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How to Start an Indoor Soccer Facility Business

Do you want to start an indoor soccer facility? If YES, here is a complete guide to starting an indoor soccer facility business with NO money and no experience plus a sample indoor soccer facility business plan template.

If you are looking for a business to establish as a sports enthusiast, you should think towards building an indoor soccer facility. Starting an indoor soccer facility in an area that has loads of soccer lovers but few open fields can be very lucrative.

Soccer is a global sport and people who love the game will always look for ways to play the game much more than watching people play it. Building an indoor soccer facility can be expensive but you can be rest assured that you will make your money within a few years of launching your indoor soccer facility.

The fact that you are going to secure a facility big enough to contain a normal soccer pitch, spectator’s seats, changing room and parking means that you must truly be prepared for this business. If your indoor soccer facility is of high quality and it is located close to hotels and tourist sites, you will attract people including local and international soccer clubs that are in your city to play soccer matches.

No doubt, you should have an interest in soccer and also relationships with soccer teams in your area if indeed you want to do pretty well in this line of business. You should be able to convince parents and school managements to make use of your indoor soccer facility for their wards.

So, if you are serious about starting your own indoor soccer facility business, all you need do is to read this article and you will be well equipped.

Steps to Starting an Indoor Soccer Facility Business

1. Understand the Industry

The Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry that the indoor soccer facility business falls under is indeed an active industry; players in the industry are basically involved in running indoor or outdoor sports and physical recreation venues, grounds and facilities et al.

It is important to state that the industry does not include businesses such as health centers, fitness centers or gyms et al. The industry is driven by increasing consumer spending on sports events and higher participation rates in organized sports especially at community levels.

The industry experienced steady growth in the last five years due to steadily rising consumer expenditure on recreation and culture, and growing spectator sport participation.

Despite the fact that the overall sport participation is currently at the same level as it was in the last five years, participation in amateur sports peaked in 2012 and 2013 which boosted revenue for operators of local, community and grassroots facilities.

Government investment in large-scale sports projects is a key source of revenue for industry participants and major redevelopment have also contributed to revenue growth over the last five years.

The Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much thriving in all parts of the world especially in developed countries such as United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Italy et al.

Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone, there are about 1,579 licensed and registered sports and recreation facilities including those who are into franchising responsible for employing about 14,644 employees and the industry rakes in a whooping sum of $1bn annually with an annual growth rate projected at 1.2 percent.

No establishment can boast of having a lion share of the available market in this industry. The Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry will continue to blossom because children and sports lovers will not relent in looking for a secured facility to play sports.

Despite the fact that the industry seems capital intensive, aspiring entrepreneurs who intend opening their own indoor soccer facilities can still get support from government and also access loans from financial institutions.

Some of the factors that encourage entrepreneurs to start their own indoor soccer facility business could be that the business is a thriving business and the business is highly regulated and with high starting barrier, hence it is open to only serious minded entrepreneurs.

Over and above, starting a sport and recreation facility business in the United States of America can be a bit stressful, it requires enough cash to acquire land large enough to accommodate the sport complex and also cash to equip the facility to meet the standard expected by potential users of the sports complex.

2. Conduct Market Research and Feasibility Studies

  • Demographics and Psychographics

The demographic and psychographic composition of those who patronize indoor soccer facilities cut across organizations and individuals.

Schools, football clubs and individuals who don’t have where to play soccer or any indoor games would always source for indoor sports facilities around them hence the demographic composition for an indoor soccer facility is all encompassing.

The truth is that when it comes to playing or watching soccer games, there is indeed a wide range of available customers; every adult and children, both male and female are potential clients.

So, if you are thinking of starting an indoor soccer facility business, then you should make your target demographics all encompassing. It should include individuals, schools, soccer teams, corporate organizations, community associations, religious organizations and tourists within the location where your indoor soccer facility is located.

3. Decide Which Niche to Concentrate On

It is important to state that there is no niche area in this line of business. This is so because indoor soccer facility is a niche in the Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry.

Basically, indoor soccer facilities are facilities where soccer players and lovers go to either play soccer or watch people play soccer. Usually, people pick up membership and also renew their membership annually or as stated by the management of the indoor soccer facility.

The Level of Competition in the Industry

The competition that exists in the indoor soccer facility line of business goes beyond competition amongst indoor soccer facilities within your location, but also among every player in the Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry that also provide facilities for people to play soccer in and around your location. So, it will be right to say that the competition in the indoor soccer facility line of business is tough.

The truth is that no matter the level of competition in an industry, if you have done your due diligence and you brand and promote your services or business properly, you will always make headway in the industry. Just ensure that you provide a highly secured and safe indoor soccer facility for your clients and you know how to attract and reach out to your target market.

4. Know Your Major Competitors in the Industry

It is a known fact that in every industry, there are always brands that perform better or are better regarded by customers and the general public than the others.

Some of these brands are those that have been in the industry for a long time, while others are best known for how they conduct their businesses and the results they have achieved over the years. These are some of the leading indoor soccer facilities in the United States of America and in the globe;

  • Soccer Fever
  • Sportsplex USA Santee
  • Americas Got Soccer
  • Good Sports USA
  • Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena
  • Indoor Soccer Center – Bubble Ball Soccer & Knockerball – Los Angeles
  • Soccer Centers/Dutch Total Soccer
  • Ultimate Soccer Arenas
  • Indoor Soccer Zone
  • Soccer Planet USA
  • Danvers Indoor Sports
  • Universal Sports Academy
  • Timpanogos Indoor Soccer
  • Victory Sports Complex
  • Fieldhouse USA-Winter Youth Basketball & Soccer
  • Sport City
  • We Play Indoor Soccer Complex
  • LA Galaxy Soccer Center
  • SocrLabs – Indoor soccer development center for explosive speed & agility for elite soccer players
  • Glenn Warner Soccer Facility
Economic Analysis

If you are looking towards successfully launching a business and maximizing profits, then you need to ensure that you get your economic and cost analysis right and try as much as possible to adopt best practices in the industry you choose to build a business in.

Indoor soccer facility business is not a Green business in the United States and it is indeed a competitive business, as a matter of fact; you will come across several indoor soccer facilities when you go out there sourcing for a facility where you can play soccer or watch people play soccer.

So, if you are mapping out your economic and cost analysis, you should carry out thorough market survey and costing of the required amount needed to rent a big facility that is large enough to contain a full – sized soccer pitch including spectator’s stand, changing room and enough parking space.

You would have to lay out a synthetic pitch, provide chairs for your spectators, changing room, first aid stand, fire alarm system, multimedia equipment, public address system, commentary box, et al and also the running cost to successfully run the business.

Over and above, if you are considering starting an indoor soccer facility, then your concern should not be limited to the cost of registering the business, securing the required license, leasing and equipping the facility, but also on branding and on how to build a robust clientele base.

5. Decide Whether to Buy a Franchise or Start from Scratch

If you are looking towards starting an indoor soccer facility, you would have to start from the very scratch because you can hardly get the franchise of an indoor soccer facility to buy. It is a business that is open to all and sundry.

Besides starting an indoor soccer facility from the scratch is straightforward and not as complex as people think. With an indoor soccer facility, you should just try as much as possible to get the right business license and permits, secure a standard and secured facility, the required equipment and supply, build business relationship with key stakeholders and then leverage on every marketing tool within your disposal especially the internet to market your services.

Please note that most of the big and successful indoor soccer facilities around started from the scratch and they were able to build a solid business brand. It takes dedication, hard work and determination to achieve business success.

6. Know the Possible Threats and Challenges You Will Face

If you decide to start your own indoor soccer facility today, one of the major challenges you are likely going to face is the presence of well – established indoor soccer facilities and every player in the Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry who also provide facilities for people to play soccer in and around your location. The only way to avoid this challenge is to create your own market.

Some other challenges and threats that you are likely going to face are economic downturn and unfavorable government policies. There is nothing you can do as regards these threats and challenges other than to stay positive that things will work well for you.

7. Choose the Most Suitable Legal Entity (LLC, C Corp, S Corp)

Generally, you have the options of either choosing a general partnership, limited liability company, or even a sole proprietorship for an indoor soccer facility. Ordinarily, sole proprietorship should have been the ideal business structure for a small – scale indoor soccer facility especially if you are just starting out with a moderate start – up capital and covering just a small community.

But if your intention is to grow the business and offer your services to customers all across your state and throughout the United States of America, then choosing sole proprietor is not an option for you. Limited Liability Company, LLC or even general partnership will cut it for you.

Setting up an LLC protects you from personal liability. If anything goes wrong in the business, it is only the money that you invested into the limited liability company that will be at risk. It is not so for sole proprietorships and general partnerships.

