So you’re looking to start a batting cage business, and you’re looking for a step-by-step guide on how to start a batting cage business.
Well, you’ve landed in the right place.
Here, we are going to start things off by looking at the batting cage industry in general.
We would also consider the pros and cons of the business.
All of these will give you a perspective of what the industry is like and help you make a well-informed decision about starting this business.
The Industry – How to Start a Batting Cage Business
From the name, it looks like we already know what these things are used for, but that might not be it.
There is an unending list of uses associated with batting cages, especially in the United States.
That being said, the most common for them is to mark out a place where baseball and softball players can practice/play.
Depending on the specifications required, it could literally be a cage or be as big as a stadium.
Despite a decline during the pandemic, it is expected that the business will keep growing as the years go by.
Furthermore, the current market size of this industry is valued at $ 2 billion.
This is good news for us as the goal is to join an industry that is progressing with even more opportunities.
The popularity of sports, especially amongst children in high school, colleges and universities, has helped the industry drastically.
Finally, more families are employing the services of people to make batting cages in their homes for their kids.
How to Start a Batting Cage Business – Advantages
Talking about the advantages here, some of them would include;
- The cost of starting this business is quite low when compared to some others.
- It is a business that is rewarding as you solve real-life issues.
- The customer retention rate is good as long as you know your job.
- You control a lot of things, like the workload, and you choose the clients you work with.
- This business and industry have unlimited income potential.
- It is easy to convert your customers into brand ambassadors.
- The business model in the batting cage business is simple.
How to Start a Batting Cage Business – Disadvantages
We are looking at how to start a batting cage business, and the disadvantages here include the following;
- Acquiring customers takes a lengthy sales process.
- It is not the most consistent business out there.
- The risk of injuries is on the high side as this business involves a lot of physical work.
- It is a time-consuming job.
- High maintenance of equipment increases the running cost of the business.
How to start a Batting Cage Business – 8 Basic Steps
The steps on how to start a batting cage business would include the following;
1. Background Research on the Business/Industry
This is the point you find out the answers to some pressing questions that may arise.
They might be any of the following;
Who is your target audience?
What will be the cost to start, and what will the running cost be?
Making the batting cages is one side of the business, as there are places where people go to use their batting cages.
This side of the business is even more popular and should be your focus if you are considering the business.
Once you have provided the answers to these questions, the next thing is to consider your environment.
For a business like this, you will need to do a deep study of your environment to determine what works.
The population of people around you mainly determines the number of stations you have in your facility.
As the number of people increases, so does the number of batting cages you will need increases.
A study of the environment will also give you an idea of your target audience and if they can be found around you.
2. Work on your Niche and Business Structure
The batting cage industry is quite wide.
So, you may need to carve out a niche for yourself to stand out from the crowd and succeed in this business.
The first thing you must decide is if you will have a facility where people visit or make the cages.
The most popular option will be our focus here, which is having a facility; even then, there are categories.
You could either opt for the outdoor establishment settings or decide to do your thing indoors.
Both of them have their advantages but still have disadvantages, so it depends on which works for you.
For an indoor facility – it is enough to have four or five batting cage stations to work with.
This gives you room for other necessary sections in the same building – it is not the case outside.
As for business structures, the four most common business structures today include sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC) and corporation.
Each of these business structures has its advantages and disadvantages.
That being said, the limited liability company is usually our best bet for entrepreneurs when starting a business.
This business model would protect you from being personally liability your business is sued.
3. Properly Document Things
Nothing is as important as documentation, especially when starting your business.
Having all the necessary documents helps a lot when you are starting any kind of business.
There are things that might seem insignificant or small at the start, and we tend to ignore them.
This is usually where the problems of the business start, and it might be what gives you permanent harm.
The documents have a lot of uses – one will be their ability to act as a guide as you move forward with plans.
Since we are looking at how to start a batting cage business, some of the documents you’ll need include the following;
- The financial plan, as the name implies, focuses on money and how it moves within the business.
- Product and services description which talks about what you have to offer and how you plan to offer it.
- The executive summary talks about the entire business in a few lines.
- Business overview that focuses on the business and company side of things – vision, business model, mission, goals, etc.
