For Vanessa Romano, a 39-year-old mother of two, a modest $500 investment in four outdoor party games became the foundation of a growing event-rental business. Which profiled Romano on October 12, 2026, her venture, Little Party Co., secured 65 bookings and generated more than $9,000 in booked revenue within its first few months, according to PEOPLE. Because she could start small, test whether customers were interested and retain the games for her family’s own celebrations if the business did not work out, the idea appealed to her.
Romano, who works full-time in corporate communications, launched the business after noticing how party-rental ventures were gaining traction on social media. Starting a business does not always require a large investment or a decision to leave a stable job. Rather than investing heavily in equipment or renting commercial premises, she began with four yard games. The relatively low initial cost allowed her to experiment with the business while keeping her regular income intact.
Little Party Co. received five bookings in its first month, generating more than $800 in revenue, enough to recover the initial inventory investment. The following month, 17 bookings brought in more than $1,800. Her total investment eventually reached approximately $4,500, while booked revenue climbed to more than $9,000.
She has said she enjoys her corporate career and wants to continue building the rental business alongside it. The response was encouraging from the outset. As enquiries increased, Romano began reinvesting the earnings into the business instead of treating the money as additional personal income. The growth reflects a practical approach to building a small business: begin with a limited range of products, assess demand and expand only when there is evidence that customers want more. Romano has also learned to be selective about new purchases. Rather than continuously adding equipment to make the rental collection look more impressive, she tracks bookings, considers seasonal demand and prioritises items that customers are actively seeking. This approach helps her manage costs while making decisions about which products could generate enough bookings to justify their purchase. The physical demands can also be unpredictable. Romano has described fracturing a toe after dropping a cornhole board on her foot, yet still having to complete deliveries that day. The experience illustrates a common difficulty for solo entrepreneurs: when the owner is also responsible for operations, taking time off can be complicated. Time, rather than the initial investment, has become one of her biggest constraints. Growing the business requires work outside her regular office hours, often competing with family time and the need to rest. Despite the early success, Romano does not see Little Party Co. as a replacement for her full-time job. Her husband has also played an important role in making the arrangement possible, taking on additional household responsibilities while she establishes the venture. For Romano, the business offers a way to pursue her entrepreneurial interests while creating greater financial flexibility for her family.