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A Sample Mini Golf Course Business Plan Template

Do you want to start a miniature golf company and need to write a plan? If YES, here is a sample mini golf business plan template & FREE feasibility report. Have you ever thought of owning a golf course but you can’t because of the massive investment involved?

If your answer is yes, then you should consider constructing a miniature golf course. Miniature golf courses have 18 marked holes that are numbered. Players must complete each hole in number order without skipping any hole.

Players use their putters to hit the golf ball from the tee area and straight into the hole. The objective is to make it into each hole in as few strokes as possible. The recommendation for an 18-hole miniature golf course is between 15,000 and 22,000 square feet for the playing surface. Interestingly, a site as small as 9,000 square feet can be accommodated.

1. Industry Overview

Miniature golf, also known as minigolf, mini-putt, crazy golf, or putt-putt, is an offshoot of the sport of golf focusing solely on the putting aspect of the parent game. The aim of the game is to score the lowest number of points. It is played on courses consisting of a series of holes (usually a multiple of 9) similar to its parent, but characterized by their short length (usually within 10 yards from tee to cup).

The game uses artificial putting surfaces (such as carpet, artificial turf, or concrete). Miniature golf course is a niche idea in the golf courses and country clubs industry and the industry is basically engaged in operating golf courses and country clubs that have dining and recreational facilities et al.

These facilities typically provide food and beverage services, equipment rental services and golf instruction. Golf courses can be public, private, semiprivate or an extension of a private country club. Activities in this industry does not include businesses that engage in golf driving ranges, miniature golf courses and resorts and hotels that have on-site golf courses.

The industry is experiencing steady growth in the last five years due to steadily rising consumer expenditure on recreation and culture, and growing spectator sport participation. Despite the fact that overall sport participation is currently at same level as it was in the last five years, participation in amateur sports peaked in 2012 and 2013, which boosted revenue for operators of local, community and grassroots facilities.

Government investment into large-scale sport infrastructure projects is a key source of revenue for industry participants and major redevelopments have also contributed to revenue growth over the last five years. Golf course green fees comprise the largest source of revenue for the industry, generating 33.9%. Green fees are fees paid by golfers who are not members of a country club but wish to play an individual round of golf.

According to data from the National Golf Foundation, golf participation rates have been falling for the past decade; some individuals find the “etiquette rules” (e.g. no cell phones, specific dress code) off-putting, while others find that the game takes too long to play.

As a result, the number of adults who played golf at least once in a year decreased by about 4.0 million in the five years to 2014 (latest public data available from the NGA). The Golf Courses & Country Clubs Industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much thriving in developed countries such as United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Italy et al.

Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone, there are about 10,793 licensed and registered golf course & country clubs facilities responsible for employing about 308,033 employees and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $23 billion annually with an annual growth rate projected at 1.2 percent. It is important to state that there are no establishments with a lion share of the available market in this industry.

Starting a mini golf course facility business in the United States of America can be stressful; it requires enough cash to acquire land large enough to accommodate the mini golf course and country club facility and also cash to equip the facility to meet the standard expected by members.

2. Executive Summary

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is a standard mini golf course and country club facility that will be located in a growing community in Montgomery – Alabama. Our basic aim of setting up the business is to contribute our quota in ensuring that people who live in Montgomery have a facility to play golf, stay fit by exercising regularly and maintain healthy lifestyle. We have been able to secure a standard facility in a central location in Montgomery.

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is going to become the number one family – focused miniature golf course and country club facility in the whole of Montgomery – Alabama and we will work hard to build our facility to match the needs of the average family in the community. Our mini golf course and country club has enough parking space to accommodate the number of people (golf players and spectators) we will accommodate per time.

We conducted a thorough research and feasibility studies and we were able to come to the conclusion that Montgomery community is the right place to build of mini golf course and country club. As a matter of fact, our major aim of starting Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is to encourage people to play golf and also to encourage families in the community to cultivate the habit of regularly exercising.

Our mini golf course is specifically designed to take care of standard miniature golf tournaments as approved by the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF), headquartered in Göteborg, Sweden, we have active childcare services for toddlers and we have membership packages that is highly discounted for families that enroll with us or groups who would want to make use of our golf course and country club for games, recreations and camping.

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club will be open 24 hours a day during weekends (Fridays to Sundays) and from 6:00 am to 12 midnight from Mondays to Thursdays in order for us to be able to accommodate people with different time preferences.

This is why we have made provisions effective floodlight system and also to recruit enough staff and to run shift amongst our workforce. Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is a family owned business with support from the State of Alabama.

The business will be managed by Frank Nelson, he has over 15 years’ experience as a leading community golf coach in the United States of America working with top golfers who have gone ahead to win laurels in golf tourneys both nationally and internationally. He is a proud member of SportAccord and the World Minigolf Sport Federation (WMF), headquartered in Göteborg, Sweden.

3. Our Products and Services

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is in the golf courses and country clubs industry to provide standard miniature golf course for residents of Montgomery – Alabama which is why we have been able to put up a facility that can help us achieve the goal.

We are optimistic that everyone who makes use of our facility will definitely derive huge value for their money. These are the services and amenities that will be made available to our clients;

• Operating miniature golf courses and country clubs
• Providing food and beverage services
• Providing golf equipment rental services
• Providing golf instruction services
• Memberships
• Golf course green use
• Food and beverages
• Other facility operation

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision of starting Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is to build a world – class miniature golf course that will be listed amongst the top 5 in the world.
• Our mission for establishing Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is to create a platform for golf lovers to play the game and to be accredited as a miniature golf course that organizes World and Continental Championships in Europe, Asia and the United States.

Our Business Structure

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is in business to become the leading mini golf course facility in the whole of Montgomery – Alabama and we are fully aware that it will take the right facility, management and organizational structure to achieve our goal.

Our business will not only be built only for the purpose of giving our members value for their money, but also to make our work environment highly conducive for all our employees. We will provide them with facilities that will help them stay motivated and deliver on their various tasks and goals

In view of that, we have made provisions for the following positions to be occupied by highly qualified and experienced staff;

• President / Chief Executive Office – CEO

Mini Golf Course Manager

• Accountant / Cashier
• Marketing and Sales Officer
• Mini Golf Instructor (5)
• Training Assistants (10)
• Customer Care Executive / Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

President/Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Carrying out induction for new team members
• Responsible for managing the mini golf course
• Responsible for providing food and beverage services
• Handle golf equipment rental services
• Responsible for providing golf instruction services
• Manage membership and registration
• Manage mini golf course and country club green use
• Handle food and beverages
• Handle other relevant facility operation

Marketing and Sales Officer (2)

• Identify, prioritize, and reach out to new clients, and business opportunities et al
• Writing winning proposal documents, negotiate fees and rates in line with organizations’ policy
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Document all customer contact and information
• Represent Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club in strategic meetings
• Help increase sales and growth for Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club.

Accountant/Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for the organization
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensuring compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club
• Serves as internal auditor for Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club

Client Service Executive

• Welcomes members and potential members / clients by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the organization’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the management in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries

Cleaners (3):

• Responsible for cleaning in and around the mini golf course
• Clean up after customers and clean work area.
• Wash glassware and utensils after each use.
• Maintain a clean working area by sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning of glass doors and windows, etc. if required.
• Ensure that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Handle any other duty as assigned by the golf course manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is in business to provide mini golf course for golf lovers in Ashville – Alabama and also help its clients achieve their health and fitness goals and at the same time to make profits. We are aware that there are competitions in the golf course and country clubs industry which is why we took out time to conduct an effective SWOT Analysis before investing our hard earned money into the business.

We know that if we get things right before starting our mini golf course facility, we will not have to struggle before attract loyal clients. We hired the services of Dr. Tony Martins, a Business Consultant with bias in business structuring to help us conduct SWOT analysis for our organization and he did a pretty good job for us.

Here is a of the result we got from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club, Montgomery – Alabama;

One of the obvious strengths that will definitely stand as a plus for Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is the fact that our facility is centrally located in a densely populated residential area in Montgomery – Alabama; our location is in fact one of our major strengths couple with the support from the State of Alabama.

We equally have a team of highly qualified professionals who will work with all our clients to achieve their aims or enrolling in our facility and lastly our membership package is one of the best that anybody living in Montgomery – Alabama can get; it is cheap and affordable.

We critically looked into our Business model and we were able to identify two major weakness. One is the fact that we are a new business and the second is the fact that we may not have the financial resources required to match up with existing golf facilities and even government own sports and recreation facilities in Alabama when it comes to acquiring latest golf equipment and generating the needed hypes that can drive traffic towards our facility.

• Opportunities:

We are centrally located in one of the busiest and densely populated areas in Ashville – Alabama and we are open to all the available opportunities that the city has to offer. We will be open 24 hours in a day during weekends (Fridays to Sundays) and from 6:00 am to 12 midnight from Mondays to Thursdays giving us the advantage to leverage on any available opportunity.

Some of the threats that are likely going to confront Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club are unfavorable government policies, demographic/social factors, downturn in the economy which is likely going to affect consumer spending and lastly, the emergence of new competitors within the same location where our mini golf course facility is located.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

Both the Golf Course and Country Club industry and the Sports and Recreation Facility industry has indeed benefited from recent marketing campaigns which is targeted towards encouraging people to participate in sports.

Going forward, many people who are part of the baby boomers generation are expected to sign up for health and fitness club memberships or make use of mini golf course and country club or sports and recreation facilities in their communities, as they become more health – conscious as they grow older. However, patrons of mini golf courses are anticipated to increasingly pick up membership from less expensive centers as against expensive all – inclusive clubs.

The trend in the golf course and country clubs industry is such that if a mini golf course facility is well positioned in a place where people can easily access without much stress, there is the likelihood that such facility will enjoy high patronage.

Just like in other business ventures, the owner of mini golf course and country club facilities are always looking for ways to increase their market share; they go as far as signing deals with high schools and also corporate organizations et al to make use of their facility. Some even go as far as organizing mini golf tourneys on a regular basis.

As a mini golf course grows, it becomes necessary for them to develop new service offerings or install new facilities that will help them attract more people. Little wonder some facilities now have fresh juice and smoothie bar within their facility to encourage people towards healthy drinking. In order words, it is very important for mini golf course facilities to continue to improvise if they want to grow their business.

8. Our Target Market

The target market for mini golf facilities cuts across people of different walks of life. The fact that people register in mini golf facilities for various reasons makes marketing the business interesting. The target market can be categorized into three various groups. The first group are the people who are looking towards shedding weight and staying healthy.

The other group of people are those who are interested in playing golf or learning how to play golf for fun or to compete at a national or international level and the last group of people are those (schools and golf clubs) who don’t have the required golf course or sports facilities for their students and sports club and would need a standard facility for training.

These are the category of people that we intend marketing our mini golf course and country club facility to;

• Working Class Adults / Corporate Executives
• Sport Clubs and Golf lovers
• Community and Cooperate organization
• Business People/Entrepreneurs
• Sports Men and Women
• College Students

Our competitive advantage

The golf course and country clubs industry is indeed a prolific and highly competitive industry. Clients will only enroll in your facility if they know that you can successfully help them learn how to play golf, achieve their health and fitness goals or provide the enabling environment and facility for them to achieve their sports goals.

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is centrally located in a densely populated residential area in Montgomery – Alabama; this is obviously going to give us an edge amongst our competitors. We equally have a team of highly qualified professionals who will work with all our clients to achieve their aims or enrolling in our mini golf course facility.

So also, our membership package is one of the best that anybody living in Alabama can get; it is cheap and affordable. Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the Golf Course and Country Clubs industry and we are going to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis.

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club will generate income by offering the following services;

• Operating mini golf courses and country clubs

10. Sales Forecast

It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies and also some of the assumptions readily available on the field. It would be hard to create a sales forecast with a newly opened business because the statistics that will be provided will be on a short – term basis.

Experts say that usually a business should be in operation for at least one year before they can generate the statistics that will be need to help in accurate forecasting; statistics should be at least one year old in order to show the trends and pattern in consumer spending.

We expect to register a minimum of 500 active members within our first year of operation and then in subsequent years we will grow our membership. Below are the sales projection for Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club, it is based on the location of our facility and the services and products that we will be offering to our clients (members);

• First Fiscal Year (FY1): $250,000
• Second Fiscal Year (FY2): $450,000
• Third Fiscal Year (FY3): $750,000

N.B: This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major competitor offering same services as we do within 4.5 miles radius from our facility.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Our marketing strategies will be directed towards achieving specific objectives that support the strategic goals of the organization. The truth is that all that we do will be geared towards creating new market channels, increasing sales and our market share. We will leverage on improving on our services and facility to ensure that we win new clients and retain old members.

At Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club, our marketing strategies will be consistent throughout the marketing mix and we will take into consideration continuous service improvement, promotion, and price. As part of our sales and marketing strategies, we will pay attention to the promotion of our mini golf course so as to attract people to enroll and become members. Part of the marketing and sales strategies that we will adopt are;

• Open our mini golf course and country club facility with a big party.
• Advertise our mini golf course and country club facility on national dailies, local TV and radio stations
• Promote our mini golf course and country home facility online via our official website and all available social media platforms
• Introduce our mini golf course and country club facility by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to sports clubs, schools, corporate organizations, households and key stake holders in Montgomery – Alabama
• Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
• Making our first impression count positively to those making use of our mini golf facility for the first time
• Make use of attractive hand bills to create awareness and also to give direction to our mini golf course and country club facility
• Adopt direct mailing coupon marketing approach
• Position our signage/flexi banners at strategic places in and around Ashville – Alabama
• Create a loyalty plan that will enable us reward our consistent members especially those that registered as a family

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our branding and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the hearts of our target market. We are set to become the number one choice in the whole of Montgomery – Alabama which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our golf course and country club facility.

Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club;

• Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community based golf tourneys or sport events and competitions
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
• Install our Billboards in strategic locations all around Montgomery – Alabama.
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• List Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club on local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our mini golf course and country club facility in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are well branded with our corporate logo et al.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Basically, a mini golf course that is open 120 days a year, and charges $7.50 per round, with a maximum of 80 rounds per hour and has 25 percent capacity during the daytime and 50 percent at nighttime, generates an estimated annual revenue of $333,000.

With the above, our pricing system is going to be based on what is obtainable in the industry, we don’t intend to charge more (except for premium and customized services) and we don’t intend to charge less than what our competitors are charging their members in Montgomery – Alabama.

Be that as it may, we have put plans in place to offer discount services once in a while and also to reward our loyal customers especially when they refer clients to us or when they register as a family or sports club or schools.

• Payment Options

At Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club, our payment policy will be all inclusive because we are quite aware that different clients would prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that we will make available to our clients;

• Payment by via bank transfer
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via check
• Payment via bank draft
• Payment via mobile money
• Payment with cash

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our plans with little or no hitches.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

These are the key areas where you are expected to spend your startup capital on;

• The total fee for registering the business in the United States of America – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits as well as the accounting services (software, P.O.S machines and other software) – $3,300.
• Marketing promotion expenses for the grand opening of the mini golf course in the amount of $3,500 and as well as flyer printing (2,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of $3,580.
• The total cost for hiring a business consultant including writing a business plan – $2,500.
• The total cost for the purchase of insurance (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $2,400.
• The cost for renting or leasing a facility that will be converted into the mini golf course and country club and that can accommodate the number of customers per time (Re – construction of the facility inclusive) will cost – $300,000.
• Other start-up expenses including, commercial satellite TV subscriptions, stationery ($500) and phone and utility deposits ($2,800).
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $80,000
• The cost for start-up inventory (stocking with a wide range of drinks and food) – $15,000
• The cost for the purchase of storage hardware (bins, rack, shelves, food case) – $3,720
• The cost for counter area equipment (counter top, sink, ice machine, etc.) – $9,500
• The cost for serving area equipment (plates, ash trays, glasses, flatware) – $3,000
• The cost for store equipment (cash register, security, ventilation, signage) – $4,750
• The cost of purchase and installation of CCTVs: $2,000
• Equipping the arcade game lounge (different sizes and types of game machines, Flat Screen TVs, sound system, DVD players, Satellite dish and decoder, furniture (table, stools and sofas), telephones, filing cabinets) will cost – $80,000
• The cost of launching a website: $600
• The cost for our opening party: $3,000
• Miscellaneous: $2,000

From the rough estimate as listed above, you would need a minimum of five hundred and ninety – eight thousand nine hundred USD ($598,900) to establish a medium – scale but standard and well – equipped mini golf facility in Montgomery – Alabama.

Generating Funds/Startup Capital for Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is owned and managed by Frank Nelson and family. They decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $200,000 (Personal savings $150,000 and soft loan from family members $50,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $400,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If all of these factors are missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

One of our major goals of starting Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running. We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over in our mini golf facility is to equip our facility with state of the art gym and fitness equipment et al.

Frank Nelson™ Mini Golf Course & Country Club will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more. We know that if that is put in place, we will be able to successfully hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check: Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Acquiring facility and remodeling the facility: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Printing of Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed golf, game machines and accessories, gym and fitness equipment, electronic appliances, office appliances and suppliers: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: Completed
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and in the neighborhood: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party/launching party planning: In Progress

More on Sports

How to Start a Miniature Golf Course

While the primary feature of this business is the mini-golf itself, many such businesses include other features such as arcade games, food, and activities like a climbing wall. This allows the business to bill itself as a kid-friendly entertainment center and achieve more year-round business.

Learn how to start your own Miniature Golf Course and whether it is the right fit for you.

Ready to form your LLC? Check out the Top LLC Formation Services .

Start a miniature golf course by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Miniature Golf Course
• Form your Miniature Golf Course into a Legal Entity
• Register your Miniature Golf Course for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Miniature Golf Course
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Miniature Golf Course
• Get Miniature Golf Course Insurance
• Define your Miniature Golf Course Brand
• Create your Miniature Golf Course Website
• 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 other small 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.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Miniature Golf Course Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering 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.

Want some help naming your miniature golf course?

Business name generator, 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.

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?

The exact amount of profit your business makes greatly 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.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

The most common business structure types are the sole proprietorship , partnership , limited liability company (LLC) , and corporation .

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your miniature golf course is sued.

Form Your LLC

Read our Guide to Form Your Own LLC

Have a Professional Service Form your LLC for You

Two such reliable services:

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services . You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

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!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and 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 as piercing 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.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

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 our LLC 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 visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Certificate of Occupancy

Miniature Golf Courses operating out of a physical location typically require a Certificate 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 recommended to 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 Insurance protects 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 with General 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 is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Miniature Golf Course needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Miniature Golf Course.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a miniature golf course

For your initial advertising rush, it's good to do a mixture of television, radio, newspaper, and online advertising. This helps you become established within the community. Over time, though, online advertising via social media and your website will be easy and virtually free, and it provides a natural venue with which to engage younger customers.

How to keep customers coming back

As mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to attract and retain customers is to encourage customers to have birthday parties and other events at your course. You can also have special days and times with certain promotions (such as bringing in four friends and getting a free game, or lower prices past a certain hour) in order to encourage more customers. Finally, within your budget, try to add interactive arcade games and other experiences that customers cannot easily have at home. This is one of the reasons that things like pinball, skeeball, and unconventional games like Dance Dance Revolution retain their popularity—customers cannot replicate these experiences easily at home.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

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.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

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.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a miniature golf course?

Make sure that you prominently advertise your business as a fun place for families and friends to throw birthday parties and other special events. Similarly, you may want to court local businesses and corporations to see if they would like to have any fun events at your location. Within your budget, make sure the decorations of the course itself are very dynamic and engaging—this will be the kind of thing prospective customers see from the road, so it needs to be good!

How and when to build a team

The nature of this job means that you will need staff from the very beginning, as it is difficult to manage the entire course, help out customers playing, and to process new customers as they arrive. Beyond that, you will typically expand your team in reaction to increased business, increased operating hours, or increased services offered.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• Mini Golf Franchise Opportunity
• Mini Golf Directory

Real World Examples

• NYC’s 5 best mini golf courses
• Interview with mini golf owner

Further Reading

• Sample Business Plan
• The Future of the Mini Golf Industry
• Learn about more Family Fun Business Ideas!

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

We earn commissions if you shop through the links below.  Read more

Mini Golf Course

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start a Mini Golf Course

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on June 23, 2023 Updated on May 23, 2024

Investment range

$275,800 - $422,300

Revenue potential

$312,000 - $624,000 p.a.

Time to build

6 – 12 months

Profit potential

$93,000 - $186,000 p.a.

Industry trend

Mini golf is a great activity for families or even for a date night. Many mini golf courses also have other activities available, such as driving ranges, batting cages, or an arcade. If you are a mini golf lover, you could start your own mini golf course and get in on a $360 million industry in the U.S. 

But first, you’ll need to understand the business of mini golf. Luckily, this step-by-step guide is teed up with all the business insights you need to start a successful mini golf course. 

Looking to register your business? A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple.

Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the Best LLC Services .

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

• Help people have a fun time
• Market is making a big comeback from the pandemic
• Good profit potential
• High startup costs
• Need to find available land in a convenient location

Mini golf course industry trends

Industry size and growth.

• Industry size and past growth – The U.S. mini golf course industry is worth $361.7 million in 2023 after declining an average of 2.6% annually for the last five years due to the pandemic.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/miniature-golf-courses-united-states/#:~:text=The%20market%20size%2C%20measured%20by,was%20%24350.2m%20in%202022. ))
• Growth forecast – The U.S. mini golf course industry is projected to grow 3.3% in 2023.
• Number of businesses – In 2022, 1,006 mini golf course businesses were operating in the U.S.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/market-research-reports/miniature-golf-courses-industry/ ))
• Number of people employed – In 2022, the U.S. mini golf course industry employed 8,775 people. 

Trends and challenges

• Many mini golf courses today are themed, creating more immersive experiences.
• Newly designed mini golf courses are attracting people of all ages.
• The increased popularity of online gaming is keeping teenagers away from mini golf courses.
• Creating unique mini golf courses that attract people of all ages is getting more expensive.

How much does it cost to start a mini golf course business?

Startup costs for a mini golf course range from $275,000 to $420,000 or more depending on the extent of the facilities. The largest cost is of course the construction of the course and facilities.

You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your mini golf course business, including: 

• Facilities to make and serve food and beverages
• Golf bag , putters and balls
• Equipment to care for the greens

How much can you earn from a mini golf course business?

You can likely charge $7 to $10 for a round of mini golf. You can also earn revenue from other activities plus food and beverage sales. These calculations will assume that the average person will spend $12 at your course. Your profit margin should be about 30%. 

In your first year or two, you might have 500 customers a week, bringing in $312,000 in revenue. This would mean $93,000 in profit, assuming that 30% margin. 

As you gain traction, sales could climb to 1,000 customers a week.  With annual revenue of $624,000, you’d make a tidy profit of $186,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

The only real barrier to entry for a mini golf course is funding the startup costs.

Related Business Ideas

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Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a mini golf course, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market. 

Market research could give you the upper hand even if you’ve got the perfect product. Conducting robust market research is crucial, as it will help you better understand your customers, your competitors, and the broader business landscape.

Analyze your competitors 

Research mini golf courses in your area to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews.

• Make a list of mini golf courses that offer similar services. 
• Review your competitors’ services – their features, pricing, and quality – and marketing strategies
• Check out their online reviews and ratings on Google, Yelp, and Facebook to get an idea of what their customers like and dislike.
• Identify your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. 

This should identify areas where you can strengthen your business and gain a competitive edge to make better business decisions.

Why? Identify an opportunity

You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a jungle themed mini golf course or a mini golf course that sells beer.

You might consider targeting a niche, such as mini golf for families by offering other kid attractions.

This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away. 

What? Determine your services

In addition to mini golf rounds, many mini golf courses also have arcades, driving ranges, or batting cages to bring in additional revenue. Of course, building those facilities would add to your startup costs, but it would bring a higher profit over time. You should also consider having a snack stand to offer beverages and snacks like hot dogs and soft pretzels. 

How much should you charge for mini golf?

Your prices should be based on market prices in your area, but also on your operating costs. 

Once you know your costs, use our profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Your target market will likely be mainly families, but it could be people of all ages, so you should market on both Instagram and Facebook.

Where? Choosing the best mini golf course location

You’ll need to find land to lease or buy, so you should engage with a commercial real estate agent to help you. You’ll want a location that’s convenient and near family neighborhoods. Here are some factors to consider when choosing the perfect location for your mini golf course business:

• Target Audience: Near families, tourists, or specific age groups.
• Visibility: Roadside spots with good signage opportunities.
• Accessibility: Easy transport access and ample parking.
• Size & Terrain: Enough space for course & amenities; use natural landscapes.
• Competition: Avoid locations with many similar businesses.
• Regulations: Check zoning and permits.
• Climate: Favorable weather or consider shelter provisions.
• Nearby Amenities: Close to restaurants, shops, or attractions.
• Safety: Good area safety and lighting for evenings.
• Costs: Ensure lease or purchase fits your budget.
• Growth Potential: Space for expansion; growing neighborhood.
• Feedback: Test interest with temporary setups.
• Environmental Impact: Ensure no harm to local ecosystems.
• Expert Advice: Consult local real estate and business experts.

Step 3: Brainstorm a Miniature Golf Course Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better 
• Name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “mini golf” or “mini golf course”, boosts SEO
• Name should allow for expansion, for ex: “PlayExpand Greens” and “OmniPutt Ventures” over “PuttParadise Lanes” and “TwilightTurf Mini Golf”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

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Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead and reserve your business name with your state, start the trademark registration process, and complete your domain registration and social media account creation. 

Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick a name, reserve it and start with the branding, it’s hard to switch to a new name. So be sure to carefully consider your choice before moving forward. 

Step 4: Create a Miniature Golf Course Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Executive Summary: Summarize the key highlights and objectives of your mini golf course business, including its location, target audience, and unique features.
• Business Overview: Provide an overview of your mini golf course, including its theme, size, and the types of mini golf experiences it offers, such as themed courses or special events.
• Product and Services: Describe the various mini golf services you provide, such as regular rounds of golf, special packages for events or parties, and any additional amenities like a snack bar or arcade.
• Market Analysis: Analyze the local and regional market for mini golf entertainment, considering factors like population demographics, tourism potential, and the demand for family-friendly activities.
• Competitive Analysis: Identify and evaluate other mini golf courses in the area, highlighting what makes your course unique, such as innovative course designs or pricing strategies.
• Sales and Marketing: Outline your marketing strategies for attracting customers, including social media campaigns, partnerships with local businesses, and promotions for special events.
• Management Team: Introduce the team responsible for managing and operating the mini golf course, emphasizing their expertise in hospitality and entertainment.
• Operations Plan: Detail the day-to-day operations of the mini golf course, covering aspects like hours of operation, staff roles, maintenance schedules, and customer service protocols.
• Financial Plan: Present financial projections, including startup costs, revenue forecasts, operating expenses, and expected profitability for your mini golf course business.
• Appendix: Include any additional materials that support your business plan, such as photos of the mini golf course layout, marketing materials, and financial statements.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business! 

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to mini golf courses. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state. 

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your mini golf course will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely. 

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company ( LLC ) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.  Here’s how to form an LLC .
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation. Read how to start a corporation here .
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have. 

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN. 

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans: This is the most common method but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans: The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants: A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like  Kickstarter  and  Indiegogo  offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like  Fundable  and  WeFunder  enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a mini golf course business. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.  

Step 8: Apply for Business Licenses/Permits

Starting a mini golf course business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money, you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your mini golf course business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account. 

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business. 

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.  

You may want to use industry-specific software, such as  Gatemaster , or BMI Leisure , to manage your bookings, registrations, and payments.

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero . 
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Create a website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism. You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

Your customers are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. SEO will help your website appear closer to the top in relevant search results, a crucial element for increasing sales. 

Make sure that you optimize calls to action on your website. Experiment with text, color, size, and position of calls to action such as “Book Course Now”. This can sharply increase purchases.

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Engage the Community: Connect with local schools, community centers, and youth groups to organize mini golf events, fostering a sense of community and bringing in potential customers.
• Local SEO  — Regularly update your Google My Business and Yelp profiles to strengthen your local search presence.
• Themed Nights and Events: Host themed nights, such as glow-in-the-dark mini golf or costume contests, to create memorable experiences that encourage repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth.
• Partnerships with Local Businesses: Collaborate with nearby restaurants or ice cream shops for cross-promotional deals, providing discounts for customers who visit both establishments.
• Social Media Challenges: Launch engaging challenges on social media platforms, encouraging visitors to share their best mini golf moments with specific hashtags for a chance to win free rounds or other incentives.
• Student Discounts and Packages: Offer special discounts for students or create packages for birthdays and special occasions, making your mini golf course an attractive option for diverse customer segments.
• Loyalty Programs: Implement a loyalty program that rewards frequent visitors with discounts, free rounds, or exclusive access to events, encouraging customer retention.
• Local Influencer Collaborations: Partner with local influencers or bloggers to review and promote your mini golf course, leveraging their audience and credibility to increase awareness.
• Corporate Team-Building Packages: Develop team-building packages for local businesses, providing a unique and entertaining venue for corporate events and fostering a positive work environment.
• Referral Discounts: Institute a referral program where current customers receive discounts or bonuses for referring friends and family to experience your mini golf course.
• Seasonal Promotions: Create seasonal promotions, such as holiday-themed mini golf courses or summer family packages, to capitalize on specific times of the year and attract diverse customer groups.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your mini golf course meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire. 

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your mini golf course business could be: 

• Putt your way to excitement and adventure on our uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind mini golf course.
• Embark on a mini golf journey like no other, with our interactive and imaginative course that captivates players of all ages.
• Experience the perfect blend of fun and challenge with our meticulously crafted mini golf holes that keep players entertained and engaged.

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a mini golf course business, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in mini golf for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in mini golf courses. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. 

Step 12: Build Your Team

You will need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a mini golf course business include:

• Course attendants – guest registrations, customer service
• Snack bar attendants – sell food and beverages
• Maintenance workers – maintain courses
• General manager – scheduling, accounting

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need. 

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent. 

Step 13: Run a Mini Golf Course Business – Start Making Money!

Mini golf courses are making a big comeback since the pandemic, as people want to get out and enjoy activities. Now could be the perfect time to start your own mini golf course to help your community have fun and to get in on a rebounding industry. 

Now that you understand how the business works, you’re ready to find a property and get your successful mini golf course running!

• Mini Golf Course Business FAQs

A mini golf course can be a profitable business if well-managed and attracts a steady stream of customers. Profitability depends on factors such as location, pricing, marketing efforts, competition, and customer experience. Most see a return on investment in one to three years.

During a typical day at a mini golf course, customers arrive and register at a counter or booth where they pay for their round. They are provided with putters, balls, and scorecards. Customers then play through the course, navigating obstacles and challenges. Staff members are available to assist and ensure smooth operations. Regular maintenance and landscaping are carried out, and some courses offer additional amenities such as concessions, seating areas, or party facilities.

The growth potential of a mini golf course depends on factors like location, local demographics, competition, and demand for recreational activities. Effective marketing, good maintenance, and expanding offerings can contribute to growth.

A mini golf course is a leisure and entertainment business within the recreational industry. It caters to individuals, families, friends, and groups seeking an enjoyable and relaxed activity. Additional services like party hosting, event rentals, concessions, and merchandise sales may also be provided.

This was super helpful, easy to understand, and took a lot of the fear out of the unknown! I will be utilizing this a lot and referring back to it along my journey, thank you!

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Miniature Golf Course Name
• Create a Miniature Golf Course Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund your Business
• Apply for Business Licenses/Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Mini Golf Course Business - Start Making Money!

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Start Your Mini Golf Venture with Confidence

Main Sections In This Post Steps To Starting A Miniature Golf Course Business Points to Consider Knowledge Is Power Featured Video

This post offers a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to initiate a miniature golf course business, complete with examples and samples.

It includes links to up-to-date knowledge resources suitable for both startup and established businesses.

Given the wealth of information, consider sharing and bookmarking for future reference.

Let’s get started with the steps.

The Steps to Take To Start Your Miniature Golf Course Business

Below are the steps to starting a miniature golf course business.

Each step is linked to a specific section, allowing you to jump to your desired section or scroll to follow the steps in order.

• An Overview of What You’re Getting Into
• Miniature Golf Course Business Overview
• Researching Your Miniature Golf Course Business
• Looking at Financials
• Creating Your Mission Statement
• Creating A Unique Selling Proposition (USP)
• Choose a Miniature Golf Course Business Name
• Register Your Company
• Create Your Corporate Identity
• Writing a Business Plan
• Banking Considerations
• Getting the Funds for Your Operation
• Software Setup
• Business Insurance Considerations
• Supplier and Service Provider Considerations
• Setting Your Prices
• Physical Setup
• Creating a Website
• Create an External Support Team
• Hiring Employees
• Getting Customers Through the Door

1. An Overview of What You’re Getting Into

Passion Fuels Success

The Importance of Passion in Business

Passion is a powerful catalyst for success in the miniature golf course business. It’s the driving force that propels entrepreneurs to overcome obstacles and find innovative solutions. Without passion, challenges can become insurmountable barriers.

Passion: Problem Solver or Problem Seeker

Passionate entrepreneurs view problems as opportunities. They tackle issues head-on, seeking solutions that benefit their business. In contrast, those lacking passion tend to avoid problems, often seeking an exit strategy when faced with challenges.

Measuring Your Passion

A Litmus Test for Passion

To gauge your passion for your miniature golf course business, ask yourself: “Would I run this business for free if money were not a concern?” A resounding “yes” indicates your strong passion and dedication.

Passion’s True Calling

Aligning Passion with Purpose

If the idea of running a miniature golf course business doesn’t ignite your passion, consider exploring your true calling. Pursuing what genuinely excites you can lead to a more fulfilling and successful entrepreneurial journey.

Passion: The Cornerstone of Success

In summary, passion is the cornerstone of success in the miniature golf course business. It drives perseverance, creativity, and a deep commitment to your venture, ultimately increasing the likelihood of achieving your goals.

For More, See How Passion Affects Your Business . Also, see Considerations Before You Start Your Business to identify key points for a new business owner.

2. Gaining an Overview of Owning a Miniature Golf Course Business

Next, let’s spend some time on key issues to give you an overview of what to expect from owning and running your business.

a.) A Quick Overview of Owning a Miniature Golf Course Business

A miniature golf course business is a recreational venture centered around miniature golf, a scaled-down version of traditional golf played on unique, whimsical courses.

Also known as mini-golf or putt-putt, it’s a family-friendly activity that combines fun and skill.

A miniature golf course typically features an assortment of obstacles, challenging holes, and creative themes to entertain players of all ages.

Day-to-Day Tasks in Managing a Miniature Golf Course Business

Running and managing a miniature golf course business involves a variety of tasks to ensure smooth operations and a satisfying experience for customers. Here’s a summary of day-to-day responsibilities:

• Course Maintenance: Regularly inspect, clean, and maintain the course. Ensure that obstacles, greens, and pathways are in good condition.
• Customer Service: Interact with customers, provide guidance, and handle inquiries and reservations. Maintain a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
• Marketing and Promotion: Develop and implement marketing strategies to attract customers. Manage social media, website updates, and promotional campaigns.
• Staff Management: Hire, train, and schedule employees for various roles, including ticket sales, course supervision, and event coordination.
• Financial Management: Oversee daily financial transactions, including ticket sales and merchandise purchases. Keep accurate records and manage cash flow.
• Event Planning: Organize special events, parties, and tournaments. Coordinate bookings and ensure all arrangements are in place.
• Inventory Control: Manage merchandise inventory, ensuring a well-stocked pro shop if applicable.
• Safety and Security: Implement safety protocols to protect customers and staff. Monitor and respond to any security concerns.
• Landscaping and Groundskeeping: Maintain landscaping around outdoor courses to enhance its appearance and ambiance.
• Accounting and Record-Keeping: Keep detailed financial records, track expenses, and prepare reports for tax purposes.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly assess customer feedback and make improvements based on suggestions. Experiment with new course designs and themes to keep the experience fresh.
• Community Engagement: Connect with the local community through partnerships, sponsorships, and participation in local events.
• Legal Compliance: Ensure that the business complies with local regulations and obtains necessary permits and licenses.

Managing a miniature golf course business requires a balance of creativity, customer service, and operational efficiency.

Providing an enjoyable and memorable experience for customers while effectively overseeing day-to-day operations is key to its success.

b.) Miniature Golf Course Business Models

Types of Miniature Golf Course Business Setups and Business Models

Traditional Miniature Golf Course:

• Business Model:  Offering a classic miniature golf experience with creative obstacle layouts and themed holes. Revenue primarily generated through ticket sales and merchandise.

Indoor Miniature Golf:

• Business Model:  Operating mini-golf courses indoors, often in malls, entertainment complexes, or standalone facilities. Additional income streams may include arcade games, party rentals, and concessions.

Adventure or Themed Mini-Golf:

• Business Model:  Creating immersive, themed courses like pirate adventures, jungle safaris, or fantasy worlds. This model attracts families and tourists willing to pay premium prices for unique experiences.

Miniature Golf and Entertainment Complex:

• Business Model:  Combining miniature golf with other entertainment options such as go-karts, batting cages, laser tag, or arcades. Diversifying revenue streams through various attractions.

Mobile Mini-Golf:

• Business Model:  Taking miniature golf to various locations, like events, parties, or corporate gatherings. Revenue comes from booking fees and event packages.

Miniature Golf Resort:

• Business Model:  Integrating miniature golf into a larger resort or recreational facility. Miniature golf complements other amenities like hotels, restaurants, and water parks, attracting a broader customer base.

Adult-Focused Miniature Golf:

• Business Model:  Catering to adults with challenging courses, upscale themes, and the inclusion of a bar or restaurant. Revenue boosted by ticket sales, food, and beverages.

Miniature Golf Franchise:

• Business Model:  Joining a franchise network, following a proven business model. Franchisees benefit from established branding, marketing support, and standardized operations.

Choosing the Right Business Model

Selecting the appropriate miniature golf course business model is critical from the outset.

Each model caters to a different demographic and offers distinct revenue streams. Consider factors like location, target audience, available capital, and personal preferences.

Identifying a profitable and high-demand niche for your miniature golf course business is essential. Conduct market research to understand your local customer base and their preferences.

By aligning your business model with customer needs and trends, you can increase your chances of success and create a memorable miniature golf experience that stands out in the market.

Remember that switching your business model later can be challenging, so thoughtful planning at the outset is crucial.

c.) Making Your Miniature Golf Course Business Stand Out

Ideas to Make Your Miniature Golf Course Business Stand Out:

• Thematic Excellence: Develop unique and captivating themes for your course. Whether it’s a mystical enchanted forest, a bustling cityscape, or a pirate adventure, thematic excellence creates a memorable and immersive experience.
• Glow-in-the-Dark Mini-Golf: Offer a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf experience with fluorescent paint and blacklighting. This nighttime attraction adds excitement and a unique twist to the traditional game.
• Interactive Obstacles: Incorporate interactive obstacles like moving windmills, water features, and sound effects that engage players and provide an extra layer of challenge and fun.
• Championship Tournaments: Host miniature golf tournaments with attractive prizes. These events can draw competitive players and create a sense of community around your course.
• Mini-Golf Leagues: Organize mini-golf leagues for enthusiasts looking for regular play. Leagues encourage repeat visits and build a loyal customer base.
• Birthday Party Packages: Offer all-inclusive birthday party packages, complete with mini-golf, party rooms, decorations, and catering. Create hassle-free experiences for parents and lasting memories for children.
• Corporate Events: Target corporate clients by providing team-building events and corporate party packages. Businesses often seek unique venues for their employees’ recreational activities and team-building exercises.
• Themed Events and Nights: Host themed nights, such as “80s Retro Night” or “Superhero Saturdays.” These events attract different audiences and keep your course exciting and fresh.
• Special Discounts: Implement loyalty programs, discounts for repeat visitors, and referral incentives to encourage customer retention and word-of-mouth referrals.
• Social Media Engagement: Maintain a strong social media presence, regularly sharing updates, challenges, and promotions. Encourage customers to share their experiences on platforms like Instagram and Facebook.
• Seasonal Decorations: Decorate your course to match seasonal holidays and events. Halloween, Christmas, and other seasonal themes can attract more visitors during specific times of the year.
• Educational Programs: Collaborate with local schools to offer educational programs that teach geometry and physics through mini-golf. This approach fosters community ties and introduces children to your course.
• Live Entertainment: Occasionally feature live music, magicians, or other entertainers to enhance the overall experience. Live events can attract a broader audience and create memorable outings.
• Local Art Installations: Partner with local artists to create mini-golf course art installations or sculptures. This not only supports the local art community but also adds aesthetic appeal to your course.

d.) Add-ons for a Miniature Golf Course Business

• Arcade Games: Install an arcade area with classic and modern games to offer a broader range of entertainment options.
• Café or Snack Bar: Include a café or snack bar serving refreshments, ice cream, and light meals for hungry players and spectators.
• Party Rooms: Set up dedicated party rooms for birthdays and events, complete with decorations and catering options.
• Go-Kart Track: If space permits, consider adding a go-kart track to your facility, offering an exciting complement to mini-golf.
• Batting Cages: Install batting cages for baseball and softball enthusiasts, providing another recreational activity for visitors.
• Bumper Boats: If water features are feasible, consider adding bumper boats to your attraction, especially in warmer climates.
• Laser Tag: Incorporate a laser tag arena for action-packed team games that appeal to a broader age group.
• Outdoor Seating: Create outdoor seating areas where visitors can relax, enjoy refreshments, and watch others play.
• Merchandise Shop: Expand your pro shop to offer a wider selection of mini-golf-related merchandise, including branded apparel and souvenirs.
• Virtual Reality Mini-Golf: Introduce virtual reality mini-golf experiences, appealing to tech-savvy customers seeking a unique twist on the game.
• Event Spaces: Offer event spaces for weddings, parties, and corporate gatherings, capitalizing on your picturesque course as a backdrop.
• Practice Putting Greens: Set up practice putting greens for golf enthusiasts looking to improve their putting skills.
• Mini-Golf Academy: Provide lessons and workshops for players interested in honing their mini-golf skills.
• Outdoor Movie Screenings: Host outdoor movie nights on your course, combining mini-golf with cinematic entertainment for a memorable evening.
• VIP Memberships: Create VIP memberships with exclusive benefits like unlimited play, discounts, and access to special events.

Enhancing your miniature golf course business with these add-ons and unique offerings not only diversifies your revenue streams but also makes your establishment more appealing to a broader range of customers.

Carefully consider your target audience and market demand when selecting the most suitable add-ons for your business.

e.) Pros and Cons of Owning a Business

Owning and operating a business brings both benefits and challenges.

While the rewards are enticing, it’s essential not to overlook potential obstacles.

Understanding the possible problems allows for better preparation and minimizes surprises in the entrepreneurial journey.

For more, see Pros and Cons of Starting a Small Business.

f.) Challenges You Could Face When Starting and Operating a Miniature Golf Course Business

Challenges When Starting a Miniature Golf Course Business:

• Initial Capital: Securing the necessary funds for land acquisition, course construction, and equipment can be a significant hurdle.
• Location Selection: Finding the right location with sufficient foot traffic and visibility is crucial for success.
• Regulations and Permits: Navigating local zoning regulations, permits, and environmental approvals can be time-consuming and complex.
• Thematic Design: Creating engaging and unique course themes while staying within budget can be challenging.
• Competition: Assessing and differentiating from existing courses in the area is essential to attract customers.
• Marketing: Building brand awareness and attracting the first wave of customers requires effective marketing strategies.
• Course Maintenance: Setting up regular maintenance schedules and hiring skilled personnel is vital for course longevity.
• Staffing: Recruiting, training, and retaining employees who can provide excellent customer service is a constant challenge.
• Weather Dependency: Weather conditions can significantly impact business, especially in seasonal locations.

Challenges When Miniature Golf Course Business is in Full Operation:

• Seasonal Fluctuations: Managing revenue fluctuations during off-peak seasons and maximizing profits during peak times.
• Course Wear and Tear: Maintaining course quality and appearance as obstacles and greens are subjected to continuous use.
• Customer Retention: Ensuring repeat visits and customer loyalty through incentives and promotions.
• Cost Control: Managing operational expenses, including utilities, payroll, and maintenance, while maintaining profitability.
• Legal Compliance: Staying updated with changing regulations and safety standards to avoid legal issues.
• Market Trends: Adapting to changing customer preferences and staying competitive with evolving trends.
• Insurance: Continuously evaluating and updating insurance coverage to protect against liabilities.
• Marketing and Promotion: Sustaining effective marketing efforts to attract new customers and maintain interest among regulars.
• Community Engagement: Nurturing relationships with the local community through sponsorships, events, and partnerships.
• Inventory Management: Efficiently managing inventory in pro shops and concessions to minimize waste and maximize profits.
• Customer Feedback: Collecting and acting on customer feedback to enhance the overall experience.
• Competition: Responding to new competitors or changes in the competitive landscape.
• Safety Protocols: Ensuring the safety of customers and staff by implementing and enforcing safety procedures.
• Operational Efficiency: Continuously seeking ways to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs.
• Long-Term Planning: Developing a long-term strategy to sustain and grow the business while staying relevant in the market.

Operating a miniature golf course business comes with ongoing challenges, from maintaining the course to adapting to market dynamics.

Successful owners navigate these obstacles through proactive planning, effective management, and a commitment to delivering a memorable experience for their customers.

g.) Questions You Need to Consider for Your Miniature Golf Course Business

Before launching your miniature golf course business, addressing these essential questions is crucial for a well-prepared start:

• Business Model: Determine your chosen miniature golf course business model, whether it’s a traditional course, themed experience, or part of an entertainment complex.
• Skills and Abilities: Assess your readiness to manage and operate a miniature golf course business. Recognize areas where additional skills or knowledge may be required.
• Staffing: Decide whether you’ll handle all operations independently or if you need to hire employees, including a manager.
• Customer Acquisition: Develop strategies for attracting customers, considering marketing, promotions, and partnerships.
• Customer Retention: Plan methods to maintain customer loyalty, such as loyalty programs, special events, and outstanding service.
• Financing: Explore funding options for startup costs, including equipment, construction, and operational expenses.
• Profitability Timeline: Estimate the time it takes to become profitable, understanding that the initial phase can be financially challenging.
• Personal Financial Support: Determine how you’ll support yourself during the early stages when the business may not generate substantial income.
• Unique Value Proposition: Define what sets your miniature golf course apart from competitors and why customers will choose your establishment.

By addressing these questions comprehensively, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of your business model, target market, and the steps needed to ensure a successful start and sustained growth in the competitive miniature golf course industry.

3. Research

Inside information miniature golf course business research.

Research for Informed Decisions

Before Embarking on a Miniature Golf Course Business, Thorough Research Is Essential.

Quality Information Matters

Gaining Insights from Experienced Operators Ensures You Know What to Expect.

Tapping into Expertise

Experienced Miniature Golf Course Operators Are Invaluable Sources of Knowledge.

Priceless Wisdom

Time Spent with Industry Experts Offers Insights from Years of Experience.

Seeking the Right Experts

Identifying and Approaching Knowledgeable Individuals Requires Strategic Approaches.

Guidance for Success

“An Inside Look Into the Business You Want To Start” Offers Strategies for Identifying and Consulting with Experts.

Preparedness for Success

Effective Research and Expert Consultation Ensure You Enter the Miniature Golf Course Business Well-Prepared.

See An Inside Look Into the Business You Want To Start for all the details.

Supply, Demand, and Your Location

Assessing Market Demand for Your Miniature Golf Course Business

Determining demand for your miniature golf course business in your chosen location is essential for long-term success.

Here are simple strategies to gauge market demand effectively:

• Market Research: Conduct thorough market research to understand your target audience’s preferences and interests. Analyze demographics, such as age groups, income levels, and leisure activities.
• Competitive Analysis: Study existing miniature golf courses in the area. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, pricing strategies, and customer reviews. Look for gaps in the market that your business can fill.
• Surveys and Questionnaires: Create surveys or questionnaires to gather feedback from potential customers. Ask about their interest in miniature golf, what they expect from a course, and pricing expectations.
• Focus Groups: Organize focus group discussions with individuals from your target market. These sessions provide in-depth insights into customer preferences and opinions.
• Online Presence: Leverage social media and online forums to engage with your local community. Share polls and posts to gauge interest in miniature golf and gather feedback.
• Collaborations: Partner with local businesses or event organizers to host miniature golf-related events or promotions. This can serve as a test run to assess interest.
• Pilot Testing: Consider opening a pop-up or temporary miniature golf course to gauge local interest and collect real-world data before committing to a permanent location.
• Networking: Attend local events, join community groups, and network with potential customers. Discuss your business idea and gather feedback.
• Consult Experts: Seek advice from industry experts and business mentors. They can provide valuable insights into market dynamics and demand trends.

By employing these strategies, you can accurately assess market demand for your miniature golf course business in your chosen location.

This information will guide your business decisions and increase the likelihood of a successful venture.

For more, see the Demand for Your Products and Services and Choosing The Best Location for Your Business.

Target Audience

Understanding your target audience brings several benefits. It allows you to tailor your offerings to their preferences and needs, increasing the likelihood of customer satisfaction.

This focus enables efficient resource allocation and marketing strategies, optimizing your business’s performance.

Target Market Ideas:

• Families seeking recreational activities
• Couples searching for date night ideas
• Tourists looking for local attractions
• Event planners organizing group outings
• Parents planning children’s birthday parties
• Companies arranging team-building activities
• School groups on field trips
• Senior citizens seeking leisure activities
• Sports enthusiasts exploring alternative hobbies
• Community members supporting local businesses

For more, see How To Understand Your Target Market.

4. Looking at Financials:

When starting a miniature golf course business, understanding the financial aspects is critical to its success.

Here’s an overview of what to consider:

Startup Costs:

Estimating these accurately is vital. Underestimating can lead to a shortage of funds, while overestimating may deter potential investors.

Costs depend on size, location, equipment choices, and staffing. Create a comprehensive list and research prices, including any unexpected expenses that may arise.

For more detailed information, refer to my article on Estimating Startup Costs.

Sales and Profit: Your sales are influenced by customer service, product popularity, demand, and effective marketing to your target audience.

Profitability simplifies to profit per sale, the number of sales, and monthly expenses.

For instance, if you make $300 profit per sale but only sell one item a month, it may not cover expenses. Likewise, high-volume sales with minimal profit margins can lead to the same outcome.

Assessing these factors provides a clear understanding of expected profitability.

For More, See Estimating Profitability and Revenue.

A thorough grasp of startup costs, revenue factors, and profit margins is essential for sound financial planning in your miniature golf course business.

Simple Sample: Financial Lists to Consider As a Starting Point

Note: Focus on the list items more than the numbers. The numbers are samples. Your estimates will differ due to how you set up your business, location, expenses, and revenues.

Sample Startup Costs for a Miniature Golf Course Business in the USA:

• Lower Value: $50,000
• Upper Value: $300,000
• Lower Value: $100,000
• Upper Value: $500,000
• Lower Value: $20,000
• Upper Value: $50,000
• Lower Value: $10,000
• Upper Value: $30,000
• Lower Value: $5,000
• Upper Value: $20,000
• Upper Value: $15,000
• Lower Value: $2,000
• Upper Value: $10,000
• Lower Value: $3,000
• Upper Value: $7,000

Total Estimated Startup Costs:

• Lower Value: $202,000
• Upper Value: $952,000

Sample Estimated Monthly Expenses for a Miniature Golf Course Business in the USA:

• Lower Value: $4,000
• Lower Value: $1,000
• Upper Value: $3,000
• Lower Value: $500
• Upper Value: $2,000
• Upper Value: $5,000
• Lower Value: $400
• Upper Value: $1,500

Total Estimated Monthly Expenses (excluding loan payments):

• Lower Value: $16,400
• Upper Value: $47,000

Sample Profit Per Sale Examples:

• Lower Value: $5
• Upper Value: $10
• Lower Value: $3
• Upper Value: $7
• Lower Value: $15
• Upper Value: $30

These sample figures serve as starting points for financial planning and may vary based on location, business scale, and market conditions.