Limited liability companies are simpler and more flexible to operate and you don’t need a board of directors, shareholder meetings and other managerial formalities.

These are some of the factors you should consider before choosing a legal entity for your indoor soccer facility; limitation of personal liability, ease of transferability, admission of new owners, investors’ expectation and of course taxes.

If you take your time to critically study the various legal entities to use for your indoor soccer facility with the ability to offer your services to customers all across the city and state that you operate, you will agree that limited liability company; an LLC is most suitable.

You can start this type of business as limited liability company (LLC) and in future convert it to a ‘C’ corporation or an ‘S’ corporation especially when you have the plans of going public. 

8. Choose a Catchy Business Name

As it relates choosing a name for your business, you should be creative because whatever name you choose for your business will go a long way to create a perception of what the business represents.

Usually it is the norm for people to follow the trend in the industry they intend operating from when naming their business. If you are considering starting your own indoor soccer facility, here are some catchy names that you can choose from;

  • Winning Team® Indoor Soccer Center, LLC
  • Gunners™ Indoor Soccer Arena, LLC
  • Sir Thomas McLaren Memorial© Indoor Soccer Center, Inc.
  • Larry Star® Indoor Soccer Center, Inc.
  • Little Rock Community© Indoor Soccer Center, Inc.
  • Saint Paul Community® Indoor Soccer Center, Inc.
  • Baton Rouge Community™ Indoor Soccer Facility, Inc.
  • Front Views© Indoor Soccer Facility, LLC
  • Williams Uriel & Sons® Indoor Soccer Facility, Inc.
  • Des Moines Community® Indoor Soccer Arena, Inc.

9. Discuss with an Agent to Know the Best Insurance Policies for You

In the United States and in most countries of the world, you can’t operate a business without having some of the basic insurance policy covers that are required by the industry you want to operate from. So, it is important to create a budget for insurance and perhaps consult an insurance broker to guide you in choosing the best and most appropriate insurance policies for your indoor soccer facility.

Here are some of the basic insurance covers that you should consider purchasing if you want to start your own indoor soccer facility in the United States of America;

  • General insurance
  • Health insurance
  • Liability insurance
  • Risk insurance
  • Workers Compensation
  • Overhead expense disability insurance
  • Business owner’s policy group insurance
  • Payment protection insurance

10. Protect your Intellectual Property With Trademark, Copyrights, Patents

If you are considering starting your own indoor soccer facility, usually you may not have any need to file for intellectual property protection / trademark. This is so because the nature of the business makes it possible for you to successful run the business without having any cause to challenge anybody in court for illegally making use of your company’s intellectual properties.

But if you just want to protect your company’s logo and other documents or software that are unique to you or even jingles and media production concepts, then you can go ahead to file for intellectual property protection. If you want to register your trademark, you are expected to begin the process by filing an application with the USPTO.

11. Get the Necessary Professional Certification

Aside from your ability to give instructions as it relates to playing soccer and how to effectively officiate soccer games and manage such facility, professional certification is one of the main reasons why some indoor soccer facility owners stand out.

If you want to make an impact in the Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry, you should work towards acquiring all the needed certifications in your area of specialization. You are strongly encouraged to pursue professional certifications; it will go a long way to show your commitment towards the business.

Certification validates your competency and shows that you are highly skilled, committed to your career, and up-to-date in this competitive market. These are some of the certifications you can work towards achieving if you want to run your own indoor soccer facility;

  • Certification from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA)
  • Relevant Degree or Diploma in Physical and Health Education

Please note that you can successfully run and manage an indoor soccer facility in the United States and in most countries of the world without acquiring professional certifications as long as you have adequate experience cum background in the Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry.

12. Get the Necessary Legal Documents You Need to Operate

The essence of having the necessary documentation in place before launching a business in the United States of America cannot be overemphasized. It is a fact that you cannot successfully run any business in the United States without the proper documentations.

If you do, it won’t be too long before the long hand of the law catches up with you. These are some of the basic legal documents that you are expected to have in place if you want to legally run your own indoor soccer facility in the United States of America;

  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Business License
  • Tax Payer’s ID / Tax Identification Number
  • Business Plan
  • Non – disclosure Agreement
  • Employee Handbook
  • Employment Agreement (offer letters)
  • Operating Agreement for LLCs
  • Insurance Policy
  • Online Terms of Use (since you operate online)
  • Online Privacy Policy Document (basically for online payment portal)
  • Company Bylaws
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
  • Contract Document
  • Franchise or Trademark License (optional)

13. Raise the Needed Startup Capital

Starting an indoor soccer facility can be capital intensive even if you choose to start on a small scale. If you choose to start the business on a large scale with a standard and well – equipped facility; a big facility that is large enough to contain a full – sized soccer pitch including spectator’s stand, changing room and enough parking space, then you would need to go source for fund to finance the business because it is expensive to start a standard large – scale indoor soccer facility.

