setting up a soft play centre/indoor play [Archive]

green mum

1st November 2007, 18:12

Hi!

We have quite a good one near us in plymouth. I'll tell you why I like it so maybe that will help.

They have a seperate area for under 3's which is all soft play - they also have a section for over 3's which is all pretty boisterous and good fun. My daughter is under 2 so I stick to the soft play area. They have a lovely 'sensory' room with lava lamps, soft cushions, mirrors, twinkly stars on the ceiling etc. It really calming and the little ones love it. If you have a toddler plus a little baby then this area is perfect where as a lot of these centres wouldn't offer anything for little babies.

They have a great restaurant which offers wholesome, sometimes homemade meals which are healthy and nutritious - this is the biggest bonus I think. Such a nice change from burgers and chips.

They charge £5 per child and I think adults are £1.50 each.

On not such a good point, we had some friends who owned one of these play centres and they just couldn't make any money from it (sorry this won't be what you want to hear). They needed an awful lot of staff to run everything and it just wasn't what they had hoped for.

I suppose you could try something small scale - maybe just for up to 4 year olds - that way you could keep your overheads and staff costs down but would you get enough customers through the door then?

Hope this helps a little anyway...

I notice we're competitors by the way! I'm still in my first week with Green Mums....

dev99

1st November 2007, 18:17

Could be a great little earner, done correctly.

don't get carried away with huge setup costs, try and find a relatively new play frame/area and you could reduce your costs by 50%.

Not all Insurance companies will insure this kind of activity.

have a look at this www.rospa.co.uk

Serving food will have different implications aswell.

Best of luck

gibby

3rd November 2007, 19:55

I think it could be a great business

I would travel around looking for successful ones & get what ever ideas you can

They really seem to have sprung up around us and just when we thought they couldnt get any better a fantastic one opened http://www.adventurelands.com/

I think what makes this place stand out from the others is that its really good for adults as well as the kids

its massive compared to the others, always clean & the staff are great.
The food is not the usual nuggets & chips but proper meals with proper chefs
they even do proper veggie & vegan meals & unlike the others they take care to stop cross contamination & dont use the same utensils to serve the meat & chips

for the adults there are large screen tvs, proper toilets, a bar & you can relax knowing the kids are safe. proper seats - not the cheap plastic ones you usually find
They also have a go kart track with little cars & bikes

They are a bit more expensive than the others but its always busy, seperate area for toddlers & great kids partys

If I was going to do it I would do it like this

G

stub1000

10th June 2008, 14:08

we are currently creating an online directory of soft play & play barn facilities. unfortunatly i can't post our URL address on this forum, so if you wish to take advantage of the offer below, then post a reply to this message.

if anyone from this forum wishes to adverise on our site, then follow the link above and we will give you a GOLD advert for free, just quote the ukbusinessforum website so that our team can sort out the free advert. hopefully this will help any of you out there with fledgling busineses!

regards

stuart.

deniser

10th June 2008, 14:22

We have two near us. One is small and rather cosy but probably suited to younger children. It is much nicer for parents because it is carpeted so the noise is dampened. I believe it is doing well.

Then a big one opened up aimed at a wider age range and went into administration after a couple of years but was then bought so guess it must be viable after you have absorbed the start up costs.

A third one has closed down altogether but I believe because the land was more valuable for development.

From a parent's perspective, please don't put one of those vertical slides in. I think it looks dangerous which is reinforced by the fact that they have a staff member permanently allocated to it which must be a huge drain on finances. I much prefer those old fashioned slides where you sit on a mat!

You will need to do your figures carefully and assess how many children are likely to use it and at what times. Most children will be at school and even pre-schoolers at nursery for about 30 weeks of the year. Your peak times are likely to be wet days in winter. The busiest times will be those when you are most likely to want to be with your own children.

I wish you good luck with this as these play centres are wonderful and can always save the day when the children are bored.

borobabe

10th June 2008, 20:41

We have a really popular one near us, www.twiggysplay.com (http://www.twiggysplay.com) my daughter has just recieved her third party invite from playgroup. They have a great big slide at the end that I just had to have a go on, the separate level upstairs is where they hold the parties and I know some local business mums use it for meetings as the kids are kept occupied while they talk shop.

ozzgy

17th January 2009, 05:54

What are the legal requirements for starting a softplay centre

Attractions Expo @ LIW

8th February 2009, 16:24

I suggest contacting the Play Providers Association who will advise you on all areas of setting up a play centre. Then you should visit Attractions Expo at LIW (22 - 24 Septrember at the NEC Birmingham) to see and meet the leading supplier and servicve providers to the UK Family Entertainment Centre sector.

paulhalsey

10th February 2009, 13:38

and don't forget the flooring....www.easifall.com (and they do other play related stuff too)

sunitasaloni

18th February 2009, 08:22

thank you that could be very benificial

Fuzzy

18th February 2009, 08:51

I know of some soft play stuff for sale, if you need:D

g-money68

27th February 2009, 10:46

You could consider buying a franchise to get your soft play centre up and running more quickly and easily.

Jungle Mania is an example of a soft play centre with a franchise oppertunity.

Good luck!

MH1

27th February 2009, 12:02

In my large town of 200,000 + we had four indoor centres at one point, now there is just one.

I would look hard at the staffing levels, costs issues, etc. The main reason most close seems to be poor offerings on food though, slow service, poor quality etc, so that area is worth considering very carefully.

Every kid going to one of these centres will want something to eat and drink, one good paly areas cafe was shut more often than open and only lasted two years. Obviously the parents etc will almost all want a drink as well whilst keeping an eye on their kiddies.

The staff will make or break this sort of offering, a local play area had a kid die due to not enough supervision, it became the safest afterwards but never lost the bad image and also closed within a year or two.

domainguy

2nd March 2009, 14:00

I have 3 of them all within a mile or 2 of where I live and all seem to do a fair trade. We have just had a party at 1 for my daughters birthday and it cost about £300 for 15 kids but was very good. She went to parties at the other 2 and they were nowhere as good but the difference was the staff. Where my daughters party was it included an entertainer and he was brilliant, really made a difference and put the other parties to shame.

They also have a bar, internet etc... and you can even hire the place for parties in the evening for adults. They must be doing well as they are about to open a new one at lakeside shopping centre.

pauldsmith76

27th May 2009, 08:31

An good place to start is our website: shareandcompareplay (sorry i am not allowed to post the URL at the moment)

This is the comparison site for the play industry that provides free, independent and transparent information on every supplier to the Indoor Play market. Our users review the services they have received from all types of suppliers including; play equipment, insurance, kitchen, party bag suppliers and many more, to give accurate feedback on how these suppliers have performed.

We also provide relevant content for Play Operators through our blogs, videos and articles to help guide them when setting up and running an Indoor Play Centre. Once again this is free and includes interviews with existing operators, guides on how to write a business plan, choose a building, and secure finance and tips on items such as health and safety in play centres. All the information you need to get yourself set up will be on our site.

I look forward to seeing you on shareandcompareplay soon

Thanks
Paul

Herbie

1st June 2009, 16:29

Hi, we opened up one in Italy, North East. My advise is..go for it. It is a good business and if you are REALLY into it...make it your own. Best advise is for you to speak to these guys. They are the best and I mean the best in everything. www.tigerplay.co.uk
Speak to Gary Morrison and mention Herbie in Italy recommended. You will get the best advise whether or not you do it etc .

TizzyDizzy

17th June 2009, 10:55

Wuld the insurance on these places be very high?

Our soft play centres are always packed. I don't go during school holidays anymore, too hectic.

I would concentrate on good facilities for babies and pre-schoolers. If you make a fan of the parent when there are babies then it's more likely they will keep coming back year on year.

Oh and please can you serve decent tea and coffee! :)

Gareth Lymer

8th July 2009, 15:02

Soft Play Equipment traditionally costs approximately £10,000 / £12,000 per 1,000 Sq/ft and the average size of the building is likely 8,000 Sq/ft.

