If you’re considering building a bowling alley, there are a lot of questions you’ll need answered. Questions like, how much does it cost to build a bowling alley? What type of bowling alley is the most profitable? How do you write a bowling alley business plan?
We’ve helped many people – those new to the bowling industry, and industry insiders – evaluate whether building a bowling alley is the right business decision for them. We can help you, too.
We’ve got planning guides, we can show you different bowling alley business models to consider, help you secure financing, help with construction. We can even help you get the best prices on your food & beverage supplies through our buyer’s group, Xtreme Entertainment.
Have a look at the resources on our site and, when you’re ready, contact us and we can answer all of your questions.
Planning
New Bowling Alley Planning
Success in new centre development is hinged on a solid strategy and coordinated use of qualified resources. Striker Bowling can provide individualized business plans with a comprehensive feasibility study, site analysis along with market and demographic review reports. This research can lead to informative decisions with in-depth financial considerations. Striker Bowling works with investors to develop a project timeline to cover all phases of a typical new center development project from concept to completion.
In addition to providing assistance with business planning and development timeline, Striker Bowling can provide a number of resources to assist in the planning process.
Pre-Planning Guide
The Brunswick Preplanning Guide provides a checklist of items for you to discuss with your architect and building contractor and will help you anticipate your current and future needs, as well as create the most efficient design possible. Once you have taken the first steps detailed in this guide, you are ready to move on to Brunswick’s Comprehensive Planning Guide.
Comprehensive Bowling Alley Planning Guide
The Brunswick Comprehensive Planning Guide is available exclusively to investors selecting Brunswick, and Striker Bowling, as their solution provider and details step-by-step the process of designing and building a bowling-focused business. It includes information on all the important factors to consider when planning a bowling center from acoustics to parking considerations.
Sample Project Timeline
This sample timeline covers all aspects of developing and building a new centre.
New Centre Development Form
To learn more about new centre development and how Striker Bowling can help, please complete the New Centre Development Form.
Bowling Alley Business Models
There are four primary bowling alley business models: the Boutique, the Family Entertainment Centre, the Hybrid, and the Traditional Bowling Centre. Deciding which model is right for your market will depend on several factors, including demographics, competition, and your budget. When you’re ready, contact us and we can discuss your goals and help you choose the business model that fits your needs.
Boutique Bowling Centre
Boutique centres are focused primarily on entertainment with a full service, upscale restaurant/bar. Bowling is the primary form of entertainment, but is just one component of the business, which may also feature live music, billiards, virtual/cyber gaming, and bocce as additional sources of revenue.
Family Entertainment Centre
Family Entertainment Centres (FECs) are geared towards bringing in families and, in addition to bowling, may feature arcades, laser tag, go carts, bumper cars, and party rooms. The food offerings at FEC’s are enhanced to match the atmosphere and beverage service plays a strong role.
Hybrid
Hybrid centres combine two distinct bowling business models (family entertainment and boutique bowling) with a multitude of complementary entertainment venues that range from arcades, indoor attractions to laser tag arenas. Hybrids are designed to cater to both families and an active adult market.
Traditional Bowling Centre
This is the traditional bowling alley many of us grew up with. These centres typically include a limited number of entertainment options including a game room, billiards, pro shop and bar. Beverages play a strong role and food is usually limited to snack bar options.
How We Can Help
Building a bowling centre is a big investment and we’ve got the expertise and experience to help you navigate those waters and maximize your return on that investment.
We’re not just a supplier to the industry. We also develop and operate bowling centres under the Splitsville brand. We know exactly what you’re going through and we can help make sure you’re asking the right questions, bringing in the right resources, and thinking of all the details that can pop up when building a new bowling centre. When the time comes, we can make sure you’re getting the best deal on quality equipment that’s going to last through our partnership with Brunswick Bowling, the world’s leading supplier to the industry.
Beyond building, we can also help you develop your business plan and your strategy for attracting and retaining customers.
Our goal is to make sure you achieve your goals in this amazing industry.
Build to Bowl Program
The Build-to-Bowl program is the single source solution for new centre construction and redevelopment projects.
Developed over years of experience, the Build-to-Bowl program effectively and efficiently coordinates the efforts of planners, designers, architects, contractors, installers, and training professionals in order to bring a new center development, modernization, or remodeling project to life in a timely and cost-effective manner and provides a complete line of services from the earliest planning stages to project completion:
- Site selection, analysis, and master planning
- Engineering
- Conceptual, architectural, and interior design
- Graphic design
- Project theme development
- Project budget and business plans for investors
- Project presentations to city council and zoning, plus public hearing assistance
- Construction contract, sub-contractor, and union negotiations
- Construction administration
- Product installation
- Bank loan and construction draw approvals
- Kitchen consultant administration
- Vendor administration and management
- National buying power for construction materials and center supplies
NEW CENTRE DEVELOPMENT FORM
To learn more about new centre development and how Striker Bowling can help, please complete the New Centre Development Form. This brief form will help us determine your phase of planning and allow us to guide you toward the proper resources. Once your form is submitted, a Striker Bowling representative will contact you by the following business day to assist you. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Financing
In today’s bowling industry, financing and refinancing capital purchases are critical steps to your overall business success. We have helped proprietors position themselves with banks and lenders in various forms. including Business Plans, Financial Analysis, Objective Planning and much more. Our experience can be leveraged to help you get approved for the loans you need to move into the future.
For those looking for smaller purchases, we have relationships with lease companies that can make the transaction happen fast and for the betterment of your company.
Buyer’s Group
Once your new centre is up and running, we can help you keep your operational costs down through our sister company, Xtreme Hospitality.
Xtreme Hospitality is a different kind of buyer’s group that allows medium-sized businesses to get the same Tier 1 pricing from suppliers that are normally only available to the big chains. There are no contracts and no registration costs.
Case Study: How we helped one Ontario bowling centre save money and increase sales. Download Case Study
Construction
Our experienced construction team can help you with any level of build or renovation. Our experience in new centre builds and renovations ensures your project gets done right – with no costly surprises down the road.
Installation Services
Striker Bowling installers are among the best in the industry, maintaining the highest level of expertise through certified Brunswick training programs. Striker Bowling continually updates installer training and education to incorporate the newest techniques and equipment innovations.
These training programs, certification, and technical updates are supervised by the Brunswick Services organization to ensure absolute quality and efficiency throughout the construction and installation process. Close working ties with Brunswick product engineering means Striker Bowling installers provide you with the ultimate in-operational guidance and training to maximize the efficiency of your Brunswick equipment.
New Centre Development Form
To learn more about new centre development and how Striker Bowling can help, please complete the New Centre Development Form Now. This brief form will help us determine your phase of planning and allow us to guide you toward the proper resources. Once your form is submitted, a Striker Bowling representative will contact you by the following business day to assist you.