How to Start a Go Kart Business

A go-kart business offers indoor racing opportunities for go-kart enthusiasts. Races include go-kart rentals, track use, and other race-related activities. Modern go-kart businesses grant drivers the opportunity to engage in low, medium, or high-speed races on indoor race tracks. Services include go-kart rental, safety gear rental, custom race options, and by-the-hour track use. A go-kart business can be a standalone entity or exist as part of a larger entertainment center, park, or public attraction.

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 go kart business by following these 10 steps:

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

We have put together this simple guide to starting your go kart 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 Go Kart 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 go kart business?

The average go-kart business can cost up to $300,000 to start, due to a plethora of startup costs. Owners will need to supply a warehouse, a multitude of karts, gasoline, maintenance tools, insurance, track materials, and safety equipment. Facility rent is approximately $2,400 to $4,000 per month, depending on the facility’s size and maintenance needs.

What are the ongoing expenses for a go kart business?

A go-kart business can expect to pay for kart depreciation, gas, kart maintenance, track maintenance, facility cooling, heating, and insurance. Employees will be paid between $8 and $20 per hour, depending on their roles. On a monthly basis, you can expect to pay between $200 and $400 for your warehouse’s utility needs. Heating will also be included in your ongoing expenses as your customers will like to stay warm, and large warehouses often lost heat quickly.

Who is the target market?

Because go-kart racing can be incredibly dangerous, preferred clients are those who abide by location rules and who don’t drive recklessly. Understandably, go-karting caters to younger crowds. For this reason, family units are great customer types—if only to enhance a younger rider’s safety.

Go-kart tracks are normally found within arcade complexes, so consistent memberships, on average, are more profitable than single-use riders. A go-kart track profits from ongoing bulk service packages, as they assure consistent services and a constant stream of revenue.

How does a go kart business make money?

An independent go-kart track makes money from either individual rides or monthly memberships. Again, successful tracks utilize ongoing payment “packages” to ensure visitors return. Basic go-kart tracks make money from races, but some may charge extra for site-provided safety equipment. Small amenities, like food and drinks, can make a go-kart track money, too.

If a go-kart track is part of a larger complex, it will either be treated as the part complex or as its own entity serving under the complex. If the latter is true, money is earned after the overarching complex makes revenue.

How much can you charge customers?

Customers can be charged, on average, about $5 per ride. Safety gear should be rented for between $5 and $10 as their use limits overall track usage. If you want to make more money, consider offering yearly memberships for between $100 and $200, or you can offer special memberships for quick-access riding. Fortunately, go-kart pricing is incredibly variable. Since you’re dealing with kart depreciation, gasoline, and maintenance as expenses, you needn’t worry too much about each kart’s value compared to its use.

How much profit can a go kart business make?

While a go-karting business can cost a lot to open, its profits can be large. LLC go-kart businesses can make between $500,000 and $700,000 yearly, if they’re smart about attracting and retaining visitors. However, it’s a good idea to join a franchise to increase service reliability. Individual facilities can spend thousands of dollars on financial and marketing advice.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Reduce the liabilities as much as possible. New go-kart businesses face a lot of difficulty, expense-wise, with insurance and property upkeep. Once your business has grown, join a franchise or become part of an entertainment complex. You could also enter the high-speed racing market niche, and attract long-term customers with unique, competitive membership plans.

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 go kart 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 go kart 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 go-kart 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.

Liability Waivers

To avoid liability and potential lawsuits, Go Kart businesses should have their clients sign a release of liability. Here is an example of one such form.

Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional release of liability form for your Go Kart 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.

Certificate of Occupancy

A go-kart business can be run out of a large storefront or large outdoor 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 space:
    • 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 go-kart 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 space:
    • 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 go-kart 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 Go Kart Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Go Kart 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 a go kart business

You should promote your business through nearby fun complexes, arcades, and outdoor entertainment complexes. Promotion via sports complexes, gyms, basketball courts, baseball fields, and similar areas is a good idea. Internet promotion is a solid marketing plan, though your business’s most profitable clients will be found in similar areas—engaging outdoor activities, extreme sports or exercise. The most cost effective form of advertising will be the creation and maintenance of a social media page which showcases pictures of your business, a list of activities you offer, and any special events/promotions that are presently occurring.

How to keep customers coming back

Record your races, promote on YouTube, and offer Facebook membership exclusives. Go-kart tracks, again, thrive on return visits. If you can offer yearly memberships, discounts, holiday deals, and birthday racing packages, you’ll become a preferred provider in your area. Beware of opening a large track, however, as large tracks have niche audiences. While these audiences are often willing to pay hundreds of dollars for high-speed racing, they generally aren’t sustainable buyers.

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?

Go-kart business management is highly flexible, and it’s suitable for a number of individuals. Car enthusiasts, carnival workers, maintenance operators, and those with a sense of excitement can benefit greatly from owning a go-kart business. Regardless of your interests, a go-kart business should be run by someone with a keen eye for auto mechanics, driving safety, and safe entertainment.

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 go kart business?

Go-kart business owners handle insurance plans, kart maintenance, track timing systems, part sourcing, safety gear sourcing, barrier setup, and day-to-day racing governance. Looking through an administrative lens, successful go-kart business owners handle finances, marketing, management, and location maintenance. Successful tracks are run by personnel who are experienced with driver safety, since it is important to monitor every race.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful go kart business?

Firstly, a firm understanding of driver safety, insurance, and premises maintenance is important. Go-karting is incredibly dangerous, and many go-kart businesses must stand strong against legal scrutiny for their sake and for the sake of their customers.

Go-kart business owners also need to understand the fundamentals of motor vehicle management, safe driving procedures, mechanics, racing procedures, warehouse operation, and general business planning. Go-kart racing is a profitable opportunity, but it fails to be sustainable if it isn’t approached by a responsible someone with an entrepreneurial mindset.

What is the growth potential for a go kart business?

Since most go-kart businesses operate as contractor entities, many simply serve larger complexes. In these cases, a go-kart business’s growth potential will eventually be tied to the complex’s. Larger complexes absorb many go-kart businesses, too. This mostly happens because individual go-kart businesses struggle to compete against larger entertainment complexes.

As an individual entity, however, a go-kart business can become an area’s preferred provider. Go-kart businesses are far and few between, making them a unique service in the market. If a go-kart business manages to stay independent, it can benefit from a healthy environment of returning customers. However, it is quite difficult to become a multi-state go-kart racing provider.

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 go kart business?

At the beginning, a go-kart track shouldn’t exist as a sole proprietorship or a partnership. It should exist as a limited liability corporation (LLC) to be protected against accident and risk claims. Jump-starting a go-kart business isn’t necessarily difficult if you have the capital, but liability coverage must be incredibly sustainable. Every jurisdiction has specific laws regarding LLC coverage.

As for jump-starting in a local market, pricing matters. Your go-kart business should price competitively, pricing family races at about $5.

How and when to build a team

You’ll need a team of at least five before opening day. Your workers will include technicians, track operators, safety instructors, and payment processors. Once your go-kart track is sustainable, consider increasing your team to about 10. Go-kart tracks tend to become popular quickly, if they offer a solid pricing incentive, so scaling can be rapid, difficult, and dangerous.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading