Guides · Costs, packages and commercial builds
How Much Does It Cost to Open an Indoor Golf Simulator Business?
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Current vendor examples put bay equipment at $13,999 for Uneekor's 10-foot EYE XO2 SIMKIT and around $23,995 as Trackman's starting point for a single-bay commercial iO setup; opening the business requires a separate premises and operating budget. Those U.S.-dollar figures aren't complete startup budgets or like-for-like quotes. Add the PC where excluded, construction, electrical and network work, HVAC, furniture, access control, insurance, software, permits, and cash to cover the early months.
Start with one bay you could open
Price a bay that could take paying customers: launch monitor, impact screen or enclosure, projector, computer, hitting surface, protective padding, cables, and installation hardware.
On October 12, 2026, Uneekor's U.S. page displays the EYE XO2 SIMKIT 10FT at a $13,999 sale price, against $20,259 crossed out. The listed box contents omit a PC even though one is required. Treat it as a package-price example and ask Uneekor for a commercial quote covering your software rights, installation, tax, and delivery. Uneekor EYE XO2 SIMKIT 10FT.
Trackman describes around USD 23,995 as its typical starting point for a single-bay commercial iO setup; multi-bay venues receive custom quotes. Its FAQ doesn't itemize everything included in that starting figure, so get the scope and any tax or freight charges in writing. Trackman commercial simulator FAQ.
Floor unit or overhead
A commercial bay sees left- and right-handed golfers, beginners, lessons, leagues, and long days. A cheaper floor unit can work fine in a staffed studio. In a self-service venue, an overhead unit may be worth the extra money if it cuts alignment mistakes and keeps expensive hardware off the floor.
Support, warranty terms, commercial software rights, and how fast staff can get a bay running again matter more here than in a one-person basement setup.
Draw the bays before you sign
Square footage that looks generous on a listing can shrink fast. Put the full enclosure footprint, swing zone, spectator area, walkways, columns, doors, bathrooms, mechanical equipment, and emergency routes on the actual plan.
Ceiling height, sprinklers, ducts, electrical service, accessibility work, sound transfer, and HVAC can turn a cheap shell into an expensive build-out. Those costs are local. Get them priced by contractors and code professionals who've seen the space.
Licenses for paid use
Don't assume a home subscription covers paid public use. A commercial operator may need different licenses, multi-bay management, booking integration, league tools, member accounts, or remote support.
Ask every hardware and software vendor what applies to a paid facility before you buy. A home package price cannot tell you what those commercial rights will cost.
24/7: systems instead of payroll
An unattended studio needs door access, booking software, cameras, remote support, and rules that stop one member from holding a bay past the reservation. Those systems can cut staffing, but they cost money and bring their own support calls.
Bar or practice studio?
Food, alcohol, lounge seating, extra TVs, events, and a hospitality build need their own budget. Keep those numbers in their own column, so you can tell whether the project is expensive because of the simulators or because you're also building a bar and event venue.
The model, bay by bay
For each bay, list hardware, build-out, yearly software, expected screen and mat replacement, maintenance, and the hours you can realistically sell. Then add the shared costs: rent, insurance, internet, HVAC, cleaning, marketing, staff, or access control.
Two places with the same four simulators can end up with very different economics, depending on the lease, staffing, hours, and how much of a bar they are.