Curling Rink Running Costs: $57K Monthly, 14-Month Breakeven;

Curling Rink Running Costs

Running a Curling Rink requires substantial fixed overhead, driven primarily by specialized facility needs Your baseline monthly operating costs (excluding variable COGS) start around $57,167 in 2026, covering $30,500 in fixed expenses like the $15,000 facility lease and $8,000 in utilities for ice maintenance, plus $26,667 in base payroll This high fixed cost structure means you must hit volume quickly across all revenue streams—ice time, memberships, and F&B Financial projections show a first-year (2026) EBITDA loss of $82,000, necessitating a strong cash buffer You won't hit breakeven until February 2027 (14 months), so managing cash flow is defintely critical until you reach the projected 2027 EBITDA of $101,000 This guide breaks down the seven core recurring expenses you must model precisely

7 Operational Expenses to Run Curling Rink

#	Operating Expense	Expense Category	Description	Min Monthly Amount	Max Monthly Amount
1	Lease & Tax	Fixed Overhead	This fixed cost totals $17,500 monthly, combining the $15,000 facility lease and $2,500 in property taxes, requiring long-term contract review	$17,500	$17,500
2	Utilities	Fixed Overhead	The $8,000 monthly utility expense is a major fixed cost driven by the constant refrigeration needed for the ice plant and HVAC systems	$8,000	$8,000
3	Wages	Fixed Overhead	Base payroll starts near $26,667 monthly, covering essential roles like the General Manager ($7,500/month) and Head Ice Technician ($5,417/month); this is defintely the starting point	$26,667	$26,667
4	Insurance/Repairs	Fixed Overhead	Budget $3,000 monthly for necessary fixed costs, including $1,200 for business insurance and $1,800 for general maintenance and repairs	$3,000	$3,000
5	F&B COGS	Variable Cost	COGS for F&B is estimated at 50% of sales in 2026, requiring tight inventory management on the $2,000 average transaction amount	$1,000	$1,000
6	Marketing	Variable Cost	Marketing is a variable cost budgeted at 40% of total revenue in 2026, essential for driving the 2,500 Ice Sheet Hours and 350 League Memberships	$800	$800
7	Admin Overhead	Fixed Overhead	Fixed administrative costs total $2,000 monthly, covering software subscriptions ($400), professional accounting services ($1,000), and general office supplies ($600)	$2,000	$2,000
Total	All Operating Expenses	All Operating Expenses		$58,967	$58,967

What is the total minimum monthly running budget required to keep the doors open?

The minimum monthly budget required to keep the Curling Rink doors open, before generating any revenue, sits around $37,500, covering essential fixed overhead like facility lease and core payroll; understanding these fixed costs is crucial before detailing revenue streams, which you can map out further when you look at What Are The Key Sections To Include In Your Business Plan For Opening The Curling Rink?

Essential Fixed Burn

Facility lease costs are estimated at $15,000 monthly.
Utilities, primarily for ice maintenance and HVAC, run about $8,000.
Insurance and regulatory compliance add roughly $2,500 per month.
These costs represent the absolute floor for operations, so plan for contingencies.

Base Staffing Needs

Minimum base payroll for essential supervision totals $12,000 monthly.
Total fixed overhead before revenue is $37,500 per month.
This means you need to cover $1,250 daily just to break even on fixed costs.
Defintely focus initial sales efforts on high-margin corporate rentals to cover this base quickly.

Which recurring cost categories represent the largest percentage of total monthly spend?

For your Curling Rink operation, fixed facility expenses and specialized staffing will defintely dominate your monthly burn rate, so managing these levers is critical to profitability. Understanding this cost structure is key to knowing where to focus efficiency efforts, which relates directly to What Is The Most Important Indicator For Curling Rink Success?

Facility Overhead Drivers

Lease or mortgage payments are usually the single largest fixed monthly outflow.
Ice plant refrigeration consumes massive, non-negotiable electricity volume.
HVAC systems require constant, precise temperature and humidity management.
Insurance premiums covering specialized sporting venue liability are high.

Labor and Variable Levers

The Ice Technician salary represents specialized labor cost that’s hard to cut.
Track utility consumption per sheet to find operational waste quickly.
Food and beverage costs are variable but impact contribution margin heavily.
Maximize league scheduling to ensure high utilization of expensive ice time.

How much working capital or cash buffer is needed to cover costs until breakeven?

The total cash buffer needed for the Curling Rink to survive 14 months until achieving positive cash flow in February 2027 is approximately $490,000, assuming an average monthly net loss of $35,000. This calculation covers all operating expenses before revenue scales up, which is a critical planning step for any capital-intensive leisure business; you can review the underlying profitability drivers in detail here: Is Curling Rink Profitable In Your Area?

Total Cash Burn Calculation

Total required runway cash buffer: $490,000.
This covers 14 months of negative cash flow until Feb 2027.
Average monthly net loss (burn rate) is estimated at $35,000.
Fixed overhead (rent, base salaries) is roughly $25,000 monthly.

Key Buffer Drivers

League sign-ups must hit 80% capacity by Month 6.
Corporate events need to average 4 bookings per month from the start.
If onboarding takes 14+ days, churn risk rises for new league members.
The primary lever is increasing ice rental utilization past 50% early on, defintely.

What is the contingency plan if revenue forecasts fall 20% short in the first year?

If the Curling Rink revenue falls 20% short, the immediate action is slashing non-essential variable spending while delaying any planned hiring to protect the runway. You need to know your operational levers now, which is why Have You Considered The Best Location To Open Your Curling Rink? is a critical early decision impacting fixed overhead. Defintely focus on cash preservation first.

