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.
