How to Start a Challenge Course

A challenge course business provides clients with the opportunity to face their fears and work together to complete a series of outdoor activities. A challenge course, also known as an adventure course, is a business which offers groups and individuals different obstacles like climbing towers, high rope courses, low rope courses, and zip lines to overcome. Most challenge course businesses focus on team building by helping members of an organization build confidence and trust through working together to solve problems.

You may also be interested in additional unique business ideas.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee.

 Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a challenge course by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your challenge course. 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 Challenge Course 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 challenge course?

Opening a challenge course business is expensive. From renting or purchasing land to buying and installing equipment, it takes a lot of money to fund this type of startup. Besides the typical business expenses, there are several unique costs associated with running a challenge course company.

One of the biggest expenses necessary for this kind of business land. That is the reason why most large adventure courses are located far from population centers where land is cheaper. But it is important to consider whether choosing an out-of-the-way location to save money is a smart business decision in the long run.

Building the course is also a major expense. Construction includes not only the courses but needs to take into account structures such as locker rooms, catering kitchens, and restrooms. A simple zip line can cost $5,000 or more to design and build. Adding a climbing wall can cost almost $40 a square foot.

Unlike many businesses, a challenge course is potentially dangerous. That means that a well-trained staff is essential. A well-trained staff means higher labor costs. Almost 50% of adventure course managers early more than $20 an hour. Other workers earn much more than minimum wage.

Potential challenge course owners looking for a turnkey solution have several options. More and more companies are now offering consulting, training, building and marketing help for people who want to start a challenge course.

What are the ongoing expenses for a challenge course?

Business owners in this industry have many ongoing costs including labor, maintenance, insurance, rent or mortgage payments and marketing.

Who is the target market?

Organizations are the biggest and best customers for many challenge course businesses. Team building and outings are the bread and butter of many challenge courses companies. Other adventure courses have a selection of programs which interests different types of groups from young kids to older adults.

Currently, many courses located in the rural areas do not have a large number of individuals and couples as customers. This is changing as the popularity of mini-rope courses at malls and amusement parks encourages people to seek out challenge courses.

How does a challenge course make money?

A challenge course company can earn money in several ways. Most businesses in this industry earn money by charging clients to take part in a pre-made package. A growing number challenge courses now offer a customizable curriculum and may even host an overnight outing. Some adventure courses offer birthday parties and other event packages.

An increasingly popular model for earning more revenue is by offering self-guided, pay-to-play, access to the course when a group is not using the course.

How much can you charge customers?

Typically packages for organizations charge one price for up to a certain number of participants. Organizations which bring any additional participants having to pay a set fee per additional guest. Costs for groups can range from $500 for a ten-person half-day course and up. Pay-to-play tickets may sell for anywhere from $5 for a single activity to $100 or more for an all-day pass.

How much profit can a challenge course make?

Many smaller challenge courses earn between $100,000 and $300,000 a year, but larger can make more than $2 million dollars a year in revenue according to the Adventure Park Insider.

How can you make your business more profitable?

There are many add-on services available for challenge course business. Food vending is an important component of a successful business plan. Many challenge course businesses also sell clothing and equipment. Hosting birthday parties and other special is a good source of income.

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

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your challenge course is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your challenge course were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We’ve negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

FORM YOUR LLC

Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

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:

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.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

In most states, it is necessary to obtain a challenge course license. Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a challenge course business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

 For more information about local 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.

Informed Consent Agreement

It is recommended to provide clients with informed consent agreements to decrease legal liability and encourage transparency.

Liability Waivers

To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, challenge course businesses should have their clients sign waivers.

Music Licensing

In order to play music in a business setting, permission must be acquired from the composer or license holder. Typically, it is possible to obtain a “blanket” license allowing a businesses 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

A challenge business is generally run out of an outdoor location. 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 challenge course 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 challenge course 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.

Find out what types of insurance your Challenge Course needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Challenge Course.

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 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 challenge course

Just like every other business today, an Internet presence is essential, but the ideal marketing strategy depends on the target customer. Challenge courses which focus on corporate clients need to invest money and time on contacting companies directly. Speaking with HR managers is a great approach to creating interest in a particular program. Social media promotion is a great way to spread awareness of a pay-to-play course.

How to keep customers coming back

Holding an open house for leaders of organizations to visit the challenge course and experience it first hand is a wonderful way to generate business. Adventure courses which are aimed at individuals and small groups should provide great service and discounts for multiple visits and guests.

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: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, 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 2024 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?

Lovers of the outdoors who have experience in military or police training, summer camps, or scouting are uniquely qualified to own and operate a challenge course business. Depending on the type of clients which a business focuses on, a background in psychology, corporate training, or education is helpful. This kind of business needs an owner who is hands on. Owners should be passionate and excited about meeting new people.

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 challenge course?

Much of the day-to-day activities of the owner a challenge course centers on marketing. Promotion and sales are important parts of the business. Owners may need to meet with leaders of organizations to sell the programs. Many owners enjoy leading skill courses themselves.

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

It is all about marketing and sales. Whether a challenge course business owner wants to focus on corporate team building, other kinds of groups or the individual pay-to-play marketplace, ultimate success requires knowing how to find potential clients and how to win their business. In addition, the ability to teach skills and to speak publicly is a valuable asset.

What is the growth potential for a challenge course?

According to Adventure Park Insider pay-to-play challenge courses are continuing to increase the popularity of challenge courses. Zip lines, zip line tours, and high ropes are among the most wanted attractions.

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 challenge course?

Start small and have a clear business plan. Overbuilding a location, in the beginning, is a common issue for many people who are new to the industry.

It is essential to have a good business plan based on real data, not hunches. It is a smart idea to invest in a professionally written business plan. The cost is low compared to the amount of money it can save in the long run.

How and when to build a team

A team of highly skilled and motivated individuals is critical right from the start when running an adventure course business.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading