How to Start a Football Bowling Business

A football bowling business provides space and equipment for football bowling. Football bowling, also known as bombowling, is a game that combines aspects of football and bowling. Football bowling businesses are similar to bowling alleys, except they provide equipment and space for football bowling rather than ordinary bowling. In football bowling, opponents try to knock over each other’s pins by throwing a football.

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 football bowling business by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your football bowling 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 Football Bowling 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 a football bowling business?

The startup costs associated with opening a football bowling business are substantial. The largest expense is the cost of acquiring a facility.

Business owners can save money on a location by purchasing or leasing space in a warehouse. Warehouses are large enough to put in football bowling lanes, and they’re usually in lower-rent districts.

Other startup expenses include the cost of wood for lanes, bowling pins, and footballs. Insurance premiums and employees’ wages will also need to be paid.

What are the ongoing expenses for a football bowling business?

The ongoing expenses for a football bowling business include rent, utilities, insurance premiums and employees’ wages. Equipment only occasionally needs to be replaced, and it’s inexpensive to get a new football or bowling pin.

Who is the target market?

A football bowling business’ ideal customer is a group of people who are looking to enjoy a social activity together. Company groups, wedding parties, and sports teams who are going out not only have multiple people to pay for, but they’re more likely to splurge on food and drinks than individuals are.

How does a football bowling business make money?

A football bowling business makes money by charging customers to play the game, which is done on lanes (just like a bowling alley, although the lanes look slightly different). Customers may rent lanes by the hour, or they might pay on a per-game basis.

How much can you charge customers?

The Hub Stadium charges $60 per hour to reserve a football bowling lane. Several people will typically compete against each other on teams, so this works out to an affordable per-person rate. It also brings in a decent revenue for a business.

How much profit can a football bowling business make?

How much a football bowling business can make depends directly on how many hours it can book its lanes. At $60 per hour, however, businesses don’t need to book a lot of lanes to bring in thousands of dollars each week.

How can you make your business more profitable?

As mentioned, many football bowling businesses have a restaurant and/or bar in order to increase revenue.

Offering food and drinks boosts profitability in two ways. First, a business will make money from any food and drinks that are sold. Second, offering good food and drinks ensures people don’t leave because they’re hungry or thirsty. At $60 per hour, having a group leave earlier than planned because they want some food is extremely costly.

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 football bowling 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 football bowling 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

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a football bowling 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.

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

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.

Liquor Licensing

Businesses involved in the sale of alcoholic beverages are required to obtain a liquor license from the appropriate state or local agency. A comprehensive list of laws by state (including necessary licenses, zoning laws, etc), curated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, is included here.

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 football bowling business is generally run out of a warehouse. 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 football bowling 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 football bowling 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.

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 football bowling business

One of the most effective ways to promote a new football bowling business is by getting customers to share their experiences on social media. Offering discounts on games, food or drinks if people post updates on social media platforms can generate a lot of online visibility.

How to keep customers coming back

A football bowling business can keep people coming back by offering a great experience. The game itself is unique, but it’s also important to provide a fun atmosphere so that customers continue to have a great time between games. Playing sports games on televisions or having live music are two ways to improve a facility’s atmosphere.

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?

Anyone who likes to have a good time and connect with people might enjoy running a football bowling business. The game brings together groups and is highly social, and it helps to have a business owner who’s also social.

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 football bowling business?

Running a footballl bowling business involves many day-to-day activities, including:

  • welcoming customers and explaining the rule of the game
  • ensuring all equipment is in good working order
  • cleaning the business’ facility
  • serving customers food and drinks
  • taking care of any customer needs

(Many businesses have a restaurant and/or bar.)

When not directly interacting with customers or cleaning their facility, business owners spend time managing employees, paying bills and marketing their business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful football bowling business?

Football bowling business owners should first be familiar with the rules of the game. They don’t need to be able to throw a bonk (knocking only the middle pin over) every time, but they need to know how the game is played

Business owners should also be well-versed in many aspects of business. Running a football bowling business is a multi-faceted undertaking that usually involves all of the following:

  • providing excellent customer service
  • preparing and serving food and beverages
  • managing employees
  • maintaining a facility

Business owners who need help in any of these areas may want to take a course in the specific area they need to grow. Community colleges, four-year universities and online educational programs offer courses in all aspects of business. 

What is the growth potential for a football bowling business?

Most football bowling businesses have just one location. For instance, The Hub Stadium has one location in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

There’s nothing stopping a football bowling business from expanding by opening additional locations, however. These would likely be opened in other cities, as the game is not yet popular enough to warrant multiple locations in a single area.

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 football bowling business?

Football bowling is a relatively new game in many areas. This means there’s great opportunity, but it also can make getting customers in the door challenging. Football bowling businesses can entice customers to come by offering free games. Once customers play a couple of games, they’ll likely purchase food or drinks — which will make up for the cost of the free games. They’ll also likely come back to play more in the future.

How and when to build a team

Football bowling businesses are typically open for long hours. For example, the Hub Stadium is open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. during the week, and later on the weekend. In order to be open as much as possible, it’s necessary to have a staff from the outset. Businesses should have at least several employees before opening. (Employees are often paid minimum wage or just above, so hiring a staff isn’t too expensive.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading