How to Start an Arcade

Start an arcade by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your arcade. 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.

What will you name your business?

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

What are the costs involved in opening an arcade?

Your costs will vary considerably, depending on what kind of arcade you start. A traditional arcade might be able to get by in a small space, and you could keep your costs down in the $250,000 range. For a larger entertainment center like Dave and Buster’s, costs could approach $1 million.

The biggest portion of an arcade’s startup cost is usually the games themselves. Costing anywhere from $6,000 to $9,000, even a modest selection of 20 games eats up about half of that low-end $250k budget. You’ll also need to lease a space, and that cost will vary depending on your location and the size of your arcade. A rough estimate would be in the $1,200-$2,800 per month range for a space between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet.

The remainder of your budget will go toward acquiring additional machinery like computers and cash registers, renovating and decorating the space, and licensing fees. Finally, you’ll also need to pay your staff, although arcades require fewer employees than many other business types. Of course, if your arcade will serve food or beverages, you will also have additional costs for purchasing machines and supplies to that end.

What are the ongoing expenses for an arcade?

The primary ongoing expenses are rent and machine upkeep. Utilities are also a constant factor, and with electronic machines running all day, they may cost more than you expect. For example, a successful barcade chain in Texas pays $15,000 a month for utilities at their smallest location. Beyond that, monthly expenses go to things like paying employees and keeping everything clean.

As your arcade acquires more consoles, there may not be enough room to keep them all at your arcade. Keeping a rotation of machines would require a storage space for unused machines, but this is not typical of small arcades, and would not be an issue in the early stages of your business.

Who is the target market?

Your preferred customer will vary depending on what type of arcade you run. Traditional arcades are frequented by families and children; families can use arcade gaming as a bonding experience, while kids occupy the sweet spot of having disposable income without many entertainment options to spend it on. Meanwhile, “barcades” market to retro-loving hipsters who like to pair craft beer with vintage pinball. Finally, arcade/restaurant combos like Dave and Buster’s appeal to a variety of customers, from families to business people looking to blow off steam after work.

How does an arcade make money?

The standard model is charging customers to play your games, but there are a number of ways to do this. The old-school method of having your customers insert coins or tokens into the machines is still around, but there are some licensing and taxation issues that make this method less profitable than it may seem. Also, many people don’t carry cash at all any more, not to mention quarters. Another popular model involves charging an upfront fee for a certain time period of free play, such as $5 for 30 minutes. The model popularized by Dave and Buster’s has customers purchase gaming “points” on a swipeable card, which allows you to charge more for certain games.

How much can you charge customers?

This is largely dependent on the business model you choose, as discussed earlier. If your customers pay with quarters or pre-paid cards — rather than timed free play — many arcades charge more for newer games (between 50 cents and a dollar) and less (around a quarter) for vintage games. You can also incentivize upfront spending by offering bonus points or free plays if they spend a certain amount of money.

How much profit can an arcade make?

This depends greatly on the volume of customers, cost of upkeep, and the amount you invest back into your business. As mentioned earlier, each game can potentially bring in $10,000 per year, which adds up. One successful entrepreneur who owns three small arcades brought in $165,000 in profits in 2014. Keep in mind that your take-home profit will also vary depending on how much you invest in your business to maintain its profitability into the future.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Using a points-based card system instead of taking quarters can increase profits, both because it encourages people to play more, and due to some outdated tax laws concerning the use of quarters. A classic method of boosting arcade profits is to offer games where customers can redeem tickets for prizes, encouraging them to keep returning to the machines to “earn” more tickets. We’ve also already discussed some other options, like adding food and beverage service, or having happy hours.

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 arcade is sued.

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.

STEP 3: Register for taxes

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

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

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more 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.

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.

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

In most states, it is necessary to obtain a game of chance license when operating games that require players to give you money (or other items of value) to play. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting the Small Business Administration’s reference to state licenses and permits.

If you sell food, you will also need licensing from your local health department, which will require your business to pass regular health inspections. These inspections will check for compliance with local health laws, typically related to prevention of food contamination. For more information about local licenses and permits, check with your city or county clerk’s office, or get help from one of the local associations listed in the SBA’s directory of local business resources.

Music Licensing

In order to play music in a business setting, permission must be acquired from the composer or license holder. Typically, you can acquire a blanket license that allows you 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 or BMI.

Certificate of Occupancy

An arcade is always run out of a physical location, and as such typically requires a Certificate of Occupancy (CO). The CO confirms that all building codes, zoning laws and government regulations have been met.

If you plan to lease a location:

• It is generally the landlord’s responsibility to obtain a CO.
• Before leasing, confirm that your landlord has a CO that is applicable to an arcade, or can get one before you are scheduled to open.
• 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 that you 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 location:

• You will be responsible for acquiring a valid CO from a local government authority.
• Review all building codes and zoning requirements for your business location, to ensure your arcade will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

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.

Is this Business Right For You?

Obviously, you should be a big fan of arcade games. This business includes the purchasing, maintenance and advertising of arcade games — and you’ll be surrounded by games all day, every day — so a passion for gaming is vital. You must also be a people person, as the job involves frequent interaction with customers. Also, if you’re handy enough to repair and restore games yourself, this is an environment where these skills can save you money.

What happens during a typical day at an arcade?

One of the most important daily activities at an arcade is inspection and upkeep of machines. Nothing is more disappointing to your customers than games being out of order, so it’s important to repair malfunctioning units immediately. There’s also quite a bit of cleaning to do, both regarding your games and the arcade itself. You’ll also need to frequently think about buying new machines, whether you get them from the manufacturer, or second-hand through eBay/Craigslist, or from other arcades. Finally, you should spend some time each day considering marketing strategies to help your arcade stand out from the competition.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful arcade?

As previously mentioned, an ability to tinker with and repair your machines would be a tremendous help with your daily operations. General business knowledge can help with licensing requirements, and also with keeping your arcade profitable. Developing connections within the arcade industry is valuable as well, as this could enable you to get better deals on games. Finally, it’s smart to keep an eye on the gaming industry at large, which helps ensure you’re always offering experiences that your customers can’t find at home.

What is the growth potential for an arcade?

Your growth potential will be determined by your game selection and client base. For example, one study estimates that you can net an average of around $200 per game, per week. However, complex modern games can cost nearly $10,000 each, so it can take almost a full year to recoup your expenses on a new game. Still, considering most machines are investments that will be in your arcade for years to come, each new purchase has the potential to be quite lucrative.