Start a local paintball shop with air fills

Local players, parents of new players, teams, and nearby fields and groups that buy paint and supplies in bulk.

Retail margin on gear and paint, fees for air fills and repairs, and bulk or wholesale sales to local fields and group organizers.

• Deep product knowledge and basic marker maintenance
• Retail stock control and pricing
• Customer service and community building

• Compressed air and CO2 tanks must be filled and inspected properly, so check training, testing and safety requirements for fill stations
• Check zoning, your local business license, sales tax registration and any rules on selling markers, including age limits
• General liability, product liability and property insurance, plus workers' compensation if you hire
• Lease terms and rent, as a shop needs steady sales to cover fixed costs
• Stock tied up in gear that sells slowly, so start with a tight range

Startup costs are typically around $20,000 to $80,000, depending on your lease, the stock you buy and any fill station equipment. Starting with a tight range helps avoid money tied up in gear that sells slowly.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on location, stock range and how many players, teams and fields you serve. A shop needs steady sales to cover fixed costs such as rent.

Check training, testing and safety requirements for filling and inspecting air and CO2 tanks. Also check zoning, your local business license, sales tax registration, any age limits on selling markers, and insurance such as general and product liability.