How to Start a Miniature Golf Course

Start a miniature golf course by following these 10 steps:

1. Plan your Miniature Golf Course
2. Form your Miniature Golf Course into a Legal Entity
3. Register your Miniature Golf Course for Taxes
4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
5. Set up Accounting for your Miniature Golf Course
6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Miniature Golf Course
7. Get Miniature Golf Course Insurance
8. Define your Miniature Golf Course Brand
9. Create your Miniature Golf Course Website
10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your miniature golf course. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out othersmall business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

• What will you name your business?
• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?
• How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit ourHow to Name a Businessguide or get help brainstorming a name with our迷你高尔夫有限公司urse Name Generator

If you operate asole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit ourDBAguide to learn more.

Whenregistering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability.

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a miniature golf course?

The costs of opening a mini-golf business vary, but typically run up $500,000. One professional group estimates that it will cost between $15,000 to $30,000 to put a deposit on the land lease, and a further $100,000 to $140,000 to make all of the necessary improvements to the land itself. Providing the necessary decorations and moving elements of the course itself, as well as interior decorations, furniture, and arcade games, can add an additional $200,000. You will also need to pay between $7,500 and $15,000 for architectural plans and between $2,000 to $4,000 for insurance deposits. Basic equipment (including office computers supplies, computers, ticket machines, etc.) will be between $8,000 and $10,000, with the point of sale system costing up to an additional $7,500. To stock up on golf balls, clubs, and redemption prizes for games may cost up to $15,000, and legal and accounting fees may be as high as $4,000. Finally, you may require up to $9,000 to order eye-catching signage and up to $12,000 to advertise your grand opening.

What are the ongoing expenses for a miniature golf course?

The good news is that after the initial expenses to open a course, the ongoing expenses are relatively minor. Some of the costs will vary by business location and size, but utilities should be about $1,500 a month, and insurance about $500. Fresh supplies can run about $400 a month, while rent may be upwards of $6,000. Beyond that, your main concern will be paying the wage for your workers (typically $4,000 or so a month for a manager, and an appropriate hourly rate for other employees).

Who is the target market?

In general, your best clients will be families. This is because the parents will help to control the behavior of children (which will not be true of all your teenage customers), and larger families provide more cash at a time than smaller groups of customers. And they help create lifelong business for you as the children who enjoy the experience will enjoy coming back as they get older and eventually bring their own children.

How does a miniature golf course make money?

A mini-golf business simply charges customers a set fee in order for the customers to play on the course.

How much can you charge customers?

The exact cost may vary by region, but it is typical to charge customers about $5 to $7 to play 18 holes. This pricing makes your business a very competitive alternative to the increasingly pricey activities going out to movies, restaurants, etc.

How much profit can a miniature golf course make?

利润业务使gre的确切数额atly depends on the region as well as what the local entertainment competition is. However, the relatively low ongoing expenses means that a steady stream of customers can easily make you over $100,000 a year, and some mini golf course owners report being able to pay off their initial investment within the first few years of opening this business.

How can you make your business more profitable?

In order to maximize profitability, be sure to have an advertising presence in logical areas for potential customers, including schools, churches, and local entertainment centers. Try to stay open as many days as possible—major holidays often prove to be big business for mini-golf courses, as people have time off from work and school and are happy to come out and play. Finally, be sure to have a social media presence that heavily features pictures of actual customers and their testimonials, as this will establish the legitimacy of your business within the community.

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most commonbusiness structuretypes are thesole proprietorship,partnership,118bet金博宝 , andcorporation.

Establishing a legal business entity such as anLLCorcorporationprotects you from being held personally liable if your miniature golf course is sued.

You can金宝搏188是什么公司yourself and pay only the minimal stateLLC costsor hire one of the118金宝app for a small, additional fee.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more aboutstate sales taxand franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to aspiercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Get a business credit card

Getting abusiness credit cardhelps you:

• 通过将单独的个人和商业费用your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with ourLLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a mini-golf business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visitingSBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Certificate of Occupancy

迷你高尔夫有限公司urses operating out of a physical location typically require aCertificate of Occupancy(CO). A CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

• If you plan to lease a rink location:
• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has or can obtain a valid CO that is applicable to a mini golf course.
• After a major renovation, a new CO often needs to be issued. If your place of business will be renovated before opening,it is recommendedto include language in your lease agreement stating that lease payments will not commence until a valid CO is issued.

• If you plan to purchase or build a rink:
• You will be responsible for obtaining a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business’ location to ensure your golf course will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Music Licensing

In order to play music in a public setting, permission must be acquired from the composer or license holder. Typically, it is possible to obtain a “blanket” license allowing a businesses to play music owned by a large catalog of artists and recording studios. Such licenses can be obtained from Performance Rights Organizations, such as ASCAP and BMI.

Learn more about music licensing requirements and how to obtain a blanket license here:https://printing.wsu.edu/copyright/

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully.Business Insuranceprotects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face,begin withGeneral Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need isWorkers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

Is this Business Right For You?

This job is definitely for someone who is enthusiastic about mini-golf. This helps you to not only enjoy your job but to facilitate minor repairs and maintenance of the course as needed. The job is also best for a “people person,” as you will be dealing with individuals and groups of very different ages, personalities, and temperament, and it takes a special skill to deal with everyone courteously and professionally.

What happens during a typical day at a miniature golf course?

The daily activities for a mini-golf business are pretty simple. You will be talking to customers, taking their payment, providing them with equipment, and explaining any particular regulations for your course. Other time will be spent fixing and maintaining the course, ordering additional equipment when needed, and networking with other local businesses to help promote yourself. If you end up investing more and adding features such as arcade games, your daily activities may include the maintenance and repair of those machines as well.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful miniature golf course?

Prior experience working at a mini-golf business or other type of recreational center can be helpful to in starting this business. Similarly, being part of a network of other youth recreational venues in the area can help you in advertising and establishing your business. Finally, a formal education in a field such as business can help ensure that your early investments pay off.

What is the growth potential for a miniature golf course?

The exact growth potential of a mini-golf business varies by area. Nationally, businesses that focus purely on mini-golf have experienced a decline in recent years; however, businesses that have diversified their offerings by including features such as a video arcade typically do quite well, and the affordability of this as an entertainment option remains highly attractive to local residents in many cities.