- Marketing and competitive analysis focus on analyzing your competition and the market.
These are not all the documents you will need, but it is a good place to start when you want success.
As far as starting a business is concerned, documentation will always be one of the most important features.
4. Learn and Get Certifications/Licenses
Learning is underrated for business owners, and this always comes back to hurting their business in one way or another.
It is simply sad that most of the business owners in the market today do not take learning seriously.
This is also a good thing because when you learn and understand your market better than your competitors, it gives you an edge.
The batting cage business might not look like it, but it is actually a skilled business increasing the need to learn.
The first skill you need to have is that of baseball and softball, which are sports-related to your business mainly.
Your customers might not know much but still want to play the sport, and the responsibility to guide them falls on you.
Making the batting cages also reduces your starting cost, so knowledge of that will also help you.
Another aspect that you should take care of here is the phenomenon of trust – your customers need to trust your services.
And the easiest way you can do this is by getting all the necessary licenses and certifications.
5. Brand Your Business to Stand Out
Regardless of the industry, we find ourselves in; branding will always be an integral part of starting a business.
Some will even say that there is no business without branding, and we will like to believe them.
We believe them because branding is part of the key requirements to start any business.
Things like a business name and logo are things that should be available before you start the business.
So, you should spend a lot of time here as getting it right will do a lot of good for your business.
The name has to be one that just rings bells when you are talking about the batting cage industry.
People buy for so many reasons, and sometimes they make this decision without meeting you in person.
Everything your customers come in contact with while they interact with your business is branding.
Whether it is a product description, ad, fliers, brochure, your staff, etc.
All of these are branding.
So you shouldn’t hesitate to hire a professional for this where necessary to the best branding for your business.
6. Do all the Necessary Registrations
After branding, the next thing we usually advise is to register your business.
Registration can start with something as simple as a business name and go as far as registering the enterprise.
Regardless of which you want to do – it is important to understand that there are several levels to this.
There are registrations mandatory for businesses nationwide, some of which are reserved for residents of a state or a particular local area.
After doing the business registration, the next thing we will suggest is to get the books ready for finances.
This will involve you going to the bank to register a business account for the registered batting cage business.
Furthermore, it is important to consider all of the permits and registrations you need.
Registration for tax payment is one that should not be overlooked as it holds the key to longevity.
Avoiding the problem of not paying our taxes will drastically improve your business.
To complete your taxpayer registration, visit the IRS and get your employer identification number.
7. Implement all From the Planning Stage
It is important to plan when you want a successful business, but you cannot start a business without implementation.
This is why we are focusing a lot of our energy now on implementation as we move past the planning stage.
With implementation, the financial plan document comes first to the table for work to begin.
How did you document that the start-up funds for the batting cage business will come in?
This is when you make all the necessary efforts to get the funds to start the business.
It could be as easy as transferring money from your personal account into your business account.
On some occasions, it is going to be hard, like if you plan on taking up a business loan from the bank.
The reason why we insist on getting the money into the business account and not your personal account is tracking.
You should understand how you spent and received money for credible accountability.
Once we move past the finances, the next thing we are looking at will be your location.
Unfortunately, this is not the type of business that you can operate from home.
So, renting, buying or leasing a place is important, and there are factors you need to consider.
The important ones will be customers and then the space because this business requires space.
Getting all the necessary equipment is where you draw the curtain in terms of implementation.
8. Strategize to Market Your Business
Marketing your business is the only way to acquire customers, and it is easier for this kind of business.
One thing the batting cage business leverages is being involved in the community.
At the end of the day, distance is a factor, so your main customers will be people close to you.
So, trying to be active in the community will help your business positively.
You can also try to bring back the spirit of the sports that are closely related to your business.
By doing this, you will be creating a demand for your product and services.
How to Start a Batting Cage Business – Conclusion
We know we said earlier that sports like baseball and softball are the main uses, but there are others.
To be successful, you need to look at the other uses of batting cages, especially if you are making them.
Animal cages, protection for house windows, etc. – are some of the other uses for a batting cage.
The traditional market is better for a batting cage business, but you can also incorporate online marketing to give you an edge and help you run a profitable business.
All the best in setting up your new business.
