business plan board game

Board Game Cafe Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Entertainment Industry » Gaming Industry

Are you about starting a board game cafe? If YES, here is a complete sample board game cafe business plan template & feasibility report you can use for FREE.

A board game is a tabletop game that involves counters or pieces moved or placed on a pre-marked surface or “board”, with respect to a set of rules.

Some games are based on pure strategy, but many contain an element of chance; and some are purely chance, with no element of skill.

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Entrepreneurs are leveraging on the fact that people like playing board games to create businesses around the concept and one of such businesses is opening a board game café.

Remember, people visit gaming centers not just to play games, but also to rent latest board games that they do not have or can’t afford.

People also go to board game cafés to network and discuss over drinks and snacks. In case you don’t know, most gaming centers start making profits within few months of establishment.

Though lucrative, but opening a board game café is not an easy task. You need to be creative if you intend making money from the business.

One of the ways you can make money from your board game café is to ensure that you make your location a complete entertainment spot. Here is a sample board game café business plan that can give you the guide to write yours.

A Sample Board Game Cafe Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

A board game café is a place where gamers meet for a beverage and to play a game for a small price. The way it works is that patrons pay an entry fee or a table rental and they can choose any games they want.

According to a report published by IBISWorld, the Gaming Centers industry has experienced strong returns to spending on industry products during the latter half of the five-year period to 2018.

While the emergence of low-cost games for mobile devices has slowed demand for other games and may continue to temper growth opportunities in the foreseeable future, industry revenue has picked up amid stronger sales in games, downloadable content (DLC), consoles and their corresponding products.

Over the five years to 2018, industry revenue increased at an annualized rate of 7.2 percent. In 2018, revenue totalled $43.7 billion. This growth was assisted by growing consumer incomes and the release of the revised editions of other games.

The Gaming Centers industry is indeed a very large industry and pretty much thriving in all parts of the world especially in developed countries.

Statistics has it that in the united states of America alone, there are about 144,152 licensed and registered gaming centers (board game cafés inclusive) responsible for employing about 230,914 employees and the industry rakes in a whopping sum of $44 billion annually with an annual growth rate projected at 7.2 percent between 2013 and 2018.

It is important to state that no establishment has a lion share of the available market in this industry. Lastly, the need for you to equip your gaming center can’t possibly be overemphasized. This is because you need to make your business point as attractive as ever.

You would need between 5 to 20 different types of board games, comfortable chairs, tables, Air Conditions, Shelve for stocking games amongst others. You might also want to ask people who are already in the business about the gadgets you might need.

2. Executive Summary

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is a licensed board game café that will be located in one of the busiest streets; the entertainment hub of Santa Fe – New Mexico. We have been able to secure a standard facility in a central location in Santa Fe.

We are well equipped to service the whole community as well as visitors and tourists. Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is going to become the number one destination for gamers and gamblers in the whole of Santa Fe – New Mexico.

We will operate a licensed board game café with a wide range of board games from top gaming companies. Our board game café has enough parking space to accommodate the number of people we will accommodate per time.

We conducted a thorough market research and feasibility studies and we were able to come to the conclusion that Santa Fe – New Mexico is the right place to open our board game café. Our client’s best interest would always come first, and everything we do is guided by our values and professional ethics.

We will ensure that we hire professionals who are experienced in the gaming industry. Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC will be open 24 hours in a day during weekends (Fridays to Sundays) and from 6:00 am to 12 midnight from Mondays to Thursdays in order for us to accommodate people with different time preferences.

We have made provision for effective floodlight system and also to recruit enough staff and to run on shift basis. Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC will at all times demonstrate her commitment to sustainability, both individually and as a business, by actively participating in our communities and integrating sustainable business practices wherever possible.

We will ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our client’s needs precisely and completely.

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is owned by Edward Grant and his immediate family members. The business will be managed by Edward Grant and his son Edison Grant. Edward Grant has over 15 years’ experience in the Gaming Centers industry working for some of the leading board game cafés in Santa Fe – New Mexico.

3. Our Products and Services

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is in the Gaming Centers industry to provide standard board game cafés for residents of Santa Fe – New Mexico and visitors which is why we have been able to put up a facility that can help us achieve the goal.

We are optimistic that everyone who patronize our board game café will definitely derive value for their money. These are the services and amenities that will be made available to our clients;

• A wide range of board games from top games companies like Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Scrabble, Monopoly, Clue/Cluedo, Othello, Trivial Pursuit, Ludo, Candy Land, Snakes and Ladders, etc.
• Board games renting
• Board games and accessories merchandise
• Sale of snacks and beverages

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our Vision of starting Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is to build a world – class board game café that can favorably compete with leading brands in the industry.
• Our mission for establishing Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is to contribute our quota in promoting gaming and social networking activities in Santa Fe – New Mexico and also to make profits from the Industry; we want to become the leading board game café – brand in the whole of Santa Fe – New Mexico.

Our Business Structure

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is in business to become the leading board game cafés in the whole of Santa Fe – New Mexico and we are fully aware that it will take the right facility, management and organizational structure to achieve our goal.

We will ensure that we recruit only the best hands that can help us achieve all that we are set to achieve. The kind of the board game café business we intend building and the business goals we want to achieve is what informed the amount we are ready to pay for the best hands available in Santa Fe – New Mexico.

Our business will not be built only for the purpose of giving our customers value for their money, but also, we will ensure that we make our work environment highly conducive for all our employees. We will provide them with facilities that will help them stay motivated and deliver on their various tasks.

In view of that, we have made provisions for the following positions to be occupied by highly qualified and experienced staff;

• Chief Executive Office – CEO
• Accountant/Cashier
• Marketing and Sales Officer
• Board Games Instructor/Assistant (5)
• Customer Care Executive/Front Desk Officer

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Executive Officer – CEO:

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results and developing incentives
• Creates, communicates, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Carries out induction for new team members
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Regularly hold meetings with key stakeholders to review the effectiveness of HR Policies, Procedures and Processes
• Maintains office supplies by checking stocks; placing and expediting orders; evaluating new products.
• Ensures operation of board games and other equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily activities in the board game café.

Board Game Instructors/Assistant (5)

• Responsible for operating board games
• Responsible for teaching newbies how to play various board games available in our board game café
• Responsible for selling food, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages
• Ensures that the board games are well arranged after every playing session
• Responsible for recommending the replacement of worn out or damaged board games and accessories

Marketing and Sales Officer (2)

• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new clients, and business opportunities et al
• Identifies development opportunities; follows up on development leads and contacts
• Responsible for handling business research, market surveys and feasibility studies for clients
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with clients
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC in strategic meetings
• Helps to increase sales and growth for Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC.

Accountant/Cashier:

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting for the organization
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC
• Serves as internal auditor for Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC.

Client Service Executive

• Welcomes members by greeting them in person or on the telephone; answering or directing inquiries.
• Ensures that all contacts with clients (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with clients on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the organization’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the management in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on the organizations’ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to clients when they make enquiries

Cleaners (3)

• Responsible for cleaning in and around the board game café
• Cleans up after customers
• Washes glassware and utensils after each use
• Maintains a clean working area by sweeping, vacuuming, dusting, cleaning of glass doors and windows, etc. if required.
• Ensures that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is in business to provide boards for gamers in Santa Fe – New Mexico and at the same time to make profits. We are aware that there are competitions in the Gaming Centers industry which is why we took out time to conduct an effective SWOT Analysis before investing our hard – earned money into the business.

We know that if we get things right before starting our board game café, we will not have to struggle before attracting loyal clients and building our customer base to a level where we can breakeven in record time.

We hired the services of a HR and Business consultant with bias in business structuring to help us conduct SWOT analysis for our organization and he did a pretty good job for us. Here is a of the result we got from the SWOT analysis that was conducted on behalf of Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC.

One of the obvious positives that will definitely stand as a plus for Edward Grant® Board Game Café, is the fact that our facility is located in a densely populated residential area in Santa Fe – New Mexico; our location is in fact one of our major strengths, coupled with the support from stakeholders in the industry.

We equally have a team of highly qualified professionals who will work with our clients and lastly our wide range of board games are amongst the best that anybody living in Santa Fe – New Mexico can get.

We critically looked into our Business model and we were able to identify two major weakness. One is the fact that we are a new business and the second is the fact that we may not have the financial resources required to match up with existing board games cafés, casinos and gaming centers in New Mexico when it comes to generating the needed hype that can drive traffic towards our board game café.

• Opportunities:

We are centrally located in one of the busiest areas in Santa Fe – New Mexico and we are open to all the available opportunities that the city has to offer. We will be open 24 hours a day during weekends (Fridays to Sundays) and from 6:00 am to 12 midnight from Mondays to Thursdays giving us the advantage to leverage on any available opportunity.

Some of the threats that are likely going to confront Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC are unfavorable government policies , demographic / social factors, downturn in the economy which is likely going to affect consumers spending and lastly, the emergence of new competitors within the same location our board game café is located.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

A close study of the gaming industry shows that the late 1990s onwards have seen substantial growth in the reach and market of board games. This has been attributed to, among other factors, the Internet, which has made it easier for people to find opponents to play against.

Around the year 2000, the board gaming industry began significant growth with companies producing a new games to be sold to a growing worldwide audience. In the 2010, a number of publications referred to board games as having a new Golden Age.

Board game venues are also growing in popularity; for example board game cafes are reported to be very popular in China. On the internet, board games commonly feature enhanced content and features for players with broadband internet connections.

These features include multiplayer modes, downloadable content and in-game chat functions, which can be free or provided on a fee or subscription basis. The percentage of services conducted online is expected to increase in 2019, representing a potential opportunity for the industry.

Lastly, it is a common trend that as board game cafés grow, it becomes necessary for them to develop new service offerings or install new facilities that will help them attract more people. Little wonder some board game cafés now have fresh juice and smoothie bar, food, alcoholic and non – alcoholic drinks et al within their facility to encourage people to relax and socialize.

In order words, it is very important for board game cafés to continue to improvise if they want to grow their business and generate their target revenue.

8. Our Target Market

Aside from professional gamers, the target market for board game cafés cuts across people of different walks of life. Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC will work towards providing services that will help us reach out to our target market. These are the category of people that we intend marketing our business to;

• Professional gamers
• High school students
• Sports Men and Women
• College Students

Our competitive advantage

Without a doubt, the Gaming Centers industry is indeed a prolific and highly competitive industry. Clients will only patronize your board game café if they are comfortable with the games you have or if you can provide the enabling environment and facility for them to socialize.

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is centrally located in a densely populated – residential area in Santa Fe – New Mexico; this is obviously going to give us an edge amongst our competitors.

We equally have a team of highly qualified professionals who will work with all our clients when they patronize our board game café. So also, our facility and board games are amongst the best that anybody living in Santa Fe – New Mexico can get.

We will be open 24 hours in a day during weekends (Fridays to Sundays) and from 6:00 am to 12 midnights from Mondays to Thursdays in order for us to be able to accommodate people with different time preference.

Lastly, our employees will be well taken care of, and their welfare package will be among the best within our category in the industry. It will enable them to be more than willing to build the business with us and help deliver our set goals and achieve all our business aims and objectives.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the industry and we are going to ensure that we do all it takes to attract clients on a regular basis. Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC will generate income by offering the following services;

• A wide range of board games from top flight board games companies like Chess, Checkers, Backgammon, Scrabble, Monopoly, Clue / Cluedo, Othello, Trivial Pursuit, Ludo, Candy Land,  Snakes and Ladders, etc.
• Board games and accessories merchandize

10. Sales Forecast

We are quite aware that there are several business opportunities available for board game cafés; it is a line of business that attracts teenagers and adults who love board games.

We are well positioned to take on the available market in Santa Fe – New Mexico and on our online platforms and we are quite optimistic that we will meet our set target of generating enough income/profits from our first six months of operation and grow the business and our clientele base.

We have been able to critically examine the Gaming Centers industry, we have analyzed our chances in the industry and we have been able to come up with the following sales forecast. Below are the sales projection for Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC, it is based on the location of our board game café facility and the wide range of board games that we will make available;

• First Fiscal Year:  $180,000
• Second Fiscal Year:  $350,000
• Third Fiscal Year:  $450,000

N.B : This projection was done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and natural disasters within the period stated above. There won’t be any major competitor (board game café) offering same services as we do within same location. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Our marketing strategies will be directed towards achieving specific objectives that support the strategic goals of the organization. The truth is that all that we do will be geared towards creating new market channels, increasing sales and increasing our market share.

We will leverage on improving on our services and facility to ensure that we win new clients and retain old clients as well. Our unique selling proposition is that we are well positioned and people can easily access our facility, our payment platforms are highly reliable. Part of the marketing and sales strategies that we will adopt are;

• Open our board game café with a big party in other to attract residents who are our first target
• Advertise our board game café on national dailies, local TV and radio stations
• Promote our board game café online via our official website and all available social media platforms
• Introduce our board game café by sending introductory letters alongside our brochure to sports clubs, households and key stakeholders in Santa Fe – New Mexico
• Print out fliers and business cards and strategically drop them in offices, libraries, public facilities and train stations et al.
• Deliver consistent customer experiences to all our customers; making our first impression count positively to those making use of our board game café for the first time
• Adopt direct mailing coupon marketing approach
• Position our signage/flexi banners at strategic places in and around Santa Fe – New Mexico
• Create a loyalty plan that will enable us reward our consistent clients especially those that registered as a family or as a group
• Engage in roadshows within our neighborhood to create awareness for our board game café.

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

We have been able to work with our branding and publicity consultants to help us map out publicity and advertising strategies that will help us walk our way into the heart of our target market.

We are set to become the number one choice for clients in the whole of Santa Fe – New Mexico which is why we have made provisions for effective publicity and advertisement of our board game café. Below are the platforms we intend to leverage on to promote and advertise Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC;

• Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community – based gaming or sport events and competitions
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, twitter, YouTube, Google + et al to promote our brand
• Install our Billboards in strategic locations all around Santa Fe – New Mexico
• Engage in roadshows from time to time in targeted neighborhoods all around Santa Fe – New Mexico
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas all around Santa Fe – New Mexico
• List Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC on local directories / yellow pages
• Advertise our board game cafés in our official website and employ strategies that will help us pull traffic to the site.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our branded shirts and all our vehicles are branded with our corporate logo.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

Since the bulk of our customers come from the middle class, it is advisable to set prices for playing our board games on the moderate side. We will not allow the drive to recoup our money fast tempt us to set prices that can scare potential customers off.

In view of that, our pricing system is going to be based on what is obtainable in the industry, we don’t intend to charge more (except for premium and customized services) and we don’t intend to charge less than what our competitors are charging their clients in Santa Fe – New Mexico.

Be that as it may, we have put plans in place to offer discount services once in a while and also to reward our loyal customers especially when they refer clients to us or when they register as a family or a group.

• Payment Options

The payment policy adopted by Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different customers prefer different payment options as it suits them but at the same time, we will ensure that we abide by the financial rules and regulation of the United States of America.

Here are the payment options that Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC will make available to her clients;

• Payment with cash
• Payment via online bank transfer
• Payment via mobile money
• Payment via Point of Sales Machines (POS Machines)
• Payment via check

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will enable our clients make payment for playing our board games and purchase of food and beverages without any stress on their part. Our bank account numbers will be made available on our website and promotional materials to clients who may want to deposit cash or make online transfer for services rendered.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

From our market survey and feasibility studies, we have been able to come up with a detailed budget for establishing a standard board game café in Santa Fe – New Mexico and here are the key areas where we will spend our startup capital;

• The Total Fee for Registering the Business in the United States of America – $750.
• Legal expenses for obtaining licenses and permits – $1,500.
• Marketing promotion expenses (8,000 flyers at $0.04 per copy) for the total amount of – $10,000.
• The total cost for hiring Business Consultant – $2,500.
• The amount needed for the purchase of insurance policy covers (general liability, workers’ compensation and property casualty) coverage at a total premium – $5,800.
• The total cost for the purchase of accounting software, CRM software and Payroll Software – $3,000
• The total cost for leasing facility for the board game café – $30,000.
• The total cost for facility remodeling – $20,000.
• Other start-up expenses including stationery – $1000
• Phone and utility deposits – $3,500
• Operational cost for the first 3 months (salaries of employees, payments of bills et al) – $40,000
• The cost for Start-up inventory – $15,000
• The cost for acquiring different types of board games, comfortable chairs, tables, Air Conditions, Shelve for stocking board games and board games accessories amongst others. – $50,000
• The purchase of furniture and gadgets (Computers, Printers, Telephone, TVs, Sound System, tables and chairs et al) – $4,000.
• The cost of Launching a Website – $600
• The cost for our grand opening party – $5,000
• Miscellaneous – $5,000

We would need an estimate of $150,000 to successfully launch a medium but standard and well – equipped board game café in the United States of America.

Generating Startup Capital for Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is a family business that will be owned and managed by Mr. Edward Grant and his immediate family members. They decided to restrict the sourcing of the startup capital for the business to just three major sources.

• Generate part of the startup capital from personal savings and sale of his stocks
• Generate part of the startup capital from friends and other extended family members
• Generate a larger chunk of the startup capital from the bank (loan facility).

N.B: We have been able to generate about $50,000 (Personal savings $30,000 and soft loan from family members $20,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $100,000 from our bank. All the papers and documents have been duly signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the number of loyal customers that they have, the capacity and competence of their employees, their investment strategy and business structure. If all these factors are missing from a business, then it won’t be too long before the business closes shop.

One of our major goals of starting Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC is to build a business that will survive off its own cash flow without injecting finance from external sources once the business is officially running.

We know that one of the ways of gaining approval and winning customers over in our board game café is to equip our facility with state of the art board games, make our facility highly secured, make our fee highly subsidized and make available various payment options.

Edward Grant® Board Game Café, LLC will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that our staff welfare are well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of ten years or more. We know that if we implement all that is stated above, we will be able to hire and retain the best hands we can get in the industry; they will be more committed to help us build the business of our dreams.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check : Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Acquiring facility and remodeling the facility to fit into a standard board game café: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Printing of Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the needed board games and accessories, electronic appliances, office appliances, etc: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: Completed
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and in the neighborhood: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party planning: In Progress

How to Start a Board Game Company

Many people enjoy playing board games with family and friends. Board game businesses design and make board games for people to play.

Despite the growth of online platforms, the board game industry continues to remain strong. It’s grown since 2013, and the industry almost broke $20 billion in sales in 2022.

You may also be interested in additional low cost business ideas .

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? We recommend forming an LLC as it is the most affordable way to protect your personal assets. You can do this yourself or with our trusted partner for a small fee. Northwest ($29 + State Fees) DIY: How to Start an LLC

Start a board game company by following these 10 steps:

• Plan your Board Game Company
• Form your Board Game Company into a Legal Entity
• Register your Board Game Company for Taxes
• Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
• Set up Accounting for your Board Game Company
• Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Board Game Company
• Get Board Game Company Insurance
• Define your Board Game Company Brand
• Create your Board Game Company Website
• Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your board game company. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas .

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

What will you name your business?

• What are the startup and ongoing costs?
• Who is your target market?

How much can you charge customers?

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Board Game Company Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship , you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name , we recommend researching your business name by checking:

• Your state's business records
• Federal and state trademark records
• Social media platforms
• Web domain availability .

It's very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

Find a Domain Now

Powered by godaddy.com, what are the costs involved in opening a board game company.

The costs of starting up a board game business are fairly low, although they are significant. It usually takes $18,00 to $20,000 to get a game made and start a business, but some businesses start with lower or higher costs. One board game business on Kickstarter initially asked for £50,000 in initial startup funds  (about $69,200) , while another board game business began with upfront costs of just $1,000 AUD  (about $738 USD) .

