How to Start a Drive-In Movie Theater

Drive-ins are finding a resurgence in some markets that target their film selection and menu to older customers who look to relive their childhood. You may have a playground, arcade, and concession stand to improve your customer experience. Sound is broadcast over radio waves and received by each car's stereo system where they can control the volume.

Learn how to start your own Drive-In Movie Theater and whether it is the right fit for you.

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

Start a drive-in movie theater by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your drive-in movie theater. 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:

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 Drive-In Movie Theater 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 drive-in movie theater?

Business Name Generator

What are the costs involved in opening a drive-in movie theater?

You will need about 10 to 14 acres of land ready to be developed or you may find an abandoned drive-in up for sale. You won't be able to use old projection equipment, as the industry switched to a digital platform in the last decade. Expect to invest between $250,000 and a million to develop the property including building a projection house, concession stand, sound system, and playground.

How many acres do I need to lease or buy? The typical drive-in theater requires between 10-14 acres of land. This should allow up to 500 cars to park at your theater. You will also need to consider the space required to funnel cars off the road and through the box office. Some localities have zoning requirements in place to prevent traffic from building up along the road or highway leading into the theater.

What kind of projector do I need? Because most film studios have begun releasing movies exclusively in digital format, digital projectors have become essential to successful drive-in theaters. This will be one of your larger expenses, as digital projectors typically cost between $75,000 and $150,000 per screen and must be professionally installed and calibrated. Barco, Christie, and NEC are the three main cinema projector manufacturers today. Because not all old movies are available in digital format, if you plan to show classic movies you may also want to purchase a 35mm projector. You can often find these used.

How much is a projector screen? A quality projector screen for your drive-in theater can cost anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000 depending on your area and the specific local requirements. Most screens are made of steel and anchored in concrete. You will generally need to have a screen professionally constructed and installed to meet wind-load requirements.

How do I get an FM station to play the audio? The most common way to handle audio in a drive-in theater is use of an FM radio transmitter. To use this system you must select an FM frequency not in use and plug your FM transmitter into your projector’s audio output. This allows you to deliver film audio to patrons through their car radios. You will also need to have a supply of portable radios to rent out to those unable to receive sound through their car radios. You will need a different radio frequency for each screen. To remain FCC compliant, you will need to purchase a Part 15 FM transmitter.

What are the ongoing expenses for a drive-in movie theater?

Your payroll will be a major expenditure. Film rentals are a controllable expense as you can opt for second run flicks at a much lower rate. You will be placing weekly orders for concession supplies. Lot maintenance will also take up a large chunk of your expense spreadsheet.

How much does it cost to license a new film? The cost to license a new film will vary from film to film. The licensing fee is typically paid as a percentage of total ticket sales, with a minimum flat fee required. It will typically be around 50%, but big name new releases will often fall on the higher end during opening days or weeks with the fee gradually reducing over the life of the theater run. 

How much does it cost to license a classic film? The cost to license a classic film will also vary depending on the specific movie, but will generally be lower than new releases. Second-run and classic movies can be a good option for drive-in theaters as they are often easier to obtain than new releases. However, you must take into account the level of demand in your area and how profitable older movies will be, even in the face of lower licensing fees. 

How do I get the license to show films? Movie theaters obtain licenses to show films through film distributors. Because this process can be complex, it’s best to hire a booking agent to assist you in the early days of running your theater. Over time, you may choose to take this responsibility on yourself. As a small theater, booking new releases can be difficult. This is because many studios place specific requirements on leasing their films to theaters. Often, a new release will only be leased to a theater that can play the film seven days a week. If your drive-in is not open every day or has only one screen, it can be difficult to meet these requirements. Additionally, if you are located in close proximity to an indoor theater, these theaters will typically get priority because they can run the films day and night.

Who is the target market?

Your preferred customers will be someone looking for an old fashioned moviegoing experience. Drive-in movies reached peak popularity in the 1950s and 1960s. Therefore, many of your customers will be seeking a sense of nostalgia for entertainment in those times. Tailoring the theme of your theater and decor to such a historical period can help satisfy the wants and needs of your customers. 

How does a drive-in movie theater make money?

You bring in income by selling tickets to your films and through the sales of concession products. Most of your profit is generated through food and drink sales as film distributors take a serious portion of ticket sales for new films.

