You can organize a successful business by starting to produce and sell various goods, but the best way, which, in my opinion, is more creative and interesting - providing in-demand services.
Today we will talk about such a business service in the entertainment sector as organizing a paintball club, i.e. Let's find out how to open a paintball club. Before I talk about all the intricacies of opening and running such a business, I want to talk about why this type business will be successful.
Since childhood, we loved to play all kinds of “war games”; we took a suitable stick, imagining a sword or gun instead, and went out onto an imaginary battlefield in our yard. This is how my friends and I spent the whole day, running, jumping, we imagined ourselves as conquerors of the whole world. Time goes by, but at heart we are all the same children who want to frolic and completely distance themselves from all problems. And so, one of the modern entertainment games - paintball - will come to our aid. Such a game can bring people together and increase trust.
The game will help relieve stress accumulated from sitting in a stuffy summer office and will help normalize the tone of your body. Playing paintball is a great alternative to corporate gatherings in a bar or restaurant, which everyone is already bored with, so some businessmen are puzzled by the question of opening their own paintball club. Paintball in nature - fresh air, adrenaline, manifestation of team spirit and leadership qualities.
So, how can you open such a business?? Having decided to start this type of business, a bunch of different questions arise: “how to open a paintball club?”, “where to start?”, “do I need a weapons license?”, “payback?” and many others. Calm down, matters need to be resolved calmly, without any nerves. It is necessary to carefully work with all the available information, write a business plan for a paintball club and more questions will go away on their own. Now we’ll talk in more detail about all the nuances of organizing a paintball business.
Weapon license
I would like to note that a paintball marker, although similar to a weapon, is absolutely not one. Quotes from federal gun laws:
“Weapons do not include products certified as household and industrial products, sports equipment that is structurally similar to weapons.”
This type of “weapon”, like a marker, belongs to the group of goods called “sports equipment and equipment”. Thus, purchasing, storing and carrying does not require any permissions. There is no need to license such “weapons”.
Organization of a paintball game site
Where did you most like to play “war” as a child? These could be various construction sites (there are a lot of them in our vast country), in abandoned premises, that is, where you can hide and hide. The club can be organized not only in the open air, but also in various rooms(great option when the weather is bad outside). So, now we will look for such places. 
Requirements for organizing a playground:
- The dimensions of the site are large enough to accommodate various obstacles, structures, as well as for arranging all kinds of shelters from car tires, logs, boards, slate and other materials.
- Maintain safety on your site. The territory of the paintball club should be flat, without deep holes into which you can fall. Don't let your clients get injured, because that's not what they came to you for.
- Organize several options for play areas so that clients do not get bored with the monotonous arrangement of shelters and structures.
- The game involves some danger, so the area must be fenced with a protective net so that the balls do not fly off the court.
- You can organize an area in the field and place various inflatable obstacles on it.
- If you find abandoned businesses, villages and other structures, then you are very lucky. In such places there are enough different shelters, and you will hardly have to build anything. Just remember to thoroughly check such places - safety comes first!
Equipment for opening a paintball club
Aspiring entrepreneurs ask one single question: “ How much does it cost to open a paintball club?"? Let's try to calculate how much you need to initially invest. So, the main cost is the purchase of equipment for playing paintball.
- 16-20 markers(paintball weapon). The price of such a marker is about $200 per piece.
- 20-25 camouflage suits(this number includes uniforms of judges). Such suits are purchased in stores, but if you want to save money, you can make such suits yourself (tailoring suits in a sewing workshop)
- 20-25 protective masks. The cost of the mask is from $30 per piece
- 16-20 cylinders for markers, as well as a compressor for filling air cylinders (from $2000). At the initial stage, you can save on a compressor and charge cylinders at other paintball clubs or organizations that have such a compressor. The cylinders are filled with air or carbon dioxide. Note that a cylinder filled with carbon dioxide allows you to fire 50% more shots than from an air cylinder. Therefore, if it is possible to fill cylinders with carbon dioxide, this will significantly save your costs
- Boxes of balls. One box costs about $100 (2000 balls)
There are a huge number of different scenarios for playing paintball. So, let's highlight a few that are the most popular.
- Wall to wall. Players are divided into two teams and try to destroy the enemy team. Each player has only one life, play until the first hit
- Capture the Flag. The flag is located at an equal distance from both teams. Team task: capture the enemy’s flag and bring it to your base (often it is very difficult to bring the flag to your base)
- House siege. Participants must capture 3 flags from the enemy's house. Moreover, the players in the house have only one life, and the opponents have an infinite number. The goal of the game is to capture the flags in the least amount of time
We’ll probably stop here; if you’re interested, you can look at other types of scripts on the Internet. Be a paintball fan so that you can infect your club's clients with excitement and the spirit of competition.
Staff
To service and maintain paintball equipment (equipment), you will need one technician. 3-4 judges are also needed, who will also serve as club administrators. Their responsibilities include: safety briefings, training in how to use markers, helping to develop a strategy for playing paintball, and also assisting during the game. To record incoming income and place orders for consumables and equipment, a cashier (accountant) is required.
Business payback
You can make good money organizing a paintball game, but you should clearly understand all the nuances of organizing this game. With a stationary club, you will have to spend additional money on organizing the venue for the game, fencing, a changing area (locker room), toilets, places to relax, and a cafe. If we talk about a visiting club, then it is necessary to include in expenses such items as organizing a trip to specific place, organizing the game itself, as well as a picnic (I believe that this is a prerequisite if you want to gain the favor of your clients). 
Let's look at where the income will come from:
- sale of paint balls(the main income of the paintball club). During one game, about 300-500 balls are consumed per person. Moreover, the price of one ball in a paintball club is 2-3 rubles. You can easily calculate that if only 20 people visited your club during the day, then the profit will be around $300-400;
- entrance fee(optional component);
- payment for ammunition(the cost of the set is about 500 rubles. It includes all the equipment and 100-200 balls);
- rental of equipment and markers;
- sale of markers(you can open your own store selling everything you need to play paintball);
- sale of souvenirs, food(mini-cafe at the club,
A successful business can be done not only on food products, which everyone needs, but also on entertainment or popular services, which include paintball, which is popular today. How to open a paintball club and will such a business be profitable?
A little about paintball
Military games have always been popular. And today, in the age of office workers who almost constantly sit at the computer, this statement is doubly true. Where else can you experience a rush of adrenaline and feel relief from the fact that the accumulated aggression is leaving? A temporary touch of risk gives an indescribable feeling of the fullness of life and the desire to experience these feelings again. And you can make a good business out of such strong emotions.
But still, you shouldn’t start opening a paintball club if we are talking about a small town or industrial town. Such entertainment will not be in demand there, because there is no target audience for which they are designed. In addition, you can really make good money on paintball only if you constantly develop your business, invest in it and offer additional services, but simply expensive equipment purchased and rented out will not bring the desired income.
People need adrenaline, which means they will have to show their imagination and offer clients not only equipment rental, but real adventures.
Register
Have you thought about everything important points and decided to create a paintball club? Then you need to register your business correctly, since such a business will not go unnoticed. And in order not to have problems with the law and tax service, follows:
- Register - go through state registration and (of course, you can immediately, but an individual entrepreneur is preferable at the initial stage, since it is easier to do accounting and submit reports). But then, if the business goes well, you will still have to register a legal entity, for example, a paintball club or federation - this is the only way to hold large-scale sports games.
- Select the area of activity and OKVED codes - for you it will be rental of sports equipment that does not require certification.
- Choose a tax system - the most best option – .
- Find and rent territory for organizing paintball games. This could be either a sports club in the city or a long-term industrial construction project on the outskirts of the city or in the suburbs.
- Purchase (or rent) the required equipment.
Where will we play?
When the conversation turns to the most suitable places for paramilitary games, then the first thing you should pay attention to are old military or test sites, abandoned or unfinished industrial facilities, basements, territories of former military units, old warehouses or factory floors. If the object is located outside the city, then better nearby organize your base with a small campsite or a couple of houses where clients can leave their things, change clothes, wash off the paint and relax. Ideally, there will also be a barbecue area or cafe, a comfortable shower and transport (it can be bought or rented, or you can enter into an agreement with a transport company) that will take the game participants to the place. Of course, mesh fencing and security of the facility will also be required.
If you are looking for premises for a sports club in the city, then you should pay attention convenient location and the presence of a nearby transport stop. In general, it is better to rent a room where people are always ready to continue the fun - not far from entertainment venues.