Consider revisiting Step 3. Researching your miniature golf course business , where there is a technique to get inside information, will benefit you in this step.

5. Create Your Mission Statement

A mission statement serves as a guiding beacon for your miniature golf course business.

It not only defines the purpose but also keeps you aligned with your core values and customer-centric goals. It’s a constant reminder of the primary benefit you aim to provide to your customers and community.

Sample Mission Statements for a Miniature Golf Course Business:

“Our mission is to create memorable and family-friendly experiences by offering a meticulously designed miniature golf course that fosters laughter, connection, and joy within our community.”

“At [Your Business Name], our mission is to be the premier destination for entertainment and recreation, where patrons of all ages can enjoy a blend of fun, skill, and relaxation on our exceptional miniature golf courses.”

“We are dedicated to enriching the lives of our guests by providing a safe and enjoyable miniature golfing adventure that promotes bonding, active play, and wholesome entertainment.”

“To be the trusted source of miniature golf excitement, our mission is to offer a top-notch facility where families, friends, and individuals can immerse themselves in an atmosphere of fun, challenge, and togetherness.”

These mission statements reflect a commitment to creating unique and fulfilling experiences for customers, which can guide your business endeavors and decision-making processes.

For more, see How To Create a Mission Statement.

6. Creating A Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

A Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is the distinctive element that sets your miniature golf course business apart from competitors.

It identifies and creates that special something that makes your business unique and appealing to customers.

A well-defined USP not only attracts patrons but also leaves a lasting impression.

Sample USPs for a Miniature Golf Course Business:

Themed Adventure Courses: “Experience a journey through time with our historically themed miniature golf courses, where education meets entertainment.”

Glow-in-the-Dark Mini Golf: “Immerse yourself in a surreal world of glow-in-the-dark mini golf, offering an otherworldly experience that’s out of this world.”

Eco-Friendly Mini Golf: “Play guilt-free on our eco-friendly mini golf course, where every putt contributes to environmental conservation.”

Interactive Challenges: “Put your skills to the test on our tech-enhanced miniature golf courses, featuring augmented reality challenges and digital scorekeeping.”

Scenic Outdoor Courses: “Enjoy the serenity of nature on our picturesque outdoor miniature golf courses, where lush landscapes and water features make every round a scenic adventure.”

Family-Focused Fun: “Create lasting memories with family-friendly fun on our courses, where everyone, from kids to grandparents, can enjoy a day of bonding and laughter.”

Each of these USPs adds a unique dimension to a miniature golf course business, appealing to different customer segments and creating a distinct identity in the market.

7. Choose a Business Name

Selecting the right name for your miniature golf course business is crucial. It should be catchy, memorable, and reflective of your industry.

Take your time to choose a name that resonates with your brand, as changing it later can be challenging.

Ensure the domain name for your online presence matches as well, and check for any existing registrations to avoid conflicts.

30 Miniature Golf Course Business Name Ideas:

• Putt Paradise
• MiniGolf Magic
• Tee Time Trails
• Putter’s Playground
• Ace Adventure Golf
• Fairway Follies
• Hole-in-Fun Mini Golf
• SwingCity Greens
• Par-tee Links
• Birdie’s Backyard
• GreenGolf Getaways
• Family Fairway Fun
• MiniMaster Putt
• GlowGolf Galaxy
• Wild West Mini Golf
• Treasure Cove Greens
• Adventure Greenscape
• Pirate’s Putt-land
• Jurassic MiniGolf
• Fantasy Fairway World
• Alpine Adventure Greens
• Safari Swing Mini Golf
• Enchanted Golf Gardens
• Lighthouse Lanes Mini Golf
• Zen Zone Putting
• Space Odyssey Greens
• Aqua Adventure Putters
• Castle Greens & Gates
• Polar Putt Paradise
• Urban Miniature Greens

These name ideas can serve as inspiration, helping you craft a unique and memorable name that encapsulates the essence of your miniature golf course business.

For more, see the following articles:

• How To Register a Business Name
• Registering a Domain Name For Your Business

8. Register Your Company

Ensuring the legal compliance of your miniature golf course business is paramount to avoid potential legal issues down the road.

Seeking professional advice to structure your business for tax benefits and liability protection is wise.

Common Registrations for a Miniature Golf Course Business:

• Business Structure Registration: Depending on your chosen business structure (e.g., sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation), you need to register your business with the appropriate state authorities.
• Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN): If you have employees or operate as a corporation or partnership, you’ll need an EIN for tax purposes.
• State Business Licenses: Check with your state and local government for specific licensing requirements for operating a miniature golf course business.

Permits and Licenses:

• Building Permit:  Typically required for any construction or renovation work on your golf course.
• Environmental Permits:  Ensure compliance with environmental regulations, especially if your course includes water features.
• Zoning Permits:  Verify that your location complies with zoning regulations.
• Alcohol License:  If you plan to serve alcohol, you’ll need a license.
• Health Department Permits:  Necessary if you offer food or beverage services.
• Music License:  If you play music on your premises, ensure you have the appropriate licenses.
• Signage Permits:  Some jurisdictions require permits for business signs.
• Amusement License:  Some areas may require an amusement license for your golf course.
• Insurance:  Obtain liability insurance to protect against accidents on your premises.
• Entertainment License:  Required if you host events or live entertainment.

Consult with legal and business professionals to navigate the specific requirements and regulations in your area, ensuring your miniature golf course business operates legally and avoids potential issues.

Registration:

• How to Register Your Business
• How To Register a DBA
• How to Register a Trademark
• How to Get a Business License

Business Structures:

• How to Choose a Business Structure
• Pros & Cons of a Sole Proprietorship
• How To Form an LLC
• How To Register a Business Partnership
• How To Form a Corporation
• How To Choose a Business Registration Service

9. Create Your Corporate Identity

A Corporate ID, or Corporate Identity, encompasses the visual representation of your business.

It includes key components like your logo, business cards, website, signage, stationery, and promotional materials.

Maintaining a consistent and professional design across these elements is crucial for leaving a lasting and impressive impression on both new and existing customers.

You can see our page for an overview of your logo , business cards , website , and business sign , or see A Complete Introduction to Corporate Identity Packages.

10. Writing a Business Plan

A well-crafted business plan is an indispensable tool for any miniature golf course business. It serves multiple critical purposes:

• Guiding Your Business: A business plan acts as a roadmap, outlining your business’s goals, strategies, and operational details. It keeps you on track, helping you navigate the startup phase and beyond.
• Attracting Financing: When seeking financing or investors, a comprehensive business plan provides a clear and compelling overview of your venture. It instills confidence in potential lenders and investors by demonstrating that you’ve thoroughly thought out your business.
• Decision-Making: A business plan aids in informed decision-making. It helps you anticipate challenges, assess opportunities, and develop strategies to overcome obstacles.
• Setting Goals: Your plan sets measurable objectives and benchmarks for your miniature golf course business. It serves as a benchmark to evaluate your progress and make necessary adjustments.
• Communication Tool: It’s a valuable tool for communicating your business vision and strategy to stakeholders, partners, and employees.

Creating a well-structured business plan is not just a formality but an essential step in ensuring the success and sustainability of your miniature golf course business.

Business Plan Template for a Miniature Golf Course Business

Your Name Your Business Name Date

Executive Summary:

• Brief overview of your miniature golf course business.
• Mission statement.
• Business goals and objectives.
• A snapshot of your business plan.

Business Description:

• Detailed description of your miniature golf course business.
• Business history and origin.
• Vision statement.
• Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

Market Analysis:

• Market research findings.
• Target market demographics.
• Competitor analysis.
• SWOT analysis.
• Market trends and forecasts.

Products and Services:

• Detailed description of miniature golf course offerings.
• Pricing strategy.
• Add-ons and special features.
• Differentiation from competitors.

Marketing and Sales Strategy:

• Marketing plan.
• Sales tactics.
• Advertising and promotional strategies.
• Customer acquisition and retention plan.

Management and Organization:

• Management team profiles.
• Organizational structure.
• Roles and responsibilities.
• Advisory board, if applicable.

Operational Plan:

• Location details.
• Facility layout and design.
• Equipment and technology.
• Suppliers and vendors.
• Operational processes.

Financial Plan:

• Start-up costs and funding requirements.
• Sales projections.
• Expense estimates.
• Income statements and cash flow projections.
• Break-even analysis.

Funding Request:

• Funding needs.
• Loan or investment request.
• Use of funds.
• Supporting documents (licenses, permits, contracts).
• Resumes of key team members.
• Market research data.
• Additional financial projections.

This business plan template serves as a comprehensive guide to structure your miniature golf course business plan.

Customize each section with detailed information to present a professional and well-organized plan for your venture.

See How to Write a Business Plan for information on creating your business plan.

11. Banking Considerations

Selecting a local bank with a small business focus is wise. A business account aids in expense tracking and tax preparation.

Cultivating a relationship with your banker can provide valuable financial guidance.

Additionally, having a merchant account or online payment service enhances sales and customer convenience by accepting credit and debit cards.

For more, see How to Open a Business Bank Account. You may also want to look at What Is a Merchant Account and How to Get One.

12. Getting the Funds for Your Operation

When seeking a loan to start your miniature golf course business, consider various funding options like traditional lenders, private loans, investors, or selling assets.

Additionally, explore government grants that might aid your venture.

Considerations when Meeting with a Loan Officer:

• Business Plan: Have a comprehensive business plan outlining your miniature golf course concept, market research, financial projections, and repayment strategy.
• Credit History: Be prepared to discuss your personal and business credit history, including any outstanding debts.
• Collateral: Identify assets you can use as collateral, such as property or equipment.
• Repayment Plan: Clearly articulate how you intend to repay the loan, including a repayment schedule.
• Legal Structure: Specify your business’s legal structure, such as sole proprietorship, LLC, or corporation.

Sample List of Documents for a NEW Business Loan Application:

• Business Plan with Financial Projections
• Personal and Business Tax Returns
• Personal Financial Statements
• Credit Report
• Proof of Collateral
• Legal Business Structure Documents
• Loan Application Form
• Business License and Permits
• Resumes of Key Team Members
• Bank Statements

Having these documents ready demonstrates your preparedness and commitment to your miniature golf course business, increasing your chances of securing the necessary financing.

For more, see the following:

• Getting a Small Business Loan
• SBA Small Business Grants
• Search: Miniature Golf Course Business Start-up Loans
• Search: Grants For a Miniature Golf Course Business

13. Software Setup

When selecting accounting software for your miniature golf course business, thorough research is essential.

It’s easier to implement a program from scratch than to switch systems after your data is already in another.

Opt for a reputable company with a history, ensuring future support and updates.

Take advantage of software demos to try before you buy, gauging usability and features. Software reviews and forums provide insights into user experiences, helping you make an informed decision.

Additionally, research accounting software for tracking expenses and tax preparation.

Consulting with your bookkeeper or accountant is invaluable for choosing the right software that aligns with your business’s financial needs and streamlines accounting processes.

Making the right software choice ensures efficient financial management and reporting for your miniature golf course business.

Check out Google’s latest search results for software packages for a miniature golf course business.

14. Get The Right Business Insurance

Insurance is a crucial safeguard for your miniature golf course business. It’s vital to have the right coverage in place before any activity commences.

Consider policies that protect customers, employees, property, and yourself from unforeseen incidents.

Professional liability insurance can be invaluable, guarding you against potential lawsuits or claims.

Additionally, Interruption Insurance can be a lifeline in case an incident forces your business to shut down involuntarily, helping you recover lost income and expenses.

To navigate the complexities of insurance, it’s wise to engage a competent insurance broker.

They can guide you in selecting the appropriate coverage, ensuring that your miniature golf course business is well-protected and can continue operating smoothly even in the face of unexpected events.

For more, see What to Know About Business Insurance . You can also browse the latest Google search results for miniature golf course business insurance .

15. Suppliers and Service Providers

Selecting Suppliers and Service Providers for a miniature golf course business is vital.

Here are items and services you might need:

• Obstacles and Equipment Suppliers: To source miniature golf course obstacles and maintenance equipment.
• Lawn Care Services: For regular maintenance of the course grounds.
• Merchandise Suppliers: If you sell branded merchandise.
• Marketing and Advertising Agencies: To promote your business effectively.
• Financial Services: Accounting, bookkeeping, and tax services.
• Legal Services: For contracts, permits, and legal matters.
• IT Services: To maintain your website and online presence.
• Event Planning Services: For organizing parties and corporate events.
• Cleaning Services: For facilities and restroom maintenance.
• Online Payment Processing: To handle online bookings and payments.

Cultivating strong relationships with these suppliers and service providers ensures the smooth operation of your business.

A reliable supplier can offer competitive prices, ultimately benefiting your customers and profit margins.

Treating them with respect and ensuring mutual financial benefits fosters a positive and productive working relationship.

For More, See How To Choose a Supplier.

16. Setting Prices

Researching pricing when launching a miniature golf course business is imperative for several reasons.

Firstly, it ensures that your pricing strategy aligns with market norms and customer expectations.

This research helps in finding the balance where you neither overprice nor underprice your services.

Setting prices too high can deter potential customers and lead to missed sales opportunities.

On the other hand, pricing too low might attract more customers initially, but it can result in inadequate profits to cover expenses and sustain the business in the long run.

To succeed, it’s crucial to strike a balance that reflects the market while emphasizing the unique value your miniature golf course offers.

Emphasizing this value allows you to justify your pricing to customers, making them more likely to choose your business over competitors.

Regularly reviewing and adjusting your pricing strategy based on market changes and customer feedback is essential to maintain this equilibrium and ensure the financial sustainability of your business.

See the following for more:

• Setting the Price of Your Products and Services
• Search Results for Pricing Strategies for a Miniature Golf Course Business.

17. Physical Setup

Layout and Setup of a Miniature Golf Course Business:

In the context of an online miniature golf course business, the physical layout primarily pertains to your workspace, rather than the course itself.

Here’s an overview:

• Workspace: Designate a dedicated area for your online business activities. It should be quiet, well-lit, and comfortable. Consider ergonomics for your desk and chair to promote productivity during long hours.
• Equipment: Set up your computer, monitor, keyboard, and mouse in an ergonomic arrangement. Ensure a reliable internet connection, and consider backup solutions in case of technical issues.
• Storage: Organize shelves or filing cabinets for storing important documents, office supplies, and merchandise inventory (if applicable).
• Lighting: Adequate lighting is crucial. Natural light is ideal, supplemented by task lighting for your workspace.
• Decor: Personalize your workspace with decor that inspires and motivates you. This could include motivational quotes, artwork, or plants.

Since this is an online business, the signage is primarily digital. Here’s how to set it up effectively:

• Main Business Sign: Create a professional logo and branding elements that represent your miniature golf course business. These should be prominently displayed on your website, social media profiles, and marketing materials.
• Digital Signage: Utilize visually appealing graphics and banners on your website to guide visitors. Clearly label navigation menus and buttons for easy user experience.
• Directional Signage: If you offer physical products or have a physical location for administrative purposes, use online maps and directions on your website to guide customers. Ensure that the contact details are readily available.

Office Setup:

Managing an online miniature golf course business can indeed be time-consuming, emphasizing the need for an organized office setup:

• Workspace Organization: Keep your workspace clutter-free and organized. Use shelves, drawers, and organizers to store paperwork, supplies, and equipment efficiently.
• Productivity Tools: Equip your office with essential tools such as a computer, phone, printer, and scanner. Consider project management software to streamline tasks.
• Time Management: Implement effective time management techniques to maximize productivity. Set clear work hours and boundaries to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
• Communication: Set up a professional email system and ensure you have a dedicated space for virtual meetings or customer interactions.
• Backup and Security: Regularly back up your data and invest in cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive information.

A well-organized and equipped office is crucial for the efficient operation of your online miniature golf course business, helping you stay focused, productive, and responsive to customers’ needs.

See Here are Considerations for The Setup of Your Office for tips and ideas to make your office work for you. Also, have a look at our article About Company Signs.

18. Creating a Website

A website is essential for your miniature golf course business. It serves as your primary online presence, offering crucial information about your offerings.

Unlike social media accounts, a website gives you control and ownership when you host and register your domain.

Moreover, your website is a powerful marketing tool.

By creating industry-specific blogs and sharing valuable tips tailored to your customers, you can build trust and establish yourself as an expert.

The content you create not only engages visitors but also enhances your visibility and credibility in their eyes.

A well-maintained website is an indispensable asset, connecting you with potential customers, providing information, and enabling you to showcase your expertise.

For more, see How to Build a Website for Your Business .

19. Create an External Support Team

An external support team of professionals for your miniature golf course business is a reliable group of individuals who provide valuable advice and services without being on your payroll.

You can engage them for specific projects, tasks, or on a contractual, hourly, or retainer basis.

While you may already work with some professionals, recognizing them as part of your team underscores their importance and encourages you to expand your network.

Building such a team doesn’t require immediate action but is an ongoing process to cultivate strong professional relationships.

Members may include an accountant, lawyer, financial advisor, marketing specialist, technical experts, and consultants.

A robust support team ensures you have access to expertise when needed, enhancing the overall success and sustainability of your business.

For more, see Building a Team of Professional Advisors for Your Business.

20. Hiring Employees

The following are job positions or outsourced services you may want to consider as your miniature golf course business grows:

• Course Manager:  Oversees day-to-day operations, maintenance, and staff management.
• Marketing Coordinator:  Manages advertising, promotions, and social media presence.
• Customer Service Representatives:  Interact with visitors, provide assistance, and manage reservations.
• Groundskeepers:  Maintain the course, landscaping, and cleanliness.
• Maintenance Technicians:  Repair and upkeep of obstacles and equipment.
• Event Coordinator:  Organizes parties, corporate events, and tournaments.
• Accountant/Bookkeeper:  Handles financial records, budgeting, and tax preparation.
• Security Personnel:  Ensures safety and security during business hours.
• Retail/Concession Staff:  Manages sales, concessions, and merchandise.
• Online Presence Manager:  Maintains the website, online booking, and online reviews.
• Event Host/Entertainer:  Engages with customers during special events or themed nights.
• Cleaners:  Maintain cleanliness of restrooms and facilities.
• Landscaping Services:  Outsourced for specialized maintenance.
• Accounting Services:  Professional assistance for financial management and audits.
• Legal Services:  For contracts, permits, and legal matters.

When expanding your miniature golf course business, hiring qualified personnel and considering outsourcing can help manage the growing demands and ensure smooth operations.

For more, see How and When to Hire a New Employee.

21. Getting Customers Through the Door

When you have reached this step, your business is set up and ready to go, with one more final step, which is important: getting customers through the door.

There are numerous ways to do this, like advertising, having a grand opening , word of mouth, etc.

Let’s dig a little deeper into the following sections.

Marketing Considerations

A successful miniature golf course business hinges on attracting the right customers.

Initially, this can be challenging as your operation is new and unfamiliar to people.

However, building a strong reputation over time and gaining marketing experience will ease this process.

Marketing is an ongoing effort, and the more you invest in effective techniques, the more revenue you generate.

While you don’t always need a marketing agency, there are simple methods to get the word out:

• Social Media: Create engaging profiles on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X. Share photos, videos, and promotions regularly to connect with potential customers.
• Local SEO: Optimize your website for local search terms to appear prominently in online searches. Encourage customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business.
• Community Events: Participate in local fairs, festivals, or charity events. Host miniature golf tournaments or offer discounts for attendees.
• Email Marketing: Collect customer emails and send regular newsletters with updates, promotions, and event announcements.
• Referral Programs: Encourage existing customers to refer friends and family by offering discounts or free rounds for successful referrals.
• Partnerships: Collaborate with nearby businesses to cross-promote each other. Share brochures and posters in complementary establishments.
• Online Ads: Run targeted online ads on platforms like Facebook Ads or Google Ads to reach potential customers in your area.
• Discounts and Special Offers: Attract new customers with limited-time discounts, package deals, or special events.

Remember that consistent and creative marketing efforts will help your miniature golf course business thrive and attract a loyal customer base.

See How To Get Customers Through the Door and our marketing section to provide ideas to help you bring awareness to your business.

Sample Ad Ideas:

• Tee off on our exciting miniature golf course. Perfect for family outings and special events. Book your tee time today!
• Experience the thrill of a hole-in-one on our challenging course. Fun for all ages. Plan your visit now!
• Putt your way through an adventurous journey. Bring friends, create memories. Swing by today for a hole lot of fun!
• Family fun, laughter, and friendly competition await. Join us for a memorable weekend round. Reserve your spot!
• Celebrate your special day with a hole-in-one party! Packages for all ages. Book now and make it a swingin’ success!

Collaborative partnerships can be mutually beneficial for your miniature golf course business and others.

Here are businesses to consider approaching for referrals and potential partnership arrangements:

• Local Hotels and Resorts: Partner with nearby accommodations to offer package deals to tourists, combining a stay with a visit to your miniature golf course. In return, they can refer guests to your attraction.
• Family-Friendly Restaurants: Establish connections with family-oriented eateries. They can promote your miniature golf course as an after-dinner activity, and you can recommend their restaurant to your customers.
• Event Planners: Collaborate with event planning companies to host birthday parties, corporate events, or team-building activities at your facility. They can refer clients seeking unique venues, while you can recommend their services for event coordination.
• Schools and Youth Groups: Partner with schools and youth organizations for field trips and group outings. Offer special rates or educational programs, and they can refer students and families to your course.
• Local Sports Clubs: Work with sports clubs or leagues in your area. They can refer teams and families looking for recreational activities, and you can promote their sports programs to your customers.
• Tourist Information Centers: Establish connections with local visitor centers and travel agencies. They can provide brochures and information about your miniature golf course to tourists, and you can recommend their services for sightseeing.
• Party Supply Stores: Collaborate with party supply shops to offer joint promotions for birthdays and special occasions. They can refer customers, and you can suggest their supplies for themed parties.
• Online Influencers and Bloggers: Partner with local bloggers or social media influencers who can review and promote your miniature golf course to their followers in exchange for unique experiences or affiliate commissions.

Creating win-win partnerships with these businesses can expand your customer base and enhance the overall experience for your patrons while providing referrals or benefits to your partners.

Points To Consider

Next, let’s review essential points for more tips, insights, and considerations before starting your miniature golf course business.

We will cover sections, including skills to consider, points to focus on, and equipment. Then you’ll reach the “Knowledge Is Power,” section, where you will want to use the resources for valuable information.

Hours of Operation:

Hours of operation for a miniature golf course typically range from late morning to early evening, accommodating families and individuals.

However, maintenance tasks like mowing, obstacle repairs, and cleaning often require additional hours before opening and after closing, estimated at 2-3 hours daily.

These extra hours ensure the course remains pristine and safe for patrons during regular business hours.

A List of Equipment and Supplies to Consider for a Miniature Golf Course Business:

Running a miniature golf course business requires a variety of equipment to ensure smooth operations and provide an enjoyable experience for customers.

Here’s a detailed list of equipment you may need:

1. Miniature Golf Obstacles:

• Various themed obstacles like windmills, tunnels, bridges, and ramps.
• Putters in different sizes for adults and children.
• Golf balls, including glow-in-the-dark options for nighttime play.

2. Scorecards and Pencils:

• Provide scorecards for players to keep track of their scores.
• Offer pencils or mini golf-themed score-keeping tools.

3. Flags and Flagsticks:

• Colorful flags to mark the holes.
• Flagsticks to insert into the holes for easy identification.

4. Golf Ball Dispensers:

• Automated or manual dispensers for distributing golf balls to players.

5. Lighting Equipment:

• If operating at night, you’ll need adequate lighting for the course.

6. Maintenance Tools:

• Lawnmowers, trimmers, and landscaping tools for course upkeep.
• Tools for repairing obstacles, such as screws and adhesive.

7. Benches and Seating:

• Provide benches and seating areas for players to rest between rounds.

8. Trash Receptacles:

• Place trash bins throughout the course for garbage disposal.

9. Signage:

• Directional signs to guide players through the course.
• Safety and rules signage.

10. PA System: – A public address system for announcements and event hosting.

11. Ticket Booth or Point-of-Sale System: – To handle admissions, ticket sales, and concessions.

12. Security Equipment: – Surveillance cameras and security systems to protect the facility.

13. Snack Bar and Concession Equipment: – If offering food and beverages, you’ll need kitchen equipment, refrigerators, and serving counters.

14. Party and Event Supplies: – Tables, chairs, and decorations for hosting parties and events.

15. First Aid Kits: – Stock first aid kits for minor injuries or emergencies.

16. Office Equipment: – Computers, printers, and office supplies for administrative tasks.

17. Cleaning Supplies: – Cleaning materials for maintaining cleanliness on the course and in facilities.

18. Customer Amenities: – Restrooms and handwashing facilities. – Shade structures or umbrellas for hot days.

19. Decor and Theming: – Themed decorations and landscaping elements to enhance the overall ambiance.

20. Event and Marketing Materials: – Banners, brochures, and promotional materials to advertise special events and promotions.

Remember that the specific equipment needs may vary depending on the size and theme of your miniature golf course business.

Conduct a thorough inventory and consider your target audience and business goals when acquiring equipment.

Key Points To Succeeding in a Miniature Golf Course Business

Operating a successful miniature golf course business involves several key points:

1. Focusing on a Niche: Identifying a niche within the miniature golf industry can set you apart from competitors and cater to specific customer interests.

2. Building a Customer Base: Establishing a loyal customer base can be challenging at the outset. Effective marketing and promotions can help draw initial visitors.

3. Building Relationships: Cultivate strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and employees to foster loyalty and trust within your business ecosystem.

4. Meeting Customer Needs: Offer products and services that align with your customers’ preferences and demands. Act on valuable customer feedback to enhance your offerings.

5. High-Level Customer Service: Exceptional customer service is paramount. Your customers are the lifeblood of your business, and their satisfaction should always be a top priority.

6. Providing Value: Continuously strive to provide value to your customers through unique experiences, special offers, and excellent service.

7. Hiring the Right Team: Assemble a skilled and dedicated team to support your operations. The right people in the right positions are crucial.

8. Effective Staff Management: Treat your staff with respect, create a positive work environment, and manage them effectively to improve retention and productivity.

9. Cash Flow Management: Maintain a healthy cash flow by monitoring expenses, income, and financial planning.

10. Cost Control: Keep costs manageable without compromising quality or service standards.

11. Adaptation: Embrace change and stay updated with industry developments, technology, and evolving customer preferences.

12. Revenue Fluctuations: Be prepared to manage revenue fluctuations that may occur seasonally or due to unforeseen circumstances.

13. Competition: Understand and respond to both new and existing competition effectively.

14. Effective Marketing: Develop a robust marketing strategy to increase awareness and attract customers. Consider professional assistance if necessary.

By focusing on these key points, you can enhance your chances of success in the miniature golf course business.

Focusing on your skill set is crucial when considering a miniature golf course business.

Successful operation demands a diverse skill set encompassing management, customer service, marketing, and maintenance.

Evaluating your skills ensures you’re equipped for this multifaceted role.

If a crucial skill is lacking, you have two options: acquire it through learning or delegate by hiring someone with expertise.

For instance, if you lack marketing knowledge, hiring a marketer can bridge the gap.

Essential skills for a miniature golf course business owner:

• Management:  Efficiently oversee daily operations and staff.
• Customer Service:  Provide exceptional experiences for visitors.
• Marketing:  Promote the business effectively to attract customers.
• Maintenance:  Ensure the course remains in excellent condition.
• Financial Management:  Handle budgets, expenses, and financial planning.
• Problem Solving:  Quickly address issues and adapt to challenges.
• Creativity:  Develop new attractions and promotions.
• Networking:  Build relationships within the industry and community.
• Adaptability:  Stay updated with industry trends and adjust strategies accordingly.
• Communication:  Effectively convey ideas to staff and customers.

Assessing and enhancing these skills is vital for success in the miniature golf course business.

Knowledge Is Power if You Use It!

Leverage knowledge for success. Explore abundant industry information in the following links, beneficial for startup and ongoing operations.

Trends and Statistics

Analyzing industry trends and statistics for a miniature golf course business aids informed decision-making, staying competitive, and adapting to evolving market demands.

See the latest search results for trends and statistics related to the miniature golf industry.

Miniature Golf Course Associations

Trade associations provide benefits such as industry news updates and valuable networking opportunities.

See the search results related to miniature golf course associations and the benefits of Joining the Chamber of Commerce.

The Top Miniature Golf Courses

Analyzing established miniature golf businesses can spark innovative ideas, reveal industry gaps for a competitive edge, and highlight overlooked offerings provided by competitors.

See the latest search results for the top miniature golf courses.

The Future of the Miniature Golf

Researching the miniature golf industry’s future is crucial for potential business owners.

It provides insights into emerging trends, market potential, and informed decision-making for a successful venture.

See the search results for the future of the miniature golf course industry.

Find a Miniature Golf Course Business For Sale

Acquiring an existing miniature golf course business has distinct advantages and drawbacks:

• Immediate Revenue:  You start earning from day one, avoiding the challenges of a startup.
• Skip Startup Phase:  Bypass the often turbulent initial stages of a new venture.
• Proven Success:  The business’s track record assures you it’s viable.
• Financial Clarity:  You have access to existing financial records, knowing revenue, profit, and expenses.
• Established Customer Base:  A ready-made clientele simplifies maintaining cash flow.
• Reputation:  The business already enjoys a standing within the community.
• Higher Initial Cost:  Acquiring goodwill and an established customer base typically comes at a premium.
• Risk of Change:  Altering established operations may lead to customer attrition, posing challenges.
• Inherited Reputation:  The business’s reputation, good and bad, becomes part of your ownership.

Exploring available businesses in the miniature golf industry, even if not an exact match, can reveal valuable investment opportunities.

The latest search results for a miniature golf course business for sale and others in the same category.

Franchise Opportunities Related to a Miniature Golf Course Business

Owning a miniature golf course franchise presents both advantages and drawbacks, making it a decision worth thorough consideration before venturing into the business.

• Proven Business Model:  Franchises provide a structured plan established by the corporate office, simplifying the startup process.
• Reputation and Marketing:  Benefit from an existing brand reputation and corporate marketing efforts.
• In-Depth Knowledge:  Access comprehensive insights about the business from the franchise.
• Corporate Support:  Receive ongoing support and guidance from the corporate office.
• High Costs:  Franchise ownership often entails significant upfront expenses.
• Limited Autonomy:  Major changes or decisions may require approval from the corporate entity.
• Restrictions:  Operate within strict guidelines and use only approved products and services.
• Contractual Limitations:  Abide by the terms and conditions set in the franchise agreement, limiting flexibility.
• Ongoing Fees:  Pay regular franchise fees to the corporate entity.

While there may not be an exact miniature golf franchise match, exploring related franchises within the same industry could reveal unexpected opportunities. Research diligently to make an informed decision about franchise ownership.

See the latest search results for franchise opportunities related to this industry.

Customer Expectations

Examining search results on customer expectations in miniature golf provides insights into meeting and surpassing customer desires. Uncover potential overlooked issues and enhance your offerings.

See the search results related to customer expectations for miniature golf.

Exploring expert tips benefits both novices and experts in miniature golf. Experts can refine their techniques, while novices gain valuable knowledge to enhance their skills.

See the latest search results for miniature golf to gain tips and insights.

Miniature Golf Course Business Insights

Examining tips and insights is key to generating innovative ideas, steering clear of pitfalls in your miniature golf business, and expanding your industry knowledge.

See the latest search results about insights into running a miniature golf course business.

Miniature Golf Publications

Publications are a vital source for staying current with the latest miniature golf information and ideas.

See the search results for miniature golf publications.

Miniature Golf Forums

Exploring miniature golf forums fosters industry connections and insights into customer perspectives, aiding in better understanding your audience.

See the latest search results related to miniature golf forums.

Miniature Golf Course Blogs

Subscribing to reputable miniature golf blogs ensures a steady stream of valuable ideas and industry updates. Curate your collection for the most informative sources.

Look at the latest search results for top miniature golf blogs to follow.

Miniature Golf News

Staying informed about miniature golf events and news is easy through mainstream media outlets, providing a valuable source for updates and coverage.

See the latest results for miniature golf news.

Watching YouTube videos about miniature golf can enhance your skills and knowledge, offering valuable insights and tips.

YouTube videos related to miniature golf.

Privacy Overview

Mini Golf Course Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Running a mini golf course business is an exciting and rewarding opportunity for entrepreneurs. However, establishing a successful business requires careful planning and sound financial management. Fortunately, aspiring business owners can find help in the form of the #1 Mini Golf Course Business Plan Template & Guidebook, which provides all the tools needed to create a winning plan from scratch. Get ready to bring your mini golf dreams to life!

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Mini Golf Course Business [11 Steps]

How to Write a Mini Golf Course Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your mini golf course business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your mini golf course business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a mini golf course business:

Our mission is to provide a fun, family-friendly mini golf experience by creating and maintaining an inviting, safe environment for our guests to enjoy. We strive to provide a challenging course that appeals to players of all ages and levels of experience. We aim to be the top choice for those seeking an enjoyable outdoor entertainment option within our local community.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Mini Golf Course Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your mini golf course business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your mini golf course business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your mini golf course business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your mini golf course business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a mini golf course business?

• Mini golf set
• Scoreboard or timer
• Putters and other equipment for putting in order to successfully manage the mini golf course.
• Tee signs and banners
• Marketing materials
• Licenses, permits, insurance, and any local ordinances/regulations may apply.

5. Management & Organization of Your Mini Golf Course Business.

The second part of your mini golf course business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your mini golf course business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Mini Golf Course Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a mini golf course business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a mini golf course business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your mini golf course business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your mini golf course business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your mini golf course business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mini Golf Course Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a mini golf course business.

A business plan for a mini golf course business is necessary to outline the key objectives of the business, define target markets, develop operational and financial strategies, and assess potential risks. It can also be used to attract potential investors or secure funding from lenders. A well-developed business plan can be an invaluable tool for launching a successful mini golf course business.

Who should you ask for help with your mini golf course business plan?

It is recommended that you consult a professional business plan consultant to help create your business plan, as they have the appropriate experience and knowledge to create the most comprehensive and successful business plans. Additionally, you could reach out to local mini golf course owners for advice, as they can provide useful tips and suggestions on successful mini golf course operations.

Can you write a mini golf course business plan yourself?

While it is possible to write a mini golf course business plan yourself, it may be beneficial to seek the advice of an experienced business professional or consultant who can provide guidance and recommendations based on their experience. Additionally, there are various online resources and templates that can be used when creating a business plan for a mini golf course.