How would I manage ticket sales? Your specific box office set up will depend on your location. You may choose to sell from a single window or set up several entry lanes to manage more traffic. Some theaters even utilize carhops to come window to window selling tickets. Although many older theaters maintain a cash-only system, today many film distribution companies require electronic sales to accurately record ticket sales and revenue.

Do I charge by vehicle, or by person? Movie studios require a per person admission price for new movies. However, you may consider holding per car specials on classic movie runs during slow periods.

How much can you charge customers?

The average ticket price per person is about $10 a piece, with discounted rates for children and seniors. You may wish to offer a car-load price of $30 to $40. Concession items will be sold for a price of between $4 and $10. If you are offering alcohol and a full menu, expect to be charging $12-$20.

Can you set up deals with local restaurants to deliver to parked cars? Although it may be possible to set up an agreement with local restaurants to service your movie goers, it may not be cost-effective. Because concessions will make up such a large portion of your theater profits, it can be counter productive to give such a large share of these profits to outside businesses.

How much profit can a drive-in movie theater make?

You may be making as little as 10% of each ticket sold when you are showing new releases during the summer blockbuster season. Concession items offer profit of 50 to 80%, but your operational expenses will eat into all those extra dollars. If you are selling out all season long, you could see a total profit of $100,000 to $150,000.

How can you make your business more profitable?

The key to success is filling up your drive-in every time you open the gates. Running obscure or old movies that don't bring in customers might be fun, but not profitable. New trends for the movie industry focus on offering premium services for regular customers over offering bargain tickets to increase the profit for every carload that buys admission.

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 drive-in movie theater 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.

Federal Business Licensing Requirements

There are federal regulations regarding what can and cannot be added to, sold as, and processed with food. Attached is a resource from the Food and Drug Administration detailing the process of starting a food business: How to Start a Food Business

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a drive-in movie 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

A drive-in movie business is generally run out of a large lot. Businesses 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 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 drive-in business.
    • 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 location:
    • 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 drive-in movie business will be in compliance and able to obtain a CO.

Food Regulations

When selling food, you will need licensing from a local health department; all establishments serving food are required to pass a health inspection. Tips for faring well on a health inspections

 

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 Drive-In Movie Theater needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Drive-In Movie Theater.

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 drive-in movie theater

It's a good idea to develop a website that is updated on a weekly basis that talks about the latest releases, offers trailers, lists menu options, and perhaps offers online ticket sales. You will need to make sure that your theater is listed on major online ticket outlets like Fandango and Movietickets.com. Spread the news about the new location by participating in local festivals, fairs, and conventions. You may wish to sponsor local arts and food fests, as well.

How to keep customers coming back

With so many options available for watching movies, you need to offer a unique experience. Some drive-ins now offer beer, wine, and even fine food options. The latest in projection and sound often attract avid movie-goers. Families will appreciate bounce houses or supervised play areas to allow Mom and Dad to enjoy the show without having to constantly keep an eye on the kids.

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?

The successful drive-in owner will have a love of film and entertaining families in an all-American style. You won't mind working nights, weekends, and holidays as these are peak times for the movie business.

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 drive-in movie theater?

When your operate your drive-in movie theater, on any given day you might need to:

  • Sell tickets and admissions to your patrons
  • Work with distribution companies to book upcoming movies
  • Load and program film files into your digital projectors
  • Preview films to ensure proper presentation
  • Clean and maintain concession equipment
  • Hire your parking and concession staff
  • Clean and maintain the property after each show
  • Ensure customer satisfaction through patrolling of the entire property during the show
  • Update websites to provide ticket times and prices
  • Operate the projectors during each presentation
  • Order supplies for concession stand/cleaning equipment
  • Maintain attractive landscaping
  • Attend trade screenings to learn about upcoming films

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful drive-in movie theater?

Knowledge of film history and emerging film trends will help you select movies that your audience will appreciate. If you play movies that do not attract customers, the you will lose the money you spent to play that movie. Being able to read trends in order to predict which films will be successful will help you present movies that will be popular among your customers, maximizing your profits and success. Taking film production or film history classes can help you develop the skills needed to make these predictions. 

On the other hand, you will also need to perform the administrative tasks of this business. The entertainment industry can be a confusing industry to work with, so it is important that you familiarize yourself with licensing requirements that will affect your ability to play certain movies. Taking classes in business or entertainment law can help you gain the knowledge needed to more easily navigate your way in the entertainment industry. 

 

How do I manage the concessions? Concession sales are the heart of the movie theater business. Because of high licensing fees, most movie theaters make the bulk of their profit selling concessions. For this reason, you’ll want to put a great deal of effort into this aspect of your theater. Handling food service during the small window before the movie starts can be a difficult balance. Consider what food and drinks you plan to serve and how long each customer turnaround will take. Although popcorn and soda are the two highest yield concessions, having a few other unique offerings can make your theater stand out.

 

To properly run your concession stand you’ll need an area to store and prepare food and a serving area. You’ll need to consider how your food will be prepared, how much space is needed for preparation, and what equipment is required.

What is the growth potential for a drive-in movie theater?

The drive-in movie theatre model is in survival mode as customers turn to their home theaters more often to catch a flick. When you provide an experience that cannot be duplicated anywhere else, your drive-in can become a local sensation that will remain open for years to come. Each location will fill a unique need for their local community.

Do I need to be connected to a traditional theater? No. Most drive-in theaters are not affiliated with major traditional theater chains. 

How do I plan for the winter months? The seasonal effects on your theater will depend on where you are located. Many drive-in theaters in warmer climates remain open year round. Even those in cooler places can find ways to stay open. If you do not plan to stay open in the colder months you will need to have a solid financial plan in place to cover ongoing expenses involved in maintaining your property and effective marketing to get your theater back up and running in the spring or summer.

Should you consider joining a franchise?

Would it be smarter to find a franchise opportunity? Because the cost to build a drive-in theater from scratch can be very high, purchasing a franchise or acquiring a current or recently closed theater can be a much more cost-effective way to get into this business. By choosing to open a franchise you are also given the additional benefit of existing relationships with film distributors and ongoing concession product deals.

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:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

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 drive-in movie theater?

Build your business plan with the understanding that you may be running a seasonal business. Drive-ins operate generally between April and October in northern locations, as the costs of removing snow and weather make operating in the winter exorbitant. Think about other ways to use your property during the daytime such as classic car shows, flea markets or running charitable events for schools and community organizations. Join organizations such as North American Theater Owners to expand your contacts with distributors and vendors.

Is it better to pave the parking lot? Having a paved space for your drive-in theater is preferable for a number of reasons. Not only will it hold up much better to the constant traffic and the elements, it will also reduce dirt, dust, and mud accumulation. Some localities require paved surfaces. Be sure to check with your local zoning authorities to see what is required.

How large does the screen need to be? Modern movies are produced in two different aspect ratios: widescreen/flat (1.85:1) and scope (2.39:1). Because drive-in theaters do not have moveable screen masking to adjust by film the way indoor theaters do, you will want to build a screen somewhere between these two ratios. Many drive-in theaters use a ratio between 2.0:1 and 2.2:1. A typical drive-in screen is between 50 and 100 feet wide. Once you’ve chosen your width you will base the height on your chosen dimensions. 

Screen height is also important. A drive-in screen should be at least 15 feet from the ground depending on the lay of your land. Watching drive-in movies from the back of an SUV with its rear hatch open has become very common. This modern development requires higher screen heights to allow an unobstructed view.

Do I need to have angled parking in the lot? Achieving the correct parking angle to allow all patrons to have a clear view of your screen is an essential aspect of constructing a drive-in theater. To do so, ramps are almost always required. To determine how to construct the ramps you will need to understand what angle the cars across your space will need to be at in order for the screen to be in view for both front and rear seat passengers. This will depend on the natural slope of your land and the distance between the car and the screen. Building ramps is another major drive-in start-up expense.

How and when to build a team

About six weeks before you open, you will need to be in the process of hiring and training your projectionists, managers, and concession and lot attendants. You will want to line up a landscape and lot maintenance company and ensure you have technical support available for your projectors and business computers. You will have had to contact your film distributors six months ahead of time to ensure that you are in the pipeline to receive the blockbusters for your first customers.

How many staff do I need to hire? At a bare minimum, you will need to have employees to sell tickets and concessions, provide security, run the projector, and clean up after each showing. The exact size of your staff will depend on the number of patrons you host and the overall size of your operation.

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!