How to Open a Whirlyball Arena

Start a whirlyball arena by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your whirlyball arena. 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 Whirlyball Arena 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 a whirlyball arena?

A whirlyball business requires a special electric court floor that typically spans about 4,000 feet. This space also requires bumper barriers along the walls. Plan on spending several thousand dollars at a bare minimum to renovate an existing basketball court or other indoor court to function as a whirlyball court. Securing such a space will likely cost several thousand dollars. Alternatively, you can rent the space on a monthly or yearly basis.

A number of different pieces of equipment are required to play the game. They include whirlybug vehicles, elevated backboards, whirlyballs, and plastic scoops. Such equipment will run about $5,000 to $10,000 or more. Insurance is necessary. Plan on spending several hundred dollars per month for insurance. Other requirements include cash registers, a point of sale system, a website, personnel, and an arena for whirlyball action to occur.

What are the ongoing expenses for a whirlyball arena?

The whirlyball court and equipment must be maintained. Budget in at least several hundred dollars a month for maintenance and equipment repairs. Labor costs will chew up a large amount of money. Clerks will make between $8 and $12 per hour. A maintenance worker will earn between $10 and $20 per hour. You can handle the accounting and marketing duties when the business is first starting out. However, if the business grows, professionals will eventually fill these roles. They will earn between $30,000 and $50,000 per year. The business must also pay for utilities, office supplies, insurance and marketing. Budget a couple hundred dollars per month for marketing efforts. Utilities including high-speed internet will run at least $150 per month. Budget another $50 to $150 for office supplies and other sundries.

Who is the target market?

The target market is wide-ranging. It includes youngsters as well as people who work and belong to organizations and groups of varying sorts. As an example, plenty of corporations rent out whirlyball courts as an opportunity for professionals to engage in a team-building exercise.

How does a whirlyball arena make money?

The business makes money by charging customer for every half hour or hour of play. It is also possible for customers to rent out whirlyball courts for an extended period of time. Plenty of customers reserve whirlyball courts for matches between their professional colleagues, friends, youth groups, family members, and other groups.

How much can you charge customers?

Upwards of $150 or more can be charged for a single hour of whirlyball action. However, the exact amount of money you charge should hinge on a number of different factors. Everything from the cost of other local entertainment options to customer demand and the quality of your whirlyball floor and equipment play a part in determining pricing.

How much profit can a whirlyball arena make?

The best whirlyball centers net in excess of $100,000 per month. Extrapolate this figure and it is possible for a whirlyball business to make more than a million dollars in a single year. The whirlyball business's profit depends on the popularity of the activity in the area in which the facility is located. Profit level also hinges on marketing efforts and the quality of the whirlyball court/equipment.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Consider selling food and drinks on-site. It is also possible to make money by adding go-karts, a quarter-operated pool table and/or arcade machines.

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 whirlyball arena 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

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a whirlyball business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Certificate of Occupancy

A whirlyball business is generally run out of a large indoor space. 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 whirlyball 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 whirlyball business 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?

This business is ideal for individuals who are looking for a way to promote a sense of community and to help people stay active and have fun. Whirlyball games promote social interactions, involve physical activity, and provide plenty of excitement. This is the type of business that can bring a community together and establish or reinforce social bonds.

What happens during a typical day at a whirlyball arena?

The typical day involves the scheduling of whirlyball matches, ensuring whirlybug vehicles are in tip-top shape, collecting payments and overseeing the whirlyball action. The business owner does everything from ordering new whirlyball equipment to delegating work to employees, managing marketing efforts, and ensuring participants are having a blast during whirlyball games.

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

This is the type of business that requires a passionate owner. Above all, the entrepreneur should have a sincere interest in this activity. Furthermore, he should be interested in whirlyball's potential to strengthen ties between community members. Whirlyball brings people together who otherwise might not have interacted with one another. The best whirlyball business owner understands and appreciates the game to the point that selling its merits doesn't feel like work. This natural enthusiasm will seep into his daily activities and motivate prospective customers as well as current customers to participate in whirlyball matches.

What is the growth potential for a whirlyball arena?

Whirlyball originated back in the 1960s yet it never hit a true mainstream tipping point. Whirlyball courts are beginning to pop up across the country. Whirlyball appeals to those who are looking for a way to enjoy a fun and competitive activity with others. Whirlyball will likely continue to grow in the coming years and decades as more people are exposed to it. A businessperson who launches a whirlyball business will likely make a substantial profit that creates the opportunity to open an one or several more whirlyball courts.