Required Equipment
It must be said that when organizing a paintball club, the main expense items are, of course, renting a range and sports equipment, to which you also need to purchase consumables. Everything you need to play can be purchased or rented. So, you will definitely need:
Staff
At first, a paintball club will need a manager who will work with clients, issue uniforms, equipment, consumables, manage the warehouse and purchase of consumables, as well as an instructor who will work at the range, helping the participants in the game. His responsibilities will include demonstrating the equipment, how to handle it, assisting at the pit stop, and refereeing. The manager may be the owner of the business, who will also take on the responsibilities of an accountant and personnel officer. You will also need a watchman (security guard) for the night.
If the business is actively expanding, then it would be wiser to hire an accountant, another manager and an instructor who will conduct a training course.
Pricing policy and additional services
In essence, by organizing a paintball club, you create a sports rental company. But, of course, paintball as a business should not literally come down to the fact that you just let strangers play with your toys. But in general, it is with the rental of forms, markers and additional equipment and the main revenue will come. Therefore, you need to set a reasonable rental price for equipment, uniforms and protection, and also sell ammunition profitably (by the way, it is they that bring 100% income).
For experts, you can keep paintball grenades and markers with a high rate of fire, and additionally install collimators on your weapon. And if you also organize a crossbow shooting range or equipment rental, for example, ATVs, on the territory of a training ground or sports club, then a quick return on investment is guaranteed.
Business specialization
Even at the planning stage, when drawing up a business plan for a paintball club, it is worth clearly defining the specialization of the business and the organization of work with clients. If you want to organize corporate holidays and offer team building services, then you will need a good trainer who will work with teams and the right approach to clients. This means that prizes will be required, and the emphasis of the game will need to be on team building.
If we are talking about youth recreation, then it is better to think through promotions for students and schoolchildren in advance and interesting scenarios games. Depending on which direction you choose, you will need appropriate advertising.
Advertising
There is no need to spare money on advertising, because what more people learn about your club, the more potential clients you will receive. This means we need posters, business cards, an interesting website on the Internet, and promotions in public transport. It is quite difficult to create universal advertising for such a business, so it is better (if, of course, you are planning to work in several directions) to think through separate advertising for young people with an emphasis on creative and fashionable leisure and advertising for corporate clients and distribute it purposefully among potential consumers of services.
Those who already work in this business note that the main difficulty is organizing games in winter period. Firstly, in winter the activity of those who enjoy running around the training ground in search of adventure in summer decreases, and secondly, in difficult climatic conditions and the requirements for relaxation are different: you will need a bathhouse or sauna, a place to relax, a parking lot (or better yet, a guarded closed area).
In addition, you should plan in advance the work with inventory, equipment repair and maintenance, as well as the purchase of consumables.
But don’t forget that the main thing in such a business is constant development. You can hold city competitions by concluding an agreement with the youth policy department in the local administration, you can work with social services and work with children from disadvantaged families. In any case, participation in such programs will be good advertising and will attract additional customers. It would be a good idea to organize a permanent team or a paid training course for beginners.
Another important point is the safety of the players. Of course, you can't be seriously injured by a paintball, but bruises and bumps during such a game are common. In addition, while playing, participants may end up in open territory or suffer due to violation of the rules of the game. The participants in the game must be warned about all this in advance, who must understand that they are adults and are responsible for themselves. Therefore, it would be useful to sign a document in which clients confirm that they have been warned about possible injuries and the consequences of violations of the rules and have no claims against the club. This may be stated in the contract for the provision of services or in an appendix to it.