Assuming a business owner has friends who are willing to test a game for free, the biggest expenses are:

• Trademarking and copyrighting the game
• Hiring an artist to make the artwork
• Manufacturing the game

The costs for an artist can vary greatly, depending on the level of detail required and the experience an artist has. Manufacturing costs often run between $7 and $25 per unit , although larger orders can bring per-unit costs much lower.

What are the ongoing expenses for a board game company?

Ongoing expenses for a board game business include storage costs for games that haven’t been sold yet and manufacturing costs of new units. Business owners can keep storage costs low by storing unsold games themselves. Manufacturing costs for more units can be funded by sales of in-stock units.

Who is the target market?

Board games appeal to a broad demographic. Even millennials are playing lots of non-digital games.

Most board game businesses, however, focus in on a particular demographic that they want to develop games for. For instance, a business might make party games for social outings, strategy games geared towards thinkers or generational games based on certain decades.

How does a board game company make money?

A board game business makes money by selling its finished board games. Games may be sold directly to customers at retail prices or to resellers at wholesale prices.

According to The Board Game Family , board games can sell for as little as $10 or as much as $70. Many games, however, cost around $30 retail.

When calculating price, business owners should try to make their game’s retail price four times the per-unit product costs. This will help ensure a business is profitable.

How much profit can a board game company make?

A successful board game business can make tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. If a game sells for $30 per copy, selling just 1,000 games would generate a revenue of $30,000. In some cases, businesses are much more successful than this. One board game raised over $12 million on Kickstarter.

How can you make your business more profitable?

A board game business can increase its profitability by creating expansion packs that customers can purchase for an additional fee. Alternatively, board game business owners can create a blog on board games.

A few board game businesses have been developed into video games or apps, but this requires a significant investment in developing digital resources.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC's free Small Business Startup Guide - a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your board game company is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they're a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business's debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business's liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your board game company were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

More than 84% of our readers opt to collaborate with a professional LLC formation service to kickstart their venture. We've negotiated a tailored discount for our readers, bringing the total down to just $29.

Form Your LLC Now

Note: If you're interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website . If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil .

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

• Separates your personal assets from your company's assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
• Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

• Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business' expenses all in one place.
• Build your company's credit history , which can be useful to raise money later on.

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a board game company. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits .

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses .

Trademark & Copyright Protection

If you are developing a unique product, concept, brand, or design, it is prudent to protect your rights by registering for the appropriate trademarks and copyrights.

Learn more about trademark and copyright protection

The nature of legal requirements in distance education is ever changing, especially in regards to copyright laws. Here is a frequently updated resource, which can help keep you aware of the legal requirements .

Here are two great links on boardgame licensing to publishers:

• License 101 for Board Games
• Board Game Licensing Contracts

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance . This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance . If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers' Compensation Coverage.

FInd out what types of insurance your Board Game Company needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Board Game Company.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you aren't feeling confident about designing your small business logo, then check out our Design Guides for Beginners , we'll give you helpful tips and advice for creating the best unique logo for your business.

Recommended : Get a logo using Truic's free logo Generator no email or sign up required, or use a Premium Logo Maker .

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator . Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a board game company

Board games can be effectively marketed by soliciting reviews from bloggers and other reviewers. Many reviewers will write up a review for a free copy of the game, and their review will share the game with board game enthusiasts.

How to keep customers coming back

A board game business can set itself apart from other games on the market by winning awards. Even winning a small competition can help boost sales if a seal is displayed on the game’s packaging.

For this reason, business owners ought to enter their games into as many competitions as possible.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business .

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

• All legitimate businesses have websites - full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
• Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
• Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended : Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders .

Other popular website builders are: WordPress , WIX , Weebly , Squarespace , and Shopify .

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2023 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it's fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

People who are passionate about board games may enjoy owning a board game business. Developing a good board game that people will want to play requires testing and retesting a game design many times. Therefore, only those who like playing board games should try developing one.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a board game company?

Each board game that a business develops has three distinct phases:

• the development phase, which involves testing the gameplay and designing the game’s components
• the manufacturing phase, which involves actually making the physical board game
• the selling phase, which involves marketing and selling the game

During each of these phases, the focus of a business shifts. Development involves a lot of playing and replaying, as well as conceptual design work to create the pieces and artwork. When manufacturing, there are many logistical items to see to. Once a game is on the market, selling requires advertising a game and connecting with potential players.

Businesses that have multiple games in production may be involved in each of these three phases simultaneously. Those that only develop one game will be focusing on one stage at a time.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful board game company?

In order to successfully design a board game, it’s important to be familiar with the different types of board games. David Silverman has a post on board game design that includes a helpful list of different styles of games (e.g. Euro-style games, family games and deck-building games).

There are also several online courses for game design, including ones from MIT , EDX and Coursera . Not all of these courses are specific to board games, but many of the principles taught apply to games of all types.

Many board game business owners also participate in online forums where they can share ideas and get inspiration. BoardGameGeek and Board Game Designers Forum are two popular forums.

What is the growth potential for a board game company?

A board game business may be a small operation that has just one game, or it can be a major international company that has many games created by multiple designers. Cardboard Edison , which has two games, is an example of a small-time board game business. Cards Against Humanity is another, having one main game and several add-on packs of cards. Hasbro is one of the largest board game publishers.

TRUiC's YouTube Channel

For fun informative videos about starting a business visit the TRUiC YouTube Channel or subscribe to view later.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor.

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a board game company?

Many board game business owners launch their businesses on a crowdfunding site. In fact, more money has been raised for board games than for video games on Kickstarter.

Launching a business on a crowdfunding site not only lets business owners collect funds that can be used to pay for manufacturing expenses, but it also helps generate buzz around a game. The publicity of a crowdfunding campaign can create momentum that will generate more sales.

How and when to build a team

Many board game businesses have just a few employees. Rather than hiring artists as employees, business owners typically give them contract work. For fulfillment, most business owners either fulfill orders themselves or outsource the work to a warehouse.

Useful Links

Industry opportunities.

• Board Game Designer Forum
• Explore more Unique Business Ideas
• Board Game Geek
• List of Manufacturers of Game Parts or Whole Game

Real World Examples

• Total Strategy Games
• Cardboard Edison
• Cards Against Humanity
• The Metagame
• Stop Reading and Go Build Your Own Board Game

Further Reading

• How To Learn Board Game Design and Development
• Audio: How to Start a Board Game Company

Have a Question? Leave a Comment!

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Business Plan for a Game Cafu00e9

By alex ryzhkov, get full bundle.

Welcome to our blog post on how to write a business plan for a board game cafe! If you're thinking about starting your own board game cafe, you're in luck. The board game industry is currently experiencing a surge in popularity, with the global board games market expected to reach a value of $12 billion by 2025. With such a promising industry outlook, it's the perfect time to dive into the exciting world of board game cafes and create a space where gamers and enthusiasts can come together to enjoy their favorite games.

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• What Are The Reasons For The Failure Of Board Game Cafe Businesses?
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• Board Game Cafe Owner Earnings: A Revealing Look
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• How Much Does It Cost To Set Up A Board Game Cafe?
• Board Game Cafe: Assessing Its Worth

In order to set up a successful board game cafe, it's important to have a well-thought-out business plan in place. This plan will serve as your roadmap, guiding you through the various steps involved in starting and running your cafe. From conducting market research to securing funding, there are several crucial elements that need to be considered. By following our 9-step checklist, you'll be well-equipped to turn your board game cafe dream into a reality.

First and foremost, conducting market research is essential. This step involves gathering information about the current board game industry, market trends, and customer preferences. By understanding the demand for board game cafes in your area and identifying potential customer segments, you'll be able to tailor your offerings to meet their needs.

Once you have a clear understanding of your target market, it's time to identify potential locations for your board game cafe. This step involves analyzing factors such as foot traffic, proximity to other businesses, and the overall suitability of the area for your concept. Remember, the location of your cafe can play a significant role in its success.

After identifying potential locations, it's important to analyze the competition in the area. Understanding who your competitors are and what they offer will help you differentiate your cafe and create a unique value proposition. Consider factors such as pricing, menu offerings, ambiance, and customer service.

Next, it's time to determine your concept and menu offerings. Think about the overall vibe you want to create in your board game cafe and the types of board games you want to offer. Additionally, consider providing snacks and drinks to generate additional revenue.

Now that you have a clear vision for your board game cafe, it's time to develop a financial plan. This step involves estimating your startup costs, projecting your monthly expenses and revenue, and creating a budget that allows for both growth and contingencies.

With a financial plan in place, the next step is to secure funding or financing for your board game cafe. Whether you're self-funding, seeking investors, or applying for a small business loan, it's important to have a solid plan and financial projections to demonstrate the viability of your venture.

Once you have secured funding, it's time to create a marketing plan. This step involves identifying your target audience, determining the best channels to reach them, and creating a compelling brand message. Consider utilizing social media, local advertising, and community outreach to spread the word about your board game cafe.

Finally, it's essential to set up an operational plan for your board game cafe. This step involves outlining your day-to-day operations, staffing requirements, and developing efficient systems to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for your customers.

By following these 9 steps, you'll be well on your way to writing a comprehensive and effective business plan for your board game cafe. Remember, thorough planning and careful execution are key to the success of any business. So, roll the dice and get started on your board game cafe journey!

Conduct Market Research

Before diving into the exciting process of starting a board game cafe, it's crucial to conduct thorough market research. This step will provide valuable insights into the current market trends, customer preferences, and potential opportunities and challenges you may encounter along the way.

Market analysis: Begin by researching the board game industry as a whole. Understand the popularity of different types of board games, the growth potential, and any emerging trends. Determine whether there is a demand for board game cafes in your target area.

Identify your target audience: A board game cafe caters to a wide range of customers, from families and casual players to board game enthusiasts. Clearly define your target market to ensure your offerings align with their preferences and interests.

Local demographics: Assess the demographics of the area where you plan to open your board game cafe. Consider factors such as population density, age groups, income levels, and cultural diversity. This information will help you tailor your business to meet the needs of your potential customers.

Competition: Evaluate the existing board game cafes or similar businesses in your target area. Analyze their strengths, weaknesses, and unique selling points. This analysis will guide you in differentiating your board game cafe and providing a unique experience for customers.

• Engage with board gaming communities, both online and offline, to gather insights, feedback, and suggestions on what customers would like to see in a board game cafe.
• Visit existing board game cafes or attend board game events to observe the atmosphere, customer interactions, and game selections.
• Reach out to potential customers through surveys or focus groups to gain a deeper understanding of their preferences and expectations.

Define Your Target Market

Defining your target market is crucial for the success of your board game cafe. It helps you tailor your offerings, marketing strategies, and overall customer experience to attract and retain the right audience. Consider the following steps when defining your target market:

• Identify demographics: Begin by identifying the key demographic characteristics of your potential customers. This includes factors such as age, gender, income level, and occupation. Understanding these demographics will guide your decisions on game selection, pricing, and even the overall atmosphere of your cafe.
• Understand interests and preferences: To attract board game enthusiasts, it is essential to understand their interests and preferences. Conduct surveys, engage with online communities, and attend local gaming events to gain insights into the types of games your target market enjoys and the experiences they seek. This knowledge will help you curate a diverse and engaging game collection.
• Consider location: Your target market is influenced by the area where your board game cafe will be located. Research the local community and assess its composition, interests, and cultural dynamics. For example, if your target market includes families with children, a location near schools or residential areas might be ideal.
• Identify niche markets: Apart from the general board game enthusiasts, consider potential niche markets that can bring in additional revenue. This could include hosting game nights for corporate groups, organizing tournaments for competitive players, or catering to specific gaming communities such as tabletop role-playing enthusiasts.

Tips for defining your target market:

• Focus on a specific target market segment rather than trying to appeal to everyone. This will help you refine your offerings and marketing messages.
• Stay updated on current trends and shifts in the board game industry to anticipate changes in your target market's preferences.
• Regularly engage with your target market through social media, online forums, and local gaming events to build relationships and gather feedback.

Identify Potential Locations

When establishing a board game cafe, the location plays a crucial role in the overall success of your business. Finding the right location involves analyzing various factors such as foot traffic, accessibility, and target market concentration.

1. Research high-traffic areas: Look for locations with high foot traffic, preferably in busy commercial or entertainment districts. These areas can attract more customers and increase the visibility of your board game cafe.

2. Consider accessibility: Ensure that the potential location is easily accessible for your target audience. It should have convenient transportation links, including access to parking lots or public transportation.

3. Evaluate target market concentration: Research the demographics and interests of your target market. Look for locations where your target audience resides or frequents. For example, if your primary demographic is young adults or college students, consider locations near universities or residential areas with a vibrant social scene.

4. Analyze the competition: Assess the presence of existing board game cafes or similar businesses in the area. Identifying potential competitors can help you determine if there is enough demand for another board game cafe or if it would be more profitable to search for an untapped market.

• Visit potential locations during different times of the day and week to assess foot traffic and activity levels.
• Consider the proximity of complementary businesses, such as bookstores or hobby shops, which can attract potential customers to your cafe.
• Think about the size of the space you will need to accommodate the desired number of board games and seating capacity.

Identifying potential locations for your board game cafe may require thorough research and evaluation. It is crucial to find a location that aligns with your target market and offers favorable conditions for your business to thrive.

Analyze The Competition

Before opening a board game cafe, it is crucial to analyze the competition in your desired location. By doing so, you can gain valuable insights into the market, identify unique selling points, and develop strategies to differentiate your business. Here are some important steps to analyze the competition:

• Research existing board game cafes: Begin by identifying the board game cafes in the area you plan to operate. Visit their locations, explore their game selections, and examine their customer experience. This will give you a firsthand understanding of what they offer and how you can stand out.
• Evaluate their menu offerings: Take a close look at the food and drink options offered by your competitors. Assess the variety, quality, and pricing to determine how you can create a unique and appealing menu for your own cafe.
• Track customer reviews: Monitor online platforms and review sites to gauge customer satisfaction and identify areas where competitors may be falling short. Look for common complaints or suggestions to learn from their mistakes and enhance your own offerings.
• Analyze pricing strategies: Compare the pricing models of the existing board game cafes. This analysis will help you determine competitive pricing points while considering your own cost structure and desired profit margins.
• Identify gaps in the market: Look for opportunities where competitors might be lacking in certain aspects. It could be a limited game selection, insufficient atmosphere, or a lack of special events. By identifying these gaps, you can tailor your business to meet the untapped needs of potential customers.

Tips for Analyzing the Competition:

• Visit board game conventions or events where similar businesses showcase their offerings to gain insights into industry trends and best practices.
• Engage with the local board gaming community to understand their preferences and expectations, which can help you position your business more effectively.
• Consider conducting surveys or focus groups to gather direct feedback from potential customers about their preferences and experiences with existing board game cafes.

Determine Your Concept And Menu Offerings

Once you have conducted market research, defined your target market, identified potential locations, and analyzed the competition, it's time to determine your concept and menu offerings for your board game cafe. This step is crucial in setting your cafe apart from the competition and creating a unique experience for your customers.

Your concept refers to the overall theme and atmosphere of your board game cafe. Think about what kind of vibe you want to create and how you want your customers to feel when they walk through your doors. Are you aiming for a cozy and nostalgic ambiance or a modern and trendy atmosphere? Your concept should align with your target market and their preferences.

When it comes to menu offerings, consider offering a variety of snacks and drinks that complement the board game experience. While the focus is on the games, having a well-curated menu can enhance the overall customer experience and provide additional revenue streams for your business.

Here are a few tips to help you determine your concept and menu offerings:

• Research board game cafes: Look at existing board game cafes and see what concepts and menu offerings they have. This can serve as inspiration for your own unique ideas.
• Consider dietary restrictions: Ensure that your menu offers options for customers with various dietary restrictions, such as vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free options.
• Facilitate sharing: Board games often involve group play, so consider offering menu items that are shareable and easy to eat while playing.
• Create theme-based food and drinks: To enhance the immersive experience, you can design food and drinks inspired by popular board games or their themes.
• Offer a range of pricing options: Have menu items at different price points to cater to various customer budgets.

Remember, your concept and menu offerings should align with the preferences of your target market and create a memorable experience for your customers. Take the time to carefully plan and develop these aspects of your board game cafe to set yourself up for success.

Develop A Financial Plan

Developing a sound financial plan is crucial for the success of your board game cafe. It will help you determine the feasibility of your business idea and ensure that you have a clear understanding of your financial goals and how to achieve them. Here are some important steps to consider when developing your financial plan:

• Estimate startup costs: Begin by identifying all the costs involved in setting up your board game cafe. This includes expenses such as lease or purchase of property, renovations, furniture, equipment, licensing fees, inventory, marketing, and staff salaries. Having a detailed estimate of your startup costs will help you determine how much funding you need to secure.
• Forecast revenue and expenses: Project your expected revenue and expenses for at least the first year of operation. Estimate your revenue based on factors like your pricing strategy, target market size, and average customer spending. Break down your expenses into categories such as rent, utilities, inventory, payroll, marketing, and maintenance. This will give you a clear picture of your financial outlook and help you make informed business decisions.
• Consider different revenue streams: Besides the pay-to-play model, explore additional sources of revenue, such as offering food and beverages. Conduct market research to determine the potential demand for these additional offerings and include them in your financial projections. This will help diversify your income and increase your chances of profitability.
• Create a sales and marketing strategy: A well-defined sales and marketing strategy is essential for attracting customers to your board game cafe. Consider how you will promote your business, reach your target market, and differentiate yourself from competitors. Allocate a budget for marketing activities and factor it into your financial plan.
• Seek funding or financing: Once you have estimated your startup costs and projected your financials, you may need to secure funding or financing to cover any gaps. This could involve seeking loans from financial institutions, finding investors, or exploring grants and subsidies. Prepare a compelling business plan and financial forecast to demonstrate the viability and potential return on investment of your board game cafe.
• Consider including a cushion for unforeseen expenses in your financial plan.
• Regularly review and update your financial plan as your business progresses to ensure its accuracy.
• Consult with a professional accountant or financial advisor to validate your financial projections and ensure compliance with financial regulations.

Secure Funding or Financing

Once you have developed a robust financial plan, the next step is to secure funding or financing for your board game cafe. This is a critical step in turning your business idea into a reality and ensuring you have the necessary resources to cover start-up costs and ongoing expenses.

Here are some important points to consider when securing funding or financing for your board game cafe:

• Research funding options: Explore different funding options available to you, such as traditional bank loans, small business grants, crowdfunding platforms, or partnerships with investors. Research each option thoroughly to determine which aligns best with your business goals and financial needs.
• Create a well-prepared business plan: Before approaching potential lenders or investors, ensure that you have a comprehensive and professionally crafted business plan in place. This document should highlight your market research, financial projections, competitive analysis, and marketing strategy. It should present a clear and compelling case for why your board game cafe is an attractive investment opportunity.
• Seek financial support: Approach banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions to explore loan options. Present your business plan and demonstrate how your board game cafe will be a profitable venture. Additionally, consider seeking support from small business organizations or government agencies that offer grants or loans specifically for entrepreneurs in the food and beverage industry.
• Consider alternative financing methods: If traditional funding options are not feasible or sufficient, you can also explore alternative financing methods. Crowdfunding platforms, like Kickstarter or Indiegogo, allow you to raise funds from a large number of individuals who are interested in supporting your business concept. You can offer rewards or incentives in return for their financial contributions.
• Build relationships with potential investors: If you are open to partnering with investors, attend networking events, pitch competitions, or industry conferences to make connections with individuals who have an interest in the food and beverage sector. Present your business idea confidently and articulate the potential return on investment they can expect. Building strong relationships can be invaluable in securing the necessary funding for your board game cafe.
• Prepare a detailed budget that clearly outlines your start-up costs, monthly expenses, and anticipated revenue. This will help potential lenders or investors assess the financial viability of your board game cafe.
• Be realistic and conservative in your financial projections. Err on the side of caution when estimating revenue and expenses to demonstrate that you have thoroughly considered potential risks and challenges.
• Consider offering incentives or equity stakes to potential investors to make your board game cafe an attractive investment opportunity. This can help attract funding and foster a sense of shared ownership.