However, the cost can vary depending on your choice of supplier, your design, the target age of the children you want to attract, whether you want theming and other 'extras'.

It is also worth considering that the 'Next Generation' of Indoor Play areas is likely to include space for 'Free Play' which enables a different kind of play experience for children; this requires only space and some items to encourage imaginative activities, this is also cheaper to provide.

Insurance for the Indoor Play Centre once opened is in the region of £8,000 per year for a 6,000 sq/ft centre. In the next few days, we (Shareandcompareplay.com) will be publishing spreadsheets of operational play centres; operating a play centre can be a profitable business if professionally.

In terms of play centres going out of business, the main reason for this is that the Founder typically used Asset Finance when they started the play centre and possibly overestimated the number of visitors. Asset Finance remains a good option but perhaps spend less on the Play Equipment when opening and then add to it as visitor numbers grow; gather as much information as possible to try and make your business plan as accurate as possible.

Finally, as a fan of good coffee, I would agree with "TizzyDizzy" and suggest that providing a great experience for Parents is very important.
This includes a good cafe with comfortable chairs and magazines etc...if you visit You Tube and search under "Soft Play" you will find an interview with the co-founder of Parents Paradise, they have been successful by catering for both parents and children.

I hope this helps.
Kind regards
Gareth

nextec

9th July 2009, 12:51

We are looking at taking over an existing but closed down Soft Play center.
I have a question about insurance.
The company who provided the insurance for the previous owner (and comes highly recommended) requires that at least 1 member of staff on site has to have a child care qualification. This makes recruiting staff more difficult and means that we can't run it as a family unless 1 of us goes to college first.
Is this the norm for all insurance companies covering soft play. I thought the whole point was that we weren't responsible for the children as the parents will have to be on-site at all times.
Thanks
Richard

Gareth Lymer

9th July 2009, 15:15

We are checking with a number of Insurance Providers and Play Operators within the Share & Compare Play network with regard to the Insurance; we will post the answers in the next few days.

You are correct that the majority of Soft Play centres operate with parents supervising children but you must still ensure that the Play Equipment is safe and so most operators do provide additional supervision (also be sure that there is plenty of signage re parent supervision and that you get the play area inspected by a reputable inspection company).

With regarding to buying a Soft Play centre, this has mixed success and partly depends on the performance / reputation of the site before it closed; do you know why yours closed?

In most cases, the purchaser invests significant sums in refurbishment and so perhaps it is worth speaking to an independent consultant before you take the plunge.

Also, we have today posted a real-life financial template for a Soft Play centre at Shareandcompareplay and so you may wish to benchmark your figures.

Good luck.
Gareth
Twitter / shareandcompare

nextec

9th July 2009, 17:21

Another quick question which I have so far not got a definitive answer to.

Does VAT apply to softplay?

Thanks

Gareth Lymer

9th July 2009, 18:12

We have received the first reply to your question regarding Insurance from Parents Paradise who have helped us make several videos regarding how to start and run a soft play area.

They have confirmed that it is not a requirement with all Insurance Companies to have a member of staff that is Child Care 'qualified', it might be worth asking on what grounds your prospective Insurance Company requires this.

Parents Paradise use David Still at Towergate Insurance. Alternatively, we list other Insurance companies and we are contacting them to ask them your question.

If you want to contact Towergate Insurance then either give them a call or contact us via the website and we will share their direct contact details with you; please mention you got the name from Shareandcompareplay if you don't mind.

Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Gareth

Gareth Lymer

10th July 2009, 06:52

Richard

It is my understanding that VAT does apply to Soft Play centres but it is not so well known that the room hire element of Children's Parties can actually be exempt from tax, this can make a significant difference over time.

Kind regards
Gareth

cathdance

19th July 2009, 22:50

Hi
I am a mum of two, 3 and 18mth. There is a small one which the age limit is 8. Great for us because i don't like going to the bigger places because they are so big.
Lots of mums and dads who are not working or like me Part time like to go out. We also have dinner there and it really wears them out.!!

Although i think that the guy running it is no so clever at times and could really develop the place but won't listen to other people.
For example-
1, he does not collect names or email addresses.
2, He does not know how much it costs him to run a party and has not costed anything.
3, He closes at 4pm. Most mums go and pick there kids up at 3pm so they cannot go straight after school.
4, He opens at 12pm on Saturdays and Sundays, parents want to do something in the morning and a treat is to have dinner there.

There are a few things but that is just my business mind working overtime!!!

I think its either a small one to start that you could possible expand ( depending on Unit size ect) Or go for the big overheads.

I hope you do well anyway.

All the best
Cath

Danny@BFC

20th July 2009, 16:17

hi,

if you go ahead might be worth looking at the adult market too like these guys do http://www.123jump.co.uk/corporate.html.

Regards

Danny

funsters

22nd July 2009, 21:51

I am fascinated how soft play owners calculate VAT. There seems to be so many variances and it depends on who you speak to.
Generally I believe Vat is payable on everything including admissions, parties and food sales (some food items are vat exempt). As for the private hire of a room for a party isn't generally exempt because as soon as you provide a serice to that room eg food, then the whole lot becomes vatable. If anybody knows any difference please please advise.

As for the playcentre industry in my experience the most succesful ones are those with good locations, in large towns or cities with walk-in trade, on main bus route and provide good parking and be at least 5500 sq ft, also no competition sharing at least 130000 population(theres always going to be the exception), but I wouldn't buy or open a new one unless it met all of these points else it becomes hard work.

Many areas are now over subscribbed by playcentres so consider it carefully and generally party bookings are down due to people scared to spend due to the recession.

Also you might think its a good idea yo open but there is obsolutely nothing stopping another soft play centre opening in the building next to you, or half a mile away or 4 miles away. Consider how you would feel/cope if happened to you, and please please don;t ask manufacturers for advise as they just want to sell you a playcentre, get independant advise.

Gareth Lymer

23rd July 2009, 15:58

Hi Cath

I noticed with interest your comments re Soft Play and wondered if you had any ideas about what would make the perfect Indoor Play Centre for both parents and children?

We are working with several companies who wish to improve the offering and it seems to make sense with the people that use these centres on a regular basis.

Any ideas would be most appreciated?

Kind regards
Gareth
Twitter/shareandcompare

Hi
I am a mum of two, 3 and 18mth. There is a small one which the age limit is 8. Great for us because i don't like going to the bigger places because they are so big.
Lots of mums and dads who are not working or like me Part time like to go out. We also have dinner there and it really wears them out.!!

Although i think that the guy running it is no so clever at times and could really develop the place but won't listen to other people.
For example-
1, he does not collect names or email addresses.
2, He does not know how much it costs him to run a party and has not costed anything.
3, He closes at 4pm. Most mums go and pick there kids up at 3pm so they cannot go straight after school.
4, He opens at 12pm on Saturdays and Sundays, parents want to do something in the morning and a treat is to have dinner there.

There are a few things but that is just my business mind working overtime!!!

I think its either a small one to start that you could possible expand ( depending on Unit size ect) Or go for the big overheads.

I hope you do well anyway.

All the best
Cath

Gareth Lymer

23rd July 2009, 16:17

Hello

We have spoken to several play centres where the Room Hire element is broken down and shown separately on the receipt; in these cases the Inland Revenue have generally agreed that the Room Hire element is exempt. Some of this information is included in the videos on our website (ShareAndComparePlay.com) but we will edit it down to cover just this element in the next few weeks.

I agree to an extent that some towns now have too many Soft Play centres that have followed the same formula. However, we are now seeing the Third Generation of Play Centre operators re-invent the Business Model and offer a broader range of Products and Services (e.g summer classes, Ceramic studio, Craft clubs, Fitness areas); our research suggests these centres are performing well financially regardless of competition and the recession.

