Suggestions for opening a local arcade

[OregonPacman]

You might get your $30 a weekend. Its hard to tell for those of us that don't know your potential location. Rent the thing for a month. The worst that could happen is you lose $120 and the games maybe get roughed up a bit, unless something awful happens like the building burns down. I would can the Top Skater, though. That thing takes up the space of 3 uprights.

Other thing is, how much of your weekend time to you want to commit to this? Probably need somebody there just to make sure nobody messes with the machines.

 

[V3rtigo]

Well, at $120 a month "rent" you would need based on a 25 cent play -

You are open for 288 hours in a month, or about 17000 minutes
Average game lasting 3 minutes
That's about 5800 "potential" plays per game every month
x 10 games = 58000
x .25 =$14500

Or simply, you need to get 480 plays in a month to break even.
What's the fun in that?

he's open 24 hours per weekend so thats 96 per month. potential drops to 5k.

 

[RetroJunky]

If you are there ( which I assume you will be ) the games won't get too thrashed.
And it would be an invaluable service for parents to be able to "dump" the kids there for an hour or 2.

If you break even that would be sweet. It would be nice if you had something else in mind. For example.... This could be a small example of what you could either offer for sale, or for rentals for parties.

just a thought.
I guess you need to haul them their every week? Rent a truck, or do you have a trailer?
Gas money?

You can leave the machines on site, the flea market is inside an old retail store (Kmart size). I wouldn't be there the entire weekend because of work, but try to be there a few hours a day.

 

[RetroJunky]

Renting the flea market space for $30 per week isn't bad. I'd give it a shot for that. Plus, you can put prices on the games, maybe sell one that you don't want.

-Mike

I planned on putting for sale signs on every machine,
index card signs on the sides with machine info and price.

 

[RetroJunky]

Go for it!*






*Assuming you have a large scale time machine to take yourself and all of your games back 20-30 years...


If you wanna do it for a month or so just for the hell of it, go for it. Just remember that technically you probably have to have tax stamps for all of your games to put them on location. In a flea market, you might get away without it for a bit just to see if it can be profitable.

I checked out about a business license. Required if you have more than 4 vending machines on site.
As for the tax stamps and time machine, didn't think about that.

 

[hindered]

Space rental is $30 for the weekend; includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9-5pm

I was projecting at least $10 revenue on Saturday (busiest day), maybe $5 on Friday and Sundays. As long as the weather is nice, the flea market stays busy. Games would be set at a quarter play, except for top skater which would be 50 cents.

Simply brilliant calculations. Almost makes me wish I was better at math.
Thanks for the insight.

Here's some more math. $10+$5+$5 = 20. 20 < 30.

 

[RetroJunky]

Here's some more math. $10+$5+$5 = 20. 20 < 30.

That is true.

 

[airlair]

Honest answer, DON'T

I would agree. I just am speaking as someone who owns a business in Cleveland. Besides the required vendors license from the county, I am required by the city to have a coin operated amusement license that is $60 per year per machine. Even if you city/county doesn't have it you still have to worry about the machines getting beat up and of course those that would like to break into the machine. It's a cool idea but should probably stay an idea because it will probably give you more problems than profits.

 

[WadeLanham]

Is this Rink's you're talking about? I've seen video games there before, but no one playing them. For $30 a weekend you don't have too much to lose. I'd worry about theft of the games themselves though (during the week).

Wade

 

[coinopdirect]

Honest answer, DON'T

I have to agree with this as well.

These type of places rarely have enough traffic to generate enough revenue to cover the rent and there is always the possibility of some kid getting hurt while using you machine and you could find yourself in a financial bind. If you are not a real business and insured the potential risk is not worth it.

We have a similar indoor flea market in an old Lowes location that someone tried the same thing (although I do not remember is he was selling the machines too) and he lasted I believe 3 months.

I do like the party rental idea that others have mentioned. I had a friend who did the bounce party rentals a few years back and he said he did well with them. It could be a very good niche and even more so if there is not a lot of entertainment in your area.

Either way, get a business license and insurance and good luck.

 

[FrizzleFried]

As much as I wish it was a WIN situation (cuz I'd do it)... it's not. You'd be better off finding a local Pizza joint or two that would let you put a couple machines on location.

 

[norton9478]

I think you would be better off not charging and using the space to buy and sell.

Even if you don't sell much, I bet you can get some good leads on buys.

 

[ArcadeKO]

If you really want to make money its simple - this could totally work because what you are really running is a daycare. -

1) Set all the games on free play
2) get colored wristbands or laminated passes to hang on the necks
3) charge $5 / hour - minimum 1 hour upfront
4) limit the number of kids to the number of games (10)
5) watch all the people drop their kids at your arcade so they can go shop.

- your welcome -

I see 100 -200 a weekend easy - you might want to invest in earplugs but you could probably hire a board teenager to help you for $5 a day and free play

 

[Phetishboy]

If you really want to make money its simple - this could totally work because what you are really running is a daycare. -

1) Set all the games on free play
2) get colored wristbands or laminated passes to hang on the necks
3) charge $5 / hour - minimum 1 hour upfront
4) limit the number of kids to the number of games (10)
5) watch all the people drop their kids at your arcade so they can go shop.

- your welcome -

I see 100 -200 a weekend easy - you might want to invest in earplugs but you could probably hire a board teenager to help you for $5 a day and free play

I wouldn't be dropping my kids off at some strange dude's booth at a flea market. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't either. Wait, this is a flea market. Carry on.

 

[GameyMcGame]

I wouldn't be dropping my kids off at some strange dude's booth at a flea market. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't either. Wait, this is a flea market. Carry on.

Totally.

BTW, wtf is a flea market doing in a year > 1981...Seriously. Is it a scene from hot tub time machine?!

 

[TonyH]

I have often thought about this as well but I would never leave my kids alone at a flea market for what thats worth. I think the right selection of games and the right location might make money but I'm afraid with your idea the only benefit I see is networking for more machines to flip or for your collection. I had a guy tell me one time to make a small fortune in this business you have to start with a big one. Either way if you want it bad enough all arcades started some where.Most people don't now this but papa johns started in the back of a small bar 5 min from my house in IN look where he ended up

 

[gozer5454]

Most people don't now this but papa johns started in the back of a small bar 5 min from my house in IN look where he ended up

Classic Thread-killer:
Speaking of Papa Johns, he was hard up for my mother-in-law back in high school. Apparently, she turned him down to the Prom, because he was dorky and didn't have cash back then. LOL

 

[pseeds]

Classic Thread-killer:
Speaking of Papa Johns, he was hard up for my mother-in-law back in high school. Apparently, she turned him down to the Prom, because he was dorky and didn't have cash back then. LOL

Dork's revenge.

 

[Zud]

Classic Thread-killer:
Speaking of Papa Johns, he was hard up for my mother-in-law back in high school. Apparently, she turned him down to the Prom, because he was dorky and didn't have cash back then. LOL

Small wold, my wife's brother went to school with Papa John when he was just John.

 

[gozer5454]

Small wold, my wife's brother went to school with Papa John when he was just John.

Yup. Can't even remember the name of the High school, even though I've heard the story 50 times. Can't even remember the state. Think it was Kentucky.