By securing the necessary funding or financing for your board game cafe, you can ensure that you have the financial resources to bring your business plan to life and create an inviting space for board game enthusiasts to gather and enjoy their favorite games.

Create A Marketing Plan

Once you have defined your business concept and finalized your menu offerings, it's time to develop a comprehensive marketing plan to ensure the success of your board game cafe. A well-executed marketing strategy will help you effectively reach your target market, generate buzz, and attract customers.

Here are some important steps to consider when creating your marketing plan:

• Identify your target audience: Determine the demographic profile of your ideal customers. Are they families, college students, or young professionals? Understanding your target market will help you tailor your marketing efforts to reach them effectively.
• Utilize digital marketing: In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Create a user-friendly website, optimize it for search engines, and utilize social media platforms to engage with potential customers. Consider paid online advertising and email marketing to further boost your visibility.
• Host events and promotions: Gamers love events and promotions. Consider hosting board game tournaments, themed nights, or offering discounts during slower periods. These initiatives can attract new customers and create a sense of community around your board game cafe.
• Collaborate with influencers: Reach out to influential bloggers, vloggers, or social media personalities who have a following in the gaming community. Offer them a complimentary visit to your cafe in exchange for an honest review or promotion on their platforms.
• Partner with local organizations: Forge partnerships with local schools, community centers, or gaming clubs to create mutually beneficial opportunities. Offer special discounts to their members or organize joint events to expand your reach and establish your board game cafe as an active community member.
• Collect customer feedback: Encourage your customers to provide feedback and reviews. This will not only help you improve your services but also serve as social proof for potential customers who are considering visiting your cafe.

Pro Marketing Tips:

• Offer a loyalty program to incentivize repeat visits and reward your most loyal customers.
• Consider partnering with local board game designers or publishers to showcase and promote their games in your cafe.
• Engage with the gaming community by attending conventions, hosting game nights, or sponsoring local gaming events.

By creating a well-rounded marketing plan that incorporates both online and offline strategies, you can effectively promote your board game cafe and attract your target market. Remember to track the results of your marketing efforts and make adjustments as needed to optimize your success.

Set Up An Operational Plan

Once you have completed the previous steps, it is time to set up an operational plan for your board game cafe. This plan will outline the day-to-day processes and procedures that will guide your business operations.

1. Staffing: Determine the number of employees you will need to run your board game cafe efficiently. Consider roles such as game masters, waitstaff, kitchen staff, and cashiers. Hire individuals who are knowledgeable about board games and possess excellent customer service skills.

2. Training: Provide thorough training for your staff to ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to assist customers, handle game setups and explanations, and manage food and beverage service.

3. Game Inventory: Create a system to manage your game inventory and ensure all pieces are complete and in good condition. Implement a checkout system to keep track of games that are being borrowed by customers.

4. Game Library Organization: Organize your game library in a way that is accessible and easy for customers to navigate. Consider categorizing games by player count, difficulty level, and genre.

5. Reservation System: Implement a reservation system to allow customers to book table time in advance. This will help you manage your space and ensure a smooth flow of customers.

• Consider offering themed game nights or tournaments to attract a larger customer base.
• Regularly update and expand your game collection to keep customers engaged and interested.
• Establish clear policies regarding food and drink consumption at the gaming tables.
• Implement a feedback system to gather insights from customers and continuously improve your operations.

6. Health and Safety protocols: Develop and implement strict health and safety protocols to ensure the well-being of your staff and customers. This may include regular cleaning and sanitization, as well as adhering to local health regulations.

7. Point of Sale System: Choose a reliable point of sale system that can effectively process transactions, track sales, and manage inventory. This will streamline your business operations and improve efficiency.

8. Customer Service: Train your staff to provide exceptional customer service. Encourage them to be friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable about the games and menu offerings. Encourage feedback from customers to identify areas for improvement.

9. Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and evaluate your operational plan to identify areas for improvement. Seek feedback from both customers and employees to ensure you are meeting their needs and expectations.

By setting up a comprehensive operational plan, you will be able to efficiently manage the day-to-day operations of your board game cafe and provide an enjoyable and memorable experience for your customers.

In conclusion, writing a business plan for a board game cafe involves several key steps that are essential for success. By conducting market research, defining your target market, identifying potential locations, analyzing the competition, determining your concept and menu offerings, developing a financial plan, securing funding or financing, creating a marketing plan, and setting up an operational plan, you can ensure that your board game cafe is well-prepared and positioned for profitability.

Market research helps you understand the demand for board game cafes and allows you to tailor your offerings to meet the needs of your target market. Identifying potential locations and analyzing the competition helps you choose the best location and differentiate your business from others in the area.

Developing a financial plan, securing funding or financing, and creating a marketing plan are crucial for establishing and sustaining your board game cafe. These steps ensure that you have the necessary resources and strategies to attract customers and generate revenue.

Finally, setting up an operational plan ensures that your board game cafe runs smoothly and efficiently. This includes determining operating hours, hiring staff, and implementing systems for managing inventory and customer service.

By following these nine steps and using this checklist, you can create a comprehensive and effective business plan for your board game cafe, setting the foundation for a successful and profitable venture.

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Board Game Business Plan Template & Guidebook

Are you an aspiring board game entrepreneur looking to get ahead in the business world? The #1 Board Game Business Plan Template & Guidebook provides a comprehensive guide to help you develop a strong business plan that will set you up for success. With step-by-step instructions, helpful tips and advice, and sample template documents, this guidebook provides all the tools and resources necessary to build the perfect board game business plan.

Get worry-free services and support to launch your business starting at $0 plus state fees.

• How to Start a Profitable Board Game Business [11 Steps]
• 25 Catchy Board Game Business Names:
• List of the Best Marketing Ideas For Your Board Game Store:

How to Write a Board Game Business Plan in 7 Steps:

1. describe the purpose of your board game business..

The first step to writing your business plan is to describe the purpose of your board game business. This includes describing why you are starting this type of business, and what problems it will solve for customers. This is a quick way to get your mind thinking about the customers’ problems. It also helps you identify what makes your business different from others in its industry.

It also helps to include a vision statement so that readers can understand what type of company you want to build.

Here is an example of a purpose mission statement for a board game business:

Our mission at [Board Game Company] is to create high-quality, interactive board games that stimulate critical thinking and bring families and friends together in shared entertainment experiences that are memorable and timeless.

2. Products & Services Offered by Your Board Game Business.

The next step is to outline your products and services for your board game business. 

When you think about the products and services that you offer, it's helpful to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my business?
• What are the products and/or services that I offer?
• Why am I offering these particular products and/or services?
• How do I differentiate myself from competitors with similar offerings?
• How will I market my products and services?

You may want to do a comparison of your business plan against those of other competitors in the area, or even with online reviews. This way, you can find out what people like about them and what they don’t like, so that you can either improve upon their offerings or avoid doing so altogether.

3. Build a Creative Marketing Stratgey.

If you don't have a marketing plan for your board game business, it's time to write one. Your marketing plan should be part of your business plan and be a roadmap to your goals. 

A good marketing plan for your board game business includes the following elements:

Target market

• Who is your target market?
• What do these customers have in common?
• How many of them are there?
• How can you best reach them with your message or product?

Customer base 

• Who are your current customers? 
• Where did they come from (i.e., referrals)?
• How can their experience with your board game business help make them repeat customers, consumers, visitors, subscribers, or advocates for other people in their network or industry who might also benefit from using this service, product, or brand?

Product or service description

• How does it work, what features does it have, and what are its benefits?
• Can anyone use this product or service regardless of age or gender?
• Can anyone visually see themselves using this product or service?
• How will they feel when they do so? If so, how long will the feeling last after purchasing (or trying) the product/service for the first time?

Competitive analysis

• Which companies are competing with yours today (and why)? 
• Which ones may enter into competition with yours tomorrow if they find out about it now through word-of-mouth advertising; social media networks; friends' recommendations; etc.)
• What specific advantages does each competitor offer over yours currently?

Marketing channels

• Which marketing channel do you intend to leverage to attract new customers?
• What is your estimated marketing budget needed?
• What is the projected cost to acquire a new customer?
• How many of your customers do you instead will return?

Form an LLC in your state!

4. Write Your Operational Plan.

Next, you'll need to build your operational plan. This section describes the type of business you'll be running, and includes the steps involved in your operations. 

In it, you should list:

• The equipment and facilities needed
• Who will be involved in the business (employees, contractors)
• Financial requirements for each step
• Milestones & KPIs
• Location of your business
• Zoning & permits required for the business

What equipment, supplies, or permits are needed to run a board game business?

• Board games
• A space to run the business
• Any required permits (such as a business permit, health permit, etc.)
• Business cards, flyers and other promotional materials
• Marketing materials
• Website and/or social media accounts for promoting the business
• Point-of-sale equipment such as cash register, credit card readers, etc.
• Inventory tracking system and software
• "How to Play" instructions or tutorial videos
• Money management systems (i.e. invoicing software)

5. Management & Organization of Your Board Game Business.

The second part of your board game business plan is to develop a management and organization section.

This section will cover all of the following:

• How many employees you need in order to run your board game business. This should include the roles they will play (for example, one person may be responsible for managing administrative duties while another might be in charge of customer service).
• The structure of your management team. The higher-ups like yourself should be able to delegate tasks through lower-level managers who are directly responsible for their given department (inventory and sales, etc.).
• How you’re going to make sure that everyone on board is doing their job well. You’ll want check-ins with employees regularly so they have time to ask questions or voice concerns if needed; this also gives you time to offer support where necessary while staying informed on how things are going within individual departments too!

6. Board Game Business Startup Expenses & Captial Needed.

This section should be broken down by month and year. If you are still in the planning stage of your business, it may be helpful to estimate how much money will be needed each month until you reach profitability.

Typically, expenses for your business can be broken into a few basic categories:

Startup Costs

Startup costs are typically the first expenses you will incur when beginning an enterprise. These include legal fees, accounting expenses, and other costs associated with getting your business off the ground. The amount of money needed to start a board game business varies based on many different variables, but below are a few different types of startup costs for a board game business.

Running & Operating Costs

Running costs refer to ongoing expenses related directly with operating your business over time like electricity bills or salaries paid out each month. These types of expenses will vary greatly depending on multiple variables such as location, team size, utility costs, etc.

Marketing & Sales Expenses

You should include any costs associated with marketing and sales, such as advertising and promotions, website design or maintenance. Also, consider any additional expenses that may be incurred if you decide to launch a new product or service line. For example, if your board game business has an existing website that needs an upgrade in order to sell more products or services, then this should be listed here.

7. Financial Plan & Projections

A financial plan is an important part of any business plan, as it outlines how the business will generate revenue and profit, and how it will use that profit to grow and sustain itself. To devise a financial plan for your board game business, you will need to consider a number of factors, including your start-up costs, operating costs, projected revenue, and expenses. 

Here are some steps you can follow to devise a financial plan for your board game business plan:

• Determine your start-up costs: This will include the cost of purchasing or leasing the space where you will operate your business, as well as the cost of buying or leasing any equipment or supplies that you need to start the business.
• Estimate your operating costs: Operating costs will include utilities, such as electricity, gas, and water, as well as labor costs for employees, if any, and the cost of purchasing any materials or supplies that you will need to run your business.
• Project your revenue: To project your revenue, you will need to consider the number of customers you expect to have and the average amount they will spend on each visit. You can use this information to estimate how much money you will make from selling your products or services.
• Estimate your expenses: In addition to your operating costs, you will need to consider other expenses, such as insurance, marketing, and maintenance. You will also need to set aside money for taxes and other fees.
• Create a budget: Once you have estimated your start-up costs, operating costs, revenue, and expenses, you can use this information to create a budget for your business. This will help you to see how much money you will need to start the business, and how much profit you can expect to make.
• Develop a plan for using your profit: Finally, you will need to decide how you will use your profit to grow and sustain your business. This might include investing in new equipment, expanding the business, or saving for a rainy day.

Frequently Asked Questions About Board Game Business Plans:

Why do you need a business plan for a board game business.

A business plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the goals and strategies of a business. It provides a roadmap and serves as a guide to help entrepreneurs successfully launch and grow their board game business. A business plan helps to clarify objectives, identify potential risks and opportunities, and assess the financial feasibility of the board game business. It can also help entrepreneurs secure funding from investors or lenders.

Who should you ask for help with your board game business plan?

An experienced entrepreneur or business consultant would be the best person to consult for help with your board game business plan. You can also reach out to local business networking groups, such as SCORE, for advice and guidance. Additionally, most major cities have small business development centers that provide free workshops and resources to help entrepreneurs and small business owners develop a viable business plan.

Can you write a board game business plan yourself?

Yes, it is possible to write a board game business plan yourself by researching the topic and understanding the structure of a business plan. Depending on the complexity of the board game, you may want to include sections on market research, competitive analysis, product development, financial projections, marketing strategies, and risk management. Additionally, it is important to familiarize yourself with how investors look at a business plan and what information they need in order to make a decision about investing in your board game.

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Through meticulous research and firsthand experience, I uncover the essential steps, software, tools, and costs associated with launching and maintaining a successful business. By demystifying the complexities of entrepreneurship, I provide the guidance and support needed for others to embark on their journey with confidence.

From assessing market viability and formulating business plans to selecting the right technology and navigating the financial landscape, I am dedicated to helping fellow entrepreneurs overcome challenges and unlock their full potential. As a steadfast advocate for small business success, my mission is to pave the way for a new generation of innovative and driven entrepreneurs who are ready to make their mark on the world.

Step-by-Step: Starting Your Own Board Game Cafe

Main Sections In This Post Steps To Starting A Board Game Cafe Points to Consider Resources Knowledge Is Power Featured Video

Welcome to the world of board game cafes! This post provides a comprehensive guide on owning and operating a board game cafe and a step-by-step plan.

We’ve also compiled valuable resources to support you throughout the startup phase and when your cafe is up and running.

Don’t forget to bookmark this page for future reference, and feel free to share it with others who might find it helpful!

Let’s get started with the steps.

Steps to Starting a Board Game Cafe

1. gaining an overview of what you’re getting into.

In board game cafes, valuable insights await to guide your decision-making process.

Take your time to carefully consider key points before venturing into the exciting startup phase, ensuring a solid foundation for your endeavor.

Is Starting a Board Game Cafe the Right Step for You?

Apologies for the oversight. Here’s the revised response without using the word “realm”:

The Power of Passion in Board Game Cafes

In the world of board game cafes, an essential factor for achieving success lies within yourself! Understanding your personal sentiments towards owning and operating a business holds utmost importance.

Passion Fuels Triumph

Passion, a vital element, serves as the driving force behind triumph. When challenges arise, a passionate entrepreneur seeks solutions, while those without it seek an escape.

Assessing Your Enthusiasm

So, how enthusiastic are you about owning a board game cafe? Let’s explore an intriguing perspective.

Imagining Unlimited Possibilities

Envision your life without limitations and abundant wealth to sustain you indefinitely. In such a scenario, where money isn’t a factor, would you choose to establish a board game cafe?

Passion as a Guide

If your affirmative answer signifies your unwavering dedication to owning and operating a board game cafe, pointing you in the right direction. However, if your response is negative, it prompts another question:

Exploring Alternative Paths

What alternative path do you envision? Perhaps, it’s worth considering pursuing that path instead.

Emphasizing the Importance of Passion

To summarize, unwavering passion for your chosen endeavor is essential for success in the board game cafe industry.

For More, See How Passion Affects Your Business . Also, see, Considerations Before You Start Your Business to identify key points for a new business owner.

2. Gaining an Overview of Owning a Board Game Cafe

Next, let’s spend some time on key issues to give you an overview of what to expect from owning and running your business.

a.) A Quick Overview of Owning a Board Game Cafe

What is a Board Game Cafe?

A board game cafe combines the elements of a traditional coffee shop with the added feature of board games. Customers can enjoy their beverages and snacks while playing a variety of board games, from vintage favorites to modern classics.

Day-to-Day Operations

Running a board game cafe involves many tasks. Core daily responsibilities include managing food and board game inventory, handling staff schedules, ensuring the venue’s cleanliness and safety, and overseeing financial components such as cash flow and revenue tracking.

Keys to Success

Building a Customer Base :

Attracting and retaining a loyal customer base is crucial. This can be accomplished by fostering a welcoming environment and offering a broad selection of games.

Events like game nights or tournaments can also help attract a regular clientele.

Staff Management :

Efficient, courteous, and game-savvy staff are important.

They should be ready to assist customers and enhance their overall experience at the cafe.

Cash Flow Management :

Careful attention to your cafe’s finances is necessary. This includes balancing the cost of inventory, rent, and salaries against the revenue from sales.

Keeping Up with Technology :

It’s important to stay updated with the latest technology. Modern Point of Sale (POS) systems, maintaining an up-to-date website, and having a strong presence on social media can greatly help your business.

Handling Revenue Fluctuations :

The hospitality and entertainment sector often sees significant revenue fluctuations.

Therefore, strategies for slower periods, such as special promotions or events, can help maintain stable revenue.

Dealing with Competition :

Facing new and existing competition requires maintaining a unique aspect that sets your cafe apart.

This could be your cafe’s atmosphere, exclusive games, gourmet menu offerings, or exceptional service.

Meeting Customer Expectations :

Meeting customer expectations at a board game cafe involves providing various games, serving quality food and drinks, and maintaining a clean, comfortable space.

Moreover, friendly and approachable staff can greatly enhance the customer experience.

b.) Pros and Cons of Owning a Board Game Cafe

• Distinct Concept : The combination of food, beverages, and board games is unique and appealing, differentiating your business from traditional cafes or game stores.
• Community Building : A board game cafe can become a community hub, fostering connections among residents.
• Diverse Revenue Streams : Revenue can come from several sources, including food and drink sales, game sales or rentals, and event hosting.
• Keeping Customers Acvtive : People get bored easily, and you need to create an experience that keeps them coming back and looking forward to your board game or you’ll lose customers.
• Dependence on Customer Volume : Like other food service businesses, success can heavily depend on high customer volume, which can fluctuate.

c.) Board Game Cafe Models

Pay-to-Play Model

This is a popular business model for board game cafes where customers pay an hourly or flat fee to play the games.

This fee is separate from any food or drink purchases. This model ensures a steady revenue from the gaming aspect of the business, regardless of food and drink sales.

Free-to-Play Model

In this model, customers can play games for free, with the expectation that they will purchase food and drinks.

This can encourage more customers to visit, but it does mean that food and drink sales become the primary source of revenue.

Retail Model

In addition to serving food and drinks and providing games, some board game cafes sell games.

This provides an additional revenue stream and can attract customers interested in buying games for personal use.

Membership Model

Some board game cafes operate on a membership model. Customers pay a monthly or annual fee for access to the game library.

This model can provide a steady, predictable income and promote customer loyalty.

Event-Driven Model

This model focuses on hosting events, such as tournaments, themed game nights, or even birthday parties.

These events can drive in many customers and increase sales of games and food, and drinks.

Hybrid Model

A hybrid model combines aspects of the above models.

For example, a board game cafe might offer free play, sell games, and host regular events.

Choosing the right business model from the outset is crucial, as altering your model down the line can be more challenging. Identifying a profitable and high-demand niche for your board game cafe is important to ensure your business thrives.

d.) Making Your Board Game Cafe Stand Out

Unique Game Collection

Carrying various unique and hard-to-find games can make your cafe a must-visit spot for board game enthusiasts.

Themed Nights

Hosting themed nights, such as retro or international games, can make your cafe more interesting and attract a wider range of customers.

Exceptional Food and Drink

High-quality, delicious food and drinks can make your cafe stand out. You could even theme your menu items around popular games.

Comfortable and Engaging Environment

Creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere with comfortable seating, good lighting, and interesting decor can make your cafe a place where people want to spend time.

Game Masters

Hiring knowledgeable staff who can explain rules, suggest games and even moderate games can enhance the customer experience.

Community Involvement

Being active in your local community, sponsoring events, or supporting local causes can boost your cafe’s image and attract more customers.

Including Popular and classic Board Games

Here are a few to consider:

• Azul: A tile-placement game where players become artisans decorating the walls of the Royal Palace of Evora.
• Battleship: A strategy guessing game for two players, it’s a game of naval combat where you aim to sink your opponent’s fleet.
• Carcassonne: A tile-placement game where players draw and place a tile with a piece of southern French landscape on it.
• Catan: A modern classic where players collect and trade resources to build roads, settlements, and cities.
• Chess: A strategic board game for two players. It is one of the oldest known board games still played to this day.
• Checkers: Also known as draughts, is an easy-to-learn game known for its iconic red-and-black gridded board.
• Clue: A murder mystery game where players strategically ask questions to solve who did it, with what, and where.
• Codenames: A social word game with a simple premise and challenging gameplay.
• Connect Four: A simple yet engaging game where two players take turns dropping colored discs into a vertical grid, attempting to connect four of their own discs next to each other vertically, horizontally, or diagonally before their opponent.
• Dungeons & Dragons: An iconic role-playing game that can be played on a board or map. Players create characters and embark on imaginary adventures within a fantasy setting.
• Monopoly: An evergreen favorite, Monopoly is the real estate game where players buy, sell, and trade properties, aiming to drive their competitors into bankruptcy.
• Pandemic: A cooperative game where players work as a team to treat infections around the world while gathering resources for cures.
• Parcheesi: An American adaptation of the Indian game Pachisi, it’s often called the Royal Game of India and involves moving pawns around the board based on dice rolls.
• Risk: A strategy game of diplomacy, conflict, and conquest that has players aiming to conquer the world.
• Scrabble: The classic word game where players use lettered tiles to form words.
• Sorry!: A classic, family-friendly board game based on the ancient cross and circle game Pachisi. Players move their three or four pieces around the board, attempting to get all of their pieces “home” before any other player.
• Stratego: A strategy-based board game for two players on a 10 by 10 board, the objective is to capture the opponent’s flag or all of their movable pieces.
• The Game of Life: A journey through major life events like college, marriage, and retirement, with the goal of retiring with the most wealth.
• Ticket to Ride: A newer favorite, players collect cards representing railway routes, aiming to connect as many cities as possible.
• Trivial Pursuit: A popular game that tests players’ general knowledge with questions in various categories.
• Twister: Although not a board game in the traditional sense, Twister is a beloved physical game played on a large plastic mat spread on the ground.
• Uno: Another card game that’s often included in the board game category, Uno is a shedding-type card game where the objective is to be the first player to get rid of all of your cards.
• Yahtzee: A popular dice game where the objective is to score points by rolling five dice to make certain combinations.

These are just examples. You can use them as a starting point, but many more board games are available. Enjoy exploring the vast world of board games!

e.) Add-On Ideas for a Board Game Business

Merchandise Sales

In addition to selling board games, you could sell related merchandise like game-themed mugs , t-shirts , or posters.

Game Rentals

Offering game rentals can be a great way to increase revenue. Customers can try out games at home before deciding to purchase them.

Game Workshops and Tutorials

Hosting workshops or tutorials where customers can learn new games or improve their skills can be a great add-on service.

Parties and Private Events

Offering packages for parties or private events can be a lucrative add-on. You could offer exclusive cafe use, a dedicated game master, and catering options.

Online Sales and Subscriptions

Selling games online or offering a game subscription service can help you reach a wider audience beyond your physical location.

This can provide an additional revenue stream and increase your cafe’s visibility.

f.) Questions You Need to Consider for Your Board Game Cafe

As you plan to start your board game cafe, you need to carefully consider several key questions:

Business Model :

What type of board game cafe model interests you? Are you considering a pay-to-play, free-to-play, retail, membership, event-driven, or hybrid model?

Will you handle all the work independently or hire employees? How many staff members do you need if you’re hiring, and what roles will they play?

Management :

Will you take on the responsibility of managing the cafe yourself, or are you considering hiring a manager?

Partnership and Investment :

Are you contemplating bringing in partners or seeking investors? What role will they play in your business?

Business Location :

Are you planning to start your board game cafe from home, or are you aiming to operate from a commercial location?

Physical or Online :

If you’re considering a commercial location, are you looking at a physical brick-and-mortar setup, or do you plan to operate primarily online?

Growth and Long-Term Goals :

Have you considered your growth plans? What are your long-term goals for your board game cafe?

Customer Base :

Who is your target audience? How will you attract and retain your customers?

Competition :

What does the competitive landscape look like? How will you differentiate your cafe from others?

Financial Planning :

What is your budget? How will you manage cash flow and revenue fluctuations?

Licensing and Regulations :

What licenses and permits will you need to operate your board game cafe?

What type of food and drinks will you offer? How does your menu complement the board game experience?

Reflecting on these questions can provide valuable insights into your business plan and strategy.

Your answers will guide you through the crucial next steps in setting up your board game cafe. It’s a critical part of the process that will help you establish a solid foundation for your business.

3. Research

Board game cafe research.

Thorough research is an essential first step when opening a board game cafe. With detailed and reliable information, you will clearly understand what to expect.

Without it, you might find yourself navigating unforeseen challenges.

One of the most valuable sources of information is individuals who have experience running a board game cafe.

Their first-hand knowledge and years of experience in the industry make them a trustworthy source of advice.

The time spent learning from these industry veterans can be invaluable, providing unique insights and practical advice from their extensive expertise in managing a board game cafe.

I’ve prepared an article to guide you in finding and approaching these individuals respectfully and non-intrusively.

This piece offers strategies for networking effectively in the board game cafe community.

While these steps exceed the scope of this post, I highly recommend that you review the article via the link below to fully comprehend the endeavor you’re considering.

See An Inside Look Into the Business You Want To Start for all the details.

Target Audience

Understanding your target audience is key to the success of your board game cafe.

Knowing who your customers are helps you cater to their preferences, providing offers, products, and services that attract and retain them.

This knowledge allows you to tailor your board game selection, food and drink menu, and events to the interests of your patrons, ultimately enhancing their experience and loyalty to your cafe.

Target Market Ideas for a Board Game Cafe :

• Young professionals seeking a relaxed social setting
• Families looking for kid-friendly entertainment options
• College students in search of a fun hangout spot
• Board game enthusiasts searching for a place to explore new games
• Community groups seeking a unique venue for meetings or events
• Tourists interested in a distinctive local experience
• Locals who enjoy café culture and are open to a new spin on it
• Event organizers looking for a unique venue for parties and gatherings

For more, see How To Understand Your Target Market.

4. Looking at Financials:

Understanding the Financial Landscape of a Board Game Cafe

This section explores the key aspects of startup costs, monthly expenses, revenues, and profits.

Startup Costs: Accurate Estimation is Key

To ensure a successful launch of your board game cafe, it is crucial to accurately estimate the startup costs. This estimation process is vital from the initial planning phase until the grand opening .

Underestimating the costs can lead to financial constraints, hindering the establishment of your business.

Conversely, overestimating may raise concerns about the viability of your venture.

Factors such as the size of your operation, chosen location, staffing decisions, equipment procurement (new or used), and lease agreements will influence your costs.

Creating a comprehensive list of necessary items and gathering price quotes will help estimate the expenses.

Additionally, as you conduct thorough research, you may come across other pertinent considerations to include in your estimate.

For more detailed information, refer to my article on Estimating Startup Costs.

Sales and Profit: Factors to Consider

The success of your board game cafe relies on several factors:

• The popularity of your board game offerings and additional services.
• The demand for your products and services within your target market.
• Effective marketing strategies to raise awareness among your intended audience.

Profitability: Taking a Holistic Approach

Profitability goes beyond the revenue generated per sale. It requires a comprehensive evaluation of various expenses, including rent, payroll, and other overhead costs.

To achieve sustainable success, your monthly sales must cover these expenses and generate enough profit to sustain the business and compensate salaries.

Ensuring Success

In summary, accurately estimating startup costs, maintaining healthy sales through effective marketing, and achieving profitability by meticulously managing expenses are fundamental to the long-term success of your board game cafe.

For More, See Estimating Profitability and Revenue

Sample Financial Lists As a Starting Point

Sample List of Estimated Startup Costs for a Board Game Cafe

• Lease for commercial space: $15,000
• Interior remodeling and setup: $20,000
• Furniture and decor: $10,000
• Initial inventory (board games): $5,000
• Initial food and beverage inventory: $5,000
• Kitchen equipment: $15,000
• POS system and other technology: $2,000
• Licenses and permits: $1,000
• Insurance: $2,000
• Marketing and advertising for launch: $5,000

Total Estimated Startup Costs: $80,000

Sample List of Estimated Monthly Expenses for a Board Game Cafe

• Rent: $2,500
• Utilities (electricity, water, internet): $500
• Employee salaries: $10,000
• Food and beverage inventory: $5,000
• Game purchases and maintenance: $1,000
• Marketing and advertising: $1,000
• Insurance: $200
• Miscellaneous expenses: $800

Total Estimated Monthly Expenses: $21,000

Sample Sales and Profit Breakdown

Let’s assume that you average $30 per customer (including game usage fees, food, and beverages) and you serve 60 customers per day.

• Daily Sales: $1,800
• Monthly Sales (30 days): $54,000
• Monthly Expenses: $21,000
• Monthly Profit before taxes: $33,000

Remember, these are just examples, and the actual figures may vary significantly depending on many factors, including your location, hours of operation, and customer spending habits.

Conduct thorough research and seek professional advice when calculating your potential revenues and profits.

5. Choosing The Right Business Location

Choosing the Right Location for Your Board Game Cafe

In the board game cafe industry, the choice of location can significantly impact the success or failure of your business. It is a crucial decision that requires careful consideration and research.

Demand and Competition: Striking the Balance

Operating in a location with little to no demand for board games and related offerings can harm your business.

Choosing a location with sufficient interest and demand from potential customers is essential.

On the other hand, opening in an area with excessive competition can make it challenging to establish your presence and attract a share of the market. Striking the right balance between demand and competition is key.

Affordability: Finding the Sweet Spot

While an appealing location may seem ideal, assessing whether it aligns with your budget and affordability is important. Operating in a highly populated area may provide more exposure but often comes with higher costs.

Carefully evaluate whether the potential increase in sales justifies the additional expenses.

Conversely, opting for a more affordable area might save costs initially, but you must ensure that it can generate enough sales to sustain your board game cafe in the long run.

Thorough Research and Analysis: The Key to Success

Choosing the right location for your board game cafe is crucial to success.

Conducting thorough research and analysis is essential. Consider demographics, foot traffic, nearby competition, accessibility, and any unique characteristics that might attract your target audience.

By gathering relevant data and insights, you can make an informed decision that maximizes the potential for your business’s success.

Remember, the location of your board game cafe can make a significant difference. Take the time to evaluate various options, weigh the pros and cons, and make a choice that aligns with your business goals.

For more about business locations, see Choosing The Best Location for Your Business.

6. Choose a Business Name

Crafting the Perfect Name for Your Board Game Cafe

Selecting a suitable and captivating business name is paramount for your board game cafe. Choose a catchy and relevant name, leaving a lasting impression on potential customers.

The Significance of a Well-Chosen Name

A business name is not something that changes frequently, so choosing a name that you will proudly associate with your board game cafe throughout its lifetime is essential.

Online Presence: Aligning with a Domain Name

In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial. Ensure that the name you select for your board game cafe has a matching domain name available. This allows you to establish a cohesive brand identity across various platforms.

Avoiding Conflicts: Checking for Trademark Availability

To safeguard your business’s identity and avoid legal issues, it is important to ensure that another business does not already register the name you desire.

Conduct thorough research to ensure the availability of the name you have in mind.

Spark Your Creativity: Board Game Cafe Name Ideas

• Game Haven Cafe
• Dice and Dine
• Strategy Central
• The Game Board Grind
• Meeple Mania
• Roll and Sip
• Board Game Bistro
• The Playful Pawn
• Strategy Junction
• Geek and Munch
• The Gaming Hub
• Dicey Delights
• Playhouse Café
• Game On Cafe
• The Friendly Game Table
• Meeples & Mugs
• Board Game Bonanza
• Gamers’ Haven
• The Dice Tower
• Cards & Coffee
• Tabletop Treats
• Fun at First Roll
• Game Knight Cafe
• Play and Plate
• Board Game Oasis
• The Strategy Spot
• Game On Grub
• Roll Call Cafe
• The Meeple Lounge
• Epic Dice Cafe

These ideas aim to spark your creativity and inspire you to develop an original business name for your board game cafe.

Remember, your chosen name should reflect your brand identity and resonate with your target audience.

For more, see the following articles:

• How To Register a Business Name
• Registering a Domain Name For Your Business

7. Register Your Company

Ensuring Legal Compliance for Your Board Game Cafe

Ensuring that your board game cafe operates within the bounds of the law is essential for a successful and sustainable business.

Here are some key considerations and steps to take to achieve legal compliance:

Consulting with a Professional:

It is advisable to consult with a legal professional or business advisor who specializes in the industry.

They can provide valuable guidance and ensure that your business structure is set up correctly, considering tax benefits and liability.

Business Registrations:

Registering your board game cafe under the appropriate legal structure is crucial. Common types of registrations for a board game cafe may include:

• Sole Proprietorship: A business owned and operated by a single individual.
• Partnership: A legal entity formed by two or more individuals who share ownership and responsibilities.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC): A hybrid legal structure that provides limited liability protection to owners while offering flexibility in management and taxation.

Permits and Licenses:

Obtaining the necessary permits and licenses is vital to legally operating your board game cafe. Some common permits and licenses to consider include the following:

• Business License: Required by most jurisdictions to legally operate a business.
• Health and Safety Permits: Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations to provide a safe environment for customers.
• Food Service Permit: If you plan to offer food and beverages at your board game cafe.
• Alcohol License: If you intend to serve alcoholic beverages, an appropriate alcohol license is required.
• Music and Entertainment Licensing: Proper licensing may be necessary if you plan to host events or provide background music.

By carefully navigating the legal landscape and obtaining the required registrations, permits, and licenses, you can establish your board game cafe on a solid legal footing.

Consulting with professionals and conducting thorough research will help ensure compliance and set the stage for a successful and legally sound business operation.

Registration:

• How to Register Your Business
• How To Register a DBA
• How to Register a Trademark
• How to Get a Business License

Business Structures:

• How to Choose a Business Structure
• Pros & Cons of a Sole Proprietorship
• How To Form an LLC
• How To Register a Business Partnership
• How To Form a Corporation
• How To Choose a Business Registration Service

8. Create Your Corporate Identity

A strong Corporate Identity (ID) is crucial for your board game cafe. It encompasses various components representing your business and leaving a lasting impression on customers.

A Corporate ID consists of various components such as your logo , business cards , website , business sign , stationary, promotional items, etc.

• Logo: A visually appealing and recognizable symbol representing your board game cafe.
• Business Cards: Professionally designed cards containing essential contact information that reflects your brand identity.
• Website: An engaging online platform where customers can learn about your board game cafe, view services, and make reservations.
• Business Sign: A prominent and eye-catching sign outside your establishment that attracts attention and communicates your presence.
• Stationery: Consistent and well-designed letterheads, envelopes, and other items reinforce your brand image.
• Promotional Items: Branded merchandise such as pens, mugs, or t-shirts that serve as effective marketing tools and create brand recognition.

Maintaining a consistent and professional design across these components is crucial to impress new and existing customers.

It establishes a cohesive and recognizable identity for your board game cafe.

Investing in a well-crafted Corporate ID reinforces your brand, builds customer trust, and sets your business apart from competitors in the board game industry.

A strong visual identity can enhance the overall customer experience and foster a positive perception of your board game cafe.

See A Complete Introduction to Corporate Identity Packages for more.

9. Writing a Business Plan

The Importance of a Well-Crafted Business Plan for Your Board Game Cafe

A well-crafted business plan is essential for your board game cafe. It serves multiple purposes, such as attracting investors and securing funding. Moreover, it acts as a roadmap to guide you throughout the startup phase and beyond, ensuring your business operates smoothly and efficiently.

Writing a Comprehensive Business Plan

Writing a comprehensive business plan takes time and effort. It requires careful consideration as you articulate your vision for your board game cafe. Taking the time to plan and express the details is crucial.

Choosing the Right Approach

When embarking on creating your business plan, it’s important to consider the available options.

You can choose to write it from scratch, enlist the help of a professional, utilize a template, or leverage specialized business plan software.

Active Involvement and Distinctive Presentation

Regardless of your approach, active involvement is vital, especially if you opt for professional assistance.

This ensures that your business plan stands out and effectively communicates your board game cafe’s unique nature and management strategies.

A Dynamic Document for Long-Term Success

Your business plan is a dynamic document that can be adapted and optimized as you gain experience.

Regularly reviewing and updating your business plan or operational strategies is recommended to align with your evolving goals and market conditions.

A well-crafted and flexible business plan will be valuable in guiding your board game cafe toward long-term success and growth.

A Fictitious Sample Business Plan for a Board Game

Executive Summary

Business Name: GameBox Cafe Location: Downtown, Austin, Texas

GameBox Cafe will be a unique, welcoming space for board game enthusiasts, families, and groups looking for a fun, social experience.

We plan to offer an extensive range of games, high-quality food and beverages, and top-notch customer service. We aim to establish GameBox Cafe as a central entertainment spot within our community.

Business Description and Structure

GameBox Cafe is a new venture structured as an LLC. It’s owned and managed by two partners who bring their significant experience in the hospitality and gaming sectors.

The cafe in a leased commercial space in downtown Austin will blend the best elements of a coffee shop, restaurant, and gaming lounge.

Market Analysis

The growing US board game industry defines our market, and our location in Austin, a city known for its lively social scene, gives us access to a vibrant customer base.

Our core customers will include board game enthusiasts, young professionals, families, college students, and tourists.

Even though Austin is home to other cafes and game stores, none offer the unique blend of quality food and drink and the diverse board game selection we plan to provide.

Marketing and Sales Strategy

To reach our target market, we will harness the power of social media, local advertising, and strategic partnerships with local businesses and organizations.

Additionally, we plan to host themed game nights and tournaments to build a strong customer base and encourage repeat visits.

Organization and Management

The two partners, leveraging their combined skills and expertise, will manage GameBox Cafe.

We will also hire a team of game masters, servers, and kitchen staff to ensure smooth daily operations and an exceptional customer experience.

Our customers will enjoy access to a wide array of board games alongside a menu featuring a range of food and beverages. We’ll also offer game rentals, merchandise sales, and a space for hosting parties and events.

Financial Projections

Our estimated start-up costs amount to $80,000. We anticipate monthly expenses to be around $21,000, and with an estimated 60 customers per day, we project a monthly revenue of $54,000.

This would give us a monthly profit of $33,000 before taxes. We aim to be profitable within our first year.

Funding Request and Exit Strategy

To cover startup costs and sustain the business until it becomes profitable, we seek $100,000 in funding. Once GameBox Cafe is well-established and profitable, our exit strategy will be to sell it to a larger hospitality or entertainment company.

With our focus on a wide range of games, quality food and drink, and excellent customer service, we believe GameBox Cafe will fill a gap in Austin’s entertainment sector.