No doubt when it comes to financing a business, one of the first things and perhaps the major factors that you should consider is to write a good business plan.

If you have a good and workable business plan document in place, you may not have to labor yourself before convincing your bank, investors and your friends to invest in your business. Here are some of the options you can explore when sourcing for start – up capital for your indoor soccer facility;

  • Raising money from personal savings and sale of personal stocks and properties
  • Raising money from investors and business partners
  • Sell of shares to interested investors
  • Applying for loan from your bank/banks
  • Pitching your business idea and applying for business grants and seed funding from donor organizations and angel investors
  • Source for soft loans from your family members and your friends

14. Choose a Suitable Location for your Business

Even though you can afford to open an indoor soccer facility in any part of the United States of America, when it comes to choosing a location for your indoor soccer facility, the rule of thumb is that you should be guided by the access to a facility large enough to accommodate your indoor soccer facility.

Of course, if you are able to start your indoor soccer facility in the right location for such business, you won’t struggle to make headway with the business.

It cannot be overemphasized that the location you chose to start your indoor soccer facility is key to the success of the business, hence entrepreneurs are willing to rent or lease a facility in a visible location; a location where the demography consists of people and organizations who love soccer and with the required purchasing power and lifestyle.

Most importantly, before choosing a location for your indoor soccer facility, ensure that you first conduct a thorough feasibility studies and market survey. The possibility of you coming across a similar business that just closed shop in the location you want to open yours can’t be ruled out.

This is why it is very important to gather as much facts and figures before choosing a location to set – up your own indoor soccer facility. These are some of the key factors that you should consider before choosing a location for your indoor soccer facility;

  • The demography of the location as it relates to the number of individuals who love soccer, schools, soccer teams, corporate organizations, community associations, religious organizations and tourists
  • The demand for the services of indoor soccer facilities related businesses in the location
  • The purchasing power of the residents of the location
  • Accessibility of the location
  • The number of indoor soccer facilities and related facilities where people can play soccer
  • The local laws and regulations in the community/state
  • Traffic, parking and security et al

15. Hire Employees for your Technical and Manpower Needs

On the average, there are no special technology/equipment needed to run this type of business. All you would need to run an indoor soccer facility are a big facility that is large enough to contain a full – sized soccer pitch including spectator’s stand, changing room and enough parking space.

You would have to lay a synthetic pitch, chairs for your spectators, changing room, first aid stand, fire alarm system, multimedia equipment, public address system, commentary box, et al, inventory-management software and other relevant software applications.

So also, you will definitely need computers, internet facility, telephone, fax machine and office furniture (chairs, tables, and shelves) amongst others and all these can be gotten as fairly used.

As regards leasing or outright purchase of an indoor soccer facility, the choice is dependent on your financial standing, but the truth is that to be on the safe side, it is advisable to start off with a short – term rent/lease while test running the business in the location.

If things work out as planned, then you go on a long – term lease or outright purchase of the property but if not, then move on and source for other ideal location / facility for such business.

When it comes to hiring employees for a standard indoor soccer facility, you should make plans to hire a competent Chief Executive Officer/Manager (you can occupy this role), Facility Manager/Admin and Human Resources Manager, Soccer Games Instructors and Trainers, Sales and Marketing Officer, Accounting Clerk, and Front Desk Officer.

On the average, you will need a minimum of 5 to 10 key staff members to run a medium – scale but standard indoor soccer facility.

The Service Delivery Process of the Business

Over and above, the business services process as it relates to indoor soccer facilities is straightforward and in most cases clearly defined.

It is the duty of professional soccer game instructors and trainers to help their clients acquire skills and knowledge of the game. They help their clients develop capability, capacity, productivity and performance as it relates to soccer game.

Usually, the facility is open to individuals and groups who would want to play soccer or practice for soccer competition. It is the practice for people to pick up membership if they want to freely make use of an indoor soccer facility.

