§1What this business is
A rented 650 sq m building on two floors (double height for squash and basketball) holds 6 table-tennis tables, a basketball court, 2 boxing areas, a squash court, 2 skating rinks and tables for chess, carrom and card games — about 100 players at a time. It runs like a gym: members pay a yearly fee, with extra pay-per-use charges for squash, basketball and skating, plus walk-in fees, sale of sports goods, event sponsorship and a rented snack counter. It is open 7 am to 11 pm, 355 days a year.
Capacity: About 100 players at a time; the profile plans for 1,000 members out of a potential 3,000–3,500.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
A sports lover with management skills and a good rented building in a middle- to upper-middle-class area of a city of 15–60 lakh people.
Who it is not for
Small towns without a large prosperous neighbourhood, or very large cities where rent is too high (the profile's own view).
Advantages
- Few affordable indoor sports options outside clubs
- Fees come in advance — little working capital
- Several income streams: membership, pay-per-use, events, shop
- Can add coaching and sponsored tournaments
Drawbacks
- Rent is more than half of running cost
- Needs a well-off neighbourhood in a mid-size city
- Members leave if they wait too long for courts
- Equipment wear and repairs
Skills you need
- Facility layout and equipment selection
- Member management and booking rules
- Marketing and events
- Housekeeping and maintenance
Why difficulty 3/5: No machinery, but the right location, high rent and keeping members happy decide success.
§3Market
Who buys
- Students and young people aged 9–35
- Single working adults
- Families who cannot afford club membership
How it sells
- Annual and monthly memberships
- Walk-in players
- Corporate and event sponsorships
Good to know
- The profile's model city has 15–60 lakh people, a 3 km catchment and about 4 lakh residents in it.
- Membership fees make up almost three-fourths of income.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sports equipment, floor finish and recurring sports supplies | 1 lot | ₹25.00 lakh |
| Interiors and office equipment | 1 lot | ₹10.00 lakh |
| Table-tennis tables | 6 | — |
| Basketball court | 1 | — |
| Boxing areas | 2 | — |
| Squash court | 1 | — |
| Skating rinks | 2 | — |
| Chess, carrom and card-game tables | 6 each | — |
From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Indoor Sport Complex (2018) — private guide — confirm locally
- Recurring sports supplies (balls, racquets and similar)₹3.00 L a year in year 2; members may also bring their own
- Electricity₹3.00 L a year in year 2; air-conditioning is partial and seasonal
From: SIDBI Stand-Up Mitra project profile — Indoor Sport Complex (2018) — private guide — confirm locally
§5Licences & registration
- Shops & Establishment registration
- GST registration
- Udyam registration
- Fire safety clearance (the profile names this as the specific requirement)
- Trade licence from the local body
§6Schemes & subsidies
- Stand-Up IndiaCentralClosed₹10 lakh – ₹1 crore loan
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
At ₹50.00 L this service project is above the PMEGP service limit; Stand-Up India fits SC/ST or women founders (the ₹33 L loan is within its range) and CGTMSE covers a loan without collateral.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Rent deposit (three months) ₹9.00 L + interiors and office equipment ₹10.00 L + sports equipment, floor finish and supplies ₹25.00 L + preliminary/pre-operative ₹4.00 L + working-capital margin ₹2.00 L = ₹50.00 L. Equity ₹17.00 L, term loan ₹33.00 L.
Working capital: Only ₹2.00 L — fees are collected in advance, so no working-capital loan is planned.
Prices from 2018 — machinery and running costs will be higher now.
§8Export potential
Export council / board: Not applicable
- A local service; there is no goods export.
§9Risks — where people fail
- Fewer members than planned
- Rent increases
- Injuries and liability
- Competition from clubs and school facilities
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working indoor sports complex unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Shops & Establishment registration, GST registration), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Indoor Sports Complex?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.