We’re confident our cafe will become a popular local hotspot and a go-to destination for board game enthusiasts and social groups.

This is a hypothetical, simplified example of a business plan. It should not replace a detailed and comprehensive business plan.

Always consult a business advisor or other professionals when creating your business plan.

For information on creating your business plan, see, How to Write a Business Plan.

10. Banking Considerations

Establishing Financial Foundations for Your Board Game Cafe

Considerations for Banking and Payment Processing

Choosing the Right Bank

Consider selecting a nearby bank that specializes in catering to business owners in the board game industry. This ensures you receive the necessary support and services tailored to your needs.

Separate Business Account: Streamlining Finances

Maintaining a separate business account is essential for your board game cafe.

It enables you to effectively track and manage your financial transactions while simplifying your bookkeeping process.

Additionally, having a separate account provides concrete evidence in case of a tax audit, ensuring compliance and financial transparency.

Building a Professional Relationship with Your Banker

Developing a professional relationship with your banker can be highly beneficial. They can offer valuable advice and financial services specific to the needs of your board game cafe.

This partnership streamlines processes such as loan applications and other financial arrangements, contributing to your business’s overall efficiency and growth.

Accepting Electronic Payments: Merchant Account Setup

Considering the growing reliance on electronic payments, exploring options for accepting credit and debit cards at your board game cafe is crucial.

Applying for a merchant account or a similar setup enables you to provide convenient payment options for your customers.

Partnering with a reputable payment service provider ensures smooth and secure transactions, promoting customer trust and satisfaction.

Offering diverse payment methods aligns with the preferences of today’s consumers and can contribute to the overall success of your board game cafe.

Establishing a strong financial foundation for your board game cafe sets the stage for efficient operations and growth.

By selecting the right bank, maintaining a separate business account, nurturing a professional relationship with your banker, and implementing reliable payment processing solutions, you can effectively manage your finances and provide a seamless customer experience.

For more, see, How to Open a Business Bank Account. You may also want to look at, What Is a Merchant Account and How to Get One.

11. Getting the Funds for Your Operation

Securing Funding for Your Board Game Cafe

Funding options are available if you require financial assistance to start and operate your board game cafe. Here are some tips to help you navigate the process:

• Explore Funding Options: Research traditional lenders, private loans, investors, and other potential funding sources. Selling any assets you have or using collateral can also be viable options.
• Prepare a clear business plan outlining your board game cafe’s concept, target market, competitive advantage, and financial projections.
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the board game industry and its growth potential.
• Present a comprehensive budget that outlines your startup costs, monthly expenses, and revenue projections.
• Emphasize your ability to generate steady cash flow and repay the loan.
• Business plan with financial projections.
• Personal and business financial statements.
• Tax returns for the past few years (if applicable).
• Documentation of collateral (if applicable).
• Board game industry research and market analysis.
• Proof of industry experience and expertise.

Following these tips and preparing the necessary documentation can increase your chances of securing funding to turn your board game cafe vision into a reality.

Remember to approach the process with thorough research, professionalism, and a clear understanding of your financial needs and goals.

See, Getting a Small Business Loan for more.

12. Software Setup

Software Considerations for Your Board Game Cafe

Selecting the right software is crucial for the smooth operation of your board game cafe. Here are some tips to guide you in making informed decisions:

• Thorough Research : Prioritize researching software options before committing to one. Implementing a new program from scratch is generally easier than switching to a different system after your data is already in another program.
• Evaluate Demos and Reviews : Look for software providers that offer demos or trial versions. Take advantage of these opportunities to explore the software’s features and functionalities. Additionally, read reviews and participate in online forums to gain insights from other users’ experiences.
• Financial Management Tools : Research software solutions specifically designed for tracking expenses and preparing financial documents for tax filing purposes. Consult with your bookkeeper or accountant to ensure you choose the right accounting software that meets your needs.

Sample List of Software Used in a Board Game Business:

• Point of Sale (POS) Software: To facilitate sales transactions and manage inventory.
• Reservation Management Software: For scheduling and managing reservations.
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software: To track customer interactions and enhance customer engagement.
• Inventory Management Software: To efficiently manage and track your board game inventory.
• Accounting Software: To streamline financial processes, track expenses, and prepare financial statements.
• Marketing and Social Media Management Software: To manage online marketing campaigns, social media accounts and engage with customers.
• Analytics and Reporting Software: To analyze sales data and customer behavior and generate reports for informed decision-making.

By leveraging appropriate software solutions, you can streamline your operations, enhance customer experiences, and effectively manage your board game cafe’s financial aspects.

Remember to evaluate software options based on their features, usability, and compatibility with your business requirements.

Check out Google’s latest search results for software packages for a board game cafe.

13. Get The Right Business Insurance

Insurance Considerations for Your Board Game Cafe

The right insurance coverage is essential to protect your board game cafe from unforeseen incidents. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind when seeking insurance:

• Comprehensive Coverage : Consider insurance policies that cover various aspects of your board game cafe, including protection for customers, employees, yourself, individuals on the premises, and your property.
• Professional Liability Insurance : Explore the option of obtaining professional liability insurance. This type of coverage safeguards you against potential lawsuits related to professional services or advice at your board game cafe.
• Consult with an Insurance Broker : Engage the services of a competent insurance broker specializing in the needs of businesses in the board game industry. An experienced broker can guide you through the process and ensure that you have sufficient coverage tailored to the specific risks associated with your board game cafe.

List of Concerns when Seeking Insurance for a Board Game Cafe:

• General Liability: Protection against claims from bodily injury, property damage, or personal injury.
• Property Insurance: Coverage for your physical assets, including board games, furniture, equipment, and fixtures.
• Workers’ Compensation: Insurance to provide benefits and medical coverage for employees who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
• Cyber Liability: Coverage for data breaches, cyber-attacks, or other cyber-related incidents that may compromise customer or business information.
• Business Interruption: Insurance to compensate for lost income and help cover ongoing expenses if your board game cafe is forced to close temporarily due to a covered incident.
• Liquor Liability (if applicable): Protection against claims arising from alcohol-related incidents that may occur at your board game cafe.

Each board game cafe has unique insurance needs, so discussing your specific concerns and requirements with an insurance professional to ensure you obtain the appropriate coverage for your business is important.

For more, see What to Know About Business Insurance . You can also browse the latest Google search results for board game cafe insurance .

14. Select Suppliers

Choosing Suppliers for Your Board Game Cafe

Establishing strong relationships with reliable suppliers is crucial for the success of your board game cafe. Consider the following factors when selecting suppliers:

• Reliability and Trustworthiness : Seek suppliers with a reputation for reliability and trustworthiness. This ensures consistent delivery of quality products and services to your board game cafe.
• Competitive Pricing : Opt for suppliers who offer competitive prices. This allows you to pass on cost savings to your customers, making your board game cafe more attractive and increasing your profit margin.
• Inventory Management : Ensure that your suppliers can consistently provide the necessary stock to support the smooth operation of your board game cafe. Reliable and timely supply ensures you can meet customer demands without disruptions.
• Mutually Beneficial Relationships : Treat your suppliers respectfully and aim to establish mutually beneficial relationships.
• You can foster strong partnerships and enhance collaboration by recognizing their value and offering fair financial arrangements.

Maintaining a positive working relationship with your suppliers is essential for the long-term success of your board game cafe.

Regularly communicate, address any concerns promptly, and show appreciation for their contributions to your business.

By prioritizing strong supplier relationships, you can create a reliable supply chain and provide exceptional experiences to your customer.

For More See, How To Choose a Supplier.

15. Physical Setup

Layout: creating an efficient physical setup for your board game cafe.

Designing an effective layout for your board game cafe is essential to provide customers with an enjoyable and functional space.

Consider the following aspects when planning the physical setup:

• Optimize Space: Maximize the available space to accommodate a variety of game tables, seating areas, and game displays.
• Traffic Flow: Ensure smooth traffic flow by strategically arranging tables and creating clear pathways for customers to move comfortably.
• Comfortable Seating: Provide comfortable seating options to enhance the gaming experience, considering ergonomics and space utilization factors.
• Game Display: Create attractive displays to showcase a diverse selection of board games, making it easy for customers to explore and choose their desired games.

Signage: Guiding Customers with Effective Signage at Your Board Game Cafe

Appropriate signage is crucial for guiding customers and showcasing professionalism in your board game cafe.

Consider the following aspects when setting up signage:

• Main Business Sign: Install a prominent, well-designed sign to identify your board game cafe and create a strong visual presence.
• Comprehensive Signage: Place signs in all relevant locations, such as parking lots, exits, restrooms, and special areas. Clear and well-designed signs help direct customers and enhance their overall experience.
• Professionalism: Well-executed signage demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail, instilling confidence in your customers and enhancing your brand image.

Office Setup: Establishing an Organized Office for Efficient Management

Creating an organized office setup is vital for effectively managing your board game cafe. Consider the following aspects when setting up your office:

• Time Management: Most of your time will be spent in the office as the manager. An organized office setup allows you to streamline tasks and maximize productivity.
• Essential Equipment: Ensure your office has the necessary tools, such as a computer, printer, telephone, and filing system, to effectively manage administrative tasks and maintain accurate records.
• Functional Layout: Arrange your office furniture and equipment in a way that promotes efficiency and supports your workflow. Consider factors such as ergonomics, accessibility, and storage solutions.
• Organization: Implement systems for organizing documents, files, and supplies to maintain a clutter-free and efficient workspace.

Creating a well-structured physical layout, incorporating effective signage, and establishing an organized office are key elements in providing a welcoming and efficient environment for customers and staff at your board game cafe.

See, Here are Considerations for The Setup of Your Office, for tips and ideas to make your office work for you. Also, have a look at our article About Company Signs.

16. Creating a Website

Benefits of Having a Website for Your Board Game Cafe

A website for your board game cafe offers several advantages in today’s digital landscape.

Here are some key benefits:

• Online Visibility : A website increases your online presence, allowing potential customers to discover your board game cafe through search engines and online directories.
• Information Hub : Your website is a centralized platform to provide essential information about your cafe, including location, hours, menu, events, and game offerings. This helps customers make informed decisions and increases their engagement with your business.
• Enhanced Customer Experience : A well-designed website offers a user-friendly interface, allowing customers to explore your board game offerings, check availability, and make reservations online. This convenience enhances the overall customer experience.
• Marketing Opportunities : Your website is a powerful marketing tool, enabling you to showcase promotions, special events, and new game releases. It also provides a platform for customer testimonials, reviews, and social media integration, boosting your brand reputation.
• Accessible Contact Information : Your website prominently displays contact details, making it easy for customers to reach out with inquiries, feedback, or booking requests.
• Business Credibility : A professional website establishes credibility and builds trust among potential customers. It showcases your commitment to quality and professionalism in the board game industry.

Investing in a website for your board game cafe can leverage these benefits to attract new customers, enhance customer experience, and establish a strong online presence in the competitive market.

For more, see How to Build a Website for Your Business .

17. Create an External Support Team

Building an External Support Team for Your Board Game Cafe

Creating an external support team of professionals is essential for obtaining expert advice and services to strengthen your board game cafe.

These professionals are not employed directly by your business but play a vital role in its success. Consider the following aspects when building your support team:

• Utilize Professional Services : Engage professionals on a peruse, contract, or hourly basis to benefit from their expertise without needing full-time employment.
• Expand Your Network : Build relationships with individuals who can contribute to your board game cafe’s growth and success. Continuously seek new members to enhance your team’s diversity and skills.
• Gradual Development : Having all team members in place is unnecessary before starting your business. Building strong professional relationships takes time, so continue working on expanding your support team over time.

Your external support team may include an accountant, lawyer, financial advisor, marketing specialist, technical advisor, and consultant.

Collaborating with these professionals can provide valuable insights and assistance whenever needed. By leveraging their expertise, you can navigate various challenges and ensure the long-term success of your board game cafe.

For more, see, Building a Team of Professional Advisors for Your Business.

18. Hiring Employees

Building Your Team: Job Positions for Your Growing Board Game Cafe

As your board game cafe expands and becomes more successful, hiring employees to manage and operate various aspects of your business may become necessary.

While starting out, you may handle many responsibilities yourself to minimize expenses.

However, hiring the right people can greatly enhance productivity as your operations grow.

Consider the following job positions or outsourced services to support the growth of your board game cafe:

• Game Masters : Individuals responsible for overseeing game sessions, providing guidance, and ensuring a positive customer experience.
• Café Manager : An experienced professional to oversee day-to-day operations, manage staff, handle inventory, and ensure smooth functioning of the café.
• Kitchen Staff : Cooks and kitchen assistants to prepare and serve food and beverages, if your board game cafe offers a food service.
• Front-of-House Staff : Friendly and attentive staff members to greet customers, take orders, serve food and drinks, and provide customer support.
• Event Coordinator : A dedicated person to plan and execute special events, tournaments, and promotional activities to attract and engage customers.
• Marketing Specialist : Someone skilled in marketing and advertising to develop and implement effective strategies to promote your board game cafe and attract a wider audience.
• Bookkeeper/Accountant : A professional to manage financial records, handle payroll, and ensure accurate financial reporting.
• IT Support : An outsourced service or staff member to provide technical support, maintain computer systems, and troubleshoot technical issues.

Remember, as your board game cafe grows, you can gradually expand your team based on your specific needs and budget.

Outsourcing certain services may also be an option to consider. Building a dedicated and competent team will contribute to your board game cafe’s success and smooth operation.

For more, see, How and When to Hire a New Employee.

Points To Consider

Hours of operation:.

The following are hours of operation to consider for a board game cafe:

Regular Business Hours:

• Monday to Thursday: [e.g., 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM]
• Friday and Saturday: [e.g., 10:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight)]
• Sunday: [e.g., 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM]

Extended Hours:

• Consider extending the closing time on weekends or during peak periods to accommodate customers who prefer late-night gaming sessions.

Morning Hours:

• If there is demand, consider opening earlier in the day to cater to customers who enjoy gaming in the morning or to host special events or tournaments.

Late Night Sessions:

• Offer special late-night sessions, such as “Game Night Owls” or “Midnight Madness,” where customers can enjoy gaming until the early hours of the morning.

Flexible Hours for Events:

• Adjust your hours of operation to accommodate private parties, gaming tournaments, or themed events, which may require opening earlier or staying open later than usual.

Seasonal Variations:

• Adjust your hours during holidays or school breaks to cater to increased customer traffic and demand.

Remember to analyze your target market, local competition, and customer preferences when determining your board game cafe’s specific hours of operation.

Flexibility and responsiveness to customer needs will help ensure your patrons a positive and enjoyable gaming experience.

A List of Equipment and Supplies to Consider for a Board Game Cafe:

Here is a detailed list of equipment you should consider for a board game cafe:

Board Game Collection

Assortment of Board Games : Ensure you have a wide selection of games for all age groups and interests, from classic, family-friendly games to complex strategy games. Keep them in good condition and organize them in a user-friendly manner.

Tables and Chairs : Comfortable seating and spacious tables are essential for board gaming. Opt for durable furniture that can withstand constant use.

Shelving : Sturdy shelves are needed to display and store your board games. You might consider categorized shelving or display units for easy navigation.

Cafe Equipment

Coffee Machine : A key piece for any cafe. You may need a commercial-grade machine, depending on the volume of customers.

Blenders : For smoothies and blended coffee drinks.

Refrigerator : To store milk, fresh produce, and other perishables.

Oven/Toaster Oven : For preparing simple baked goods or toasts.

Microwave : Useful for heating items quickly.

Dishwasher : A commercial-grade dishwasher can save time on clean-up.

Glassware, Utensils, and Dishes : You’ll need various items to serve your menu offerings.

Cash Register/POS System : A reliable point-of-sale system is crucial for managing orders and sales.

Wi-Fi Router : Providing free Wi-Fi is a standard in cafes today. It might also be used for digital board games or research on game rules.

Sound System : Background music can enhance the atmosphere of your cafe.

TV Screens : These can display game tutorials, live sports, or events.

Lighting : Good lighting is essential in a board game cafe. Consider adjustable lights to suit different times of day and games.

Decorative Items : Themed decorations can add character to your cafe and improve the gaming atmosphere.

Cleaning Supplies : Regular cleaning is essential to maintain a pleasant and healthy environment. This includes sanitizers, detergents, mops, brooms, dustpans, etc.

Trash and Recycling Bins : Have these easily accessible for staff and customers.

Remember, your needs may vary depending on your board game cafe’s size, location, and concept. When selecting equipment, consider your guests’ comfort and your staff’s functionality.

Marketing Considerations

A board game cafe relies on customers to thrive as a legitimate business. To achieve success, it is crucial to attract customers, especially in the early stages when your cafe is new and unfamiliar to people.

As you establish a strong reputation and gain marketing experience, attracting customers becomes more manageable. However, marketing your board game cafe is an ongoing effort that requires continuous attention and investment.

You can generate higher revenue and increase customer engagement by implementing effective marketing techniques.

While you may consider hiring a marketing agency or expert if necessary, it’s important to understand that marketing can be simplified by focusing on creating awareness for your business whenever opportunities arise.

To reach potential customers, utilize various marketing channels, such as social media, local advertising, community events, and collaborations with other businesses.

Consistently communicate your board game cafe’s unique experience and offerings to attract a diverse customer base.

Remember, effective marketing is integral to running a successful board game cafe. Continuously adapt and refine your marketing strategies based on customer feedback and market trends to ensure your business’s steady growth and popularity.

See our article How To Get Customers Through the Door and our marketing section for articles that will provide ideas to bring awareness to your board game cafe.

Evaluating Your Skill Set for Running a Board Game Cafe

It’s important to assess your skill set to determine your ability to effectively manage a board game cafe. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses will help you make informed decisions regarding your role in the business.

If you lack a crucial skill, you have options. You can either learn it yourself or hire someone with expertise to complement your abilities.

Essential Skills for a Board Game Cafe Owner:

• Business Management : Proficiency in managing the cafe’s day-to-day operations, financial aspects, and strategic planning.
• Customer Service : Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to provide exceptional customer experiences, resolve issues, and build strong relationships.
• Game Knowledge : A comprehensive understanding of various board games, rules, and gameplay mechanics to assist customers and recommend suitable games.
• Marketing and Promotion : Competence in developing marketing strategies, utilizing social media platforms, and promoting the cafe to attract and retain customers.
• Financial Management : Basic knowledge of accounting principles, budgeting, and financial analysis to ensure profitability and sustainable growth.
• Team Leadership : Strong leadership skills to effectively manage and motivate staff members, fostering a positive work environment.
• Problem-Solving : The ability to think critically, make informed decisions, and handle unexpected challenges in day-to-day operations.
• Creativity : A flair for creating unique experiences, organizing engaging events, and designing an appealing ambiance within the cafe.
• Organization and Time Management : Effective organization skills to efficiently manage inventory, schedules, and multiple tasks.
• Adaptability : The willingness to embrace change, adapt to evolving industry trends, and constantly improve the offerings and services of the cafe.

Remember, while these essential skills are beneficial, continuous learning and improvement are key to running a successful board game cafe.

Expert Tips

Improving Your Skill Set with Expert Tips

Whether you’re an expert or a novice, seeking expert tips can enhance your skill set. Experts can discover more efficient methods or gain new perspectives, while novices can learn valuable tips to improve their skills and knowledge.

Embracing expert advice is a valuable resource for continuous growth and development.

See the latest search results for expert board game tips to gain tips and insights.

In this section dedicated to board game cafes, you will find valuable resources that provide the industry’s latest and most relevant information.

These resources can be utilized during the startup phase and when your cafe is fully operational.

By exploring these resources, you can enhance your understanding of the board game cafe industry and gain valuable insights and tips for improving your business practices.

Stay updated on the latest trends, strategies, and best practices to ensure the success and growth of your board game cafe.

Trends and Statistics

The Benefits of Industry Trends and Statistics for a Board Game Cafe

Examining industry trends and statistics provides valuable insights for a board game cafe.

It helps identify customer preferences, emerging game genres, popular game mechanics, and market demand, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning for business growth and success.

See the latest search results for trends and statistics related to the board game industry.

Board Game Associations

The Advantages of Trade Associations for a Board Game Cafe

Joining trade associations provides several benefits for board game cafes. By joining these associations, businesses can:

Stay Updated on Industry News :

Trade associations inform members about industry news, trends, and developments. This helps board game cafes stay current and adapt their strategies accordingly.

Access Networking Opportunities :

Trade associations offer valuable networking opportunities, allowing board game cafes to connect with industry professionals, potential partners, and suppliers.

Building these relationships can lead to collaborations, knowledge sharing, and business growth.

Participate in Events :

Trade associations often organize events, conferences, and seminars for their members.

These events provide platforms for board game cafes to share knowledge, learn best practices, and establish meaningful connections with others in the industry.

By being a part of a trade association , board game cafes can stay connected, stay informed, and actively contribute to the growth and success of the industry.

See the search results related to board game associations.

Top Board Game Cafe

Gaining Inspiration from Established Board Game Cafes

Examining established board game cafes can spark ideas for identifying untapped opportunities within the industry.

It offers an opportunity to discover unique concepts or areas of improvement that may have been overlooked in your business, fostering innovation and growth.

See the latest search results for the top board game cafes.

The Future of the Board Game Industry

The Benefits of Researching the Industry’s Future for Starting a Board Game Cafe

Researching the industry’s future is crucial for aspiring board game cafe owners. It offers insights into emerging trends, consumer preferences, and market opportunities.

This knowledge enables informed decision-making, strategic planning, and gaining a competitive edge in the business.

Staying ahead of the curve ensures that the board game cafe is well-positioned for success in the evolving industry landscape.

See the search results for the future of the board game industry.

Board Game Cafes for Sale

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Buying an Established Board Game Cafe

Purchasing an existing board game cafe already operating has advantages and disadvantages. The benefits of acquiring an established business include:

• Immediate Revenue Generation: You start earning revenue from the day you take over, avoiding the time-consuming startup phase.
• Proven Business Model: The existing board game cafe has a track record of success, assuring that the business model works.
• Established Customer Base: With an existing customer base, you have a built-in clientele.
• Existing Reputation: The business has already established a reputation in the industry, giving you a head start.

However, there are also disadvantages to consider:

• Higher Cost: Buying an established board game cafe typically involves paying a higher price due to the value of its existing customer base.
• Potential Customer Resistance: If you make significant changes to the business, you may risk losing some customers accustomed to the previous operations.
• Inherited Reputation: When you purchase a business, you inherit its reputation, both the good and the bad.

Careful evaluation of the pros and cons will help you decide whether buying an existing board game cafe is right for you.

See the latest search results related to a board game – businesses for sale to browse the latest listings.

Franchise Opportunities Related to a board game

Considerations for Buying a Board Game Franchise

Exploring the option of buying a board game franchise offers advantages and disadvantages that are important to consider when starting a business. It also provides an opportunity to discover related aspects of the board game industry that you may not have previously considered.

• Proven Business Model: Franchises provide a pre-established business plan created by the corporate office, offering a reliable framework to follow.
• Established Reputation and Marketing: Benefit from the franchise’s reputation and marketing efforts, leveraging brand recognition.
• Comprehensive Understanding: Gain insights and knowledge about the business before committing.
• Corporate Support: Receive support and guidance from the corporate office, which can be invaluable in running your board game cafe.
• Potential Expense: Buying a franchise can involve significant costs, including initial investment and ongoing fees.
• Limited Autonomy: Major changes to the business require approval from the corporate office, limiting your freedom in decision-making.
• Product and Service Restrictions: You must adhere to approved products and services defined by the franchise agreement.
• Operational Restrictions: Your business operations must align with the terms and conditions specified in the franchise agreement.
• Ongoing Franchise Fees: Franchisees are typically responsible for ongoing fees paid to the franchisor.

Evaluating the pros and cons will help determine if purchasing a board game franchise is the right path for your business venture.

See the latest search results for franchise opportunities related to this industry.

Knowledge Is Power if You Use It!

Unlocking the Power of Knowledge for Your Board Game Cafe

Access valuable industry information online to drive success at every stage of your board game cafe.

Discover industry trends, gain startup guidance, and enhance operational excellence with comprehensive resources and expert insights.

Stay informed, adapt strategies, and harness the power of knowledge to keep your board game cafe ahead of the competition.

A Day in the Life

A Glimpse into the Life of a Board Game Cafe Owner

Gain valuable tips and insights from industry professionals to get an overview of what to expect as a board game cafe owner.

Explore the day-to-day experiences, challenges, and rewards of running a successful board game cafe.

See the search results related to a day in the life of board game cafe owners.

Board Game Cafe Owners Interviews

Gaining Insights from Board Game Industry Owners: A Valuable Resource

Delve into interviews with experienced board game industry owners to gain essential information and valuable insights.

Explore different perspectives, anticipate industry dynamics, and enhance your understanding of what to expect in the board game industry.

See the search results related to interviews of board game cafe owners.

Publications

Staying Informed: The Power of Publications for Board Game Cafes

Publications are a reliable source to stay updated with the latest information, trends, and insights in the board game cafe industry.

Enhance your knowledge, stay ahead of the curve, and make informed decisions with valuable publications.

See the search results for Industry publications.

Engage and Learn: The Power of Board Game Forums

Joining board game forums allows one to participate in hot-topic discussions and build connections within the industry.

By actively engaging in forums, you gain insights into customer perspectives and valuable information to enhance your business.

See the latest search results related to board game forums.

Board Game Blogs

Stay Informed and Inspired: The Power of Board Game Blogs

Subscribing to board game blogs is a great way to gain ideas and stay up-to-date with the industry.

By subscribing to relevant and regularly updated blogs, you can curate a valuable collection of resources that provide a constant flow of information to enhance your board game cafe business.

Explore the latest search results to discover board game blogs worth following.

Look at the latest search results for board game blogs to follow.

Stay Informed with Board Game Industry News

Keeping up with the latest happenings in the board game industry is made easy through news sources.

Set up alerts to receive timely notifications whenever new developments are covered by the media, ensuring you stay in the loop and informed.

See what’s in the news related to a board game cafe.

Explore Board Game Industry Videos for Insights

Videos related to the board game industry provide valuable tips and insights.

Additionally, explore the related videos recommended by YouTube, as they often cover topics you may not have considered, broadening your understanding of the industry.

See the links to YouTube Videos Below.

• Videos related to starting a board game cafe can be found here.

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Stonemaier Games

10 Steps to Create a Tabletop Game Company

• 5 June 2023
• 2,577 Views
• 24 Comments

Do you want to start a board game publishing company?

I grew up playing and designing games. In 2011, I combined my fascination with Kickstarter with my love of games and started working on Viticulture, a game I would eventually crowdfund in September 2012 and deliver to backers in May 2013. Ten years later, Stonemaier Games is still publishing Viticulture–among more than a dozen other games, including Wingspan, Scythe, and Red Rising–as we try to bring joy to tabletops worldwide.

This blog is all about entrepreneurship and crowdfunding , and today I’m going to try to condense the multi-step, multi-faceted process of starting a tabletop game company down to 10 steps. Two quick questions to ponder before I delve into the list:

What’s a tabletop game company?

A tabletop game company is a company that publishes games that are played on the tabletop (including but not limited to games featuring boards, cards, tiles, and a variety of tokens). The company handles the creation of digital files for the game (after either designing the game in house or signing the rights to a game designed by someone else) before sending those files to a manufacturer. When the game is printed, the company coordinates shipping, sales, marketing, customer service, etc.

Most tabletop game companies are very small in terms of personnel, number of products, and revenue. Even well-established game publishers with dozens of products may only have 1 or 2 full-time employees.

Should I start a tabletop game company?

If this is a question you’re asking yourself–probably because you’re designing a game or have partnered with a friend who is designing a game– please first consider the tradeoffs between the responsibility of running a company vs pitching to an existing publisher .

After considering that, there are a few other elements to think about before moving forwards:

• Don’t quit your day job ( read more )
• Intentionally define your version of success based on metrics you can control (opposed to elements out of your control, like revenue)
• Be prepared to make it about others, not you (this may be your goal or dream, but you’re publishing games so other people–complete strangers–can have fun. It’s about serving them)

1. Research

• Play a lot of games and learn about the games you don’t play (reviews, playthroughs, design discussions )
• Research and back at least 5 crowdfunding campaigns to learn from them ( read more )
• Actively participate in the tabletop game community (BoardGameGeek is a good starting place, but there are many thriving groups on Facebook and Discord too)
• Attend one small convention (e.g., a local event where you mostly play games; read more ) and one big convention (e.g., a major exhibition like Gen Con, Essen Spiel, and PAX Unplugged)

2. Find the First Game

• Fully design, playtest, and iterate the game from start to finish ( game design is much more than an idea )
• Set the first game aside, then design another game (your first attempt at game design is absolutely worth your time but is unlikely to resonate with thousands of people worldwide)
• Watch this video about the game design process and read this series of articles
• Sign the rights to publish a game designed by someone else ( read more )

3. Set the Legal and Financial Groundwork

• Brainstorm, trademark search, and register a compelling company name ( read more ; I recommend Scot Duvall at Stites & Harbison )
• Register your company, most likely as a sole proprietorship or limited liability partnership (I recommend Zachary Strebeck for contracts)
• Establish good accounting practices, including separating your personal bank/PayPal accounts from your business accounts ( read more ; I recommend Justin Marty and Leigh Reiter at Anders CPA )

4. Build a Crowd

• Make an email address with the company name as the tail (we use Google Workspace)
• Create a few home bases where people can find you and connect with you (WordPress website, Facebook page, and Discord server. You can later upgrade the website with the help of a web designer; I recommend Dave Hewer )
• Open social media accounts under the company name, regularly posting quick content that showcases the personality of the company, features products from other companies that inspire you, and displays what you’re working on. I prefer Instagram.
• Create a prelaunch landing page on your crowdfunding platform of choice ( read more )
• Play around with longer-form content that adds value to others until you find the format that works best for you (YouTube, blog, podcast, etc), then post there consistently. This will help you hone your communication skills ( read more )
• Write an enewsletter once every 1-3 months (I use Mailchimp; read more )

5. Identify Talent

• Find a business partner whose strengths complement your weaknesses ( read more )
• Identify amazing playtesters ( read more )
• Create a proofreading and oversight process ( read more )
• Hire a great graphic designer who knows visual design and print-file preparation ( read more )
• Select an amazing artist ( check out this list and consider this contract format )
• Read more about the many different people who will have an impact on your business and how a significant part of your job will be project management . Also, please pay independent contractors on the same day they invoice you–they deserve that.

6. Select a Printer

• Get quotes from a few different manufacturers and select your favorite based on price, communication, integrity, and quality (I highly, highly recommend Panda Game Manufacturing )
• Register a SKU and figure out barcodes, UPCs, etc ( read more )
• Consider these manufacturing tips

7. Launch a Crowdfunding Project 

• Crowdfunding isn’t the only way to bring a new product to life while starting a new company, but I think it’s the best way to learn how to run a company in a microcosm. Crowdfunding is a great way to build community, gauge demand, raise funds, improve the product, generate awareness, and create direct relationships with your most passionate customers ( read more )
• Kickstarter and Gamefound are currently the biggest players in this space.
• Plan for the preparation of the campaign to take several months. I highly recommend that you do not launch until every aspect of the game–or everything about the game except for any art for which you are reliant on funding–is completely finished. There are so many elements of uncertainty that can happen during product design, so take care of them first before you put the risk on backers.
• Talk to retailers about how you can include them in the campaign in a way that is mutually beneficial. The groundwork you lay here can make a big difference later.

8. Foster Community After the Campaign

• Nurture your growing community with steady communication via project updates (good and bad news)
• Recognize, formalize, and celebrate volunteers (see our Ambassador Program )
• Stay focused on the project and how you will support it for years to come ( read more )

9. Deliver the Game

• Determine the fulfillment centers from which the game will ship to backers and then to customers on an ongoing basis ( read more )
• Coordinate with a freight shipping broker to get the game from the manufacturer to the fulfillment centers (I recommend Justin Bergeron at ARC Global )
• Create a system for sending replacement parts worldwide ( read more )

10. Expand and Grow

• Open an online store where people and retailers can buy directly from you ( we use Shopify ).
• Sell the game at a convention. The goal is to break even while catching the eye of retailers and distributors. You’ll also learn if selling at conventions is something that invigorates or exhausts you, which may inform future marketing strategies.
• Contact a variety of reviewers to see if you can send them a free copy of the game ( read more ). Again, this is to potentially catch the eye of retailers and distributors, though even beyond that it’s a great way to get more eyes on your game. Here are other marketing techniques I’ve used and still use.
• After doing the above, share the most compelling metrics with a distribution broker (i.e., PSI) or worldwide distributors (we primarily work with GTS and Flat River Group in the US, Universal in Canada, Asmodee in Europe, and Let’s Play Games/VR Distribution/Pixelpark in Oceania. Read more about the tabletop game supply chain.
• Partner with publishing companies in other countries to print the game in other languages. There are many such publishers you can reach out to; see the full credits on popular games on BoardGameGeek (e.g., Wingspan ). Learn more here.
• Consider licensing your game to a well-established developer like Monster Couch, Acram Digital, or Digidiced ( read more )
• If your game is selling well and you need to make more copies, reprint it .

Follow those 10 steps, and you have a tabletop game company–congratulations!

Of course, this is just my perspective, not the definitive model. I’d love to hear what other publishers would add to or change about this list.

If you’re thinking about starting a game company, I’d also like to hear from you. From this list, what are you most excited or concerned about?

Bonus: I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Gabe Barrett about starting and growing a business on his podcast ( video version here ).

If you gain value from the 100 articles Jamey publishes on this blog each year,  please consider championing this content ! You can also listen to posts like this in the  audio version of the blog .

24 Comments on “ 10 Steps to Create a Tabletop Game Company ”

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Do you use any specific software to track your progress along the game development cycle? Any project management tools to help you know what you have done and what remains to get done ? (MS Project, Jira, Monday.com, Asana, Trello, etc)?

I do! Here are some articles on that topic:

https://stonemaiergames.com/15-indispensable-tools-for-every-kickstarter-creator-and-entrepreneur/

https://stonemaiergames.com/10-more-indispensable-tools-for-every-kickstarter-creator-and-entrepreneur/

[…] https://stonemaiergames.com/10-steps-to-create-a-tabletop-game-company/ […]

Firstly thank you so much for the amount of detailed information, experience and great advice that you are offering here! ?

I have been making a game for the last 3 years, and have been loving seeing the smiles and reactions of people every time. I also still love playing the game myself (which was one of my design challenges can I make something that still feels exciting, intriguing and replay able, even as the creator?!)

I’m now firmly in the self-publish vs publish crossroads and can really understand the arguments for both, but I do think I want to take on the self publish route!

Would you suggest looking at your own country first, or also aiming for international? I’m luckily in that I have a good network of international friends, (who are all desperate to get their hands on a copy for the last couple of years!) but obviously the logistics are so much more complex with international, but ultimately giving you a much bigger market..

Any thoughts or links on this would be most welcome :)

And you can check out the game in it’s current form on insta if you like – @mysticmoon Thanks so much, Leon ?‍♂️

Thanks Leon! I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the design process. I generally recommend making products accessible to as many people as possible, and worldwide fulfillment really isn’t all that complex. Here are my articles on shipping: https://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter/lessons/shipping-and-fulfillment/

Hi Jamie. As always, a great, informative, and thorough blog post! Thank you for all of the help and inspiration you have provided in these pages. I have read a great deal as I have closed in on a crowdfunding date with my first tabletop game. One thing I am struggling greatly with and simply cannot find the answer anywhere! – My manufacturer has a minimum quantity to produce, of course. I want to offer a base game and a deluxe game in my KS. I am worried that if I get pledges for many more of one (hopefully the deluxe) but only a few of the other, I am stuck with one version meeting the minimum and the other not. This seems like a quandary everyone would have and since I see many campaigns with two editions, there MUST be something simple I am just missing. Do you have an old post that answers this or can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks Anthony! This is a normal quandary and a good question to ask. I do have a post about the “deluxe dilemma” and the “premium option,” but a quick answer is that the standard version of the game becomes something you can sell via retail/distribution. If it ends up that you’re not confident that you have enough interest from retailers for that version and only a small number of backers for it, you can just make the deluxe version and send those backers the nicer version. Or you can just offer only the deluxe version from the start.

If you do offer multiple versions, the more overlapping components, the better, as they can be used for both versions of the game.

Thanks, Jamie! I truly appreciate your time. Now it is off to the airport for Gen Con!

I’ve been a studio game designer for many years, but now I’m more free to choose my path and I’m thinking of starting up a personal business. This is incredibly useful. Any thoughts or advice for not just being a publisher, but potentially a design entity for other publishers?

Absolutely! Here’s my series of articles and videos about game design: https://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter/how-to-design-a-tabletop-game/

Hi, Hi. For the people who are not residents of the nations which KS or Indiegogo supports, how do you do crowdfunding?

Here’s a post on that subject: https://stonemaiergames.com/the-methods-and-perils-of-creating-a-us-based-company-for-kickstarter-if-youre-not-in-the-us/

Excellent and informative on so many steps in an exciting process. I’m wondering, maybe a bit fearful of crowdfunding because of potentially too much success? And example, I’ve been watching is a kickstarter bd game, Botany. It seems their planning expectations were far, far less than the results. So plans for everything from Rewards to manufacturing to fulfillment would have to be completely redone. If the Goal was $30k and then $1million in backers show up, oh my, now what? For video games this kind of success seems more adaptable, but for analog manufacturing/publishing this would seem a nightmare to me? Wingspan might have been this kind of huge success you may not have anticipated? What advice do you have for unanticipated huge success and the challenges that creates?

That’s a great question, Jane. I would say that a funding goal that’s much lower than the actual funding amount isn’t necessarily indicative that a creator isn’t prepared to handle the higher amount–it just means they’re making more (which manufacturers are prepared to handle) and shipping more (which fulfillment centers are prepared to handle). Here are a few related articles:

https://stonemaiergames.com/kickstarter-lesson-117-the-3-funding-scenarios-you-must-plan-for/

https://stonemaiergames.com/a-matter-of-scale-what-changes-between-64k-and-25m/

Fantastic overview! Spot on! Some think that starting a game company is easy and their dream come true, but it is a lot more than that. I have published 8 games locally (from Iceland) that have given me some extra revenues (I didnt quit my day job), and a few of them have been distributed to other contries. It is first now (my first game came out in 2009) that I am making a series of games intended also for international markets (In EN and DE). Will be introduced in Essen. :)

That’s exciting, Svavar! What’s the name of your company?

I love this outline, thanks for sharing Jamie!

Thanks Andrew!

Jamey, what an astoundingly thorough and relevant article. Thank you so much for putting these ideas down.

Last Christmas, my daughter gave me a book called “Everybody Wins” by James Wallis. That book unexpectedly propelled me into a new level of understanding of and interest in board games. I decided I want to do exactly what you describe here, and over the last few months I’ve been absorbing hundreds of hours of podcasts, videos, blogs, and books (and playing lots of games). There is so much to understand and it is encouraging to see that your list highlights much of what I’ve learned so far.

Thanks Andy! I applaud you spending a lot of time on the first step before jumping into the others–that’s great. I’ll have to check out that book!

For those looking to do this, I can definitely attest to following much of Jamey’s advice. I started a publishing company called Greyridge Games in August of 2020 and I just completed our first Kickstarter in May (which did pretty darn well). Lead time and preparation are key; there aren’t any shortcuts—and you have to be willing to do and learn a lot of things you might not necessarily enjoy. I’ve done this mostly as just one person and if you can manage it, my experience would suggest that’s a great way to begin. You’ll learn all kinds of valuable lessons that will help with future games, even if you do eventually hire or contract other people to help you.

And probably the most important part of this imo (beyond making good games), is to always treat everyone you encounter, in any circumstance, with respect, courtesy and honesty.

I’m glad you mentioned that there are no shortcuts, Mike–I was hoping my post would convey that, but it’s worth saying outright too. I like your point about treating everyone with respect, courtesy, and honesty.

I once read an excellent Reddit post by someone that I think everyone who wants to make a boardgame company reads before starting

https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletopgamedesign/comments/uo7g45/why_99_of_us_should_focus_on_designing_vs_self/

Thanks for sharing this! It’s a great extension to my older post about designing versus starting a publisher.

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How to Start a Board Game Cafe Business

You’ve had the idea to start a board game cafe, hoping to blend your love of gaming with the joy of bringing people together. You’ve come to the right place.

We’re going to walk you through how to make a board game cafe, covering everything from the cost to open a board game cafe, advice on how to find investors for a board game cafe, the best games for a start-up board game cafe, and more.

While starting any business venture is as exhilarating as it is stressful, you’ll leave here today with a sense of confidence and clarity on your next steps. That being said, what is a board game cafe and how does it work?

How Do Board Game Cafes Work?

A board game cafe offers a unique twist on the traditional cafe, combining social gaming with dining. It operates by providing an extensive library of games, from classics to contemporary hits. 

Customers typically pay a cover charge or hourly fee, fostering longer visits and greater food and beverage sales. Menus are designed with gaming in mind, featuring easy-to-eat snacks and drinks. 

Successful cafes also cultivate a community atmosphere through events like tournaments and theme nights. Understanding this business model is vital for anyone exploring how to start a board game cafe, especially considering the financial aspects involved.

How Much Does it Cost to Open a Board Game Cafe?

How much does it cost to open a board game cafe - and what recurring expenses do you need to account for? 

The costs can vary widely depending on location, size, and the level of investment in games and decor. We’ll highlight these and offer tips on budgeting below before getting into some strategies for how to find investors for a board game cafe.

Breaking Down the Initial Investment

There is no way around it - starting a board game cafe business from scratch is going to require substantial seed money. That being said, here’s what makes up the cost to open a board game cafe: 

• Lease and Renovation Costs : These depend heavily on location and size. Renovating the space to fit the cafe's theme, including gaming areas, can range significantly based on the extent of the changes required.
• Game Library : Initial investment in games can range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on the number and types of games you choose.
• Furniture and Equipment : Comfortable and durable furniture, including different types of gaming tables and game table chairs , is a must. Don't forget the kitchen equipment if you plan to serve food and beverages. We’ll highlight the importance of having the best board game table shortly.
• Initial Inventory : This includes food and beverage stock, which will vary based on the menu complexity.
• Licenses and Permits : Costs for necessary licenses, including business licenses, food service permits, and possibly liquor licenses, if applicable.

All in, the cost to open a board game cafe business is entirely dependent on the scale of your goals. We’ve seen price estimates range from anywhere from $50k-$100k. 

Recurring Expenses to Consider

While so much emphasis is placed on the initial budget to start your board game cafe, it’s important that you think ahead and have the ability to cover recurring expenses each month, such as:

• Staff Salaries : Monthly salaries for staff could range from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the number of employees and local wage rates.
• Rent and Utilities : Monthly costs, including rent, electricity, water, and internet, can be between $3,000 and $15,000.
• Restocking Games and Inventory : This will vary but expect to spend a few thousand dollars monthly.
• Marketing and Advertising : Ongoing promotion can cost from $500 to $2,000 per month.

Strategies for Budgeting and Financial Planning

You might be reeling thinking about the cost to open a board game cafe - how can you afford all this? But, it becomes a whole lot more feasible with careful budgeting and financial planning. 

Start by creating a comprehensive business plan outlining all potential expenses to get a clear picture of the required capital. The numbers we gave above are all rough estimates. 

From there, you can start to research loans and financing options if personal investment isn't sufficient. We’ll talk specifically about how to find investors for a board game cafe shortly.

Our advice to make the journey more manageable is to start with a smaller, manageable collection of games and a simpler menu, expanding as the business grows. You can use profits to scale up over time. This raises a question, though - just how profitable is a board game cafe?

Is Opening a Gaming Cafe Profitable?

Is opening a gaming cafe profitable? It certainly can be. But we want to help you set your expectations, as some gaming cafes will rake in profits while others flop. Knowing what separates the two will help you ensure yours is a smashing success.

First and foremost, it’s important to determine whether or not a board game cafe will work in your specific area. So, analyze the demographics of your intended location. 

Areas with a younger population or families are likely to have a higher demand for board game cafes. College towns or areas with tech companies can also be hotspots due to the higher concentration of people interested in gaming.

From there, you can start to forecast your revenue streams. The primary revenue for a board game cafe typically comes from the sale of food and beverages. Profit margins on these can vary, with beverages often offering a higher margin than food items. 

A cover charge or hourly rate for gameplay can also contribute significantly. You can get really creative with other streams, though:

• Consider hosting events such as game tournaments, theme nights, or private parties. 
• Selling board games and gaming accessories can also provide additional revenue. 
• Offering memberships or loyalty programs can create a steady income stream and encourage repeat business.

Efficient operation is crucial to maximize profit margins. This includes effective inventory management, minimizing waste, and optimizing staff scheduling. Leveraging technology for order management and reservations can also improve efficiency and customer experience.

After you analyze this opportunity and determine it’s feasible, it’s time to get to work. So, let’s get into how to start a board game cafe below!

How to Start a Board Game Cafe Business: Step-by-Step Guide

The actual process of starting a board game cafe requires deep thought and meticulous preparation. But, we are going to provide a 30,000-foot overview of what goes into starting a board game cafe to help you set out on the right foot - beginning with what you need to start a board game cafe.  

What You Need to Start a Board Game Cafe

You obviously need the best games for a start-up board game cafe - but we’ll highlight those specifically later on. Let’s talk about furniture, technology, and other essentials to get your operation up and running.

The choice of board game tables cannot be overlooked. While you may try to get by with something basic, a custom board game table can set your cafe apart from the rest and elevate the experience for your patrons, ensuring they come back and tell all their friends.

Our recessed game table is unlike any other on the market - as it effortlessly converts between dining and gaming, perfect for anyone looking to start a board game cafe. It features individual player stations, a felted recessed playing surface that can be raised and lowered, and other unique features.

Your board game shelving matters too, as this is how you will maintain proper game room organization . It also plays a key role in displaying your board games to add both functionality and aesthetic appeal to your space.

Additionally, you’ll need a reliable POS (Point of Sale) system, kitchen equipment if you plan to serve food, comfortable seating for customers, and stylish, thematic decor to create an inviting atmosphere. Round out your cafe with art, plants, quality lighting, sound systems, and other essentials.

How to Find Investors for Board Game Cafe

One of the biggest questions on your mind may be how to find investors for board game cafe. They can provide the necessary financial boost, but it comes with considerations. 

Investors can offer not just capital but also business expertise and networking opportunities. However, this might mean sharing decision-making authority and a portion of your business's control.

Nevertheless, you can develop a compelling business plan that highlights the uniqueness and profitability of your concept to attract investors and win them over. Networking at business events, gaming conventions, and online platforms dedicated to start-ups can connect you with potential investors.

Choosing the Perfect Location

High foot traffic areas, proximity to colleges, or family-friendly neighborhoods are ideal. 

The space should be large enough to accommodate gaming tables, seating, and possibly a kitchen area, yet cozy enough to maintain a friendly, communal atmosphere. 

Consider parking availability and ease of access for your customers.

Designing Your Board Game Cafe

Just as with typical game room ideas or Airbnb themes , designing your cafe should reflect a balance between functionality and thematic appeal. 

The decor should resonate with the gaming theme, creating an immersive environment. Comfort is key, so ensure ample space between tables and a layout that allows for easy movement. 

Incorporate elements that complement your theme - whether it's vintage, fantasy, or modern. Pay attention to color schemes and lighting. They should be conducive to both gaming and dining.

Building Your Board Game Collection

Perhaps the most important part of what you need to start a board game cafe is the best games for a start-up board game cafe. 

Start by selecting a wide range of games to cater to various interests and skill levels. Include classic favorites, strategy games, family-friendly options, and the latest hits in the board game world. 

Keep an eye on board game forums and reviews to stay updated on popular and upcoming games. Remember, the diversity of your collection can set you apart, so continually update and rotate your games to keep your offerings fresh and exciting. Here are some ideas if you aren’t sure where to start:

• Best Board Games of All Time
• Best Card Games
• Best Cooperative Board Games
• Dungeons and Dragons Setup

You can also keep the essentials for a poker night on hand, encouraging patrons to host their poker night at your cafe. 

Developing a Winning Menu

The menu at your board game cafe should complement the gaming experience. 

It’s wise to offer a mix of snacks, finger foods, and more substantial meals, depending on your kitchen's size and capabilities. Beverages, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic (if your permits allow), are usually big sellers. 

Remember, the key is to offer items that are easy to consume while playing games - think about minimizing mess and ease of eating. Creativity in tying your menu items to gaming themes can also enhance the overall experience of your patrons.

Obtaining Necessary Licenses and Permits

Ensure you have all the necessary licenses and permits before opening your doors. This usually includes a business license, a food service permit, and possibly a liquor license, depending on your offerings. 

The requirements can vary significantly depending on your location, so check with local authorities. Also, consider the need for music licensing if you plan to play music in your cafe, and any other permits related to running a food service establishment.

Setting Up Your Financial Systems

Start by setting up a robust accounting system to track your revenues and expenses. This system should help you manage day-to-day bookkeeping, payroll, and taxes. 

Utilizing software solutions can streamline this process, providing you with valuable insights into your business's financial health. Additionally, develop a budget and regularly review your financial performance against it to identify areas for improvement or expansion. 

Hiring and Training Staff

You may run the operation entirely on your own - or with the assistance of family - at first. As your business grows, though, you’ll need to bring on staff. Hiring and training is critical to keeping your cafe afloat.

Look for individuals who not only have excellent customer service skills but also a genuine enthusiasm for board games. This passion for gaming can enhance the customer experience significantly. 

Once hired, comprehensive training is essential. Your staff should be well-versed in the rules of various games to assist customers effectively. They should also be trained in food and beverage service, handling transactions, and maintaining the cleanliness and organization of the cafe.

Marketing and Promoting Your Cafe

Start with creating a strong brand identity that reflects the unique personality of your cafe. Utilize social media platforms to reach potential customers - share engaging content, upcoming events, and new game arrivals. 

Consider partnerships with local businesses or gaming communities to widen your reach. Hosting special events, tournaments, and themed nights can also draw in crowds. 

Don’t forget the power of word-of-mouth - encourage your customers to share their experiences on social media and review sites.

Ensuring an Exceptional Customer Experience

The overall customer experience begins the moment a customer steps into your cafe and continues throughout their visit. Ensure your cafe is welcoming, clean, and well-organized. 

Game instructions should be easily accessible, and staff should be ready to help and recommend games. Consider the little touches that make a big difference - like comfortable seating, good lighting, and the right music. Remember, a happy customer is your best advocate!

Final Thoughts on How to Start a Board Game Cafe Business

That concludes our detailed guide on how to make a board game cafe business. We’ve covered everything from the cost to open a board game cafe to what you need to start a board game cafe - and walked you through all the other key considerations along the way.

Learn more about the role of innovative furniture , multi-functional furniture , and the best board game shelves in setting your board game cafe apart. Otherwise, it’s time for you to get to work now that you know how to start a board game cafe business!

From curating an exciting game collection to creating a welcoming space, each step builds towards a thriving community hub. Let your love for games guide you in crafting an extraordinary destination, where every visit is an experience and every game played weaves a story.

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How to Start a Board Game Business

Board games have been an integral part of entertainment in many cultures since the dawn of civilizations. We see examples of board games like “snakes and ladder” and chess in both Indian and Egyptian settlements of yesteryear.

But as Covid-19 came on raging, people started to get fonder of the nostalgia that came with board games . Being an intergenerational phenomenon, everyone has played a game at one point or the other. Therefore 2020 saw an exponential increase in the sale of board games.

Here is a step-by-step guide as to how you can start your own board game business and rake in profits while they are selling like hotcakes.

Table of Contents

A plan is essential for any business to take off. It sets your goals and helps you decide on a vision for your future empire. You should figure out the start-up costs at this point and do some market research on your target market.

You should also see what your competitors are charging and if you can price it competitively without affecting margins. You should also spend a lot of time looking at the price range in which your product will sell.

Starting a board game business does not require a lot of capital as compared to other businesses and you should be fine with $20-25k. These prices can go lower or higher depending on how your market and roll out the product.

Your biggest expenses in the starting are trademarking the game and applying for copyright, getting the artwork done, and then manufacturing the game. The cost of manufacturing drops as you place an order for large quantities.

Legal Aspects

Some of the most common types of business types are either sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company ( LLC ), or corporation. If you register as an LLC or even a corporation then you will not be held liable if someone sues your board game company. LLC costs are costs, and we highly recommend registering as such. You can have either the basic services or get some of the best LLC services at a modest additional charge.

When opening a business, it is best to be aware of all the taxes that you will have to pay beforehand itself. Make sure you read all the state and federal taxes that you will have to pay. It is best that you start filing the taxes as soon as possible even if you do not have any income from the business.

This way you remain in the know-how and when the time comes can easily file your taxes. Being on the legal side of the fence is very necessary and taxes make a huge chunk of the legal aspects of your business.

Apply for an EIN for free on the IRS website . This way you can get your number through fax or mail itself. Learn about the small business taxes that you will have to pay.

Dedicated Bank Account And Credit Card

To protect your personal assets, it is important that you have a dedicated credit and banking account. If the business issued your personal assets come under the risk of seizure to avoid this, it is best to open a bank account and credit card.

Business Accounting

Record all of your expenses and the various sources of income so that you can understand the cash flow and financial health of your business. Having detailed accounts of these things can help you prevent future disasters and even save a lot of money in the long run. It also simplifies the annual tax filings that will happen every year.

Permits and licenses

You should know what all permits you need to operate in the area and what license you need to have the business up and running. Take a note of these permits and licenses and make sure you apply for them well in advance. In most cases obtaining a license can be a tedious task and can take weeks to process.

You don’t want to delay your business processions due to licenses being delayed or permits being denied. Get your artwork and logos Trademarked and Copyrighted so that there are no problems in the future.

Business Insurance

Business insurance comes in handy when you want to have some losses covered. It is great for your company’s well-being if something goes wrong. There are many different types of insurance policies for different businesses as all of them have different types of risks. General Liability Insurance is a great place to start for your business coverage needs.

Worker’s Compensation Insurance is also very much necessary for some businesses. It takes care of your employee’s medical needs which is a major expense and also saves you from potential lawsuits.

Going forward you will need a clear vision as to how you want the brand and how it interacts. You will have to focus on social media presence and public identity that is in line with your goals. A well-defined brand helps you stand out from the competition and also makes business easily identifiable.

After this, you should work on how you can get people to keep returning to your board game. A game might be captivating enough but you need to sell it in such a way that people get excited about it. Bloggers and reviewers are the way to go when it comes to board games. Influencer marketing can get you great results and is the best way to get your product in front of a large audience in a short time span.

The E-commerce side of the board game business has been booming and you should get in on the action. This way you get to expand your business worldwide and get access to other areas easily. It has never been easier to become an overnight success.

Business Phone

Since this is an intergenerational product so people not comfortable with internet transactions will also contact you. This automated process makes it easier for you to make a sale and saves time by automating the majority of the process.

Anything Else?

Of course, there are other things you may need to start a board game business. But those are unique to your needs and situation. Let us just say that the above is the must-have to get your business off the ground properly.

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Board Game Cafe Business Plan

Table of Contents

Developing a Business Model

When developing a business plan for a Board Game Cafe, it is important to explore different business models and understand how to optimize profits and minimize risks. One of the first steps in creating an effective business model is to decide how the cafe will make money. This could include charging for entrance or for the cost of renting tables, or offering food and drink items at an additional charge. Knowing which elements will require customers to pay, and how pricing will be structured, can help ensure that profit margins are maximized.

In addition to creating a revenue stream from customers directly, another way to generate income could be through sponsorships or partnerships with board game companies and other related businesses. This could involve giving customers discounts on popular products or free giveaways if they spend a certain amount at the cafe, thus driving more foot traffic. Implementing loyalty programs can also provide monetary benefits when executed correctly; therefore this should be taken into consideration when formulating the business plan too.

Finally, understanding potential risks associated with the venture is important in order to anticipate any challenges that could arise in the future”such as changing customer needs or market trends”and create strategies that mitigate them accordingly. For example, having backup plans in case certain suppliers fall through or understanding potential unexpected costs associated with maintaining services/products of high quality can help reduce financial losses should things not go as planned. Taking these steps while forming a Board Game Cafe business model can help ensure that owners are prepared for any situation they may face during their endeavor.

Design Tips

Creating an inviting atmosphere for a board game cafe starts with the decorations and furniture. To give guests a unique experience, find pieces that are game-themed, such as classic chess tables or whimsical ’80s backgammon boards. Additionally, try to source vintage arcade games and custom built designs like life-sized Jenga towers in order to really capture your visitors’ attention. For seating, look into armchairs or classic leather sofas to match the classic feel of the games. Finally, don’t forget to include small details such as neon signs or custom art prints on the walls to provide an extra level of charm. With these tips in mind, you’ll be sure to create a fun and inviting board game cafe environment that your customers will love!

Event and Promotion Strategies

Organizing special events can be a great way to target board game players and attract new customers. Start by organizing casual game nights on a regular basis, such as twice a week. Promote the event on social media, local ads, or even mailers to ensure that people know it is happening. It’s also important to contact local board gaming groups directly to let them know about your events and what you offer.

Competitions are also popular with board game players and make for excellent entertaining events. Have customers play against each other in short tournaments with small prizes like free top-ups if they win or discounts on food or drinks if they come out on top overall!

Promotions: Bringing in more customers is key to successful board game cafe business, and promotional strategies can be just the thing to do this. Consider offering discounts on certain days and times (weekdays tend to be slower than weekends) or give away free items with purchases – anything from a meal voucher or discount card up to an actual mini-game from one of your shelf games! Try creating packages too; for example an early bird package which includes food/drinks plus one hour of unlimited games for X amount of money. Offering loyalty programs also tends to draw more repeat customers than just regular advertising does. Having different tiers of loyalty could be very beneficial, depending on how much of an impact you think it will have on sales. Giveaways are always appreciated too, try having contests occasionally with larger prizes that include several products from the cafe (such as gift cards).

Potential revenue streams and alternate options

When developing a board game cafe business plan, potential revenue streams should be considered in order to sustain operations and explore opportunities for business growth. These could include income from customer fees, event hosting, merchandise sales, food and beverage sales, subscription services (such as regular gaming nights/tournaments), and other add-on services like subscription boxes or storage services. Furthermore, expanding into other activities such as running specialized events for custom groups (corporate team building or birthday parties) or offering discounts for bulk purchases of board games may also bring additional revenue streams that can help contribute to the sustainability of the cafe. Finally, the business can consider exploring options like franchising the concept in different locations or setting up online streaming of gameplay sessions to attract new customers from all around the globe while still maintaining low overhead costs. All these potential revenue streams and alternate options should be taken into consideration when creating a strategic plan for success.

