect and trust of my team — not because they had to follow me, but because they wanted to. T...

In this episode, I’m catching up with play café owner Sarah Kobin , who I first interviewed about a year and a half ago when she was still in the early opening phase of her business. Now that she’s been open for 18 months, Sarah shares what’s changed — from which revenue streams performed best (and which didn’t) to how her team, systems, and daily operations have evolved. We talk about what’s surp...

In this episode, I’m breaking down the truth about play café and indoor playground franchising — and why this model has failed to deliver lasting success for most owners, outside of what you may see on social media. I’ve worked with countless franchisees who believed joining an established concept would simplify their startup journey, only to discover overwhelming fees, lack of flexibility, and co...

At some point, almost every play cafe owner will exit their business — whether it’s by selling, transitioning to a new owner, or closing and moving on to the next chapter. It’s a natural part of the business lifecycle, but it’s something most of us don’t think about until we have to. In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast , I’m breaking down what it really means to sell your indoor playgro...

If Halloween snuck up on you this year—don’t stress. In this episode, I share 10 quick, low-cost, and high-impact ways to boost October profits and make your indoor playground or play café feel festive without draining your time or budget. These ideas will help you attract families, boost engagement, and create memorable experiences—whether you have a day or a week to prepare. BLOG for this episod...

Prefer to read? This episode's takeaways are summarized here! Prefer to watch? This interview's also on YouTube here ETSY Template Shop Work with MJ Morley Law: https://www.mjmorleylaw.com/ Thinking about opening a play café or indoor playground business? Or maybe you already own one and want to be sure you’re legally protected? Understanding trademark protection and cease and desist letters is es...

In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast , I sit down with Amy Bowman, founder of the soon-to-launch live music–themed play space, The Jamboree Club in Pennsylvania. Amy is right in the middle of business planning and finalizing her location, so we dive deep into the most important steps every indoor playground or play café owner should take before opening their doors. Here’s what we cover i...

As indoor playground owners, we didn’t open our spaces to spend nights chasing late payments or answering 10pm DMs. We opened to build community and have time with our families. That balance is possible—with automation. In this episode, I’m sharing 10 sales automations you can set up THIS week to recover lost bookings, increase revenue, and free up your time, including: Abandoned cart emails &...

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast , I sit down with Kate Mitchell, the inspiring owner of Funtown Play Café , to hear the real story behind how she turned her vision into a thriving family destination. Kate shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between—from the spark of inspirat...

In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I share a recorded coaching call with Jan from Kinderland Play Cafe in Hendersonville, TN that covers the exact questions so many indoor playground and play café owners face when setting up their systems and preparing their business for growth—or even a future sale. My guest’s long-term plan is to eventually sell their business, so every decision the...

In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast , I share a recorded coaching call with Rosie Lynch, founder of Wild Child Museum & Managerie , a non-profit indoor play space operating inside her local community center. We discuss the strategic advantages of starting in a low-overhead location — including building a loyal customer base, growing a healthy financial foundation, and securing commu...

2 TICKETS LEFT FOR PLAY MAKER SOCIETY LIVE: https://www.michelecaruana.com/playmakerslive2025 Is your indoor playground or play café business ready for more freedom, flexibility, and revenue? In this episode, I share how a simple keypad entry system can completely transform your business operations. Whether you're hoping to reduce your reliance on staff, offer after-hours access, or turn your spac...

If you’re listening in real time, you know that summer is just around the corner—and if your foot traffic or bookings are starting to dip, you’re not alone. This season can catch even the most prepared indoor playground owners off guard. But here’s the good news: even if you didn’t get a summer plan in place months ago, it’s not too late to make a real impact on your revenue. In this episode, I’m...

Play Makers Live 2025 Registration and Information (6 Tickets Left!) In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast , I’m diving into Part 2 of our AI mini-series, and this time it’s all about how to get better results from ChatGPT. I’m sharing the exact tips and strategies I use as an indoor playground owner to write better prompts, train ChatGPT to match my voice, and streamline my content creat...

If you’ve ever joked about being the “lazy” play cafe owner—this episode is for you. (And if you’re offended by that term… take a deep breath and trust me on this one.) I know you're not actually lazy—you’re just juggling everything : your business, your family, your sanity… and trying to keep it all together. So in this episode, I’m sharing 8 of my favorite next-level AI hacks that help me save t...

In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast , we’re diving into what success can look like for indoor playground owners who are introverted, non-confrontational, or just prefer to lead from behind the scenes. I’m sharing practical strategies for managing staff, setting boundaries with customers, and marketing your business—even if you don’t love being on camera or in the spotlight. You'll learn...

In this episode, I'm sharing three unique yet proven event ideas to help indoor playground owners boost revenue during the tricky spring season, bridging the gap between winter excitement and summer camp busyness. From hosting a fun and profitable "Mom-Friend Speed Dating" night, to a practical "Busy Bag" crafting event, to a strategic "Summer Camp Sampler," you'll leave this episode with a specif...

Considering opening a play space in a mall OR thinking of starting a very NICHE indoor playground concept? Watch this honest interview first! In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Karla, the owner of Eat and Be Hoopy, a unique business in Vermont.  Karla shares her inspiring journey as a single mother who turned her passion for hula hooping into a brick-and-mortar business. Ini...

FREE Book More Birthdays Challenge: https://www.michelecaruana.com/birthdaychallenge BLOG for this Episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/increase-birthday-party-bookings If you're an indoor playground owner looking to increase party bookings, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to help fill up your calendar. Birthday parties are one of the most profitable revenue streams in yo...

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF My POS System-Of-Choice: https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy Welcome back play makers! I'm excited to bring you another insightful recorded coaching call today with Meghan Hopkins, co-owner of Jungle Jamz Play Cafe. At the time of this recording, Jungle Jamz had been open for just over 3 months. In this episode, we cover: Strategies for booking more...

Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF My POS System-Of-Choice (WellnessLiving): https://discover.wellnessliving.com/playcafeacademy I am excited to bring you another recording coaching call with a very-soon-to-be indoor playground owner! Today we are speaking with Ashima who is located in the Boston area and recently signed her lease to open a business called Stem Spot, which you can hear more about in...

In this episode, I'm sharing 16 creative and profitable ways play cafe owners can celebrate Valentine’s Day while uplifting their customer base. From Mom "speed dating" to parent-child craft workshops and “Date Night Drop-Off” services to themed play dates, these ideas are designed to boost revenue and strengthen community connections. Tune in for actionable tips to make this Valentine’s Day a mem...

Today I have a coaching call for you to listen in on with business partners Jordan and Alexis of Nurture to Play which is a soon-to-be play cafe in Minnesota. YouTube video of today's interview: Jordan and Alexis are deep into the planning phase of their business and back when this was recorded were about to sign their lease so in this call, we talk about things like: -how to space plan effectivel...

My annual TRENDS prediction episode is here! From custom gross-motor structures to more classes and online offerings, I am detailing what I expect more businesses will (or should!) do in 2025. Thanks to ALUVII for sponsoring this episode! Book a free demo and get our exclusive discount when you use this link: https://aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy 2024 Trend Predictions: https://bit.ly/4j3Q853 2023...

Schedule an Aluvii Demo And Unlock the Play Maker Discount: aluvii.com/play-cafe-academy In this episode, I’m sitting down with Casey McGuire Davidson, a Life & Sobriety Coach and host of The Hello Someday Podcast for Sober Curious Women , to talk about how alcohol can affect both our personal and professional lives. We’re diving into Dry January—what it is, who it’s for, the benefits it can b...