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I'm Nick, co-founder of newfoundr.com, dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs succeed. As a small business owner with over five years of experience, I have garnered valuable knowledge and insights across a diverse range of industries. My passion for entrepreneurship drives me to share my expertise with aspiring entrepreneurs, empowering them to turn their business dreams into reality.

Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

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But, if you don't plan to share your plan with anyone outside of your business—you likely don't need everything.

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How to Build a Successful Mini Golf Course Through Careful Planning

Careful planning is the key to success for any business in any industry. Business owners have several secrets for success, but no one will argue that the planning stages are some of the most crucial components. A successful mini golf course requires meticulous planning in the beginning stages all the way through execution. Developers need to be on top of their game to ensure that construction goes according to plan. Investors need to be kept abreast of all advancements, so they trust that their money is going to good use. With so much to consider, business owners may be wondering how they can build a successful mini golf course business. The key is careful planning from the start.

Pick the Best Location You Can Afford

Location, location, location. You’ve heard it before, and you’ll hear it again: location is everything. The location you choose for miniature golf course can make or break the business. Instead of simply choosing based on cost, go for overall quality. While prime locations for miniature golf courses that are easily accessible and have great road frontage may cost more upfront, the long-term profits will more than make up for it. A high-traffic area with easy accessibility and high visibility is what you need to turn your mini golf course business into a success.

Research the Industry First

Before jumping into any business venture, it is important to have a strong knowledge base as a starting point. The two main forms of research that business owners should conduct are market research and industry research. Do market research to better understand your potential clientele and determine what factors will draw them to your miniature golf course. Market research for a mini golf course not only includes buyer personas, but also demographic information. The more you know about potential customers, the better your mini golf course business will fare in the long run.

Industry research involves learning all that you can about the actual game of mini golf. Hopefully you are passionate about the game to begin with, but even those with a baseline knowledge of how the game works should brush up on the rules and industry trends.

Develop a Business Plan

Once you’ve compiled all the necessary information for your mini golf course venture, the next step is to develop a business plan. A mini golf course business plan should have all the information investors would need to make an informed decision about investing in your business, as well as the financial contributions you plan to make. Having a business plan will enable you to project both long-term and immediate expenses and help avoid you running into surprises.

Learn more about building your own successful mini golf course business with the help of Harris Miniature Golf Courses, Inc . We know all about what it takes to plan, develop, and run state of the art miniature golf courses. Find all the resources you need including a free investor’s kit right on our website. For more information, please feel free to contact us today.

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Start an Indoor Mini Golf Business in 9 Steps: Your Ultimate Checklist

By henry sheykin, resources on indoor mini golf course.

• Financial Model
• Business Plan
• Value Proposition
• One-Page Business Plan
• SWOT Analysis
• Business Model
• Marketing Plan

The indoor mini golf sector is experiencing a resurgence, with market data projecting significant growth due to rising consumer interest in unique and engaging recreation activities. Starting your own indoor mini golf course can tap into this expanding market, offering substantial opportunities for entrepreneurs keen on providing innovative entertainment options. This blog post guides you through the essential steps to launch an indoor mini golf business , from initial planning and financial modeling to operations management, ensuring you are equipped to navigate this vibrant industry successfully.

• Develop business plan.
• Create financial model.
• Acquire funding.
• Source location.
• Secure licenses and permits.
• Design and setup interior.
• Establish vendor agreements.
• Implement marketing and launch strategy.
• Manage operations.

9-Steps To Start a Business

Before embarking on the journey of starting an indoor mini golf course business, it is essential to follow a structured approach. This ensures a comprehensive understanding and preparation for all aspects of the business, from conception to launch.

Business Plan Development

Creating a robust business plan is the first crucial step in launching an indoor mini golf business. This comprehensive document should clearly articulate the vision and mission of your mini golf course, ensuring they align with market needs and customer expectations. Additionally, it must detail the business model, including pay-per-play and other potential revenue streams such as snack bars or special event packages.

A thorough market analysis is essential to understand the competitive landscape and identify your target demographics. This analysis will support your marketing strategies, helping to carve out a niche in the local entertainment market. The operational plan should specify the day-to-day running of the facility, from staff roles and responsibilities to maintenance routines.

Financial projections, within the business plan, are indispensable. These should include a detailed budget, forecasted profits , and a break-even analysis . Clear financial modeling will highlight the viability of the project to investors and lenders, proving critical in the funding acquisition phase.

Key Tips for Effective Mini Golf Business Planning

• Utilize SWOT analysis to pinpoint strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
• Incorporate realistic financial assumptions based on similar market entries and comprehensive cost analysis.
• Highlight unique selling propositions (USPs) that differentiate your indoor mini golf course from competitors.

The business plan is not merely a document for securing investment but a strategic guide that will direct all future decisions as you start a mini golf business . It ensures that every step, from mini golf location sourcing to mini golf marketing strategies , aligns with the overarching objectives and goals of your venture, setting a foundation for sustainable success and growth.

Financial Modeling

Financial modeling forms the backbone of any successful indoor mini golf course, aiming to lay out a clear financial blueprint. This step encompasses the creation of comprehensive models that detail start-up costs, such as venue lease, equipment purchases, and initial marketing campaigns . Additionally, it covers ongoing operating expenses including staff salaries, utilities, and maintenance costs . By integrating these with expected revenue streams—from game fees to ancillary sales like snacks and merchandise—a robust model forecasts profitability and delineates the financial trajectory of the venture.

Understanding the balance between initial investment and ongoing expenses is vital. It aids in pinpointing the break-even point , the stage at which revenue from operations covers all costs, turning into profit thereafter. This metric is crucial for gauging the timeframe for return on investment and for strategic planning. Furthermore, long-term sustainability is addressed by examining potential market shifts, competitive actions, and consumer trends which may impact profitability.

Essential Financial Modeling Tips

• Utilize historical data from similar businesses for more accurate forecasting and benchmarking.
• Consider a flexible financial model that can be updated easily to reflect changes such as fluctuating operating costs or variable revenue.
• Engage with a financial expert or use specialized software to enhance the accuracy and professionalism of your financial models.

Accurate financial modeling not only secures a smoother pathway to securing funding but also instills confidence in potential investors by showcasing a well-considered business plan and profitability forecast. This strategic approach demonstrates the owner's commitment to fiscal responsibility and operational success in the indoor mini golf market.

Funding Acquisition

Securing the necessary capital to launch an indoor mini golf business involves a strategic approach to identifying and engaging potential funding sources. Whether you’re considering traditional bank loans, appealing to angel investors, or exploring government grants, the efficacy of your funding acquisition strategy hinges on a meticulously prepared presentation and a thoroughly researched business proposal.

Your initial task is to compile an exhaustive list of potential financiers whose investment criteria align with the mini golf business model. This alignment is critical; for instance, investors interested in community-based entertainment enterprises may be more inclined to consider your proposal. Following this, prepare a compelling pitch that underscores the unique aspects of your mini golf setup guide, particularly focusing on mini golf profitability , revenue streams , and customer engagement strategies .

Essential Tips for Effective Funding Acquisition

• Highlight the uniqueness of your indoor mini golf business model, stressing the innovative aspects of your mini golf course design and setup .
• Use data from your mini golf financial modeling to demonstrate potential return on investment (ROI) and a clear path to profitability.
• Prepare to answer potential investor questions on risk management and long-term sustainability, having a robust contingency plan in place.

In your presentations and business pitches, be prepared to not only showcase the exciting aspects of the business but also to transparently address potential risks and how they will be mitigated. This will involve a detailed overview of your market analysis , competitor evaluation, and targeted marketing strategies, integrated seamlessly into your business model for maximum investor confidence.

Finally, ensure that all funding proposals are supported by legal and financial documentation as required by mini golf business legal requirements and standard investment practices. This includes, but is not limited to, business registration documents, licenses, detailed financial forecasts, and any existing contracts or agreements.

By approaching funding acquisition with a comprehensive, well-prepared strategy, your indoor mini golf course stands a better chance of securing the necessary capital to not just start but thrive.

Location Sourcing

Finding the right spot for your Indoor Mini Golf Course can significantly influence its success. Selecting a strategic location that is both accessible and appealing to your target demographic is essential. Key factors to consider include foot traffic, local competition, demographics, and rental costs.

To begin, analyze areas with high foot traffic, as more pedestrians translate into more potential customers. However, it's crucial to balance this with the cost implications — popular areas often carry higher rent or purchase prices. Assess the local competition carefully; proximity to similar entertainment facilities might saturate the market, making it harder for your Indoor Mini Golf Course to thrive.

Understanding the local demographics is vital for tailoring your offerings. A location surrounded by families and young adults might prefer themed courses and event nights, while areas with an older demographic might appreciate more relaxed, low-key playing environments.

Once the ideal location is identified, securing a lease or purchase agreement is the next critical step. Negotiate terms that align with your business's financial projections and ensure that the agreement allows for the necessary modifications needed to set up your course.

Practical Tips for Location Sourcing

• Utilize demographic data: Use local census data to analyze the age, income, and interests of residents in your targeted areas.
• Consider visibility and accessibility: Locations near landmarks, public transport hubs, or major roadways can enhance visibility and accessibility.
• Engage with commercial real estate agents: Professionals with in-depth local market knowledge can offer insights into upcoming areas suitable for a new Indoor Mini Golf Course.

Ultimately, the chosen location for your Indoor Mini Golf Course should not only attract customers but also fit within your business model's operational and financial strategies. Careful consideration and professional advice during the location sourcing stage are key to positioning your enterprise for long-term profitability and success.

Licensing And Permits

Securing the appropriate licenses and permits is a critical step in launching an indoor mini golf business . This stage ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, safeguarding your operation against legal and operational risks. Depending on your location, the requirements can vary significantly, but typically encompass several key areas.

Firstly, acquire a general business license to legally establish your indoor mini golf course. This license is the foundation for your operation and is mandatory regardless of other specific permits needed. Additionally, if your mini golf course offers snacks or beverages, a food service license from the health department is obligatory to ensure safety and hygiene standards are met.

Secondly, since an indoor mini golf course qualifies as a recreational facility, securing a building permit is crucial before any construction or significant renovation. These permits confirm that your plans comply with zoning laws, building codes, and safety regulations. Some regions might also require an entertainment license , especially if you plan to host events or offer music and other forms of entertainment.

Compliance with health and safety certifications cannot be overlooked. These may include fire safety and occupancy permits, which are inspected and approved by fire marshal and building inspectors. Ensuring accessibility according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will also necessitate specific adherence to guidelines, enhancing inclusivity and avoiding legal complications.

Essential Tips for Navigating Licensing and Permit Acquisition

• Start early: Begin the permit application process well in advance of your planned opening date to accommodate any delays or required adjustments.
• Maintain organized records: Keep a detailed and accessible record of all your applications, communications, and documentation related to licenses and permits. This will streamline renewals and inspections.
• Consult with experts: Engage a local business attorney or a consultant specializing in recreational facilities to ensure all your bases are covered.

Lastly, special attention should be given to any music or media played within the facility. Licensing for music, whether live or recorded, requires compliance with copyright laws, often managed through agencies like BMI or ASCAP. This protects your business against copyright infringement and contributes to the legality of your entertainment offerings.

By meticulously addressing each requirement of mini golf licensing and permits , you can establish your indoor mini golf course on a solid legal foundation, ensuring long-term operational stability and compliance.

Interior Design And Setup

The success of your indoor mini golf course hinges significantly on its interior design and setup . This phase requires meticulous planning to create an immersive and enjoyable environment that appeals to all age groups. Begin by designing the layout of the course itself, ensuring each hole presents a unique challenge that stimulates repeat players while remaining accessible to newcomers.

Incorporating additional amenities such as a snack bar and gift shop can significantly enhance the customer experience and increase revenue streams. These should be strategically positioned to flow naturally with the course layout, encouraging easy access and visibility. Selection of the decor and theme plays a pivotal role in setting the right ambiance. Themes can range from classic windmills and castles to more avant-garde designs like neon futuristic cities or jungle escapades.

Safety is paramount. Ensure that all installations, including golfing equipment and decorative elements , adhere to the highest safety standards to avoid any mishaps. Flooring should provide enough grip to prevent slips, while the spacing between elements must accommodate both high traffic and accessibility.

Key Tips for Effective Interior Design and Setup

• Maximize space utilization - Even compact spaces can offer a compelling experience with clever hole designs and multifunctional areas.
• Choose a consistent theme - A coherent theme not only makes the course aesthetically pleasing but also enhances the thematic journey of the players.
• Focus on lighting - Good lighting not only improves the playability of the course but also highlights key architectural and decor elements, enhancing the overall ambiance.

Finally, the installation process should be handled by professionals to ensure that all equipment is set up to optimal standards and safely secured. The launch phase of your indoor mini golf course will benefit greatly from a well-thought-out design that speaks to the intended demographic and creates lasting impressions.

Vendor Agreements

Establishing robust vendor agreements is critical for the seamless operation of an Indoor Mini Golf Course. Engaging with suppliers and vendors directly impacts your ability to offer sustained quality and reliability in services, ranging from food and beverages to equipment and merchandise . Careful negotiation of these contracts can secure not only favorable pricing but also ensure consistency in product availability, which is vital for the snack bar and gift shop outlets integral to enhancing the customer experience.

Key Negotiation Strategies

• Thoroughly assess multiple vendors to ensure competitive pricing and quality. Comparing offers can also provide leverage in negotiations.
• Discuss volume discounts or long-term partnership benefits, which can significantly lower operational costs over time.
• Include clauses that address regular quality checks and the possibility of returning unsatisfactory supplies without financial penalties.

To implement effective vendor agreements , it's crucial to draft contracts that reflect detailed agreements covering delivery schedules, payment terms, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Documentation should be clear and precise, avoiding ambiguities that could lead to misunderstandings. Establishing a strong rapport with your suppliers will not only ease the initial setup phase but fundamentally support the day-to-day operations, fostering an environment where both parties are invested in mutual success.

Remember, the relationships you cultivate with your vendors can significantly affect the overall quality and profitability of your Indoor Mini Golf Course. Prioritize these partnerships and continually evaluate their effectiveness and alignment with your business's strategic goals.

Marketing And Launch

As you prepare to open your Indoor Mini Golf Course, it's essential to implement a dynamic marketing strategy to generate excitement and sustain interest. This phase should be approached with creativity and an understanding of the mini golf market dynamics.

Begin by developing a comprehensive mini golf marketing plan tailored to your target audience. Ensure your plan includes various components like digital marketing, public relations, and direct community engagement. One of the priorities should be creating buzz before your official launch. Utilize social media platforms to tease the unique aspects of your course, share behind-the-scenes content, and countdown posts to build anticipation. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok are valuable for these interactions, encouraging future visitors to engage and share the content further.

Local advertising is another cornerstone of your strategy, involving both digital and traditional media outlets. Consider local newspapers, radio stations, and niche blogs that align with entertainment and local activities. Crafting press releases and feature articles can also boost visibility and credibility.

Forming partnerships with local businesses and organizations is crucial for cross-promotion. These can include schools, non-profits, and other recreational facilities. Such collaborations can help you tap into established networks and enhance community involvement.

Promotional events should not just be confined to your grand opening. Plan multiple events throughout the opening month to maintain customer interest and encourage repeat visits. Themes nights, tournaments, and holiday events can create varied opportunities for engagement.

Pro Tips for Effective Mini Golf Course Marketing

• Launch a referral program rewarding customers who bring friends, enhancing word-of-mouth marketing.
• Deploy targeted online ads focusing on local demographics to maximize reach and relevance.
• Incorporate feedback loops early by inviting local influencers and families for a preview play, using their insights to fine-tune the experience.

Finally, ensuring a smooth transition from pre-launch promotions to ongoing marketing efforts is essential for sustained success. Keep analyzing the effectiveness of different strategies and remain adaptable, updating your marketing plan based on real-world feedback and emerging trends. Effective marketing not only attracts the initial customer base but also builds a foundation for continued interest and loyalty to your Indoor Mini Golf Course.

Operations Management

Effective operations management is pivotal in ensuring that the Indoor Mini Golf Course not only meets but surpasses customer expectations. At the core of this process is a robust system that encompasses staffing, customer service, inventory management, and ongoing maintenance tasks. Establishing comprehensive management systems enhances the potential for operational efficiency and high-quality services.

Staff training plays a critical role in molding a team that can deliver exceptional customer service and manage day-to-day operations efficiently. Employees should be well-equipped with knowledge of the mini golf operations management , including handling special equipment, understanding safety protocols, and mastering communication skills. This expertise ensures that each guest enjoys a memorable visit to the Indoor Mini Golf Course.

Moreover, inventory management is essential to keep the business running without hitches. Regular stock checks and updates ensure that all necessary equipment, from golf balls to theme decorations, are available and in excellent condition. Maintenance, crucial for both safety and aesthetics, involves scheduled inspections and immediate repairs of facilities and equipment.

Regular assessment and tweaking of operational procedures are necessary to maintain the relevance and appeal of the Indoor Mini Golf Course. Customer engagement strategies should be innovative, aiming to attract repeat visits and new clients. Through feedback loops and customer interaction records, the management can gauge the effectiveness of current strategies and make informed decisions on necessary adjustments.