Financial aspect
It's time to calculate how much it costs to open a paintball club. By the way, prices for paintball equipment are usually set in dollars, so calculations in rubles will be approximate. So, the main expense items include:
| Expense item | Expense amount |
| Rent of a training ground, club (for the first month) | 100,000 rubles |
| Business registration | 7,000 rubles |
| Purchase of markers (minimum 20 pieces required) | 30,000 rubles |
| Air cylinder with reducer for each kit | 63,000 rubles |
| Purchase of protection (20 sets) | 14,000 rubles |
| Sewing uniforms (20 sets) | 40,000 rubles |
| Proto mask with single glass (20 pieces) | 21,000 rubles |
| Safety net | 14,000 rubles |
| Transport cylinder for 350 atmospheres | 5,000 rubles |
| Gas station | 2,500 rubles |
| Consumables | 80,000 rubles |
| Landfill design | 40,000 rubles |
| Documentation | 10,000 rubles |
| Advertising | 30,000 rubles |
| Total: | 456,500 rubles |
Now let’s calculate the monthly expenses, based on the fact that the club has a manager, an instructor, a manager (owner) and a night watchman (security guard):
As can be seen from the calculations, opening a paintball club will require a minimum of 456,500 rubles of initial investment. How quickly they will pay off depends on where the club will operate and how the business will go. It is impossible to predict this in advance, but on average the payback for such a project is 8-9 months. As for monthly expenses, then they will be approximately 192,000 rubles.
It is clear that it will not be possible to talk about a specific amount of income in such a business, but it is possible to voice the items of income, and it is up to the business owner to establish the amount of cost of each item. It is worth taking into account the demand for paintball in a particular city and the fact that the markup on consumables is usually 50%.
- Entrance fee (there may or may not be one).
- Equipment rental (markers).
- Sale of balls (one player will need about 400 pieces per game).
- Rental uniforms and protection.
- Additional services (anything from renting a cottage and using a shower (sauna) to shooting at a shooting range and renting ATVs).
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Business plan
Reviews (99)
The number of players interested in playing paintball is growing every year. Paintball clubs have long been a part of the entertainment industry, and, actively developing, have firmly occupied their niche. New paintball clubs are appearing on the market, as well as suppliers of paintball equipment and manufacturers of camouflage equipment. If you approach this game from a practical point of view, then opening a paintball club may well become a profitable project.
In order for paintball, as a business, to justify financial investments, has become not just a hobby, but a source of high profit, it is necessary to focus on several areas of work simultaneously. In addition to organizing games, there are many other opportunities from which you can and should make money. And, first of all, you should rely on corporate recreation.
Managers of many companies prefer to take their employees out into nature more often, giving them the opportunity not only to relax with health benefits, but also to communicate and get to know each other better. And paintball in this regard is the most optimal option, especially if the company’s personnel consists mainly of representatives of the stronger sex.
The competent organization of a paintball club involves working in several directions at once. Otherwise on good profit there is no need to count. There are good prospects for organizing a training process for security and law enforcement agencies, conducting offsite events. A paintball store will bring a solid profit to your business, which will sell all the equipment necessary for the game - paintball kits, equipment, masks and vests, as well as video instructions that tell you how to refuel the weapon and how to use it correctly.
Additional services often include the organization of corporate events, which include not only paintball competitions. For example, after playing paintball, business consultations can be held for company employees, the premises for which are provided for a fee by the owner of the paintball base. Corporate games are also beneficial because company owners usually order a full range of services: delivery to the base and back, meals, and some additional entertainment. But in order to satisfy all the client’s needs, the entrepreneur must build a base with a superbly developed infrastructure.
If you are thinking about how to open your own business - a paintball club, but do not know where to start opening, carefully study professional example business plan for opening a paintball club with ready-made calculations. This document contains detailed description every stage of business creation. You will understand what type of taxation paintball falls under and, most importantly, you will gain confidence in yourself and your abilities, which will allow you to not give up the race even in difficult conditions.
The history of paintball in our country goes back no more than 20 years, and only at the beginning of the new millennium this market began to actively develop, gaining more and more new players. Of course, this business manifests itself most clearly in large cities. Although recently some activity has begun to be observed in regions where it is also becoming fashionable to play a game of paintball.
Such a grandiose business project as a paintball club does not fall into the list of low-cost types of business. Despite the fact that setting up a paintball base does not require excessive aesthetics and comfort, the costs of its construction and equipment amount to tens of thousands of dollars. The total cost of investing in paintball can vary significantly - from 20 to 90 thousand dollars.
The final result depends on the cost of renting a plot of land, its area and prices for paintball equipment - guns, balls, ammunition. For example, by purchasing paintball guns in China, you can save a lot, but about some high quality There is no need to talk about equipment here.
Having decided, out of a desire to save money, to limit himself to creating only one paintball court, the businessman makes a serious mistake. People come to play paintball in whole groups, and they expect high-quality service, which will be provided only due to the well-developed infrastructure of the base. Lack of amenities is a sure way to lose all your customers. Therefore, when thinking about where to start and how to open your own paintball, first of all, take care of the availability favorable conditions for a good rest. In this regard, it is most profitable to rent territory in the immediate vicinity of any recreation center.
The club's expenses consist not only of rent for land plot and base construction. A significant share of the cost item is the cost of equipment for playing in a paintball club: to open it you need to buy at least 20 sets of markers, camouflage suits, vests and other equipment. One such kit costs at least $400. It is easy to calculate that the purchase of 20 sets will result in a very significant amount - about $8,000.
A business such as a paintball club involves the construction of various forts, bunker shelters, without which it is difficult to imagine an exciting game. Entire territory playground must be fenced with a special mesh, which will also require additional expenses. It is also impossible not to take into account the depreciation of paintball equipment and the regular updating of gaming equipment. When calculating the total cost of investment required to open a paintball club, many entrepreneurs use a high-quality sample paintball business plan. With its help, performing the required calculations becomes much easier. And, despite the fact that paintball can hardly be called a business for beginners, having this document will help even an inexperienced entrepreneur cope with any difficulties.
This gambling team game, which gives the opportunity to shoot at each other without harm to anyone, has long enjoyed well-deserved success. And not only among the stronger sex. Many women enjoy visiting paintball clubs, realizing their cherished childhood dreams.
Organizing a business such as paintball has good prospects, as such services are becoming increasingly in demand. But again, not in every region. Therefore, the role of competent marketing research is so important, which will accurately determine demand and the level of competition.
Experienced businessmen strongly recommend not to give in to the temptation to save money on this seemingly not very necessary procedure. If your idea to open your own paintball club turns out to be financially unsound, you may lose all the savings you invested in this business. At the same time, a well-performed analysis will allow you to adjust your business idea depending on the situation, or completely abandon a premature decision.
A businessman planning to organize his own paintball club, like any other entrepreneur, will have to go through all the circles of bureaucratic hell in order to obtain permission to carry out this type of activity. To do this you need to visit Pension fund, Internal Revenue Service, Rospotrebnadzor and Pozhnadzor, as well as the local administration. When choosing a form of taxation for paintball, experienced market players advise focusing on the “simplified” form.
Choosing a territory for a base is the most important stage in organizing a club; paintball buildings and structures, as a rule, should be located at some distance from residential areas and places of public gatherings. But at the same time, the presence of a convenient transport interchange is a prerequisite. When opening your own business - a paintball club, make sure that your clients can have a blast "to the fullest", which requires a spacious area equipped with everything necessary for a good game. The payback of a paintball club directly depends on the number of clients, so it is necessary to create the most attractive conditions for them.
The optimal base area for playing paintball is 1 hectare. This area can accommodate not only 2 playing fields, but also spectator stands, a cafe or bar, an instruction area, and a shooting range. As for the purchase of paintball equipment to open a club, at least half a million rubles will be required for these purposes. Prices for high-quality paintball equipment are quite high, but if you want to organize your own club and achieve high profits, you should not save on this. The payback of the paintball business has recently remained at high level. If everything goes well, you can reach the break-even point within six months.
The advantage in this situation is on the side of those entrepreneurs who place special hopes on professional business plan creating a paintball club. With its help, they are able to solve the most difficult issues and identify the likely risks that will inevitably come their way. Recommendations from professionals allow them to confidently move towards their intended goal and easily outperform even experienced competitors.
Paintball came to us from the USA, where at first it was a form of entertainment for foresters and served to train soldiers, and later grew into a popular entertainment game that attracted stadiums of spectators.
In our country it is not yet so popular, but the number of people who want to shoot paintballs at each other and feel like a participant in hostilities is steadily growing. Therefore, paintball as a business can be confidently called a profitable business. Moreover, when the right approach such a club is also a very promising activity. Today we suggest you figure out where to start for those who are seriously interested in such a business idea.
Paintball: business plan - basics
The main service that you will provide by opening your own paintball club is renting out the equipment necessary for the game to those interested. After all, most of your clients will consist of amateurs who from time to time have fun in this way with friends. Only real professionals in this field have their own equipment and guns for paintball, and there are only a few of them in our country.
What points should you consider when considering the idea of opening a paintball club?
If you still question paintball as a business, then analyze some factors that will help you finally make a decision:
- If you live in a small town, then you are unlikely to be able to organize a successful and profitable paintball club. It is best to engage in such a business in large settlements with a large number of residents.
- If you want to open a paintball club as the main source of income, then to increase profits it makes sense to offer your clients a number of related services: organizing corporate events, preparing and selling kebabs, beer, snacks, soft drinks, etc. In this case, you will be able to attract more visitors, which, accordingly, will allow you to earn more money.
- If you yourself are not particularly interested in paintball, then it is unlikely that you will be able to organize a successful business in this direction. Since in this case it is not enough to simply invest money in the business, constant involvement in the process, establishing communication, communicating with clients, organizing various promotions and events, etc. is required.
How to legally organize a paintball club
First, you need to register as an individual entrepreneur whose activity is rental of sports equipment. Equipment for this game does not require certification. If in the future you switch to new level business and start organizing official paintball competitions, you will have to register as legal entity. You will also need to contact local authorities for official permission for such events.
Choosing a location for a paintball club
Organizing such a business requires a certain amount of space. This can be either an enclosed space or an open area. The choice, as a rule, is made based on one’s own preferences and the size of the starting capital.
We bring to your attention several options for choosing a location for organizing a paintball club:
- Rent of a plot in an entertainment country club with baths, saunas, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc. Since people come here to relax and unwind, there are many who want to run around with a paintball gun.
- The territory of abandoned enterprises and military units. Such places, thanks to their atmosphere, will attract customers like a magnet.
- Sites at country campsites and tourist centers.
Keep in mind that you will have to invest money in landscaping the territory in any case. After all, you need to fence off the playing area with a special net, and also organize changing rooms, showers, places to store visitors’ belongings, etc.
Staff
Paintball as a business requires hiring a number of employees, including a customer service manager, an instructor, a game referee and an equipment repairman. Quite often, one employee can combine some of the functions.
If, when you open a paintball club in the spring-summer time, many clients immediately flock to you, do not rush to increase the number of hired employees. Since in winter time in any case, there will be much fewer visitors, and a large number of workers will be unjustified.
Equipment and consumables for a paintball club
This item will represent the main item of your initial investment. The required kit for a paintball club consists of the following items:
- Protective clothing: reliable masks, helmets, vests and knee pads.
- Form. It is best to have it made to order. However, keep in mind that there should always be a uniform available in a wide variety of sizes: from small to large. After all, your visitors can have very different builds.
- Paintball guns (they are correctly called markers) and spare parts for them.
- Air cylinders with reducers for each set.
- Protective synthetic mesh (about three hundred meters).
- Transport cylinder with a pressure of 350 atmospheres.
- Ammunition consisting of gelatin balls with paint of different colors.
- Equipment for the battlefield (inflatable figures, wooden and metal shelters, obstacle courses made of tires, etc.).
If you plan to provide additional services to your clients, then you will need to take care of purchasing the appropriate equipment, raw materials and materials.
Advertising and promotion of your paintball club
You cannot do without advertising, at least at the initial stage, in this business. Therefore, when planning expenses, set aside a certain amount for printing leaflets, business cards, banners, creating your own website and contextual advertising.
It also makes sense to submit several PR articles to local print publications dedicated to recreation and leisure.
Also send out a commercial offer to companies in your city to hold corporate events at your paintball club. Today, such team building activities are very popular not only in foreign companies, but also in domestic ones. In addition, you can organize special promotions for students, providing them with certain discounts and bonuses.
Also keep in mind that in order to grow your business, you need to generally promote and popularize paintball in your city. To do this, try to organize big holidays, promotions and events, attracting the press to cover them. Cooperate with other clubs, hold joint paintball championships, because you all benefit from this.
Paintball as a business: the financial side of the issue
Perhaps this point is the most important. To a reasonable question: “How much does paintball equipment cost?” - it will not be possible to answer accurately, since everything will depend on the quantity and quality of the kits. However minimum amount, which is required to start this business is 4 thousand dollars.
This does not take into account the cost of renting the territory, since this issue is very subjective and depends on many factors. If you plan to equip your paintball club with showers, locker rooms, parking, and also provide additional services, then the minimum starting investment will be from 10 to 18 thousand dollars.
