Do you want to open an indoor playground by buying a Catch Air franchise? If YES, here is what you need to know about the current availability, investment requirements and process for opening a Catch Air location.
Catch Air is an indoor children’s entertainment concept built around colorful play structures, slides, climbing areas, interactive attractions and dedicated spaces for younger children.
But the business is much more than charging children to enter a playground. A Catch Air location can generate revenue from:
- General admission
- Birthday parties
- Memberships
- Food and beverages
- Group outings
- School and daycare field trips
- Gift cards
- Special events
That combination of recurring local customers and event revenue is one reason an indoor-play concept can be attractive to entrepreneurs.
However, if you are researching Catch Air specifically because you want to buy a franchise, there is an important issue you should understand before making financial plans.
Does Catch Air Still Offer Franchises?
Catch Air is still operating through independently owned locations. Its current website specifically states that each Catch Air location is independently owned and operated.
However, Catch Air does not currently publish detailed franchise-investment information on its main website. There is no publicly displayed current:
- Franchise fee
- Total initial investment
- Royalty percentage
- Advertising fee
- Minimum liquid-capital requirement
- Minimum net-worth requirement
- Public franchise application
That means you should not rely on old franchise-cost figures circulating online without confirming them directly with Catch Air.
The company may still deal directly with qualified prospective operators, existing franchisees or development partners.
How Much Does It Cost to Open a Catch Air Franchise?
At present, there is no current publicly verified Catch Air franchise investment figure.
Indoor playground development costs can change considerably because of:
- Facility size
- Lease rates
- Construction costs
- Play equipment
- Electrical work
- HVAC requirements
- Flooring
- Party rooms
- Kitchen or café equipment
- Fire and safety compliance
- Insurance
- Signage
- Technology systems
- Pre-opening payroll
- Working capital
A figure published several years ago may therefore have little relationship to what it costs to develop a new Catch Air location today.
If Catch Air agrees to consider you as a prospective franchisee, ask for its current Franchise Disclosure Document.
That is where you should expect to find the official estimate of the required investment.
How Many Catch Air Locations Are There?
Catch Air’s current website lists locations in:
- Georgia
- New Jersey
- New York
- Texas
At the time this article was updated, the website listed 14 Catch Air locations, including a Massapequa, New York location marked as opening soon.
The company operates locations such as Johns Creek, Marietta, Dacula, Snellville and Tucker in Georgia; Hasbrouck Heights, Jersey City and Paramus in New Jersey; and several New York locations including Coney Island, Queens and Nanuet.
Its Texas presence currently includes Austin. The fact that Catch Air continues to open and operate independently owned locations indicates that the brand remains active.
However, that does not mean every territory is currently available to a new franchise investor.
What Does a Catch Air Indoor Playground Offer?
The current Catch Air concept is primarily designed for young children. Its locations feature indoor climbing, sliding and active-play attractions along with a designated soft-play area called Tiny Town for children age four and under.
Catch Air currently describes its overall concept as being primarily designed for children age 10 and under, although individual attractions can have their own age, height or weight restrictions.
That is slightly different from older descriptions of Catch Air as being aimed at children up to age 12.
Offerings vary between independently operated locations. A typical location may include:
- Indoor play structures
- Slides
- Inflatables
- Climbing attractions
- Soft-play areas
- Toddler areas
- Birthday party rooms
- Food and snacks
- Membership programs
- Gift cards
Because each location is independently operated, admission prices, party packages and individual attractions can vary.
What Kind of Location Would You Need?
An indoor playground requires considerably more space than an ordinary retail franchise.
You need enough ceiling height and floor area for large play structures while still providing room for:
- Reception and check-in
- Parent seating
- Party rooms
- Restrooms
- Food service
- Storage
- Staff areas
- Emergency exits
Parking is also extremely important. Imagine having 10 birthday parties, regular walk-in customers and several employees arriving over the course of a Saturday.
A beautiful facility with inadequate parking can become a serious operational problem.
The building also has to support the occupancy, fire-safety, accessibility and other requirements applicable to an indoor family entertainment business.
Do not sign a long-term lease simply because a space appears large enough.
The franchisor, landlord, architect and appropriate local authorities should all be involved before you commit yourself.
Steps to Take If You Want to Open a Catch Air Franchise
Because Catch Air does not currently publish its full franchise process publicly, you should not assume that an old 10-step franchise procedure is still its current system.
A more sensible approach is the following.
1. Contact Catch Air Directly
Start by asking whether Catch Air is currently accepting new franchisees or development partners.
Do this before paying a franchise broker or spending substantial money researching locations.
2. Confirm Territory Availability
If new operators are being considered, find out which cities and states are open for development.
Do not assume that an area without a Catch Air location is automatically available.
3. Complete the Qualification Process
The company may want information about your:
- Business experience
- Net worth
- Available liquid capital
- Proposed market
- Management experience
- Investment partners
An indoor entertainment center is an operationally intensive business, so access to money alone may not be enough.
4. Request the Current Franchise Disclosure Document
If Catch Air is offering you a franchise, carefully review its current FDD. Pay particular attention to:
- Item 5 – Initial fees
- Item 6 – Other fees
- Item 7 – Estimated initial investment
- Item 8 – Supplier restrictions
- Item 11 – Training and support
- Item 12 – Territory
- Item 17 – Renewal and termination
- Item 19 – Financial performance representations, if provided
- Item 20 – Franchise outlets and franchisee information
The FDD is much more useful than relying on franchise-cost estimates from unrelated websites.
5. Speak With Existing Catch Air Owners
This is one of the most valuable parts of your investigation. Ask existing owners what it really cost them to open. Find out:
- How long construction took
- Whether costs exceeded the FDD estimate
- How difficult staffing has been
- How much revenue comes from birthday parties
- How seasonal the business is
- How much insurance costs
- How much equipment maintenance costs
- Whether franchisor support met expectations
Do not speak only to the franchisees suggested by a salesperson.
Where permitted, contact several owners from the FDD’s franchisee list.
6. Build a Realistic Financial Model
Do not focus solely on how many children you expect to visit. Model weekday and weekend traffic separately. Also estimate revenue from:
- Admissions
- Parties
- Memberships
- Food
- Field trips
- Groups
Then calculate payroll, rent, utilities, insurance, cleaning, repairs, royalty payments and marketing.
Run a downside scenario where attendance is significantly lower than expected.
7. Find a Suitable Site
Once you understand the brand’s site criteria, search for properties that can accommodate the operation.
The cheapest rent is not necessarily the best deal. Parents need to be able to find the facility, reach it conveniently and park without difficulty.
8. Review Everything With a Franchise Attorney and Accountant
A franchise agreement can create obligations lasting many years. Have an experienced franchise attorney review it.
Your accountant should also analyze the total investment and working-capital requirements.
9. Allow the Required Franchise Disclosure Period
Under U.S. federal franchise rules, a prospective franchisee generally must receive the FDD at least 14 calendar days before signing a binding franchise agreement or paying money to the franchisor or its affiliate in connection with the franchise sale.
Use that time to investigate rather than treating it as an administrative waiting period.
10. Complete Build-Out, Training and Opening
If you ultimately sign an agreement, the remaining process may include site design, permitting, construction, equipment installation, recruiting, training, safety preparation and marketing before opening.
Follow the actual procedures contained in your current franchise agreement rather than relying on an old online description of Catch Air’s opening process.