Fun Center Startup

Startup Academy Course

Put our 28 years amusement experience to work for you.

This 7-Module Course is a go-at-your-own-pace, interactive fun center feasibility and planning program, with 27 individual components to ensure your project has a plan with the best chance to get funded.

Startup Academy - No Need for Travel

Modular Online Course

Startup Academy is a step-by-step, modular approach to getting your fun center project funded and opened for business.

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Course Materials & Content

This is an instructor-led, go-at-your-own-pace, online fun center business startup program.

It comes complete with Business Plan, detailed direction with ongoing coaching and assistance to prepare your own local feasibility analysis.

As part of the FEC Network, we have been in the amusement attractions industry since 1995. From those years of experience, as both operator and manufacturer, and our Fun Center Feasibility service, we developed the Startup Academy program.

A complete and thorough, cost-effective, DIY business planning and startup course, for new amusement entrepreneurs looking to get a prepared feasibility analysis, accurately completed at a reasonable price.

There are many services out there that will do this for you but they can be expensive, running from $6,000 to $30,000 plus. In addition to the expense, it can create a huge obstacle when it comes time to present to potential funders – if the entrepreneur doesn’t understand how, why and where the data came from. Startup Academy addresses this, by having the entrepreneur do the local research and build-out the plan with our materials and experience, coaching and consultation.

Using the Modules below, we keep you on a logical and straight forward path to completion. Access the online resources and course materials at your convenience, schedule Module consultations online when you are ready or need some one on one support.

1. Written Business Plan

The Academy program comes with a complete business plan, including a 37 page WORD document. Quickly edit it to fit with your project.

2. Project Financials

Also included are 28 attachments as your financial modelling, projections, startup costs, operating expenses and P&L statements.

3. Academy Course

The course follows the modules below, with on-going consultation and guidance. Use the materials included, speak with your coach as needed to prepare a local feasibility analysis, and complete your plan.

4. Facility Layout

OPTIONAL: Having an accurate 2D layout, designed to scale can often help in the presentation of the overall idea, and assist architects with your project scope.

Complete Course Package:

The course follows the Fun Center Business Plan, and is based on the (7) course modules outlined below. Starting with a demographic study, we show you where to locate and how to use the market/research required in the development of your plan feasibility, and how to get that data into the included financial statements. Each module connects with the previous to logically and simply guide you through the entire process.

Use the template word document to develop the written parts of your plan as you go through each module. Working in tandem with both financials and your word documents, allows developers to maximize time and effort and reinforces your ideas and the business development process along the way.

Fun Center Business Plan

Includes our best, most up to date Fun Center Business Plan, which is based on a multi-attraction project of roughly 16,000 sqft. Includes indoor play, laser tag, blacklight mini-golf, VR and a 30 game arcade and redemption center.

Kitchen, food service, birthday parties, events and group marketing for all age groups. Easily scale the plan down or up to meet your project goals.

The Academy Developer program/course also includes all our FEC Forms & Manuals, and library of PDF guidebooks from the Amusement Hub store.

Academy Developer - 7 Course Modules

Demographics

MODULE ONE: Demographics

In our first module we take a hard look at your market opportunity. Local demographics along with any amount of potential secondary market from OTV and tourist trade.

Included Statements (1-5)

– Primary Residential Population

– Population Demographics

– Visitor (tourist) analysis

– Total Estimated Population

– Percentage(%) of Age Breakdown

Projected Completion: 1-2 weeks

Each module consists of a course discussion and analysis of your local research and how it relates to the statements and your project plan. Academy Developer Content including articles, podcasts and video to engage and help our developers progress.

Competitive Analysis

MODULE TWO: Competitive Analysis

What does the market currently provide? Using a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity and Threats), we work together to determine the opportunities to stand out, and provide value beyond the current offerings.

Included Statements (6)

– Competitive Attractions

– SWOT Analysis Template

Projected Completion: 1 week

Lease Space

MODULE THREE: Lease Space

Based on the demographics and competitive strategy, in this module it’s time to look at space requirements and attraction mix. How much space is required based on the demographic opportunity?

Included Statements (7-10)

– Capacity Estimates

– Vehicle Parking Requirements

– Allocation of Interior Space

– Lease Cost Estimate

Projected Completion: 1-2 weeks

Build Out

MODULE FOUR: Build-Out

Now that we have a better sense of how much space is actually required and what the project plan can afford, it’s time to start pulling together hard costs for build-out and startup.

Included Statements (11-17)

– Estimated Construction Costs

– Mezzanine Cost (optional laser-tag)

– Kitchen & Service Equipment Costs

– Booths, Tables & Seating

– Startup Costs

– Project Budget

– Equipment Sample Quotes

Projected Completion: 2-3 weeks

Revenues

MODULE FIVE: Revenues

Going back to the first module and our demographics, module 5 is all about revenues. Projected revenues based on guest traffic, annual visits and attraction usage

Included Statements (18a-18h-20)

– Birthday Parties

– Admissions

– Laser Tag

– Blacklight Minigolf

– VR Stations

– Other Attractions

– Games (coin-op and redemption)

– Group sales

– Food & Beverage

– Total Estimated Sales

Projected Completion: 1-2 weeks

Operating Expenses

MODULE SIX: Operating Expenses

Based on industry data, local requirements, hours of operations and staffing, in this module we pull together the primary reporting needed to determine project feasibility.

Include Statements (21-23)

– Operating Expenses as (%)

– Staff Schedule & Budget

– Staff Schedule & Proposed Staffing

– Total Salaries

– Expense to Income Analysis

Projected Completion: 1-2 weeks

ROI Analysis

MODULE SEVEN: ROI Analysis

Pulling it all together to project our profit and loss statements along with a final ROI statement.

Include Statements (24-28)

– Year One P&L

– Year Two P&L

– Five Year P&L

– Five Year P&L Cumulative Profit & Loan Payment

– ROI Analysis

Projected Completion: 1-2 weeks

Download Academy Samples

By the end of this program you will have a completed project feasibility and business plan with supporting industry and community research that you can present with confidence to potential funding partners. Just as important, you will have configured your concept and ideas into a workable plan that best meets your family entertainment center goals, access to capital and your local market opportunity.

Already have some research and initial analysis done? Perfect – with your Fun Ceanter Coach, and the included Fun Center Business plan you can jump into the course at any point. Your business coach is available Monday – Saturday 8am – 6pm west coast time. What could be easier or more convenient?

– Derek G.

Hi there, thanks for stopping by...

We started the Academy Program after seeing a need from the many conversations we were having with new amusement entrepreneurs looking for an easier, straightforward way to get their projects started. Good folks, with good ideas in markets that have opportunity. If you find yourself in the same situation, I invite you to explore the program with us. If you have any questions about the program, how it comes together or any of the above, please feel free to call my office direct any time for a no-obligation, confidential discussion about your project goals 1+(604) 791-0028. Alternatively, book a free, no-obligation consultation and market analysis here.

Thanks for viewing our little home on the web.

1+(604) 791-0028

Fun Center Startup

Startup Academy Course

Startup Academy - No Need for Travel

Modular Online Course