How to Start an Escape Room Business

An escape room business provides customers with a place to play popular escape games. Games vary in complexity and duration, but most last for approximately one hour, including the pregame instruction. Teams must work together to solve puzzles through the discovery of clues. Escape room businesses usually have one or more game rooms and consumers pay per game. They can also rent out rooms for private games.

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 an escape room business by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your escape room business. 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 Escape Room Business 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 escape room business?

Depending on the location, the cost of rent, and the complexity of the room design, opening an escape room business can cost anywhere between $7,000 and $30,000. A business license and insurance are among opening costs. Props and furnishings are another. Some escape game rooms provide elaborate costumes and set designs that include laser lights, while others keep their sets relatively simple.

What are the ongoing expenses for an escape room business?

The main costs are rent, utilities, and employee payroll. Other ongoing expenses include replacing equipment and props as needed, the cost of which is dependent upon the complexity of your escape room’s design. Website maintenance with educational information about escape room gaming and promotional advertising are also necessary expenses, especially since this type of business is so new and many people are still unaware of how escape room games work.

Who is the target market?

Preferred clients are individuals who prefer to purchase interactive experiences rather than consumer products. Business owners, managers, and coaches who want to provide their employees or players with positive team-building experiences also make great customers. Statistics show that corporate clients make up 20% of escape room game participants.

How does an escape room business make money?

An escape room business makes money by charging customers a participation fee to play an escape room game. Escape room games are live-action adventure experiences in which participants are locked in a room and try to escape within the allotted time by discovering clues and solving puzzles. Game rooms usually have a theme, whether historic, futuristic or completely original.

How much can you charge customers?

Most games cost $25 to $30 per person for a one-hour game, and even in larger venues typically allow no more than 12 players at a time. Smaller venues often limit games to no more than 6 players.

How much profit can an escape room business make?

The escape room business can be extremely lucrative. For example, 11th Hour Escape opened in Dallas in February, 2015 and is now earning approximately $70,000 per month. Similarly, the owner of Puzzle Break, another successful escape room business, started in 2013 with only $7000, and had a projected yearly income of approximately $600,000 less than two years later.

How can you make your business more profitable?

The best way to make your escape room business more profitable is to open more than one room with more than one game. Since escape room games are not yet copyrighted, it’s still possible to use, and improve upon, the ideas of others who have already achieved success with their escape room businesses. The more interactive your escape room is, the more enjoyable it will be for the participants, and the more likely they will be to recommend it to their friends. Ideally, the level of difficulty should be such that not every team who participates will succeed in escaping. Printing up some t-shirts with your business logo to serve as memorable prizes for successful escapees can be good form of inexpensive yet effective advertising.

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 escape room business 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 escape room business 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 an escape room business license. 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.

Release of Liability

Liability waivers are essential since consumers will be in high stress environments. Though escape room waivers should be custom-made, sports center waivers can serve as helpful examples.

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional release of liability form for your escape room business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.

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

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 an escape room 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 you business’ location to ensure your escape room 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 Escape Room Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Escape Room Business.

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 an escape room business

Social media is a great way to advertise an escape room business. There is also an international website directory designed specifically for owners to list their businesses by country and city to make it easier for game enthusiasts to locate an escape room near them.

How to keep customers coming back

Unlike other types of competitive businesses, partnering with other escape room business owners to provide mutual referrals is beneficial for everyone involved, including customers seeking new gaming experiences. Providing your customers with post-game surveys is a good way to get valuable feedback about their experiences and how your game can be improved for future players. Each escape game is played only once by each player since the majority of clues are discovered during the game. To succeed in getting repeat business, it is necessary to create and present new games.

Recommended: Learn how to build a strong brand for your business and retain more customers by reading our article, Branding Your Escape Room Business in 8 Simple Steps, by contributing author Chris Hanson.

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?

Those who enjoy playing escape games themselves are prime candidates for starting this type of business. It’s also a good business for creative people with a flair for the dramatic who enjoy designing their own games and providing others with enjoyable gaming experiences.

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 an escape room business?

  • Maintaining the cleanliness and physical safety of game rooms
  • Placing props and clues for guests to find
  • Designing games
  • Website maintenance
  • Training staff
  • Accounting
  • Advertising and creating promotional events

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful escape room business?

Attention to detail is one of the most important skills to have in this business. Success depends on providing enough relevant clues for teams to escape, but making them hard enough to find to provide an enjoyable challenge. Design skills are also helpful in setting up an escape room.

What is the growth potential for an escape room business?

The number of escape room businesses before 2010 was zero. Since then, that number is over 2,800. Most are registered with escape room directories to make it easier for gaming enthusiasts and new potential customers to locate them.

Recommended: To get a deeper insight into your escape room’s growth potential, read our article The State of the Escape Room Industry, by contributing author Charles Bechtel.

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.

How and when to build a team

It’s advisable to build a good team during the initial planning stages of starting your business. While some people have the skills and experience to design, create, build, and outfit their own escape rooms as well as maintain a website to help advertise it, most people outsource one or more of those tasks to other professionals. Once the room is operational, at least one additional staff member will be necessary to assist other customers while games are in progress.

Read our escape room business hiring guide to learn about the different roles an escape room business typically fills, how much to budget for employee salaries, and how to build your team exactly how you want it.

Useful Links

TRUiC Resources

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading