Teens tend to seek out establishments that will allow them to express themselves through venues that are normally inaccessible to them, which is why opening a teen game room in your community will probably impact a number of young lives. Teen game rooms serve as a safe place for them to socialize, enjoy themselves, and spend time with their friends. These game rooms can serve as a deterrent to the participation in harmful activities such as drugs and delinquency. Opening a teen game room can be a rewarding experience because you will have contributed to making the lives of the teens in your community more fulfilling.

Things You Will Need

  • Budget

  • Business plan

  • Financing

  • Location

  • Equipment

Develop a business plan that will clearly outline what you want to do, how you plan to do it, and what you hope to accomplish with your teen game room. You will need to present this when you apply for funding. The U.S. Small Business Administration can provide you with sample business plans that will allow you to see what the finished product will look like. It will also give you step-by-step instructions for creating your own plan.

Decide on a budget. You need to know how much money you can spend on games and other necessities for your teen game room before you begin to make purchases. This will allow you to better distribute your funds and buy items that you really need for the opening instead of making frivolous purchases.

Secure financing by applying for a small business loan, which will reduce any financial stress from opening your teen game room . This is usually a requirement for someone wishing to open any business who does not have the means to pay for all of the expenses out of pocket. If the financial institution of your choice denies your application, seeking funding elsewhere. Visit your local Chamber of Commerce and utilize the resources they offer. Tell your friends and family and mention your new business venture when meeting new people to help in your hunt for a potential investor.

Find a location that will be easily accessible to the teens in your community. Your teen game room may not achieve its full potential without this easy access to your facility. Consider constructing a new facility close to the schools in your community. Browse through newspapers and real estate books to find a building to purchase that is in a desirable area. If buying or building is not an option for you, seek out a building that is for rent. Any of these options will require paperwork, which serves as legal protection for you.

Equip your game room with teen friendly activities. Purchase used arcade games, large screen televisions that can be used for free movie nights, air hockey tables, pool tables, foosball tables. Consider setting up volleyball nets and basketball goals. Purchase vending machines and keep them stocked with nutritious juices and sports drinks.

Tip

Be sure to set your hours of operation in accordance with school attendance times. Post rules, regulations, and your code of conduct. Post dress codes if you choose to impose them.

Warning

Inform parents of any charges they may be required to pay for their child to participate in the activities of your game room on the very first day of attendance. This will avoid the surprise bill they may receive. If you will not require attendance charges, consider asking for monthly donations so that you can pay for regular expenses such as cleaning supplies and maintenance.