Key Tips for Enhancing Indoor Mini Golf Course Operations

• Implement a proactive maintenance schedule : Regularly check and repair equipment before issues arise to avoid disrupting customer experiences.
• Adopt flexible staffing strategies : Align staff levels with customer traffic patterns to maintain service quality during peak and off-peak hours.
• Engage with customers post-visit : Follow up with visitors through email or social media to gather feedback and encourage return visits.

In conclusion, managing the day-to-day operations of an Indoor Mini Golf Course requires attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to service quality. By continually adapting operations and engaging with customers, the business is positioned to thrive in a competitive market.

Starting an indoor mini golf course can be a lucrative and enjoyable venture if executed with careful planning and strategic execution. By following the outlined steps—from developing a robust business plan and securing financing, to designing an inviting space and implementing effective operational strategies—you position your business for success. The mini golf industry offers vast opportunities for creative expansion and community engagement, making it a promising endeavor for aspiring entrepreneurs. Remember, the key to a thriving mini golf course lies in consistently providing a unique and entertaining experience that keeps customers returning.

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Careful Planning

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8 Ways to Promote Your Miniature Golf Course to the Community

• October 2017

Choosing A Mini Golf Theme

The Importance of UX in Amusement Design

• August 2017

Invest Indoors

• February 2017

Build it Right, Not Just Fast

Careful planning ensures you'll see returns on an investment in quality.

One of the most important aspects of creating a successful miniature golf course business is to make sure that the course you built is of the highest quality. Doing so ensures that the heart of your business will be there for years to come, it means that you’ll keep maintenance and repair costs as low as possible and of the utmost importance, you’ll know that families enjoying the course will be safe. Of course building a mini-golf course of the highest quality is an investment of time and money. And while it is obvious that quality will be better in the long run, for the shorter term it can feel like a lot of pressure for a small business owner. However, with very careful planning, you’ll find that by choosing quality, you’ll be making the best business decision to see success in both the short term and for many years to come.

Choose Location Wisely

If you’re adding on to an existing business then you’ll get to skip this step, but for everyone else, this early decision is one of the most important ones you’ll be making. In addition to budget and what’s available, you’ll want to think carefully about your potential customers and what location will do the most to attract them and keep them coming back. In addition to the obvious of having good foot traffic, visibility and accessibility, it’s a good idea to think of environmental factors. While a custom built miniature golf course can work around a lot of things, having a site that’s easy to work with will save you time and money. And having a site that’s protected from the elements, particularly one that is not likely to be affected by flooding, is extremely important.

There Is No Such Thing as Too Much Research

Market research.

Market research means understanding as much as possible about the customers you will be attracting to your mini-golf course. What will they be looking for in an entertainment experience, and how can you meet their needs. Market research, as opposed to industry research is specified to the customers that you will have, and so is greatly impacted by factors like geographic location and demographics. How much do people expect to spend when they go out for a day's pleasure in that neighborhood? How long do people want to stay at a spot? Market research is particularly important to investing in a quality course. Understanding the interests of your specific market will allow you to create a course that is built to maximize their enjoyment. In the past, miniature golf courses have been geared towards families with young kids, but more recently, many adventure golf course owners have greatly expanded their markets by targeting teens and young adults, even young professionals. Attracting a larger market segment means more than just tapping into childhood nostalgia (although that can be a great strategy for certain markets) but by creating serious competitions, or making it an evening out that beats hitting the local pub. Knowing your market can be invaluable in choosing what theme to use in building your course. Having a comprehensive understanding of exactly who your potential market is will allow you to create a course that will achieve the best results in attracting a strong customer base.

Industry Research

As opposed to market research, industry research applies to the miniature golf business in general. Of course, having an understanding of the business will help you succeed, but this is also a great place for you to get the ideas that will be an ideal fit with what you've learned from your market research. The example above, of the success adventure golf courses have had by appealing to a broader age range, comes from industry research. So get reading on all the trends and statistics specific to the industry. Even more fun on your planning to-do list is to get out there and visit as many mini-golf courses as possible. Take notes of what you like, what you don't, what appears to be successful, what looks like it needs work, and what makes the most sense to apply to your specific business, and your specific market.

Create a Meticulous Business Plan

Now it’s time to take all of the information you’ve gathered and combine it with the full financial picture of your future business. The miniature golf industry is primarily made up of small businesses, many are run like mom and pop shops to this day. And while there's nothing more informal than heading out for a day of fun at the mini-golf course, that doesn't mean you should start your business informally. A business plan will allow you to calculate all of the expenses, immediate and long term, so that there are no surprises. You'll be able to calculate what your expected business is, and take a careful look at how much you can reasonably charge, as opposed to how much income you'll need to cover expenses and make a profit. The best business plan is all about eliminating surprises from starting a business. With this industry, the way to success is to build a quality course that will best meet your specific market's needs. Once you've completed that, it's very small overhead and maintenance costs to keep your mini-golf business running smoothly, and bringing in a profit. It's the business plan that will allow you to make sure that all parts of the equation are balanced just right to achieve that goal.

Thoughtful UX

Adventure golf courses aren't just about windmills and dinosaur models anymore. But what hasn't changed in the industry is this: a day on the mini-golf course is still all about users having a great time. That's an emotional metric, and it's a subjective one. Luckily, there's an entire field built around great design that will maximize that emotional response of your customers. Focusing on UX design in planning your course will allow you to incorporate what you know of your market to build a course that is specifically tailored to their enjoyment. It's a great way to build a course that makes use of the latest developments in the mini-golf industry, and depending on your market, such as making creative use of technology. Consider integrating an app into your course that will allow users to keep score and track of their progress via their smartphones. This has the added advantage of allowing for seamless social media sharing, creating an ideal marketing opportunity, and best of all, it will make your customers feel like the mini-golf experience is their own. When you are ready to build your course, nobody in the industry is able to provide the same quality as Castle Golf. Give us a call , our professional team would love to answer any questions you may have and help you in the planning process so you can be certain that you reap the full benefit of one of our excellent miniature golf courses.

Indoor mini golf business | a (hole) new opportunity to explore!

Indoor mini-golf is a fun and exciting activity that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for generations.

With the rise of indoor entertainment venues, the demand for indoor mini-golf courses has increased significantly.

This has led to a new opportunity for entrepreneurs to explore and start their own indoor mini-golf businesses.

In this article, we will explore the benefits of starting an indoor mini-golf business and provide tips and insights to help you get started.

So, get ready to tee off on a (hole) new adventure and discover the exciting world of indoor mini-golf businesses.

Table of Contents

Why set up an indoor golf court?

There are several reasons for that…

• A fun and engaging activity that can attract a wide range of customers. (an evergreen pass time )
• It can be designed according to your budget.
• Can operate year-round , providing a steady stream of revenue even during the off-season.
• The (ROI) can be high , as they tend to have low overhead costs and can pay themselves off quickly.

If you are planning to start the golf business (or any other business ) but are on the fence about launching it, read this article or watch the video below.

How To Start Your Own Indoor Miniature Golf Business 

Okay…

So you have got some capital in your hand, and you are all excited to set up your own mini golf course.

Now how to do that??

Here comes our indoor mini golf business plan(step-by-step guide)…

Step 1: Plan, plan, plan. 

Planning is vital for any venture.

Here are answers to some questions that might come to your mind while planning for an indoor golf business.

How much is it going to cost to open an indoor miniature golf course? 

Total Average Cost – $500,000

*These cost ranges are approximate and can vary based on location and specific golf course requirements.

What about the ongoing expenses of running an indoor miniature golf course?

Average monthly expenses – $12000

*Please note that these are estimated monthly costs and can vary depending on the location, size of the business, and other factors.

Who will be your target market?

Families (with kids) will be your best clientele.

How will you make money as an owner of an indoor miniature golf business? 

You will charge clients a set amount to play on the course.

You can also earn by setting up stalls or vending machines .

How much should you charge your customers? 

You can charge around $5 – $7 for an 18 holes game.

How much can you expect to make? 

This depends on the area and the surrounding competitors.

A consistent stream of customers can easily earn you over $100,000 per year. 

This increases the possibility of recouping initial investment within a few years

How do you make your business more profitable? 

By choosing a strategic location targeting potential customers (schools, churches, entertainment centers)

By operating on major holidays to capture increased footfall

Establishing a strong social media presence

Moving on to step 2

Step 2: Register Your Mini Golf Business 

In the US, the most common business formats are sole proprietorship, partnership, and limited liability Company (LLCs). 

Establishing an LLC is the best way forward with these kinds of ventures.

Step 3: Secure Licenses and Permits

So now get the permit to run an indoor golf court from your state. The criteria vary across US.

Here are some common steps that you have to take.

Get a Certificate of Occupancy (CO ) from the appropriate authorities.

Visit the US Small Business Administration (SBA) website for (up to date) information specific to opening a mini golf course in the United States.

Set up a business bank account ( check out these banks ) in your company’s name to facilitate financial management and tax filing.

Step 4: Choose The Right Location 

While choosing the location, keep the following things in mind.

The venue is conveniently accessible and reachable by people.

There is ample parking space .

Like the golf business, here is another business idea that you can run on the side. A friend of ours made $100K selling vacuum cleaners in 06 months.

Watch the video to know more.

Step 5: Designing the Mini Golf Course

The design can vary depending on the available space, budget, and desired level of complexity.

However, some common design elements for indoor mini-golf courses include,

Indoor mini-golf courses typically include a variety of obstacles, such as tunnels, ramps, bridges, and windmills , that add challenge and interest to the game .

Many indoor mini-golf courses are designed with a specific theme in mind, such as a jungle, pirate ship, or space station, to create a unique and immersive experience for players.

Indoor mini-golf courses often incorporate creative lighting designs, such as black lights or neon lights, to enhance the visual appeal of the course and create a fun and engaging atmosphere.

Landscaping

Indoor mini-golf courses can incorporate landscaping elements , such as rocks, plants, and water features, to create a natural and visually appealing environment.

Sound Effects

Some indoor mini-golf courses use sound effects, such as animal noises or music, to enhance the immersive experience for players.

Overall, the design of an indoor mini-golf course should be engaging, challenging, and visually appealing while also being safe and accessible for players of all ages and skill levels.

Step 6: Hire Staff. 

Some of the employees you should consider hiring: 

• Receptionist 
• Cashier 
• Floor staff 
• Manager 
• Assistant Manager 
• Security personnel 
• Janitor (maybe) 

Because this is a recreational business, choose employees that have good communication skills and a presentable appearance .

Step 7: Price Your Services. 

In general, you can charge $8 – $15 for 18 holes of golf.

The majority of successful mini golf course owners make more than $100,000 each year.

(Some more ideas that can generate $100K a year are listed here )

Step 8: Promote Your Business. 

It’s a smart move to have a website and use a mix of print publications and social media advertising.

By utilizing different channels, you can make a strong impact in the mini golf industry and reach a diverse audience.

This approach is especially effective for attracting younger customers and creating an engaging atmosphere for them to enjoy.

Here comes another big question!! How to keep your customers coming back???

How To Retain Your Customers?

Some ways to attract and retain more customers are…

Encouraging customers to hold birthday parties and other events at your course.

Offer specific days and times with incentives (like bringing friends and earning a free game or lower costs after a certain hour).

Try to include interactive arcade games and other indoor activities in your setup to have a variation.

FAQ – Miniature Golf Course Business

How to start a putt-putt business.

Putt-putt is a term that is often used interchangeably with mini-golf or miniature-golf. Hence all the steps mentioned above will apply to a putt-putt business as well.

What is a mini golf construction cost?

The cost of constructing a mini-golf course can vary depending on several factors, such as the size and complexity of the course, the materials used, and the location.  On average, it can cost around $500K.

How much would you make owning a putt-putt course?

The amount of money you can make owning a putt-putt course can vary depending on several factors, such as the location, size of the course, pricing strategy, and the number of customers.

According to some industry estimates, a well-run mini-golf course can generate annual revenues of $250,000 to $500,000 or more. 

Final Thoughts 

So if you’re looking for a fun and engaging business opportunity , the indoor mini-golf business is a great option to explore.

With the potential for high returns and a year-round stream of revenue, starting an indoor mini-golf course can be a rewarding and profitable venture.

From designing a challenging and visually appealing course to creating a marketing and sales strategy, this blog post covers everything you need to know to get started in this exciting industry.

Continual research will make your business thrive, so just keep learning!

Wait! Here are some more business ideas for you to check out…

Start a mobile spray tanning business

Start a hot dog selling business

Start an escape room business

Start a vending machine business

Disclosure: This article might contain affiliate links to the resources I refer to. It's at no cost to you, and it's how we pay the bills. Get more info here.

Brooks is an entrepreneur, father, husband, & follower of the golden rule. He has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur after graduating with a Finance degree from Auburn University. Addicted to starting new business projects, he believes in creating multiple income streams and a life of flexibility. Business should work around your life, not the other way around. He creates content on  his website , sharing his projects to help other hustlers in marketing, personal finance, and online business. 

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How to Build a Miniature Golf Course- Custom Designed Plans and Layouts

Email : [email protected].

FREE minigolf tools

• FREE miniature golf scorecard app- just scan the QR code with your phone or click here

2. FREE miniature golf course construction guide in your e-mail box- just click here (Does NOT include any course plans and AutoCAD files- those can be purchased separately)

3. FREE 11 step Miniature Golf Business Plan EXCEL file- download here

4. FREE EXCEL minigolf business calculator- not just the regular potential profits, but different scenarios with different employee numbers, payroll, marketing budgets, and much more. Extremely valuable in making your Miniature golf business plan starting with the above-provided frame. Download here :

How to Start a Successful Indoor Mini Golf Business

As the most current emerging venture, start an indoor miniature golf business.

Most business owners and golf freaks like it because it is a recreational business with low initial costs.

With that in mind, let us tell you how to start an indoor mini-golf business step by step.

Benefits of an Indoor Miniature Golf Business

If you are wondering how you will benefit when you start your indoor miniature golf business, scroll ahead and explore the five main benefits.

It does not get outdated.

Mini golf is a timeless activity and has stayed popular over the years, unlike many other recreational activities. 

Mini-golf will always be popular, regardless of the season or weather.

Plus, you don’t need to be a golf expert to start an indoor miniature golf business. 

Even one not-so-good experience playing golf (like mine!) won’t hold you back.

Creative Activity

Do you know miniature golf is a creative process? Yes, it is!

As a golf business owner, you can bring all your creative ideas to the table. 

You can also design the golf course based on your budget and preferences.

Reasonable Starting Expenses 

Most businesses need you to spend more money.

But a mini golf business, irrespective of its long-lasting benefits, does not disappoint with its low starting expenses. 

So the low expenses come out to be the next benefit of the miniature golf business.

A Profitable Business

Your miniature golf course can lead you to good levels of economic growth. 

Let’s clarify it by going quickly through the below benefits.

• Many golf freaks are attracted to golf without any age limitations. 
• You don’t need to spend more on maintaining the course or buying expensive tools. 
• The miniature golf venture requires less staff than other large businesses.

From the above benefits, you can easily understand how profitable your miniature golf business can be.

Flexibility

When you start a mini-golf course in a neighborhood, your business can grow along with the population and demand in the area. 

As a business owner, you can choose your employees and create a business plan that works for you.

Related Reading: How To Start A Foreclosure Cleaning Business- Read More Here .

Steps to Start an Indoor Miniature Golf Business

A proper business must follow your country’s law, and every legal procedure requires a well-established set of steps. 

Therefore, I am here to help you by providing the best steps to start an indoor miniature golf business.

Planning Process

Before starting an indoor miniature golf business, the first and most important thing to do is to plan everything. 

Accordingly, you should make a clear map of your desired goals and the details of your business.

However, you may come across the following questions at this planning stage:

How much does starting an indoor miniature golf business cost?

The exact price range can vary according to your location. 

However, the average estimated cost range for starting a mini indoor golf business is $50,000 to $500,000.

Similarly, the land lease would probably require an extra $15,000–$30,000. 

In comparison, the necessary land modifications would cost between $100,000 and $140,000, with decorations costing around $200,000

However, the fundamental apparatus requires about $8,001–10,000 and $7,500 to install the POS system. 

Aside from these, your architectural requirements will cost between $75 and $15,000. 

Insurance will cost $2,000-$4,000, and legal fees will cost $4,000

The stock balls and prizes will require a budget of $15,000. 

Consequently, you need about $12,000 to broadcast your play openings and about $900 to order attractive signs.

How much are the ongoing costs of an indoor miniature golf business?

It may make you happy that the ongoing expenses of an indoor miniature golf business don’t cost you much compared to the startup costs.

Accordingly, you need up to $6,000 to pay your employees’ salaries besides the other workers. 

In contrast, the property rent can cost you about $6,000, along with the business insurance for $500.

Besides these expenses, the utilities can cost you about $1500 per month. 

Meanwhile, the new equipment requires approximately $400 per month.

Who will be your intended audience?

Keeping it short, families are your targeted audience. 

They can spend more money compared to a few people’s groups.

This audience has the potential to become a long-term audience if they return with their children. 

How can an owner of an indoor miniature golf course earn money from it? 

Well, it is quite easy. As the owner, you can profit by allowing others to play on your golf course. 

However, you can also earn by arranging some fun-making stalls, etc.

How much do the golf customers expect to pay you?

The exact price range varies greatly according to your location and other pricing parameters. 

Customers, on average, expect to pay $5-7 for a round of 18 holes.

How much can you earn from the miniature golf business?

Again, the costs completely depend on your locality and the customers. 

But with a steady flow of customers, you can expect to make about $100,000 per year.

