Small escape room centre

Friend groups, families, birthday parties, tourists and companies booking team-building events.

A price per player or per team for each session, plus private bookings, corporate packages and extras like party rooms or gift vouchers.

• Puzzle and story design
• Customer service and hosting
• Basic electronics or willingness to hire help
• Online marketing and review management

• Fire safety: check your local fire code, occupancy limits, emergency exits and any inspection needed before opening
• Rooms must never trap players, so plan safe exit and release systems and check what your municipality requires
• Zoning, building permits and a business licence for your unit, which differ by municipality
• Commercial general liability insurance and a waiver for players, check requirements with a broker
• Fit-out costs can run over, and rooms need fresh themes to keep repeat customers
• Trade is often seasonal, so check how tourism and weather affect bookings in your area
• Register for GST/HST once you pass the small supplier threshold, and check provincial rules if you hire staff

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $40,000 to $150,000, depending on the unit, how many rooms you build and your fit-out. Fit-out costs can run over, so build in some margin.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on the number of rooms, bookings and group sizes. Trade is often seasonal, so check how tourism and weather affect bookings in your area.

Check your local fire code, occupancy limits, emergency exits and any inspection needed before opening. Also check zoning, building permits and business licence rules with your municipality, and compare commercial general liability insurance and player waivers with a broker.