Legal and Regulatory Guidelines

Legal and Regulatory Guidelines can vary significantly depending on the municipality, state, and country in which a Board Game Cafe operates. While it’s essential to check applicable regulations prior to opening a Board Game Cafe, some common legal aspects a Board Game Cafe owner needs to consider when creating their business plan include:

– Age Restrictions: Depending on the location of your Board Game Cafe, there may be imposed minimum age restrictions when patronizing the premises. It’s important to research and understand the restrictions in order to comply with local laws.

– Employer-Employee Laws: Owners must know relevant employment laws when hiring and training staff, from setting wages and vacation policies to ensuring appropriate documentation is obtained for all employees before beginning employment.

– Health & Safety Standards: It’s important for all business owners to familiarize themselves with industry best practices for health and safety standards in regards to food preparation, storage and serving as well as other relevant procedures.

– Building Regulations: Ensure that your business abides by all building codes and licenses required in the area where you will be operating, especially if you are seeking funding from a bank or other financial institution who may require proof of compliance prior to granting financing.

Collaboration and Networking

Collaboration and networking are key components of any successful business plan. Utilizing existing relationships with local businesses and building new ones will be essential for the success of a board game cafe.

Potential collaborations could include strategic partnerships, such as partnering with local restaurants that can provide food to the cafe’s customers. This collaborative effort could offer customers discounts on both food and gaming services when purchased together. Similarly, partnering with near-by lodgings or tourist attractions can bring in more visitors, offering great potential for both businesses to succeed.

Network-building is also very important in generating attention for the board game cafe business plan. Creating social media accounts, hosting events, and getting involved locally every chance you can create a sense of familiarity with the business that encourages people to visit. Inviting influencers to spotlight the cafe on their platforms can also help spread awareness quickly and easily to a large audience of new potential customers. Furthermore, utilizing other community resources like small business fairs or workshops may open even more doors for growth opportunities.

Sustainability and Scalability

Sustainability and scalability are important considerations for any business. When it comes to a board game cafe, creating a system to ensure the sustainability of the business should be a priority. This could mean working on strategies that focus on improving customer retention, increasing profitability through repeat business, as well as making sure there is an appropriate network of suppliers in place to guarantee that stock levels remain consistent.

Scalability will also be pivotal in making sure the board game cafe can grow over time. This may include investing in additional services such as catering and offering exclusive events, diversifying into different markets such as corporate team building or children’s birthday parties, and leveraging technology such as online booking systems. Developing robust marketing plans and launching campaigns to target new customers are also needed when aiming for maximum scalability.

I love playing all kinds of games – from classics like Monopoly to modern favourites like Ticket to Ride.

I created this blog as a way to share my love of board games with others, and provide information on the latest releases and news in the industry.

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How to Start a Board Game Coffee Shop

Do you love board games and coffee?

If so, starting a board game coffee shop may be just the right fit for you. The popularity of board games and coffee makes the combination of a board game store and a coffee shop an exciting prospect.

A board game coffee shop is one of the many coffee shop concepts and ideas that are both exciting and potentially profitable. The concept joins two complementary businesses to generate a unique experience for the customer and a profit engine for the owner.

This post will discuss how to start a board game café in your city. Specifically, we will look at the benefits, costs, and actionable steps you can take.

For a more in-depth discussion on setting up a coffee shop, please read our article, Steps to Starting a Coffee Shop Successfully.

Starting a Board Game Coffee Shop

I love the idea of starting a board game coffee shop because I'm a big fan of a local board game café here in Seattle. In addition, I have seen that this concept can be among the most successful of all coffee shop concepts if planned right. Boardgame cafés can offer hours of entertainment, provide an excellent resource for gamers, and give the physical space for friends and like-minded people to meet, drink coffee, and have fun.

Even though there are plenty of opportunities for people to enjoy online computer gaming, I love that there is still a very strong segment of the population that enjoys meeting in person and playing games that they love together.

Let's consider some of the benefits that you may have when starting a board game coffee shop.

Board game café business benefits:

• Competitive advantage
• Multiple streams of income
• Expanded hours of service
• Dedicated customers
• Expanded menu options
• Great community hub
• Money-making hobby

Let's get more specific about each of these potential advantages:

Your Competitive Advantage:

There probably aren't many board game cafés in your area – but chances are there soon will be. The potential profit from this concept makes it an enticing choice for many coffee business owners.

Being the first board game café in your area offers you a potentially robust competitive advantage. In addition, offering games and bringing like-minded people together is a significant differentiation.

Many would-be competitors would simply not be able to provide them with the same type of experience and benefits.

Multiple Streams of Income

As a board game coffee shop, you have a variety of ways to generate revenue. Your first revenue stream will be your menu, including the possibility of serving alcohol too. The expansion of your menu will be a significant revenue booster as your customers could potentially spend hours at your cafe and want a variety of snacks, appetizers, or food.

Other income streams include table and room rentals, board and card game sales, educational classes, and other merchandise sales.

Each event, competition, or board game tournament you have will likely bring in various customers that will boost your daily sales.

Expanded Hours of Service

As a board game coffee shop, you'll likely have expanded hours. These hours may start in the early morning and last until late into the evening. Additionally, weekend tournaments, competitions, and birthday parties will likely keep your business very busy.

Expanded hours will likely bring in additional sales that can jack up your monthly revenue. For example, a typical coffee shop might be open from 6 am to 3 pm. A board game café can be open from 6 am to 10 pm.

While the additional hours will incur variable expenses (such as inventory, utilities, and labor), your increased sales will likely lead to higher profits.

Dedicated Customers

Weekend tournaments, group gatherings, and providing a space where gamers can play and socialize with each other can work to solidify the loyalty of your customers.

Whether they come to play, watch, or order coffee, you'll likely have a dedicated following of loyal customers who want to be a part of the nightly events, tournaments, and classes.

Even people who are not into games can still become your patrons if you provide them with excellent coffee and superior customer service.

Expanded Menu Options

To build off what I just mentioned earlier, you may consider expanding your menu options and having a small kitchen or food prep area. Provide menu table tents or signs that can remind your customers what snacks you have available. Make sure your coffee shop menu board highlights all the great options you have.

No doubt, your expanded coffee shop menu will provide your customers with food and beverages with potentially higher margins. For example, a soup and sandwich combo meal will have higher margins than a donut or muffin.

Consider high-margin, easy-to-prepare snacks, substantial food, and beverage ideas that you can provide for your customers as they play games that can last hours.

Great Community Hub

Besides making money, you want your business to be beneficial for your community. Look around in your area. Maybe it lacks a community place where people could gather, talk, and play? If this niche is already taken look further. A board game coffee shop has the potential to be extremely popular near student housing, high dense communities, or tourist areas.

Money-making Enterprise

Many of us have dreamt about a hobby that would bring us money. Every business owner who sets out on a private business adventure should think about a business idea that excites him or her in the first place. Being passionate about your concept and following your own interests will give you an extra motivational boost. It can be impactful for your staff morale and customer loyalty.

As a board game coffee shop, you want to create a space that you would personally enjoy if you were to go and play games with your friends. You also want to choose the games that you personally like, play, and can talk about. The same can be said about coffee. If these two interests of yours match then you might have a winning combination on your hands.

So now that we've discussed the potential benefits let's get more into the details of how to start your board game café.

Further Reading : How to Start a Coffee Shop Successfully

Steps to Open Your Board Game Coffee Shop:

• Develop your concept
• Choose a location
• Determine your costs
• Write a business plan
• Register your business
• Secure your funding
• Acquire your coffee shop equipment
• Obtain your furniture, displays, and fixtures
• Secure Your Inventory
• Market Your board game coffee shop

For more direct requirements to start a coffee shop , read Requirements to Start a Coffee Shop

Develop your Board Game Coffee Shop Concept

Before anything else, you will want to nail down your board game café concept. To do this, start by figuring out the type of experience you want your customer to have and then developing your café around that experience.

For example, do you plan on hosting board game tournaments or other competitions? This may require some extra space for longer tables or game rooms. This, in turn, will help you figure out your physical space needs, occupancy level, and space you'll need for your kitchen and storage supply.

If people stay longer than 30 minutes, do you want to offer a deeper menu with soups, sandwiches, and other food and beverages? This, in turn, may propel you to think about getting a location with a kitchen or an expanded food prep area.

Once you have your specific board game café concept and menu, you will write that down in a business plan. Within the plan, you likely offer more specific details on:

• Your concept
• Your menu and equipment
• Space and lease requirements
• Budget and forecasts
• Choosing your vendors (coffee and wholesale board suppliers)

Within your coffee shop business plan , you will finalize much of the details in planning before you start looking for a location.

Your plan will also include everything from analyzing your competition to developing your financial projections, cost factors, and funding mix .

For more information on how to write a coffee shop business plan, please read our post, How to Write Your Coffee Shop Business Plan .

Your Business Structure

Early in the process, you will want to create your business structure as a legal entity in your state.

For example, you may decide to create a partnership or corporation or enjoy the benefits of a coffee shop LLC . Either way, you will need to register your business and get an Employee Identification Number (EIN). This will help you do everything from opening your business bank account, hiring employees, and applying for your reseller license.

Trending Articles on Coffee Shop Startups:

The Costs of Starting a Board Game Cafe

We've previously written about the general costs of starting a coffee shop . A board game coffee shop would be slightly different, so let's focus more specifically on this board game café concept.

There are two general categories of costs for opening your board game café: startup costs and operational costs. Both are linked, but let's focus on the startup costs for now.

Board Game Coffee Shop Startup Costs:

• Initial legal & administrative costs
• Research costs
• Initial lease & security deposit
• Café build-out
• Coffee shop equipment
• Furniture and fixtures
• Initial marketing
• Initial inventory purchases
• Games, games, games

Board Game Coffee Shop Operational Costs:

• Monthly lease
• Inventory costs

For a more in-depth article on general coffee shop costs, read our article, How Much Does It Cost to Start a Coffee Shop?

Steps to Starting a Board Game Coffee Shop

Develop your board game coffee shop budget.

As you research and develop your concept, everything else will start falling into place. This is where you want to develop a solid budget for your coffee business to help you figure out just how much your venture will cost.

For more information on developing your budget, please read our article, How to Develop Your Coffee Shop Budget .

Creating Your Funding Mix

Once you know your budget, you will develop your funding mix. Your funding mix is your breakdown of the cash or investment pools you will need to get your money from. This can include money from your personal savings, business loans, and business partners, among others.

As you cost out your coffee shop startup, this important analysis will help you determine your strategy to get the money you need until you become self-sustainable or profitable.

Picking the Right Location

Choosing the right location for your game board coffee shop will require incorporating a variety of demographic factors that will be important for your specific type of business.

Depending on your city, you may need to be near public transportation, such as bus stops metro lines, or have ample parking.

You want to be easily accessible to your target market. For example, young people and students may likely play a large segment of your target market. Therefore, it may be helpful to be near schools, colleges, or universities and transit hubs.

The physical space also has to be large enough to accommodate the number of patrons you may want. Either due to availability or cost, this need for a larger space may limit your location options in your area.

For additional information on choosing the right location, please read How to Choose the Right Coffee Shop Location.

Board Game Café Design & Layout

A board game café may need a larger space for larger-than-average tables for games. You will also want additional shelving and displays for games and merchandise.

Your design and layout may include gaming rooms where groups can play or events can occur, such as birthday parties or gaming meetups.

You might want to plan out and invest more in solid lighting and sound absorption materials. Unlike a regular coffee shop where the light can be dim, board games require more light to read the manual or see the cards. Games can get very loud too, so if you have different rooms or sections in your board games coffee shop, consider using better insulation. It might also protect you from neighbors complaining about the noise in your business.

Getting Your Gaming Inventory

When you start a board game café, you will need access to various gaming products. Once you establish your business structure and get a reseller license, you will establish a wholesale account with vendors or boards game and card distributors.

Over the last couple of decades, consolidation led to larger national, international, and regional distributors of board games and card games. This means that you'll likely get your inventory from out of state.

Before you decide which distributors to reach out to, consider searching for the games you want to provide and those distributors that can best meet your needs.

Also, note that game board and game card distributors may require you to have a business structure setup and a reseller license before they sell to you.

Staying Ahead of the Competition

Opening a board game coffee shop can mean you have a variety of direct and indirect competitors. Therefore, staying focused on your competitive advantage and customer service will be necessary.

Like “typical” coffee shops, you will have to focus on offering a menu your customers want with quality food and beverages. To do this, it would be essential to hire amazing baristas and invest in quality barista training. Consider offering the best coffee you can find locally. Offer gluten-free, kosher, or other higher-quality items (if that's what your customers want).

At every step of the way, drive your value, service, and products upwards – and then base your pricing on that perceived value.

For more tips, read our post, How to Stay Ahead of the Competition.

Marketing and Promotion

You will need to get the word out that you are now open for business. From posting banners and window signs to setting up your website and speaking to local media, you will want a full-frontal effort to promote your new business. I recommend hosting a grand opening.

A grand opening will help mark the start of your new business but also help get the word out. Marketing and promoting your coffee shop will need a budget and strategy to maximize your profits. In addition, you will want to use your coffee shop website, social media accounts, and email to promote your various events, game nights, and product specials.

Board Game Options for Coffee Shops

There are hundreds or even thousands of different games you can play. The popularity of these games fluctuates. What is popular today may not be popular next year. And that might be a good thing because this keeps your customers coming back for more opportunities to learn and play new and fun games.

Getting feedback from your customers will be important as you continuously adapt your offerings (merchandise, public tournaments, and menu items). Your customers will often lead the way when it comes to deciding what types of tournaments, competitions, or game nights they would like to have.

Current Popular Board Games:

Additional Questions:

Do i need to provide computer monitors in my game store.

Today, board game coffee shops are often offline. Many of the games at cafes are actual board games or card games. However, if you do have online games at your cafe, you might want your customers to use their personal phones, tablets, or laptops. Therefore, you don't need to provide computers or monitors.

Could I serve alcohol at my board game coffee shop?

It is possible to serve alcohol at your café. However, you would need to check your local regulations and requirements. For example, if you serve alcohol, you may need an expanded menu; consider age requirements and staff ages. For more information on serving alcohol, read our post, Should You Serve Alcohol at Your Coffee Shops?

What's the best way to start your board game coffee shop?

A board game café or coffee shop is a unique coffee shop business concept with a lot of potential. In many ways, it's similar to other coffee shop startups; however, you have the added component of games. So, the first thing you want to do is understand the steps to start a coffee shop (a general coffee shop). Next, you will want to write your business plan and determine your funding options.

Are You Ready To Get Started?

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Based in Seattle, Washington, USA, Coffee Shop Startups is dedicated to providing you with the most relevant information on how to start a coffee shop business successfully.

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Start » strategy, 5 small businesses that are making tabletop games popular again.

Tabletop games have regained noticeable popularity in recent years, and the trend is projected to continue to grow between 7% and 11% until 2030.

Board games have made a big comeback over the past few years. After finding more leisure time during the pandemic or feeling isolated without much human interaction, people are playing tabletop games to reconnect with others, have fun, and engage in some friendly competition.

A cultural longing for community has catalyzed the industry into a “golden age not seen since the 80s,” wrote The Washington Post. These five small businesses are making tabletop games popular again.

We’re Not Really Strangers

A simple concept has brought great success to We’re Not Really Strangers Creator Koreen Odiney. In 2018 , the then 23-year-old had the idea to create an ice-breaker-style card game that encourages people to get more intimate with each other— whether the game is played with friends, family, or strangers.

Six years later, Odiney has expanded on her idea with a variety of different decks designed to get closer to a romantic partner or even yourself. This game takes “How are you?” to the next level.

We’re Not Really Strangers rose to popularity during the pandemic due to its connection-making nature. Transferring the compelling questions on the cards to social media reinforced Odiney’s goal of bringing people together and served as a digital conversation starter.

Posting relatable thoughts like “ One day at a time ” or “What’s been keeping you sane lately?” grew the brand’s Instagram following to a staggering 5.4 million followers. Odiney has truly created a community around the game and has surely deepened relationships all over the world.

Facade Games

Started by Holly and Travis Hancock, and backed by crowdfunding, Facade Games has been creating board games since 2015. The couple launched their first game, Salem 1692, that year as a fun side project, but the support they received on Kickstarter was overwhelming.

A few years later, they crowdfunded their second game, which exceeded their fundraising expectations, and the Hancocks quit their careers to make Facade Games their primary pursuit. To date, they’ve produced seven games and have sold nearly half a million copies.

With light strategy and social deduction games such as Bristol 1350 — which is based on the Black Plague — and Hollywood 1947 — based on the Hollywood Red Scare — darker historical events are the common thread throughout the Dark Cities series. Composed of five games, each one tells a different story, so the Hancocks decided that each game should be housed in a hollowed-out book .

Travis recalls, “My mom … would always say as soon as a game box is ruined, the game is ruined.” Thanks to this clever packaging, each set can be stored more easily than in a conventional cardboard box.

A cultural longing for community has catalyzed the industry into a “golden age not seen since the 80s.”

The Washington Post

Previously known as Palm Court, CMYK Games is a New York-based collaborative group effort among Alex Hague, Justin Vickers, James Nathan Spencer, Wolfgang Warsch, Matt Leacock, Jon Perry, and more. Designers first, the creators focus on the aesthetic appeal of their games as much as gameplay. Their mission is to make immersive social games that don’t look like anything else on your table.

CMYK’s collection includes their debut game, Monikers, dubbed “the perfect party game” by The New York Times; a game-show-style board game, Wavelength, that begs participants to be telepathic; and Daybreak, a cooperative game that enlists players to find solutions to the climate crisis.

The Fuzzies involves building a tower of little felt balls, Lacuna is a two-person game with the objective of connecting and collecting the most flowers, and Spots is a dice game inspired by Christoph Niemann’s “Faites Vos Jeux” visual pun. It’s safe to say that CMYK wants to be the producer of the prettiest board games.

Game designer, digital artist, and professor Mary Flanagan is the founder of Resonym , a New Hampshire-based tabletop game publisher committed to inclusivity and being socially conscious. Using a small team of artists, testers, and administrative professionals, everything is created in-house with the help of many collaborators.

Resonym has a lineup of both board games and card games with a variety of themes that’s continued to grow since 2012. Buffalo: The Name Dropping Game has everyone at the table name prominent people and celebrities that match a particular description as fast as they can.

Another card game, Awkward Moment, has players submit embarrassing scenarios to “the decider” every round, with the goal of getting the winning reaction.

Phantom Ink is a competition between two spirits who write out clues to help their mediums guess the secret object as quickly as possible. The company has published eight other party and strategy games for adults and families — all made with fairness and the fantastical in mind.

Lost Boy Entertainment

Hollywood writer K.C. Schrimpl and his family own and operate Lost Boy Entertainment , a board game publisher and film production company. As a professional screenwriter, Schrimpl is the driving force behind the creative side of things and has curated a small selection of both kid-friendly and adult-only games.

Plunder: A Pirate’s Life was the first game Schrimpl released in 2019. This is a family game in which each pirate tries to collect the most resources, land, and treasure they can. King’s Cup Extreme is an elaborate take on the classic party game. Piles! is akin to Ligretto and the memory game, while Cheers to the Governor offers inventive new rules to another timeless card game.

Among Thieves, Schrimpl’s directorial debut, was released in 2019. A filmmaker first, Schrimpl incorporates other entertainment, such as comedic skits, into his brand and social media accounts. Lost Boy Entertainment is setting itself apart from other game publishers by pushing the boundaries of what a board game company can be.

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Self publish board game business plan template

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