How can you increase the profitability of your business?

Making your availability in populated areas such as schools, entertainment centers, churches, and so on, especially on off days, is a common and simple way to make your business profitable.

Meanwhile, showing the reviews of your customers can be another way to boost your golf business.

How do you name your business?

It is crucial to decide on the name before jumping into the business. 

So if you haven’t decided on a name yet, you can get naming ideas from some name generators.

However, I would like you to check out the following things before registering an official name for your business:

• Trademark data from the federal and state governments.
• Business records from your state.
• Web domain availability.
• Social media handles availability.

Related Reading: Some Weirdest Ways to Make Money- Find Out Here .

Officially Register Your Mini Indoor Golf Business

No matter what business you are starting, you have to legally register it for its best legal sustenance.

Every state and nation has a different legal framework for establishing corporations.

However, in the US, sole proprietorship, partnership, and limited liability company (LLC) are a few common business formats.  

Acquire Your Permits and Licenses

You have to secure your permits and licenses for operating your golf business.

The overall legal procedures vary according to your state. 

But the most common requirement to run a mini golf business is to get a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) from the government. 

Suppose you want to operate a mini golf business in the US. 

In that case, you can learn more about the licenses and permits by visiting the website of the US Small Business Administration (SBA) .

Once you get the permits to operate an indoor mini-golf business, you have to open a bank account in your name, and that is it.

Know More About the Golf Business

You don’t need any complex tools to start a miniature golf business.

Companies start their businesses after completing one golf course with some maintenance and staff.

It is highly recommended to connect with business owners in another region and learn more about specifics.

Find an Appropriate Venue

The miniature golf business requires a nice location. 

Because the location mostly attracts customers

As a result, you should plan for ample parking and a feasible long opening time.

Meanwhile, you can additionally increase your income by arranging birthday parties. 

Also, offering additional services like beverages, toys, and candy can significantly boost your net income.

A single person, by himself or herself, cannot handle the entire business, although it is a small one. 

Therefore you should look for capable and articulate personnel like a receptionist, assistant manager, floor staff, security personnel, janitor, cashier, etc.

Hiring the people above is one way to make sure that your golf business runs smoothly.     

Set the right quote for the services.

You should gather information about pricing your services from the existing golf businesses.

It does not have a fixed range. But on average, you can charge about $7–$12 for 18 holes.

Advertise Your Business

The present age is a modern internet age. 

Therefore, the virality of your business depends on and benefits from advertising media like television, radio, a newspaper, or a website. 

But of these choices, a website is the best and least expensive way to promote your business. 

• Create a website

Here comes the stage where you create a website for your business after establishing it.

You can easily do it yourself or hire an affordable staff.

• Arrange a phone system.

Set up a separate phone system for your business if you want to help your customers and give them good customer service.

• Sustaining your customers

You can keep your customers coming back if you let them use your golf course for parties.

Also, offering them additional incentives like prizes for winning games or free side games, etc., would be better.

Related Reading: How To Make Money In Real Estate – Learn More Here .

The Bottom Line.

An indoor miniature golf business is a recreational yet fruitful endeavor. 

So your little bit of in-depth research and critical thinking capabilities can make you a useful businessperson in the long run. 

To sum up, I hope you find this guide about how to start a miniature golf business packed with knowledge to kick-start your business.

Disclosure:  this article might contain links to the resources discussed. Some of the links are affiliate links, meaning that I will make a small commission if you purchase a product or service by using the link. You get the same price whether you use our special link or not, and sometimes I’m able to get you an even better deal through my relationships!  More info in my  privacy policy .

Brooks is an Entrepreneur, Sponge, Father, Husband, & Follower of the Golden Rule. He has over 15 years of experience as an entrepreneur after graduating with a BSBA in Finance from Auburn University. He’s addicted to growing new business ideas and any food that includes chocolate and peanut butter. Brooks is a firm believer in creating multiple streams of income and creates content here on  BrooksConkle.com  to help other hustlers in the areas of marketing, online business, personal finance, and real estate. 

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It should be noted that there is no special software required to use these templates. All business plans come in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel format. Each business plan features:

• Excecutive Summary
• Company and Financing Summary
• Products and Services Overview
• Strategic Analysis with current research!
• Marketing Plan
• Personnel Plan
• 3 Year Advanced Financial Plan
• Expanded Financial Plan with Monthly Financials
• Loan Amortization and ROI Tools
• FREE PowerPoint Presentation for Banks, Investors, or Grant Companies!

1.0 Executive Summary

The purpose of this business plan is to raise $250,000 for the development of a miniature golf course and entertainment facility while showcasing the expected financials and operations over the next three years. The Miniature Golf Course, Inc. (“the Company”) is a New York based corporation that will provide miniature golf and arcade game usage to customers in its targeted market. The Company was founded by John Doe.

1.1 Products and Services

Management intends to develop an extensive retail entertainment facility that will primary generate revenues from miniature golf. Mr. Doe intends to develop facility that will feature an 18 hole golf course. This course will mimic a traditional golf course that will have sand traps, running water, and other real course like attributes. Additionally, the business will offer a limited food and beverage service which will include candy, hotdogs, small sandwiches, coffee, and fountain drinks. This aspect of the business is very important because it will provide an additional stream of revenue for the business. The business will generate revenue streams from hosting birthday parties and other events within the facility. Tertiary revenue streams will come from arcade games that will be available for patron use throughout the facility. The third section of the business plan will further describe the services offered by the Miniature Golf Course.

1.2 The Financing

Mr. Doe is seeking to raise $250,000 from as a bank loan. The interest rate and loan agreement are to be further discussed during negotiation. This business plan assumes that the business will receive a 10 year loan with a 9% fixed interest rate.

1.3 Mission Statement

The Miniature Golf Course’s mission is to become the recognized leader in its targeted market for family entertainment services.

1.4 Mangement Team

The Company was founded by John Doe. Mr. Doe has more than 10 years of experience in the retail management industry. Through his expertise, he will be able to bring the operations of the business to profitability within its first year of operations.

1.5 Sales Forecasts

Mr. Doe expects a strong rate of growth at the start of operations. Below are the expected financials over the next three years.

1.6 Expansion Plan

The Founder expects that the business will aggressively expand during the first three years of operation. Mr. Doe intends to implement marketing campaigns that will effectively target individuals within the target market.

2.0 Company and Financing Summary

2.1 Registered Name and Corporate Structure

Miniature Golf Course, Inc. The Company is registered as a corporation in the State of New York.

2.2 Required Funds

At this time, the Miniature Golf Course requires $250,000 of debt funds. Below is a breakdown of how these funds will be used:

2.3 Investor Equity

Mr. Doe is not seeking an investment from a third party at this time.

2.4 Management Equity

John Doe owns 100% of the Miniature Golf Course, Inc.

2.5 Exit Strategy

If the business is very successful, Mr. Doe may seek to sell the business to a third party for a significant earnings multiple. Most likely, the Company will hire a qualified business broker to sell the business on behalf of the Miniature Golf Course. Based on historical numbers, the business could fetch a sales premium of up to 4 times earnings.

3.0 Products and Services

Below is a description of the miniature golf and entertainment services offered by the Miniature Golf Course.

3.1 Miniature Golf Facilities

The primary revenue center for the business is the management and sale of rounds of miniature golf to the general public. From each customer, the business will generate $5 of revenue from the rental of a putter and a ball for the Company’s 18 hole miniature golf course. Currently, Management is sourcing the facility that will be used for the construction of the miniature golf course. Unlike traditional miniature golf courses, the Company’s course will have running water, sand traps, areas of grass, and other features that emulate a traditional golf course.

3.2 Arcade Games

The secondary entertainment revenue center for the business will be the ongoing usage of arcade games among the Company’s adult and children patrons. At any given time, Management anticipates that the business will have seven to ten arcade game stations available for patron use. Each play of an arcade game will generate $.25 to $1.00 in revenue for the business. The games that management will rent or buy from arcade machine wholesalers will be popular in demand games that are well-known among the Company’s target market of young children and adult arcade enthusiasts.

4.0 Strategic and Market Analysis

4.1 Economic Outlook

This section of the analysis will detail the economic climate, the retail entertainment (which include miniature golf courses) industry, the customer profile, and the competition that the business will face as it progresses through its business operations. Currently, the economic market condition in the United States is in recession. This slowdown in the economy has also greatly impacted real estate sales, which has halted to historical lows. Many economists expect that this recession will continue until mid-2010, at which point the economy will begin a prolonged recovery period.

4.2 Industry Analysis

The entertainment (retail) industry generates approximately $1.5 billion dollars a year among 2,700 companies that operate retail miniature golf facilities and arcade establishments. These revenue numbers do not include amusement parks, casinos, or resorts that provide arcade machines as a value added benefit to patrons. The industry employs more than 30,000 people and provides aggregate annual payrolls of $350 million dollars. As stated earlier, the industry is mature. The expected continued growth of these businesses is expected to mirror the general population growth plus the rate of inflation. The key to thriving within this industry is to provide patrons with a unique miniature golf course coupled with arcade games available for use. The Company, by combining the miniature golf course with some arcade games, will allow the business to draw a greater age demographic among young customers than is usually expected within the retail entertainment industry.

4.3 Customer Profile

In this section of the analysis, you should describe the type of customer you are seeking to acquire. These traits include income size, type of business/occupation; how far away from your business is to your customer, and what the customer is looking for. In this section, you can also put demographic information about your target market including population size, income demographics, level of education, etc.

4.4 Competitive Analysis

This is one of the sections of the business plan that you must write completely on your own. The key to writing a strong competitive analysis is that you do your research on the local competition. Find out who your competitors are by searching online directories and searching in your local Yellow Pages. If there are a number of competitors in the same industry (meaning that it is not feasible to describe each one) then showcase the number of businesses that compete with you, and why your business will provide customers with service/products that are of better quality or less expensive than your competition.

5.0 Marketing Plan

The Miniature Golf Course intends to maintain an extensive marketing campaign that will ensure maximum visibility for the business in its targeted market. Below is an overview of the marketing strategies and objectives of the Miniature Golf Course.

5.1 Marketing Objectives

• Develop an online presence by developing a website and placing the Company’s name and contact information with online directories.

• Implement a local campaign with the Company’s targeted market via the use of flyers, local newspaper advertisements, and word of mouth.

5.2 Marketing Strategies

Management intends on using a number of advertising and marketing channels to promote traffic to the Miniature Golf Course. The Company primarily intends to use a broad based advertising campaign that will raise the awareness of the retail location among the targeted young child and adolescent demographic. To that end, Management will place a number of advertisements in locally based newspapers and advertisements from the onset of operations which may include discount coupons or coupons for a free round of mini-golf. This will create an immediate draw to the Company’s location. Management also expects that the business will generate significant word of mouth advertising as the Company hosts events for children’s birthday parties. As more and more children are invited to Company hosted birthday parties, these youngsters may have their parents host their next birthday party at the facility. The Company anticipates that this type of advertising will take three to six months to become effective.

5.3 Pricing

In this section, describe the pricing of your services and products. You should provide as much information as possible about your pricing as possible in this section. However, if you have hundreds of items, condense your product list categorically. This section of the business plan should not span more than 1 page.

6.0 Organizational Plan and Personnel Summary

6.1 Corporate Organization

6.2 Organizational Budget

6.3 Management Biographies

In this section of the business plan, you should write a two to four paragraph biography about your work experience, your education, and your skill set. For each owner or key employee, you should provide a brief biography in this section.

7.0 Financial Plan

7.1 Underlying Assumptions

• The Miniature Golf Course will have an annual revenue growth rate of 16% per year.

• The Owner will acquire $250,000 of debt funds to develop the business.

• The loan will have a 10 year term with a 9% interest rate.

7.2 Sensitivity Analysis

The Company’s revenues are somewhat vulnerable to changes in the general economy. The Company is providing entertainment, which is not a necessity. However, the pricing point for the miniature golf, arcade games, food concession, and event hosting services is extremely low, and the general economy would need a serious recession before a revenue decline. The high margin revenue generated by the business will allow the Company to operate profitably despite negative economic climates.

7.3 Source of Funds

7.4 General Assumptions

7.5 Profit and Loss Statements 

7.6 Cash Flow Analysis

7.7 Balance Sheet

7.8 General Assumptions

7.9 Business Ratios

Expanded Profit and Loss Statements

Expanded Cash Flow Analysis

These adult mini-golf bars have some of the hottest tee times in Philly

W hen Puttshack opened as a Center City spot for drinks, food, and mini golf last weekend, it became the second business of its kind in about a two-mile radius.

In Philadelphia, and around the country, mini golf isn’t just for kids anymore. Adults are loving it, too.

It’s a plan for a Sunday Funday out with friends, local consumers said, and a built-in icebreaker on a first date. For the growing number of young people who are drinking less, it’s also a social nighttime activity that doesn’t have to revolve around alcohol, making it a welcome third-place, which has become more rare in the city .

While the “bar” part of these establishments is undoubtedly a draw for many customers — and a moneymaker for business owners — putting with a beer, cocktail, or other libation (including zero-proof options ) in hand is optional, as is enjoying an après-mini-golf drink or snack in attached lounges and dining rooms.

At Libertee Grounds in Francisville, Priyank “Pri” Rambhia and his co-owners — his longtime friends Sanil Shah and Kanay Patel — have seen the popularity of adult-centric, indoor mini golf explode since they opened in 2021 . A couple of years ago, he said, they would log more than 300 customers on a good day. Earlier this month, they set a record when they saw 535 customers on a Saturday, their busiest day of the week.

Those are all adults, too. At Libertee Grounds, only people 21 and older can play mini golf, which costs $10 a person, or enjoy the other indoor spaces — except on Sundays during the day, when golfers of all ages (with adult supervision) are welcome.

Libertee Grounds’ adults-only decision was made intentionally and caters to its customer base, which Rambhia said has a median age somewhere in the late-20s/early-30s range. They come for the mini golf, he said, but also for the “hyperlocal” beer (read: only craft beers brewed in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey), the atmosphere, and a sizable food menu with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.

“You’re more so going to a bar with mini golf,” Rambhia said. By not allowing kids on most days, “it allows us to be more of an adult playground.”

Puttshack, which opened its first Philadelphia location last weekend at the Shops at Liberty Place, becomes 21+ at 8 p.m. The fast-growing chain of “upscale tech-infused” mini golf venues will offer nine-hole mini golf for $14 a person, plus a food and drink menu that promises to take customers on “a culinary journey of global flavors.”

Rambhia said he welcomes the opening of Puttshack: “There is definitely room for both businesses to exist and do really well. The whole mini-golf concept is so accessible.”

Riding the golf wave

Mini golf’s moment comes at a time when consumers nationwide are spending more money than ever on experiences , which include everything from Taylor Swift concert tickets to international vacations. Diners have also been spending more at bars and restaurants , where menu prices have remained high even as inflation cools.

When they go out, people want to do more than sit around a table or perch on a bar stool. They want an experience, be it a speakeasy, an arcade bar, a themed restaurant, even an opportunity to dine in the dark.

“Not to say that people don’t just like going out to a bar and having a drink,” said Brianne Daly, 24, of Francisville. But “mini golf or bowling, or whatever it may be, adds a little more excitement.”

Since 2018, bar-restaurants where customers can throw axes , play board games , and take swings at a high-tech driving range have opened across the region.

“People just love experiences,” Rambhia said. “Being at any bar or restaurant is great, but it kind of gets old after being there for an hour, hour and a half.”

The pandemic resulted in pent-up consumer demand for these type of experiences — and increased the popularity of golf, an outdoor sport that can easily be played while social distancing. And that’s been a boon, too, for mini-golf establishments.

“Golf is really having its moment,” Rambhia. said. “Mini golf has ridden that golf wave.”

Mini-golf bars have popped up in cities nationwide. Puttshack, which started in London in 2018, opened its first U.S. location in 2021. Since then, it has added 11 U.S. outposts other than in Philadelphia and is in the process of opening 10 more, including one in Baltimore. Over four months last spring, two mini-golf bar-restaurants —Puttshack and Puttery — opened within two blocks, or 3/10 of a mile, of each other in Pittsburgh.

To keep up with growing demand in Philly, Libertee Grounds expanded this summer, adding 4,000 square feet, a second nine-hole mini-golf course , and a golf simulator.

Daly, a nurse, said she has enjoyed going there with friends, dates, or double dates. Having something active to do can take a bit of the edge off certain social situations.

On double dates, for instance, “it definitely alleviates some stress if partners are meeting for the first time,” she said. “You’re not worried about if you’re going to have enough stuff to talk about at the table.”

Kaitlyn McCourt said she heard buzz about Libertee Grounds even before moving to the neighborhood this summer. McCourt, a 30-year-old speech therapist, had never visited a place like it.

“I just thought it was such a cool idea,” McCourt said. “Instead of just sitting at the bar and having a beer, you can go downstairs and have your beer still, but you’re mini-golfing and you’re having fun with your friends. … It kind of livens up the night or the day that you’re having.”

In Center City, Maanika Keesara, a 30-year-old medical student, said she was looking forward to trying out Puttshack. Keesara has been trying — often in vain — to find nighttime activities that don’t revolve around drinking. She said it’s an especially hard task in the winter.

Rambhia, of Libertee Grounds, is optimistic that this increased interest in mini golf will be more than just a passing trend, in part because of the timeless allure of the game.

“People love nostalgic things,” he said.” People love that feeling of how they were as a kid,” no matter how old they are.

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