I would also agree with regard to getting independent advice before committing to any Play Equipment Suppliers. Our website is independent with reviews by customers of suppliers but we also recommend that people contact Consultants so that specific business plans are developed, these Specialists are also listed on our website.

Kind regards
Gareth

I am fascinated how soft play owners calculate VAT. There seems to be so many variances and it depends on who you speak to.
Generally I believe Vat is payable on everything including admissions, parties and food sales (some food items are vat exempt). As for the private hire of a room for a party isn't generally exempt because as soon as you provide a serice to that room eg food, then the whole lot becomes vatable. If anybody knows any difference please please advise.

As for the playcentre industry in my experience the most succesful ones are those with good locations, in large towns or cities with walk-in trade, on main bus route and provide good parking and be at least 5500 sq ft, also no competition sharing at least 130000 population(theres always going to be the exception), but I wouldn't buy or open a new one unless it met all of these points else it becomes hard work.

Many areas are now over subscribbed by playcentres so consider it carefully and generally party bookings are down due to people scared to spend due to the recession.

Also you might think its a good idea yo open but there is obsolutely nothing stopping another soft play centre opening in the building next to you, or half a mile away or 4 miles away. Consider how you would feel/cope if happened to you, and please please don;t ask manufacturers for advise as they just want to sell you a playcentre, get independant advise.

david poole

24th July 2009, 08:11

bluezebra

congratulations in taking new steps its always an exciting time and i wish you well.

To answer your question I would do the following.

1) get in touch with scotmum who is on this forum and may be able to offer advice.

2) look for forums that relate to your topics of child play facilities and creche and ask those users what they would want.

3) go to a local school for the age group you are attracting. with a quantity type questionnaire, ask the parents for their opinion while the wait for school to finish and the children to arrive. if you have 5 local schools in the ares its reasonable to say you could get a response of 50

4) quetions to ask.

a) when woul you use it
b) why would you use it
c) what dont you like about them
d) what would be ideal for you
e) what other facilities would you like
f) if you want to leave your children whil you go shopping fo 3 hours in a saturday morning, what would you pay per child.
g) would you consider using us for a birthday party

bluezebra I may have a few more ideas that would work well for you.
Get in touch when you are ready

david

zone1creative

24th July 2009, 17:27

funsters

24th July 2009, 22:39

His Gareth
I had a look at the financial projections in the shareandcompareplay website, however I feel that there are some overheads are perhaps missing eg maintenance, Water/sewerage discharge, posible memberships, nappy/sanitary waste disposable, bin/waste collection.. PRS and PPL licenses. Staff training.

I am however fascinated about your comments regarding VAT, a couple of years ago I and several other operators actually took the revenue to task over this precise issue and we lost our case at the highest level, it cost thousands. If you could provide me with details of operators who are able to claim the element of private hire for a room for a party then perhaps I could again try to take the issue up with the revenuei because despite loosing the case I still believe the revenue's ruling was wrong.

Gareth Lymer

31st July 2009, 09:25

Hi Funsters

Thank you for your feedback regarding the financial projections on Shareandcompareplay. These projections are based on feedback from several Indoor Play areas and so we are checking with them and will make amendments if the average feedback suggests additional costs should be included.

Also, it should be noted that these figures are intended for guidance only and that (prospective) Indoor Play operators should conduct their own research, formulate their own business plan using this template and base decisions on their findings.

With regard to the VAT. We are working with several play operators on the question of VAT and I will ask them before sharing their details. However, this information is covered in the video entitled "Episode two - How to start an indoor soft play centre (Business Planning)" on the Play TV Page of Shareandcompareplay.com

I hope this helps for now.

Kind regards
Gareth

His Gareth
I had a look at the financial projections in the shareandcompareplay website, however I feel that there are some overheads are perhaps missing eg maintenance, Water/sewerage discharge, posible memberships, nappy/sanitary waste disposable, bin/waste collection.. PRS and PPL licenses. Staff training.

I am however fascinated about your comments regarding VAT, a couple of years ago I and several other operators actually took the revenue to task over this precise issue and we lost our case at the highest level, it cost thousands. If you could provide me with details of operators who are able to claim the element of private hire for a room for a party then perhaps I could again try to take the issue up with the revenuei because despite loosing the case I still believe the revenue's ruling was wrong.

Gareth Lymer

6th August 2009, 18:23

Hello again Funsters

Thanks again for your feedback re the Financial Projections available on Shareandcompareplay.com

We have checked with a few play operators and the consensus seems to be that we should not include additional figures in the indicative financial template because some of the figures you mentioned can vary significantly and not all sites choose to operate a membership system, utilise PRS and PPL licenses (because they don't play music) or incur some of the overheads you mentioned.

However, as we aim to provide the most comprehensive information resource for play operators, we are looking to add additional information regarding these costs so that prospective play operators will conduct their own research and prepare the most comprehensive business plans possible.

If you have any further thoughts or wish to contribute to Shareandcompareplay in any way, please let us know.

Kind regards
Gareth

His Gareth
I had a look at the financial projections in the shareandcompareplay website, however I feel that there are some overheads are perhaps missing eg maintenance, Water/sewerage discharge, posible memberships, nappy/sanitary waste disposable, bin/waste collection.. PRS and PPL licenses. Staff training.

I am however fascinated about your comments regarding VAT, a couple of years ago I and several other operators actually took the revenue to task over this precise issue and we lost our case at the highest level, it cost thousands. If you could provide me with details of operators who are able to claim the element of private hire for a room for a party then perhaps I could again try to take the issue up with the revenuei because despite loosing the case I still believe the revenue's ruling was wrong.

LighthouseDM

7th August 2009, 14:24

Flights of Fantasy specialise in themed play (http://www.flightsoffantasy.co.uk/bus_themed_play_equipment.html), traditional play equipment (http://www.flightsoffantasy.co.uk/bus_traditional_play_equipment.html) and playhouses (http://www.flightsoffantasy.co.uk/bus_childrens_playhouses.html)that can be converted to indoor soft play. They offer a completely bespoke service and the products are extremely unique and robust. I know they have worked for the organisations such as the RSPB, the National Trust and the Harley Street Clinic.

Visit their website www.flightsoffantasy.co.uk (http://www.flightsoffantasy.co.uk)

Hope they can help

Regards

Andy

barry coll

11th August 2009, 13:18

Hi All
I am also thinking of setting up a play centre in Ireland, has anybody an idea on how much they are to set up, i know it all depends on what size but i was thinking of a farliy lagre area with a Bumper car section in the middle.

Gareth Lymer

12th August 2009, 18:28

Hello Barry

My colleague, Paul Smith, has unique experience in helping Entrepreneurs to establish several Soft Play areas in Ireland over the last few years and he fully understands the potential revenue and costs associated with that particular market.

Although he also works in the UK, Paul lives in Kilkenny and would be able to offer free and independent advice regarding your business plan for a Soft Play Centre and Go-Karts.

You can contact him via our website at Shareandcompareplay.com where you will also find reviews of Soft Play Equipment suppliers, Bumper Car Suppliers (under the Coin-op Amusement Suppliers) and 'real-world' Financial Templates from Soft Play centres.

I hope this helps.

Kind regards
Gareth

Hi All
I am also thinking of setting up a play centre in Ireland, has anybody an idea on how much they are to set up, i know it all depends on what size but i was thinking of a farliy lagre area with a Bumper car section in the middle.

Gareth Lymer

12th August 2009, 18:37

Hi Andy

I have been looking at the Flights of Fantasy website and like some of the play areas that seem to offer something a little different and encourage creative play and exploration.

Do you have any examples of where the equipment has been used in an Indoor / Soft Play environment?

We operate a website called Shareandcompareplay.com that lists all suppliers to the Indoor Play Industry for free and we would like to include Flights of Fantasy if you serve this market at the moment.

