Laser Tag Feasibility Study

Since the first Star Wars movie hit our screens and the first set of dice were thrown in Dungeons & Dragons in the 1970s, these popular culture icons have inspired many a Laser Tag venture. Nowadays, Laser Tag has cemented its place in our entertainment landscape.

Whether you are a seasoned sci-fi fanboy, fangirl, or an avid video gamer, or are simply passionate about sharing your love for adventure with others, now is a good time to consider the feasibility of starting a laser tag business.

So, how do you know if this is a worthwhile quest? Try starting with a laser tag feasibility study.

This is where you consider your potential customers, potential stakeholders, and even potential shareholders!

Of course, there are many factors to consider when undertaking a laser tag feasibility study and many things to consider when opening a laser tag business. No two circumstances are the same.

Laser Tag Feasibility: Stakeholders 

 One of the stakeholders is your landlord (unless you already own the land or building!). 

But if you own the land/building, you will still have the Local Government stakeholder. Evaluate your sites, such as an arena or forest field. 

 Also, consider how much space your arena or land has for your proposed attraction and whether there is room for future expansion.

Find out the current zoning for the land or the commercial space.

Laser Tag Feasibility: Shareholders

How much financial cushion will you need as a start-up laser tag business owner?

What will happen if you are not 100% full from day 1? Think about who will be on your team. Will it be family or employees?

Are there special labor hire conditions in your region?

Laser Tag Feasibility: Customers/Demographics

This is a biggy—your potential customers.

When computer games were first introduced to the American public in the 1970s, they were marketed as gender-neutral.

However, in the 1980s and 1990s, games gradually switched their target to zero in on teenage males. Likewise, with laser tag, many people think the “gamers†are young teen males; according to a 2015 study by the Entertainment Software Association of the 155 million Americans who reported that they played video games in 2015, 50.6 million people, or 44% identified as female.

Likewise, while role-playing tabletop gaming and LARPing (live-action role-playing) have been seen to be predominantly male, plenty of women participate. A recent global LARP census conducted by RPG.net last year found that 35% of their respondents identified as female. Better still, a report by Eventbrite found that approximately the same number of men and women participate in Comic-Con.

 This is a great insight into the potential demographic of your laser tag players. These gals and guys are the ones who are prepared to leave the privacy of their video gaming bedrooms and get out to their local convention center! 

 According to Forbes magazine, not only is there already a pretty sizable audience of female geeks, gamers, and comic book readers, but the data also demonstrates that their numbers have been growing rapidly over the past couple of years, particularly among younger women. The popularity of video games and role-play gaming has attracted many players who enjoy laser tag. Many of these geeks and gamers now have children of their own—children who would love to have a laser tag birthday party! Consider your local area and demographics. Do some market research and consider what over-entertainment options are available in your region. 

 As part of your laser tag feasibility study, you must consider your venue's distance from your population base or tourist center.

Indeed, think about the size of the population center or how many tourists your town entertains. Is this seasonal? Who is your target market, and where are they coming from? Who are your competitors, and how high-quality are their services compared to your projected business? All good questions.

Ask Yourself: Given Your Investment & Your Circumstances, Will I Make Money?

This is one of the most common questions our consultants are asked from would-be Battlefield Business operators. Just crunch the numbers and go for it! As a new operator, you plan to get X number of laser tag guns and be open X hours per week. Say you plan to get 40 gaming guns (with the usual accessories) and be open 7 days a week from 10 am to 10 pm, charging $25 an hour.  It should be simple arithmetic.

Right?

Well, it is not always that straightforward. That is why it is a good idea to consider a laser tag feasibility study. Once you are confident, you can make a start. We are here to help. Laser Tag as combat entertainment is a popular, growing field. If you want to be a part of it, then book a consultation today.