Is ten guns enough?

matojami · 01-20-2013, 11:08 PM

I'm looking to start a small, indoor paintball field. About 5500 sq ft. I was looking to purchase about ten guns to start off and keep my start up costs to a minimum. Do you think this will be enough? I will also be keeping all of you updated as I start the process of opening my first paintball field in Green Bay, Wisconsin!

aresfiend · 01-20-2013, 11:11 PM

I would say no.

It may seem odd, but at our field in little Chetek we have found that having 30 guns isn't enough for when a camp group eyes us up or when we have a few groups schedule for the same mid-summer Saturday.

matojami · 01-20-2013, 11:21 PM

I just want to add that those ten guns will be updated to another ten guns after the first two months, then so on until I have a good fleet.

MU WISCOBALLER · 01-20-2013, 11:32 PM

Think about this: Do you want to turn people away when you don't have enough guns? I know several fields that use old spyders/pirahnas as rentals instead of Tippmanns due to cost. I would say to look at something like that over starting out without enough equipment. Also, hate to be negative nancy here, but if you are struggling to come up with the funds for 10 more guns, I would think you may have a dreary future ahead of you.

aresfiend · 01-20-2013, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matojami

I just want to add that those ten guns will be updated to another ten guns after the first two months, then so on until I have a good fleet.

Honestly, 10 to even last you two months in that area may not be enough, I'd suggest starting with 20 at least.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MU WISCOBALLER

Also, hate to be negative nancy here, but if you are struggling to come up with the funds for 10 more guns, I would think you may have a dreary future ahead of you.

^^This more than anything.

If you'd be looking to buy 30 guns, I may be able to hook you up since we're potentially getting new rentals at the field I work at, but if you can't afford 20 guns to at least start with you won't last long in the already gruelingly low profit of owning a field.

matojami · 01-21-2013, 01:35 AM

We can afford up to 50 or more guns, we just wanted to try to put that money into our field and party room instead. Our budget is based around $50,000 for equipment that we don't already have. We have already purchased netting, HPA system and 1 skid of dxs paint.

matojami · 01-21-2013, 01:37 AM

So would you guys recommend I put the extra couple thousand into getting 30 guns instead of the field?

matojami · 01-21-2013, 01:39 AM

And my partner and I aren't looking to make bank. Were looking to use the field mainly for our team practices, were just going to try and make a little cash on the side.

I'm_Addicted · 01-21-2013, 01:43 AM

Most of your business will come from your rental parties. Less rentals=less income. Less income means shoveling more cash out of pocket to pay your expenses. Cater more towards your rec players and rentals than you would to the speedball players.

raehl · 01-21-2013, 08:16 AM

10 is not enough. You'll want 10 people on the field at a time, and you'll need to be alternating between groups of players, so not having enough guns is really going to restrict your ability to make money.

5500 square feet isn't going to be interesting to speedball players either; that size field you're looking at rec play only.

- Chris

Co-Ed SHoWeRs · 01-21-2013, 10:20 AM

Here's the real question..Do you and your partner have an alternate means of income, to support the losses you will be taking in the first year of business? Is this a side project you guys have going or are you "risking it all". If it's the later, I would strongly advise toward putting more of your start up money towards the rental equipment and I'd say 30 MINIMUM! AND PROMOTE PROMOTE PROMOTE! If it's a side project, offer local teams a place to practice with very fair paint prices, until you can start generating the revenue needed to support the leap to catering to parties, events etc.

thenoob23 · 01-21-2013, 10:22 AM

TEN WAY TO LITTLE!Try about 30-45

7paintball · 01-21-2013, 12:29 PM

Yeah you need to think more in the 50-80 markers range.

liquidfiretibby · 01-21-2013, 02:19 PM

my first question is why did you buy a skid of paint before you bought guns? paint is perishable and needs to be stored and rotated correctly. bad paint makes for a bad experience and therefore no return trip.

as for guns....remember, WHEN a gun breaks, you want to be able to just hand them another one. get them playing again asap. you dont want them to have to wait while you attempt to fix it.

if you only have one field, you'll want enough guns to support at least 4 teams, plus a teams worth of backups. thats guns for 2 teams playing, 2 teams on deck and enough backups in case others break. if you're booking multiple parties, you obviously want enough guns for everyone. the last thing i would want when paying for a rental is to have to share it.

Eastter · 01-21-2013, 02:24 PM

30-50

ditchdigger dss · 01-21-2013, 02:26 PM

we have 80 valken sw1's and only open since october

Reddawg · 01-21-2013, 03:02 PM

25 to 30 min. guns, tanks and masks. 5500 sq ft at best willl be 55 x 100 - staging area so 55 x 80. At best 3 on 3. I had a small field about same size we played 5 on 5 one time never did it again 3 on 3 worked (and it's not great). Most games were under a minute. Average 20 to 25 player at open play with birthday parties about 10 to 15 players. The time it takes to clean everything guns, mask and floor and bunker it was not worth it. We moved outdoors after 2 years. Cleaning the building after we closed took a week with HP washer. As far as your team practice it don't help much because most fields you play on are bigger and like a bigger pool table the angles change you get to use to being boxed in on a small field.
Good Luck.

thenoob23 · 01-21-2013, 03:20 PM

Ask some local fields or anybody who poses help.

Nrf707 · 02-13-2013, 04:50 PM

If you start a field with most players bringing their own guns, it will help but you would want to buy more guns pretty soon.

Ramprat1972 · 02-13-2013, 05:28 PM

When I came on board to our field, they had 20 rentals. They had been turning groups away because of not enough equipment. One of the first things I did over the winter here was get some more rental gear. We are at 65 rentals currently. I still plan to add another 65-75 since I know they turned down a group of 125 from the local college once. I will not turn down any size group that I don't have to. That is where you will find you make your money.

FoidPoosening · 02-13-2013, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reddawg

25 to 30 min. guns, tanks and masks. 5500 sq ft at best willl be 55 x 100 - staging area so 55 x 80. At best 3 on 3. I had a small field about same size we played 5 on 5 one time never did it again 3 on 3 worked (and it's not great). Most games were under a minute. Average 20 to 25 player at open play with birthday parties about 10 to 15 players. The time it takes to clean everything guns, mask and floor and bunker it was not worth it. We moved outdoors after 2 years. Cleaning the building after we closed took a week with HP washer. As far as your team practice it don't help much because most fields you play on are bigger and like a bigger pool table the angles change you get to use to being boxed in on a small field.
Good Luck.

Nothing but truth there.

If you are starting a field for your team, who will operate it? Do you and your teammates all have jobs?

Consider marketing the field towards speedball players then. There's a field here in NJ that does absolutely no rentals and is doing great because its only focus towards tourney speedball.