BizParentz Foundation
A nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the interests and welfare of child performers
Overview
The BizParentz Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides education, advocacy, and support for families of child performers. The foundation works to improve industry conditions for minors and offers free resources to help parents navigate the business side of entertainment.
BizParentz publishes guides on topics including labor laws for minors, Coogan accounts, on-set tutoring requirements, and how to identify predatory scams targeting young talent. Their website is one of the most comprehensive free resources available for stage parents.
How It Works
The organization has been instrumental in advocating for stronger legal protections for child performers at both the state and federal levels. Their work benefits all families in the industry, regardless of whether they interact with the foundation directly.
All BizParentz resources are free to access. The organization is funded through donations and does not charge families for its educational materials or advocacy work.
Who Uses It
Every parent of a child performer should familiarize themselves with BizParentz Foundation's resources. Understanding your child's legal rights and financial protections is essential before entering the industry. The foundation's website is regularly updated with new articles, legislative alerts, and community announcements that keep families informed about changes affecting young performers. BizParentz also maintains a directory of vetted professionals, including agents, managers, and attorneys who have demonstrated ethical practices in working with minors.
Pricing & Plans
BizParentz Foundation is entirely free to use, with no membership fees, subscriptions, or paid tiers of any kind. Every guide, article, toolkit, and legislative resource on their website is available at no cost to any visitor. The organization is funded through charitable donations and the volunteer efforts of industry professionals who share the foundation's mission. Compared to hiring an entertainment attorney for child performer legal questions, which can cost two hundred fifty to five hundred dollars per hour, BizParentz offers much of the same foundational knowledge at zero cost. There are no premium content sections or gated materials, making this one of the most genuinely accessible resources in the child performer space. For families weighing where to invest their limited resources, BizParentz should always be the first stop before any paid consultation.
Pros & Cons
What's Great
The foundation's greatest strength is the depth and specificity of its content on child performer labor laws, covering state-by-state variations that no other single resource compiles as thoroughly. Their scam prevention guides are exceptionally detailed, providing real examples of common schemes targeting families of young performers and clear red flags to watch for. BizParentz's advocacy work has directly contributed to legislative changes that protect child performers' earnings and working conditions. The organization's leadership includes former stage parents and industry professionals who bring firsthand experience to their guidance. The website is well-organized by topic, allowing families to quickly find information relevant to their specific situation without wading through irrelevant content. Their email newsletter keeps subscribers informed about urgent issues like proposed legislation or newly identified scam operations.
What Could Be Better
The website design is functional but dated, and navigation can feel clunky compared to modern web platforms, particularly on mobile devices. BizParentz is primarily focused on the legal and business side of child performing, so families looking for artistic guidance like acting technique or audition preparation will need to look elsewhere. Some of the content is California-centric, reflecting the organization's Los Angeles roots, which means families in other states may need to supplement with local legal research. The foundation does not offer one-on-one consultations or personalized advice, so families with complex situations will still need to consult an entertainment attorney. Updates to the website can be inconsistent, with some sections reflecting current information and others lagging behind recent legal changes. The organization's social media presence is limited, making it easy to miss new content if you do not actively check the website.
Our Recommendation
BizParentz Foundation should be mandatory reading for any parent before their child attends a single audition or signs any agreement in the entertainment industry. It is particularly valuable for families who are new to the industry and do not yet have trusted advisors to guide them through the business and legal landscape. Families with children who are already working and earning should use BizParentz's Coogan account resources to ensure full compliance with financial protection laws. If your child is working in a state other than California, use BizParentz as a starting point but also research your specific state's child performer statutes. For families who want community connection beyond what BizParentz offers, pairing it with groups like the Hollywood Mom Blog can provide the peer support and informal advice that a nonprofit's website cannot.
Pro Tips
Read the scam prevention section before responding to any talent search, open call, or agency solicitation, as this single step can save your family thousands of dollars and significant emotional distress. Bookmark the Coogan Law resources and revisit them every time your child books a new job to make sure the production is complying with trust account requirements. Sign up for the BizParentz newsletter to stay current on legislative changes that could affect your child's rights and protections. Use the foundation's information as a baseline when interviewing potential agents or managers, asking pointed questions based on what you have learned about industry standards. Print or save the key resource guides so you have them accessible on set or at auditions where internet access may be limited. Share BizParentz with other stage parents you meet, as many families enter the industry completely unaware that resources like this exist.