In some cases, an indoor soccer facility organizes soccer competitions amongst local teams; such competitions could be for a full soccer team or a five aside soccer competition. They ensure that they source for sponsorship from relevant organizations in and around the community where the soccer facility is located.

Aside from membership and gate fee, this is another good avenue to generate money. You might likely not breakeven with your indoor soccer facility within the first year of starting the business because of the capital you invested in the business, but if you continue to attract more clients, you can be rest assured to start making profits after three years of starting the business.

The bottom line is to ensure that the fee you charge for people to make use your facility is affordable and flexible. It is important to state that an indoor soccer facility may decide to improvise or adopt any business process and structure that will guarantee them efficiency and flexibility; the above stated indoor soccer facility business process is not cast on stone.

16. Write a Marketing Plan Packed with ideas & Strategies

Right from the onset, you should be able to develop a good strategy to market your indoor soccer facility. Part of what you need to do to promote your indoor soccer facility is to organize soccer events in your community for teenagers and then invite stakeholders in the community to partner with you or to be your guests.

can market your indoor soccer facility to schools, soccer teams, and private organizations that would want to organize soccer events. It will pay you to ensure that you advertise your indoor soccer facility in the yellow pages in your community; you can as well print and distribute handbills and posters in areas where you can access your target market.

Generally, running a business requires that you should be proactive when it comes to marketing your goods or services. If you choose to launch an indoor soccer facility, then you must go all out to employ strategies that will help you attract customers or else you will likely struggle with the business because there are well – known brands determining the market direction for the Indoor Sports Facilities Management industry.

Businesses these days are aware of the power of the internet which is why they will do all they can to maximize the internet to market their services. In other words, a larger percentage of your marketing effort should be directed to internet users. Here are some of the platforms we will utilize to market your indoor facility;

  • Introduce your indoor soccer facility by sending introductory letters alongside your brochure to households, schools, soccer teams, corporate organizations, community associations, religious organizations, hotels and resort centers within and outside the location where your indoor soccer facility is located
  • Open your indoor sport facility with a party so as to capture the attention of residents who are your first targets
  • Advertise on the internet, on blogs and forums, and also on social media like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn to get your message across, so that those on the social media or those who read blogs will know where to go when they need to pick up membership in an indoor soccer facility within your location
  • Advertise your indoor soccer facility in relevant sports magazines, newspapers, TV and radio stations
  • List your indoor soccer facility on yellow pages ads (local directories)
  • Create different membership packages for different category of clients in order to work with their budgets and still make your indoor soccer facility available to them
  • Leverage on the internet to promote your indoor soccer facility
  • Join local chambers of commerce around you with the main aim of networking and marketing your services; you are likely going to get referrals from such networks
  • Engage the services of marketing executives and business developers to carry out direct marketing

17. Develop Strategies to Boost Brand Awareness and Create a Corporate Identity

If your intention of starting an indoor soccer facility is to grow the business beyond the city where you are going to be operating from to become a national and international brand, then you must be ready to spend money on the promotion and advertisement of your brand.

No matter the industry you belong to, the truth is that the market is dynamic and it requires consistent brand awareness and brand boosting cum promotion to continue to appeal to your target market. Here are the platforms you can leverage on to boost your brand awareness and create corporate identity for your indoor soccer facility;

  • Place adverts on both print (newspapers and sports magazines) and electronic media platforms
  • Sponsor relevant community based events
  • Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote your indoor soccer facility
  • Install your billboards in strategic locations all around your city or state
  • Distribute your fliers and handbills in target areas
  • Contact households, schools, soccer teams, corporate organizations, community associations, religious organizations, hotels and resort centers within the location where your indoor soccer facility is located informing them about your business and the services you offer
  • List your indoor soccer facility in local directories/yellow pages
  • Advertise your indoor soccer center facility in your official website and employ strategies that will help you pull traffic to the site.
  • Position your Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where your indoor soccer facility is located
  • Ensure that all your staff members wear your branded shirts and all your vehicles and vans are well branded with your company logo et al.

18. Create a Suppliers/Distribution Network

In order to successfully run an indoor soccer facility, it is also advisable that you enter into business partnership with key stakeholders in and around the location where your indoor soccer facility is located. You can partner with organizations such as schools, soccer teams, corporate organizations, community associations, religious organizations, hotels and resort centers et al.

They are your biggest market and you can win them over by offering them incentives and rebates especially when they register as a team.