What Are the Startup Costs for Batting Cages?
By Emily Weller
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Starting a batting cage business may seem relatively inexpensive at first. You must consider the amount of land you'll need even for a small batting cage, though, as well as the cost of purchasing the pitching machines and chain link fence for the cages. "Entrepreneur" magazine estimates that the start-up costs for a batting cage business can be as low as $10,000 or as high as $50,000, although building from scratch can considerably add to the start-up costs.
Leasing or purchasing land to operate a batting cage business can be a huge expense. You'll need to find a spot that is both large enough to accommodate the number of cages you want to operate and in an area that is easy for the public to reach. Ideally, the location will be in an area that's densely populated to increase your customer base and exposure. One way to keep the cost of land down, according to "Entrepreneur," is to partner with a company that already has land and offers similar services, such as a mini-golf course or other recreation center.
Equipment Costs
Pitching machines are not cheap. The cost of four machines is about $9,400 as of 2011, according to the Automated Batting Cages Corporation. The feeder for the machines costs upwards of $8,000 for four machines. You'll also need bats for people to use in the cages, which can cost around $75 per bat. Other required equipment includes baseballs and softballs, helmets and fencing to build the cages. Fencing can cost upwards of $35,400, according to ABC.
Building the cages is another start-up cost you must consider. To get the best deal on constructing the batting cages, accept bids from several contracting and constructing companies. Your best option is to accept the lowest bid. Expect to spend at least $100,000 if you have to build the cages from scratch. To avoid this cost, consider buying or leasing land that already has cages built on it, such as a business that has closed.
Other start-up costs include items you may overlook at first. A computer system for keeping track of the batting cage business' inventory is a necessity, as is a system to ring up customers. You'll need various permits and licenses, depending on where you live, that will add to you start-up costs as well. Other costs include purchasing furniture for seating and for office use, decorations for the office area and the cost of printing forms for customers.
Entrepreneur: Batting Cage Business
Automated Batting Cages: FAQs: Cost
"Sluggers Batting Cage, LLC A Business Plan"; Linzie M. Steel
Based in Pennsylvania, Emily Weller has been writing professionally since 2007, when she began writing theater reviews Off-Off Broadway productions. Since then, she has written for TheNest, ModernMom and Rhode Island Home and Design magazine, among others. Weller attended CUNY/Brooklyn college and Temple University.
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