How to Open a Whirlyball Arena

A whirlyball business provides the public with an opportunity to have fun, build relationships, and improve their hand-eye coordination. Whirlyball is a team activity that is best described as a unison of basketball, jai alai, hockey, and lacrosse along with bumper car-esque whirlybug vehicles. Players form teams to compete against one another in hectic and incredibly fun whirlyball action.

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.

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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:

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.

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 whirlyball arena 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 whirlyball arena 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 whirlyball 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.

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.

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

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 whirlyball arena

There is no single marketing channel that will inspire the masses to show up at your whirlyball business. However, keying in on web ads and SEO will certainly help. This type of activity appeals to those who are open-minded and willing to try new things. Build a polished website with SEO-laden content and prospective customers will gradually find your business through online searches. It will also help to establish a presence on social media, to create and regularly update a blog, and to invest in inbound marketing methods. Yet traditional outbound marketing methods such as ads in local newspapers, magazines, radio spots and TV commercials will also help increase awareness that a whirlyball business is in town.

How to keep customers coming back

Key in on marketing the business to groups. Organizations ranging from youth groups to corporations, athletic teams and beyond will be interested in enjoying a whirlyball game. Strive to secure the business of such large groups and you will have no trouble making a profit. In terms of retaining customers, key in on providing high-quality equipment. If whirlybugs malfunction, have them repaired in a timely and thorough manner. The whirlyball court must be kept in near-perfect condition at all times. Make sure your whirlyball games are competitively priced with other local entertainment options like laser tag arenas, go-kart racing, etc.

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?

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.

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 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.

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 whirlyball arena?

Whirlyball has not yet saturated the mainstream. It is on the brink of mainstream exposure. So don’t panic if the business does not take off right away. It might take several months or even a full year or longer for the business to gain momentum. Be patient.

How and when to build a team

You will need a team right away. As the business owner, you can only do so much. Though you can serve as the manager while the business is in its infancy, staff members will be necessary to handle other duties. Hire personnel to manage the arena’s schedule, coordinate and execute marketing efforts, maintain the court and equipment and accept payments.

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.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading