Recently, while strolling through a shopping mall, I stumbled upon two promising small business opportunities—sand pits and inflatable castles. These facilities are now commonly seen in many malls and outdoor parks, and are very popular among children. By negotiating with the management and paying a certain rental fee, you can easily rent a space to start a profitable activity.

After about half an hour of on-site observation, I found that this project is indeed feasible in a shopping mall. Next, I will briefly introduce this small money-making venture.

The inflatable castle, despite its large size, requires only a few thousand dollars in investment, which is quite affordable. I also let my child experience it, and the facility's pricing is reasonable—only $38 for two hours. These devices are easy to operate and can be transported with just one person and a tricycle, making them ideal for quick setup in outdoor locations like parks. Apart from rent and electricity, there are almost no other additional costs. If set up in a mall, you don't even need to pack up daily, making it very convenient.

Evenings are the peak business hours, as many parents take their children out for a walk and play after dinner. Children usually don't play on these facilities for more than an hour, so parents are often willing to wait. I once observed in a mall that nearly twenty children played on an inflatable castle, indicating a considerable flow of customers. Calculating this way, you can serve over thirty customers in just a few hours in the evening, generating significant income. If you operate daily, the monthly profit is very substantial, not to mention the increased traffic during holidays.

For office workers, if you have ample time after work, such as starting at 6 or 7 PM, you can definitely try this side business. It only requires about 3 hours of effort, and you can pack up by around 10 PM. Additionally, you can partner with family members to share the profits.

In terms of location, places like park entrances or small squares in residential areas with dense populations are good choices. While bustling malls or squares may offer higher profits, the rental fees might also be higher. Therefore, it's important to consider various factors when choosing a location.

Overall, although this business is affected by weather and holidays, it's a worthwhile side venture if you're flexible and hardworking. Typically, you can recoup the cost of the equipment in less than a month, after which it's pure profit.

This small-scale side business is feasible, but expanding it further might entail risks of loss. However, it's quite a viable option for one or two people to run such a business together.