Thanks
Gareth

MISI_UK

14th August 2009, 18:15

I cant really offer advice. Although I have been to a few soft play centers with my children and have a couple of things that annoy me about them that you might find useful ;)

1. Hygiene, its not sufficient to run a henry hoover around once a day to cost cut. The children might not mind but parents notice!

2. Make sure that its confined so children cant run out the building.

3. Nice pleasant seating for the parents! not horrid plastic benches in bright colours that arnt cleaned properly' YUK! The children are off playing so I think seating areas should be more of a parent relaxation area.

Sorry to go in depth, there just some things that annoy my friends and I at our local play center. So much so that we no longer go.

Would be great to find a nice clean one but I have just to find one! (The cleaner told us that children 'have little accidents' on the mesh bridge and that its a job to clean!!! which is what really put us off! )

lightphase

14th August 2009, 22:15

nextec

15th August 2009, 10:13

sounds like a good business, there is a few near us and they are always packed out on a weekend, usually attached to pubs.

If you go ahead with the plan, give me a shout, we go in play areas at xmas and easter to do childrens portriats, earns you a bit of extra money too.

I like that idea, as an idea how much do you charge for the portrait and how much does the center get?

We are looking at adding as many value added extras as we can.

Would welcome any other idea's to increase turnover and profit

Gareth Lymer

17th August 2009, 09:11

The secondary spend is becoming increasingly important for Indoor Play Centres; Children's / Family photographs taken in the centre once a quarter are becoming increasingly popular as a cost-effective alternative to Venture et al.

Other value added extras that are popular and increase revenue and profit include:

Ceramic Cafe / Paint your own property: This video explains the set-up costs and profitability of operating a Ceramic Cafe. This service is particularly interesting because they attract a slightly different demographic such as older girls http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/ShareInformation/PlayTV.aspx

Electric Go-Karts: These are increasingly seen as a must have item by Indoor Play operators. Revenue share and Purchase are both available http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/Compare/CoinOpAmusementSuppliers.aspx

After-School Clubs, Creche Facilities, Grab machines, Children's Discos and Amusements for the older children and parents (such as Air Hockey and basketball) also add to the proposition.

Kind regards
Gareth

I like that idea, as an idea how much do you charge for the portrait and how much does the center get?

We are looking at adding as many value added extras as we can.

Would welcome any other idea's to increase turnover and profit

gchrist

7th September 2009, 19:22

I'm looking for a complete change of direction and a friend and I are considering setting up an indoor play centre that offers birthday parties, etc. We've seen loads of different ones -many models which we like, but wonder what is the best way to assess what the demand would be. There are two small soft-play cos. close to us. They are both very small and very limited in what they offer, and neither offer good party facilities. Can anyone give me any advice please. Thanks.

. Hi, Ive just joined this site in the hope that I can explore some ideas regarding indoor play centres and came across your note. Have you taken this beyond the "testing the water" stage? I know that in the right catchment areas this can be a lucrative business but Im particularly keen on finding out what the potential set up costs are. I know this very much depends on type of lease and size of venue but have you gone as far as exploring any of this as yet, and if so, can you point me in any direction that may help? Thanks

YODspica

8th September 2009, 01:33

sounds interesting, nice idea.

Gareth Lymer

8th September 2009, 09:52

. Hi, Ive just joined this site in the hope that I can explore some ideas regarding indoor play centres and came across your note. Have you taken this beyond the "testing the water" stage? I know that in the right catchment areas this can be a lucrative business but Im particularly keen on finding out what the potential set up costs are. I know this very much depends on type of lease and size of venue but have you gone as far as exploring any of this as yet, and if so, can you point me in any direction that may help? Thanks

Hello gchrist

If you are interested in some ideas regarding Indoor Play Centres then please visit our website, http://www.shareandcompareplay.com (http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/) where you can find independent information on all the major topics.

We have also worked with existing operators to develop a financial template to help prospective play operators to understand the set-up costs http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/ShareInformation/HowtoGuides/HowtoWriteaFinancialForecast.aspx.

If you have any questions, please let us know.

Kind regards
Gareth

gchrist

8th September 2009, 18:14

Hi Gareth and thanks for the tip

I had, in fact, looked at that website and have registered for details to attend one of their seminars

I will have a further look at the the financials etc

Thanks again

George

Gareth Lymer

25th September 2009, 09:03

. Hi, Ive just joined this site in the hope that I can explore some ideas regarding indoor play centres and came across your note. Have you taken this beyond the "testing the water" stage? I know that in the right catchment areas this can be a lucrative business but Im particularly keen on finding out what the potential set up costs are. I know this very much depends on type of lease and size of venue but have you gone as far as exploring any of this as yet, and if so, can you point me in any direction that may help? Thanks

Hello

We have started several initiatives to encourage the next generation of Indoor Play Operators to think differently in terms of their offering and business model.

The Soft Play market has much greater potential in terms of the value it can add to its customers (children and parents) and the return for Entrepreneurs.

We have written several blogs on this topic recently, this one covers some of the questions we suggest people should be asking shareandcompareplay.blogspot.com/2009/08/involved-in-play-are-we-asking-right

Also, in response to many requests we have just started an open-forum for (prospective) Soft Play operators to post and answer questions; please post any questions you have to our experienced and growing community here shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/Forum

Thank you.

Gareth

bespokeboxes

29th September 2009, 14:36

You can divide your space in different floors. You can also opt out the basement and use it well for big party hall. On ground floor indoor playing station, or make it in the way you like.

skyhi2

30th September 2009, 21:37

Hi Bluezebra

Have a look at the following link.

It might not be quite what you have in mind,but will give you a fair idea of the quality ( especially the play barn area ) you should strive to achieve.

It was an amazing and well run place,very clean,and very friendly staff.

The actual Cafe facilities were overlooking the play area so the parents could keep an eye on the kids while relaxing and having something to eat/drink ( all home made stuff,very appealing and tasty).

Diversity seemed to be the name of the game there ( something for everyone,and all ages of children catered for ).

No need to go as far as a milking parlour tho :-)

Good luck with your new business.

Skyhi2

Oh,nearly forgot the link http://www.oldhollyfarm.com/

Robd

30th September 2009, 23:01

It is true that the most important aspect of the soft play business is too maximise the extra spend from your customers once they're in the building.
I don't want this to turn into a sales pitch but I sell disposable socks to playcentres throughout the country. One of my customers insists that every child wears socks whilst using the equipment and sells 200-400 pairs of socks every month at £1.00 a pair, this extra spend pays for the wages of two of his part time staff and the socks keep the equipment clean too, cutting down on cleaning costs as well!

Without getting too boring, it's little things like this that help to increase your profit margins.

You could also join the PPA (Play Providers Association), they have regional meetings for advice and support.

Robd
Blue Box Socks

Gareth Lymer

1st October 2009, 09:21

Hi Robd

Cleanliness and Hygiene are two of the most important factors for parents when choosing which play centre to attend and your product would seem to help with respect to both.

At present, your organisation is not listed on our website which provides information and support for existing and new indoor play operators.

If you are interested in supplying more indoor play centres then perhaps you would like to be listed as a supplier, it is free and you just need to register here http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/tabid/205.aspx

Hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards
Gareth

Robd

1st October 2009, 12:48

Hi Gareth,

Many thanks for the information, i've just placed my listing.
We offer discounts to PPA members and free samples are available upon request.
Our socks can be purchased directly from our website at blueboxsocks.co.uk

Kindest regards,
Robd

Gareth Lymer

10th October 2009, 10:24

Hi Robd

Thanks for your listing, Blue Box Socks can now be found at http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/Compare/OtherServices/BlueBoxSocks.aspx with other Soft Play Equipment Suppliers (http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/).

It may be a good idea to promote the site to your customers so that they can add reviews and help you attract new customers. Also, any Free Trials or Special Offers you can promote through the site would be worth considering as only approximately 10% of Indoor Play Centres are members of the PPA.

Good luck.

Gareth

Robd

10th October 2009, 22:14

Hi Gareth,

Many thanks, do you know how many site operators visit your site each month at the moment?

Robd

Em Shepherd

19th October 2009, 11:17

Hiya,

haven't read the whole thread...but if you are still thinking about this but are worried about start up and running costs you might want to consider a playbus instead?

We have run one for 4 years now, we provide childrens parties as well as a mobile venue for events where kids need to be kept occupied! We go to fetes and fairs, fun days, schools...the list goes on. The thing the parents love most about it is, we come to them, and we take the mess away afterwards!

Running costs are much less than a soft play center, although it takes a cerrtain type of person to want to send their weekend driving around in a double decker bus! Anyway, if you want any more info drop me a pm, we convert buses too, so we can build you a bespoke bus with exactly the equipment you want in it, to the budget you have (That really is the fun bit!)

Em

Gareth Lymer

24th October 2009, 09:33

Hello Em

Although perhaps a different proposition to an indoor play centre, the Playbus sounds an interesting business.

How do the set-up costs compare and does the playbus contain the same type of soft play equipment (http://www.shareandcompareplay.com/dotnetnuke/Compare/PlayEquipmentSuppliers.aspx)as a traditional play centre?

Also, what is the typical turnover and is it mainly from parties?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards
Gareth

Hiya,

haven't read the whole thread...but if you are still thinking about this but are worried about start up and running costs you might want to consider a playbus instead?

We have run one for 4 years now, we provide childrens parties as well as a mobile venue for events where kids need to be kept occupied! We go to fetes and fairs, fun days, schools...the list goes on. The thing the parents love most about it is, we come to them, and we take the mess away afterwards!

Running costs are much less than a soft play center, although it takes a cerrtain type of person to want to send their weekend driving around in a double decker bus! Anyway, if you want any more info drop me a pm, we convert buses too, so we can build you a bespoke bus with exactly the equipment you want in it, to the budget you have (That really is the fun bit!)

Em

Em Shepherd

24th October 2009, 11:56

Hi Gareth,

it is very different to your normal soft play center because the nomal use is for parties, not a come and play whenever facility. The majority of our business comes from parties (Birthdays, christenings, playgroups and schools etc), however we have also attended major events, where we run the bus on a pay per go basis, (the kind of thing you might have seen a bouncy castle doing), or we might be paid a fee by the client to run sessions for free, so the children don't pay.

Playbus's vary a great deal on the inside, but they are usually made up of the same kind of equipment you find in a soft play center, just less of it! If you are designing your bus from scratch with someone like us you can put anything you like in it that will fit, and of course this will effect the cost. A basic Playbus can be set up for about £35,000. Which I understand is a great deal cheaper than the set up of a softplay center.

As for typical turnover, that would vary from bus to bus, and would depend on your pricing structure. For example in Bristol and South Glos where we run our bus we have a 3 teir price structure, with a party ranging from £100 to £150 for a basic party, with party food or party bags as extras. We do up to 3 parties a day, and although we only run the party business at the weekends (Because we run the conversions business during the week), we often do 6 parties a week, even in the current climate.

If party venues are more expensive in your area, or are lacking, then you can have higher prices. We could probably put our prices up, but we are happy with them as they are at the moment.

Becuase of the size of the bus, you don't need to worry about staff, we run it just the two of us, which keeps costs and insurance down.

If anyone wants any more in depth info, please get in touch
Em

Gareth Lymer

10th December 2009, 07:37

Hello Em

An entrepreneur has contacted us because they are interested in starting a playbus.

As our experience is in helping people to start indoor play centres, they are likely best referred to you.

Please can you confirm your contact details either in this forum or via our website?

Thanks
Gareth

cjcochrane1

31st January 2010, 22:50

Gareth Lymer

1st February 2010, 13:45

Hello cjcochrane1

Our research suggests that the average size of a soft play centre is 10,000 sq/ft and the average start-up costs for this kind of centre are £250,000; the cost of making the building good often determines if you are above or below the mean.

Turnover depends on a number of factors (location, catchment area, number of parties, quality of food, space for additional features such as go-karts etc) but the average may be approximately £500,000.

If you are developing a business plan for starting a soft play centre, you may be interested in this financial forecast based on operational play centres.

Hope this helps.

Kind regards
Gareth

marcia9

1st February 2010, 18:46

I've been to many good playcenters and some bad ones... the best ones are the ones which succeed in spreading the kiddies out throughout the day.

marcia9

1st February 2010, 18:48

not too expensive, and if you want to charge a lot just find a wealthy neigborhood to position it in

marcia9

1st February 2010, 18:54

also, have a chat with the playcenter owners near you and ask them how it;s going, and what they would change
hope that was helpfull.

ains2512

4th February 2010, 15:31

..........

Yossa

5th February 2010, 15:59

I like this idea, you could look after my kids . . . .

Gareth Lymer

26th February 2010, 17:55

Just to clarify; we suggest that you budget approximately £10,000 per 1,000 sq/ft for the soft play equipment and £30,000 for the Commercial Kitchen Equipment. Other significant capital costs depend on the style and condition of the building.

Kind regards
Gareth

so what is the initial outlay going to cost someone to open an average sized soft play centre - around 7000 sq feet,

Are we talking up to £100,000
up to £250,000 or more

and what would the turnover be

nade

18th April 2010, 08:54

The outlays are very big. Is there much 'second hand' or equipment from any liquidation out there that would reduce the start up fees ?

Em Shepherd

18th April 2010, 19:01

nade

30th April 2010, 22:29

You can get second hand kit, sometimes, but you need to wary of the condition it is in...It may need re wrapping, or repairing which might work out more costly and time consuming than buying brand new.

Em

www.theplaybus.com (http://www.theplaybus.com)

Em - hows your playbus doing financially ? i like the idea and it seems a much cheaper way of starting out in this type of work

Em Shepherd

30th April 2010, 22:45

A single playbus run by a couple is never going to make you mega rich, despite what some people might say! (Believe me when I first started looking into it I heard amazing figures!!:eek:) But we run a single bus as a weekend only venture and it was enough of an income to support a family of 4 while someone (me) decided to go back to uni and do a full time degree.

.The fact is you can set up and start a business very quickly with very limited funds (In comparison to a soft play centre), and you have more flexibility over your time too, you don't have opening times to stick too, you can staff it yourself if you want to, or get a p/t driver if you don't want to be out all weekend, but we view it as having a 2 day a week job...nice work if you can get it. :D And if you want a weekend off, just don't put anyone in, if you want to work in the week you can etc...

Feel free to pm me if you want more info, we also convert buses now, (This is what my husband does during the week) So if you are genuinely interested we can help you out.

Em

nade

1st May 2010, 07:53

Thanks Em. I'll PM you for some more details.

betty22

13th June 2010, 18:48

Cathy Rowson

16th June 2010, 14:32

The outlays are very big. Is there much 'second hand' or equipment from any liquidation out there that would reduce the start up fees ?

. . . for anyone considering setting up a softplay centre, these two will come in at a fraction of the retial price :). It's only a year old and in good nick.

I believe all offers need to be in this Friday (18.06.10), so if you're interested or know anyone that might be, please pass it on asap.

For details go to the John Pye & Sons Auctioneers website or call them on 0115 970 6060.

Cathy Rowson

16th June 2010, 14:39

so what is the initial outlay going to cost someone to open an average sized soft play centre - around 7000 sq feet,

Are we talking up to £100,000
up to £250,000 or more

and what would the turnover be
There are two soft play centres up for a direct sale (ends 18.06.10), only a year old and in good nick. This would make an unsual and highly beneficial opportunity to anyone about to embark on a softplay business as they will go for a fraction of their retail price (£60,000). Have a look on John Pye & Sons website or give them a bell on 0115 970 6060.

Magsite

25th June 2010, 22:34

a while ago I started working on a softplay (http://www.softplay.co.uk) directory however I've not got round to finsihing it yet, with more and more softplay's opening it must be working for most.

Do you like my logo below?

http://i45.tinypic.com/slhger.jpg

convert2play

7th July 2010, 10:55

i already own and run an indoor soft play centre, i started from scratch and did everything myself, i have now set up a company that is a one stop shop for anyone wanting to set one of these up and save money doing so, setting these up can be costly if not done right, my service covers everything from converting the building to supply of all equipment needed to health and safety paperwork and contracts of employment, i can normally save people around 50k in set up costs, if anybody is serious about setting one of these up then contact me on 07850 913007 thanks

convert2play

7th July 2010, 10:58

hi cjcochrane
if you are serious about setting an indoor play centre up, give me a call on 07850 913007, i specialize in setting these up from scratch at big savings without cutting corners

convert2play

7th July 2010, 11:02

so what is the initial outlay going to cost someone to open an average sized soft play centre - around 7000 sq feet,

Are we talking up to £100,000
up to £250,000 or more

and what would the turnover be

hi, if you are serious about this, give me a call on 07850 913007, i specialize in setting these up from scratch and do everything for you at big savings, i set up after starting my own indoor play centre from scratch and being shocked at how many people will try and take as much money off you as possible for little in return

rollin

27th July 2010, 17:54

Hi all, i have read through alot of the comments and alot of info from suppliers on ''How to start up a softplay centre'' and my main concern is how much realistically would it be for a newbie... i am very interested in a new beginning and recently visited Parents Paradise and was very impressed with what they have....although i did think it was a little quiet for a saturday morning!!
This would be a complete new beginning for me and my wife and would like any sound independent advise on what would be best as i could invest up to 100k but with that i was thinking of the rental of the premises included and did not want to borrow any money...am i being unrealistic if this is not enough to start up??

Many thanks james

convert2play

29th July 2010, 10:07

Hi, if you are serious about this give me a call on 07850 913007, i can help with all aspects of setting up

convert2play

29th July 2010, 10:09

danielsland

29th July 2010, 19:31

Hi, i'm thinking about setting up a soft play centre from scratch but i don't know where to start. Can anyone give me an initial starting step?

Thanks,
Sophie

Nats

3rd August 2010, 17:06

HI I am considering starting my own soft play centre in South Wales and am doing research on whether there is a market for one in my area. Could anyone give me advice on how to start this off.
Would you advice me to buy a business that is already started up or start my own.

Thanks

Nats

marky1980

3rd August 2010, 21:26

Where in South wales you thinking of?

Dunatis

4th August 2010, 15:53

Hi

There is a lot of help available for people that want to set up a play area, not only from the industry which obviously wants you to set up a business, but also from the Business Link and "Independent" web sites such and Share and Compare Play.

I myself have been helping people to set up play areas for the last 8 years in the UK, Ireland and as far away as Hong Kong or Japan and have come across most issues.

If you are interested go and visit share and compare play, many good play manufacturers will provide advice without any obligation at all.

Regards

Dominique
Sales Director - Cheer Amusement Europe.

shaun wilson

18th November 2010, 13:21

i came across a site that specialises in helping people set up a soft play centre. it has loads of useful tips on setting up a soft play centre and a business in a box support package that provides an A-Z business guide for newcomers to the soft play sector. It's worth a look houseofplay.co.uk

gibby

18th November 2010, 17:03

Incase anyone wanted to set up a soft play centre in Killingworth, North Tyneside - Cosmic Kids has gone bust & the centre is up for rent

its a very good sized space above the Killingworth Shopping Centre.
It was very popular with the kids as unlike other palces there is alot of space to run around & has a seperate room for kids discos & private parties.

The kids loved it but the adults didn't as the place was always dirty. The food was very poor & it was always cold.

If your interested contact the Killingworth Centre who are offereing a years free rent

G

DAVID SEGUN

29th January 2011, 05:17

sindyswing

1st February 2011, 15:05

There are far more accidents on the old type of slide than the vertical drop slides.
Wave slides are one of the biggest causes of accidents in play centres at the moment.

Gareth Lymer

4th February 2011, 18:00

i am 21years old and currently looking to set an indoor soft play center. Firstly i would like to know whY it is so difficult to find a location to set one UP? as i have been told places to locate them are limited.

Hi David

If you are thinking of a starting a traditional indoor soft play centre (ie soft play equipment, cafe and party area) then most are located on Industrial Estates / Business Parks and require a change of use to D2 / Leisure.

The reason for selecting such a location is that you are creating a destination and it is thought you will require at least 8,000 sq/ft and a ceiling height of at least 5 metres to create an attractive proposition. If you consider these criteria then sites are limited, especially those where you will be able to obtain planning permission.

Increasingly, other types, sizes and locations of buildings are possible if you would consider a next generation of play centre / children's club; you might be interested in our independent seminar for people thinking of starting a soft play centre where we discuss all of these topics.

Kind regards
Gareth
ShareAndComparePlay.com

DAVID SEGUN

5th February 2011, 20:22

How Much Do You Need Roughly To Start From Scratch And What Are The Key Point That Need Research Before I Start?

Gareth Lymer

7th February 2011, 12:05

How Much Do You Need Roughly To Start From Scratch And What Are The Key Point That Need Research Before I Start?

Hi David

Thanks for your note.

If you are starting a traditional soft play centre, our data suggests that the avergage start up cost would be approximately £300 / £350,000.

If you take a building of 10/12,000 sq/ft, you are likely to spend between £100,000 /£130,000 on Soft Play Equipment, £30 / £40,000 on Kitchen Equipmentand the remainder will be on refurbishment of the building etc (please consider that these are average figures).

In terms of next steps, I would suggest the following:

1. Contact local letting agents and research possible buildings (typically 10/12,000 sq/ft with a height in excess of 6 metres)
2. Ask the council, where would they consider granting planning permission for an indoor play centre?
3. Read our guides How to write a business plan for a soft play area and How to write a financial forecast for a soft play business
4. Write your business plan and discuss your plans with finance companies, including banks

If you are interested, we cover all of the above in detail at our independent seminar, How to Operate a Successful Indoor Play Centre

I hope this helps, good luck.

Gareth

convert2play

7th February 2011, 13:40

How Much Do You Need Roughly To Start From Scratch And What Are The Key Point That Need Research Before I Start?

hi
if you give me a call on 07850 913007, i can help you with all aspects, i will also give you the real set up costs

Philip Hoyle

7th February 2011, 15:07

I think you should be looking at a soft play area IN ADDITION to another viable attraction/outlet within the same premises rather than as a stand alone. I've seen some good ones that have been attached to a children's farm, or a cafe/restaurant/shop, but the stand-alone ones seem to come and go and don't seem to last.

Take the kitchen - it's going to cost tens of thousands to equip and then you've the staff to train re food hygiene etc., and all the associated paperwork for H&S etc. It can't be viable to run it just for kid's party food and tea/coffee for the parents. You need it open and functioning 9 hours per day, 7 days per week, which means having, say, a cafe/restaurant open to the public. You could have a single kitchen with two counters one within the play area, one outside. You could have it as a take-away with a counter open to the street outside. Whatever, but you need to find a way of making that kitchen produce a profit as a stand alone operation.

Same with the play area itself - it needs to be big. It needs to have some movable free standing equipment you can move to one side if someone wants to hire the room for, say, a magician or a disco for a kid's party - it has to be more than just the climbing area. Better still, have a separate room/area that can be partitioned off for a party so that the rest of the play area remains open to the general public.

How about an outside area as well - for kiddie go carts or those little red cars, or kiddie tractors, as well as some outdoor climbing frames, slides, swings, etc. There's a very successful one near us like that which also has a small petting farm with the usual rabbits, sheep, goats, etc.

At the end of the day, the more you can use it for, the more adaptable it is, the better and more likelihood of success. Don't just concentrate on kid's parties - that's not enough, you need it to be an attraction in itself for the locals and also holiday-makers in the area. Attractions that are both indoor and outdoor always outperform as they're "all weather" - people don't need to wait to see what the weather is like before they set off to come to you. Indoor attractions aren't popular in summer when good weather, outdoor aren't popular in winter with bad weather.

devilmaycry

7th February 2011, 16:27

If you are starting a traditional soft play centre, our data suggests that the avergage start up cost would be approximately £300 / £350,000.

Number 8 on your blog article titled 'The Top 10 Reasons Why Indoor Play Centres Fail' is over spending at the start of the project.

However, paying back £350,000 over 10 years at 6% is £4,000 per month!! This will have a significant impact on you cashflow. And 10 years to pay back is long.

You have to bear in mind that rent on a 10,000 sq.ft unit will also be around £4,000 per month, wages at £5-6,000, rates at c.£1,500, VAT every quarter at about £4,000, PAYE every quarter at c.£3,000, as well as everything else at about £3,000 (purchases, bins, telephone, pest control, repairs) you are going to have to find a lot of cash not to get into problems. On a month where VAT is payable you are going to have to turnover around £22,000!!!

And cashflow might be a problem seeing as one of the months that VAT will be due is June when the weather is good and everyone is enjoying the sunshine at the local park.

I know that it can be done for much less than £350,000 as I've done it, and I don't think that it is good advice to say that £350,000 is a good amount to spend.

runtus

1st April 2011, 22:01

Been reading the thread with much interest as I very interested in opening a pre-school only softplay locally. I think I have done a lot of research but having read the thread I'd like to pick your brains please!

My plan is for a small (1000 sq ft) pre-school only softplay, with the emphasis being on a safe but fun environment for little ones, whilst providing carers (be they parents, grandparents or other) with a friendly, comfortable environment to enjoy with the child.

I plan on using a converted barn in a well linked village - with good parking. I have a place in mind and I'm awaiting a call back from the Agent. I have a budget of approx £15000 which I have costed out and think should more than cover it, using 2nd hand softplay equip (limited remember, as for under 5's).
To my mind the real money is in the cafe, if you can get them to stay for lunch you are going to do ok.

Can anyone tell me:

1) H & S implications of using second hand ground level only softplay equipment
2) Financially, I will break even if I get 23 people through the door each day spending £8 each.Does this sound viable to you?

Any help much appreciated

silvieuk

25th April 2011, 21:25

Hi Runtus,

No one can tell you if 23 people a day will work... only your research will show you that. I have a 7,000 Sqft award winning play centre just over 18 month old.... only had 20 people in today in total !! (today is a very sunny bank hol), lost around 4 to 5 K this week alone.... previous week made 4K as it rained all week...... but previous 2 weeks also lost money..... its all this sunshine :-(

If you use 2nd hand equipment I would recommend getting some one experience to install it for you, and ask then to arrange a safety inspection afterm, something like ROSPA.

I'm not sure every one will spend £8 ? Hopefully most or all will buy a drink. So drink plus entrace = £8 ? Some at mid-day might buy food, depending on your quality and price..... then you might get your £8 for a person.

15K still seems abit tight.... coffee machine can be a few thou. Planning costs and building reg costs? Heating, plumbing and elecs (inc fire alarm). Carpet, tables, chairs, fridge, freezer... and on and on....

Cheers ! Silvie.

harrisonf123

25th April 2011, 21:40

Heres just something for you to think about. Softplay type places are really great IMO and most people i talk to aggree however i don't think its all that profitable (again my opinion) i know of three or 4 softplay places that were always busy and great fun however they have all ended up becoming self store places, i guess that tells you where the money is.

devilmaycry

25th April 2011, 22:06

harrisonf123

25th April 2011, 22:09

Without experience I don't think that opinion counts for much on such a subject.

Fair enough, i was just giving the OP something to think about.

devilmaycry

25th April 2011, 22:20

Fair enough, i was just giving the OP something to think about.

By your supposition a business that goes bust must lie within an industry that doesn't make money? :|

The problem with play centres is that they are set up as lifestyle businesses by parents that once had a bad cup of coffee in another play centre, something akin to a referee getting shouted at from the stands on a Saturday afternoon. 'He's rubbish, I could easily do a better job'.

However, when it comes to having to clean until 8pm on that same Saturday evening, before having to go home to do a VAT return it really sorts the wheat from the chaff.

harrisonf123

25th April 2011, 22:23

By your supposition a business that goes bust must lie within an industry that doesn't make money? :|

The problem with play centres is that they are set up as lifestyle businesses by parents that once had a bad cup of coffee in another play centre, something akin to a referee getting shouted at from the stands on a Saturday afternoon. 'He's rubbish, I could easily do a better job'.

However, when it comes to having to clean until 8pm on that same Saturday evening, before having to go home to do a VAT return it really sorts the wheat from the chaff.

I didn't suggest that, i said that it would appear to me that there is more money in the self store business. It was my opinion and i clearly stated that.....

devilmaycry

25th April 2011, 22:26

Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!

FaerieB

25th April 2011, 22:41

Interesting thread :) x

annashengarova

18th September 2011, 01:21

I am planning to open a Soft Play Centre and I have an appointment to view a warehouse.
I need to know: if I like the place how can I reserve it until I am ready with the Planing Permission?

silvieuk

19th September 2011, 10:17

I am planning to open a Soft Play Centre and I have an appointment to view a warehouse.
I need to know: if I like the place how can I reserve it until I am ready with the Planing Permission?

Welcome to the awkward world of trying to build a play centre. All depends on the landlord tbh, the odds are they will continue to market the building in case some you fall through and another person signs up straight away. Some times you can sign "head of terms" which is a agreement that you want it, at a the agreed costs, etc, but pending a full contract lease.

But Remember Planning permission is just one stage, the odds are it will come back refused, as will probably take 2 attempts. You will need a full design before the planning app (play frame, fire exits, toilets, DDA, rooms, etc) all to scale first (might need a CAD drawing &/or Architect). My final planning app cost me 15K due to the survey tests required. :-(

play centre for sale

22nd September 2011, 19:49

I currently have a children's play centre for sale in Glossop, Derbyshire. Final reduction to £34,995 - with finance provided by myself. Please inbox me if you are interested

Thanks
Emma

rachelwat

23rd September 2011, 21:51

I have noted my interest with businessesforsale.com but not had a reply. i would like to arrange a viewing.

Thanks Rachel

play centre for sale

26th September 2011, 17:54

Hi

Thanks for your interest. You can contact me on em.brereton (at) gmail.com

Emma

annashengarova

28th September 2011, 22:08

Can anyone produce a professional business plan for opening a soft play area? I am going to use it for a business loan application.

silvieuk

14th October 2011, 19:02

Can anyone produce a professional business plan for opening a soft play area? I am going to use it for a business loan application.

Anna, I think this needs to be done by your self, using your own research, ideas, facts, etc. If you are unable to produce a business plan, I think starting the business will be a bit hard, let alone running a business. The business plan is there for ever, and you should always refer and update.... And not acquire one from a 3rd party ! The bank would also spot a mile of, a business plan with your blood, sweat & knowledge.... and not one you've copied & pasted. :-(

Furrtiv

14th October 2011, 21:12

Perhaps a bit cheeky of me to butt in here, but I am an experienced bouncy castle/inflatables artist and if you require someone to paint gorgeous cartoon pics on your walls, please shoot me a PM, I drive too and can supply you with images of artwork that I used to produce for inflatables. :)

Newbee123

26th October 2011, 16:04

Where on earth are the figure of £350,000 coming from. Please elaborate. :|

chinita09

29th October 2011, 22:48

Hi Bluezebra... didi you manage to open your soft play centre? if so, how is it going? how much did you spend for start up?
thanks

I'm looking for a complete change of direction and a friend and I are considering setting up an indoor play centre that offers birthday parties, etc. We've seen loads of different ones -many models which we like, but wonder what is the best way to assess what the demand would be. There are two small soft-play cos. close to us. They are both very small and very limited in what they offer, and neither offer good party facilities. Can anyone give me any advice please. Thanks.

silvieuk

4th November 2011, 17:43

£350,000 is a good estimate for a good size TOP quality centre, but all depends on size, unless you've got a very small play centre. There are formulas per SqFt which you should be aiming to spend. You could always buy 2nd hand which will save you £$£$

Chinita90, I'll help you, but will cost you for all my trade secrets !! £$ :-)

Furrtiv

6th November 2011, 14:13

The OP did actually respond to my cheeky post, I'm waiting for a definitive reply saying yes or no to my offer to decorate, will be chasing them up next week. :) Hope they're reading this! :D

Newbee123

8th November 2011, 11:40

Lets take a 9000 sq ft building for example.

