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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 May 25, 2022
Updated on March 13, 2024
Investment range
$19,800 - $39,850
Revenue potential
$218,000 - $359,000 p.a.
Time to build
3-6 months
Profit potential
$76,000 - $126,000 p.a.
Industry trend
Growing
Commitment
Flexible
Roller skating was one of the most popular pastimes of the 1960’s and 70’s. Today, people of all ages still enjoy a day or evening at the rink. Whether you’re hosting a kid’s birthday party or gathering colleagues for a team-building event, roller skating is a great way to celebrate and connect while engaging in healthy physical activity.
The recreational sports centers industry, which includes roller skating rinks, is worth $78 billion and expects steady growth in the coming years.
While you might be eager to dive in and become a rink owner, it’s important to understand the relevant procedures and concerns. Fortunately, this step-by-step guide provides the entrepreneurial foundation you need to launch your business.
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Before starting a roller skating rink, it’s important to consider the pros and cons.
Roller skating rinks fall within the fitness and recreational sports centers industry.
Trends within the roller skating rink industry include:
Challenges within the roller skating rink industry include:
Startup costs for a roller rink range from $19,000 to $39,000. Costs include the facility lease, renovations, purchase of skates and equipment, website, and advertising.
You’ll need a handful of items to successfully launch your roller skating rink, including:
| Start-up Costs | Ballpark Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Licenses and permits | $100 - $300 | $200 |
| Insurance | $100 - $300 | $200 |
| Marketing and advertising | $1,000 - $2,000 | $1,500 |
| Website | $1,000 - $2,000 | $1,500 |
| Software | $100 - $250 | $175 |
| Facility rental | $3,000 - $6,000 | $4,500 |
| Rink renovations | $10,000 - $20,000 | $15,000 |
| Roller skating accessories | $2,500 - $5,000 | $3,750 |
| Employee wages | $2,000 - $4,000 | $3,000 |
| Total | $19,800 - $39,850 | $29,825 |
The average cost for roller rink admission is $10, with skate rentals costing about $5. After considering labor and overhead costs, expect a profit margin of around 35%
In your first year or two, you could charge $10 admission and $5 skate rentals to 250 customers per week. You could also host one private event each week at a rate of $450 per group. This would result in $218,000 in annual revenue and $76,000 in profit, assuming that 35% margin. As your roller rink increases in popularity, you could increase sales to 400 customers and two private events per week. With annual revenue of $359,000, you’d make a handsome profit of $126,000.
There are a few barriers to entry when it comes to starting a roller rink. Your biggest hurdles will be:
Now that you know what’s involved in starting a skating rink, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market.
Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.
Research roller skating rinks in your area and online to examine their services, price points, and customer reviews. You’re looking for a market gap to fill. For instance, maybe the local market is missing a roller skating rink with a snack bar or video game room.
You might consider targeting a niche market by specializing in a certain aspect of your industry, such as birthday parties, corporate events, or skating work-outs.
This could jumpstart your word-of-mouth marketing and attract clients right away.
You’ll be charging customers for skating time at your rink. You could also host private parties and events and charge a flat rate to rent out the facility. Some roller skating rinks offer skating lessons, exercise classes, and host nightclub-style events to teens and young adults. You might also serve food and beverages or have an arcade onsite.
The average cost for three to four hours of roller skating is $10. Skate rentals cost around $5. Rates for private events average around $400 per group. After the cost of labor and overhead, expect a profit margin of 30%.
Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step 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.
Your primary target market will be kids and teens who want to enjoy a fun afternoon or evening of roller skating. You’ll also attract adults who enjoy this nostalgic pastime.
Find your ideal customers by marketing your business on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. To attract corporate customers, consider using LinkedIn. You could also network with local schools and youth organizations.
The location of your roller skating rink is key to its success and the overall experience of your customers Depending on your target audience, you may want to consider proximity to schools or family-friendly attractions.
When choosing your location, think about how you can create a unique and memorable experience for your customers. For example, you could look for a space with an outdoor area for roller skating during the warmer months, or a location with adjacent restaurants or bars to offer a complete night out experience.
You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist, Crexi, and Instant Offices.
When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:
Your business name is your business identity, so choose one that encapsulates your objectives, services, and mission in just a few words. You probably want a name that’s short and easy to remember, since much of your business, and your initial business in particular, will come from word-of-mouth referrals.
Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:
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.
Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that sets your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.
Every business needs a plan. This will function as a guidebook to take your startup through the launch process and maintain focus on your key goals. A business plan also enables potential partners and investors to better understand your company and its vision:
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.
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!
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 roller skating rinks.
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.
Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your skating rink will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.
Here are the main options:
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.
Choose Your State
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.
Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:
Bank and SBA loans are probably the best option, other than friends and family, for funding a roller skating rink. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.
Starting a roller skating rink 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.
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 skating rink 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.
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:
As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.
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 Roller, Partywirks, or LilYPad, to collect payments, manage bookings, and collect waivers.
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.
They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.
Starting a roller skating rink can be an exciting venture, and success lies in implementing effective marketing strategies. Here are some practical tips to boost your roller skating rink business:
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 roller skating rink 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 roller rink could be:
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 roller skating rink, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in skating 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 roller skating rinks. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership.
If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a roller skating rink include:
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.
Operating your own roller skating rink is a fun and rewarding way to make a living. You’ll provide good times for kids and teens, as well as a place to hang out. You’ll also give nostalgic adults a chance to relive the past and make new memories!
Now that you’ve done your entrepreneurial homework, it’s time to lace up those skates and start building the best roller skating rink in town.
Yes, roller skating rinks are profitable. You can increase revenue by offering skating lessons, hosting nightclub events, and selling food and beverages.
Prices for admission to a roller rink range from $8-$12 for three to four hours of skating. You could also charge anywhere from $350 to $500 for groups to rent your rink for private events.
Train staff members to accurately measure customers’ feet and provide guidance on selecting the appropriate skate size. Regularly inspect and maintain the rental skates, including checking for wear and tear, and replacing worn-out parts.
To ensure the safety of skaters and maintain a secure environment, implement safety protocols and guidelines. Clearly communicate and enforce rules such as speed limits, no backward skating, and appropriate behavior on the rink. Provide safety equipment, such as helmets and wrist guards, and encourage their use, especially for beginners or children.
Develop a professional website that showcases your rink’s amenities, events, and pricing information. Utilize social media platforms to share engaging content, such as photos or videos of skaters enjoying the rink. Offer special promotions, group discounts, or theme nights to attract new customers.
A standard roller skating rink can range in size from approximately 5,000 to 15,000 square feet. However, the size can vary significantly based on local regulations and the capacity you aim to accommodate. Consider factors such as the layout of the rink, seating areas, rental area, and other amenities you plan to include.
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