Play equipment :- £70,000
Where would the rest of the £280,000 come from. Sorry I am not trying to be funny its just that I may have missed some fatal calculations.

silvieuk

8th November 2011, 14:55

Industry average is 10k per 1,000sqft of play centre for soft play. So normally soft play will cost you 90K for 9,000 SqFt

3 months landlord rent as a deposit upfront?
£6 per Sqft x 9000=54k year. 3 months deposit = £ 13,500, +service charge.
plus solictors fees. Stamp Duty on lease, over 1K.

Building regs / engineer, planning permission (my planning cost just over 10k due to complications), design drawings for the whole centre to pass planning & building regs. Fire Risk assessment as required by law. DDA. Labour.

Doing the actual building works (??£$), Building materials, electrical (equipment, plus installing plus testing), plumber, gas engineer, fire alarm , security systems (alarm, cctv), other alarm system (disable toilet). Fire marshall training. Food Hygiene training. Fire extinguishers & blankets

Kitchen ! Commercial Kitchen equipment, stainless steel tables, extractor (3K at least), cooker / oven, griddles, microwaves.... Fridge& freezer (another 1K easy).... and on and on......

Toilets, hand wash, hand dry, DDA toilet equip....
Carpet & flooring commercial non slip......
Tables, chairs and sofas.... 9,000 SqFt centre, will be numerous thousand (10k ?).
high chairs, nappy changing ? lockers? 1st aid equipe, 1st aid training. crb checks. PRS licence, PPL Licence, TV Licence, Entrainment Licence?

Advertise for staff, T-shirts, clothing, Chef clothes. General kitchen tools.
vending machines / rides / Arcade machines.

Hoovers, menu's, Tills (decent tills should cost 5K for 2)

Party room set up. Disco lights, music system. Large PA system.
Coffee machine - 2k ?
Hot water machine, hot choc machine, reserve coffee machine for when the main on breaks !

Heating ?? Again thousands of pounds, my recent aircon additional cost £28 K !

Decoration (labout & materials)? Cherry picker lift hire? PC systems? BT install / connection?

insurance? Staff opening cost? Business rates? Your wages while building? Sage accounts system? Accountant ? Interest payments & repayments on loans ? opening day stock & materials ? all needs paying before opening & money come rolling in.

All in 10 mins and of the top of the my head... could go on if needed tbh.....

silvieuk

8th November 2011, 14:56

ohhh.......... and opening day marketing ?? 5K ??

Newbee123

8th November 2011, 15:43

Thanks Silvie

How long have you been operating! Seems like you have spent a good deal of money. All in all worth it?

I have covered the stuff you have mentioned only I am keeping costs to a minimum by renting the kitchen equipment rather than buying up front. My rent is going to be monthly so should help with the cash flow. heating is provided so no costs there and internal works/alterations will play a big part but hey its got to be done. Insurance paid monthly, marketing/accounts/legal I would say about £10k a year. POS systems costs around £500 and oh what kind of complication did you experience with the building regulation?

silvieuk

8th November 2011, 18:15

Worth it yes, in respect of being your own boss, an I'll never be a millionaire. But not when customers moan and kick off, which happens enough. You can't even start to think about the things they will moan about. :-(

I would have thought that the rental items, & lease (inc building)will want 3 months payments up front?

Marketing / legal / accounts 10k a year is ok, but what's you opening big budget (ignoring yearly ongoing cost, you need to make the big "here we are " splash" ?

Buildings regs are either allot of reading to make sure its all done correctly, or employ some one. My main problems where DDA & ramp angles, emergency lighting of the play equipment & public areas, and kitchen extract rates & air change.

I'm interested in you current budget figure then to be ready to open your doors for day 1? 70k frame (seems abit cheap tbh), plus...

emmamed

12th November 2011, 19:49

Furrtiv

13th November 2011, 11:06

As I said to the other chap about soft play centres - I can paint murals suitable for children's areas at a very reasonable price. :)

emmamed

13th November 2011, 13:04

As I said to the other chap about soft play centres - I can paint murals suitable for children's areas at a very reasonable price. :)
where r u?

silvieuk

13th November 2011, 15:25

we are looking at setting one of these up. but not much 2nd hand stuff about, to keep the costs down. seen a few nice structures from china, but not sure about it as they dont take credit card as payment

Hi Emma,

I've just replied to your private message about this with my thoughts & concerns.

Also, think to your self.... why will they not take credit card payment ??

(Credit cards do offer allot of protection to the consumer)

I always use my credit cards while abroad tbh. ;-)

katekat

18th January 2012, 20:13

I am thinking of starting a soft play business overseas (Caribbean). The main benefit of such busines is no competition and huge potential (small island with over 1 mln population, little or no facilities for children and many people willling to spend money). Of course the set up cost will be probably higher due to equipment shipping cost and customs charges, that's why I am thinking of buying the equipment outside UK, most likely USA or Canada. I found a really great website which is usedamusmentequipment dot com with some great prices there (12000 US for two level soft play park with 15 activities???!).
My question is if buying second hand equipment which will be obviously dismantled is a risk of not being able to put it back together without a professional assistance? As I said, there is no competition there so can't hope for any local people to have knowledge on how to put it up. Any idea how difficult it is to build and install such equipment? Is the profesianal required or you could do with some DIY?

Many thanks.

Kate

emmamed

18th January 2012, 21:41

katekat

18th January 2012, 22:13

I wouldn't say so, my husband comes from this country and it is the wealthiest country in Carribean, with an unemployment of just 5.8%. I know how much ordinary people pay for a very poor quality entertainment for children (if you see the zoo, the 'aquapark' or a simple swimming lessons in a private swimming pool, you wouldn't probably know if to laugh or cry) and the price they are paying does not match the quality of service at all. But still, the these places are operating and have many customers all your round.
If they have a good quality for an affordable price (soft plays in UK are very affordable for customers but still making a profit somehow), there would be a lot of interest.
My mother in law can make a 100 pound a day profit just by selling home made fast food from a simple stall next to her house. and everybody can afford to spend 25 punds for a bottle of rum. I think Birthday parties would make the biggest profit as people like to 'show off' and having a big bash for their children spending hundereds. So why not giving it a try, as long as you can actually phisically do it (shipping, installing getting the building prepared etc.)

playcentreowner

7th February 2012, 22:29

IMHO an indoor play centre in a hot country will struggle to make any money. On initial opening of a centre anywhere the first year will be the best, after that it is a downward chart. The first 3 months, if advertised properly, will give a good steady footfall in any climate. However in the warmer weather very few people want to be in a stuffy building, while paying for the privilege. I spent 360k setting up a play centre and on one very sunny Sunday we had 8 children through the door! This is an extreme example but it does happen. If you want to make proper money at this game don’t do it! If you’re happy with an average income while dealing with a very ungrateful public and frivolous personal injury claims; then it is nice to be your own boss.

One big question you should ask is why has no-one done it in the area before? Research, Research, Research…that is the key!