Cut Variable Spending Now

Pause all non-essential marketing campaigns immediately.
Reduce initial inventory buys for pro shop merchandise.
Tighten purchasing on food and beverage supplies.
Re-evaluate hourly contractor rates for cleaning services.

Manage Fixed Costs

Implement a hiring freeze on planned full-time employees (FTEs).
Reduce scheduled instructor hours by 15% across the board.
Negotiate 30-day payment terms with key equipment vendors.
Postpone non-critical facility upgrades planned for Q3.

Key Takeaways

The minimum baseline monthly operating budget for a curling rink, excluding variable costs like COGS, starts at $57,167 in 2026.
Due to high fixed overhead, the facility is projected to sustain an $82,000 EBITDA loss in the first year and requires 14 months to reach breakeven in February 2027.
Facility costs, combining the lease, property taxes, and essential ice maintenance utilities, constitute the largest fixed expense category at $25,500 monthly.
A working capital buffer of at least $23,000 is critical to cover the initial cash burn rate until the business achieves positive cash flow.

Running Cost 1 : Facility Lease & Property Tax

Facility Fixed Cost Burden

Your facility commitment is a major fixed drain, hitting $17,500 monthly. This figure bundles the $15,000 lease payment with $2,500 in property taxes. Before you sign anything, scrutinize the lease duration and escalation clauses; these long-term commitments dictate your break-even point.

Cost Inputs Needed

This $17,500 covers the physical space needed for the ice sheets and lounge. To budget accurately, you need the signed lease agreement specifying the base rent of $15,000 and the confirmed annual property tax assessment, which translates to $2,500 monthly. Don't forget to factor in potential triple-net (NNN) lease pass-throughs.

Verify lease commencement date.
Confirm property tax rate annually.
Check for common area maintenance fees.

Managing Lease Exposure

Managing this fixed overhead means locking in favorable terms now. Look for options to defer rent increases or negotiate a rent abatement period during initial ramp-up. A common mistake is ignoring the property tax component; appeal assessments if possible, although that's a long game.

Negotiate rent abatement period.
Cap annual lease escalators.
Review tax assessment annually.

Contract Term Alignment

Since the lease is a non-negotiable fixed expense, ensure the term aligns with your projected cash flow runway, perhaps five to seven years. If your initial projections show tight margins, securing a shorter lease, maybe three years, reduces immediate financial risk, even if renewal rates are higher defintely.

Running Cost 2 : Ice Maintenance Utilities

Utility Fixed Load

The $8,000 monthly utility expense is a major fixed cost for your curling rink. This power draw is essential for maintaining the ice plant and running the HVAC systems year-round.

Cost Drivers

This $8,000 covers energy for the ice plant and facility HVAC. It’s a fixed cost, unlike Food and Beverage COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) at 50%. You must cover this before revenue hits, alongside the $17,500 facility lease payment each month.

Constant refrigeration is required
HVAC runs regardless of bookings
This is a high, non-negotiable overhead

Managing Power Draw

Managing this high spend requires capital investment in efficiency, not just operational tweaks. Look into upgrading the chiller system or improving insulation now to cut future bills. A common mistake is ignoring the age of the compressors. Defintely review utility tariffs for off-peak usage discounts.

Audit chiller efficiency annually
Negotiate fixed-rate energy contracts
Benchmark against similar facilities

Operational Leverage

Since utilities are fixed at $8,000, every hour of ice rental sold above the break-even point contributes directly to profit. This cost must be covered by high-margin revenue streams like hourly rentals or league fees.

Running Cost 3 : Specialized Staff Wages

Base Payroll Start

Base specialized payroll hits about $26,667 monthly right out of the gate. This covers critical, specialized hires like the General Manager and the Head Ice Technician needed to run the facility smoothly. That’s a significant fixed commitment before booking a single league night.

Staffing Inputs

This $26,667 payroll covers specialized personnel needed for operations, not general hourly staff. You need a General Manager ($7,500) and a Head Ice Technician ($5,417) monthly to maintain the ice plant. This forms the bedrock of your fixed monthly expenses, so plan for payroll taxes on top of this.

GM salary is $7,500.
Ice Tech salary is $5,417.
This is defintely a fixed cost.

Wage Control

Reducing specialized wages risks ice quality, which kills the core offering. Initially, look at outsourcing the GM role to a fractional executive for 6 months. Avoid hiring the Head Ice Technician full-time until utilization hits 60% of projected hours. Don't cut the technician short; bad ice means no repeat business.

Total Burden

Remember, $26,667 is just the base salary. You must add employer-side payroll taxes (FICA, unemployment) and benefits, which easily add 20% to 30% on top of these figures. Factor this burden into your break-even analysis now, increasing your minimum required monthly revenue.

Running Cost 4 : Insurance and Repairs

Insurance and Repair Budget

You must budget $3,000 monthly for fixed insurance and repairs to keep the curling rink operational. This covers $1,200 for liability coverage and $1,800 for necessary upkeep, which is small compared to the $33,500 in lease and utility costs.

Cost Breakdown

This $3,000 covers essential protection and operational readiness for the facility. Business insurance shields against liability claims, while repairs ensure the ice plant and building remain functional. This cost is fixed, meaning it doesn't change with customer volume.

Insurance: $1,200/month quote needed.
Repairs: $1,800/month estimate for general upkeep.
Total fixed: $3,000 monthly commitment.

Managing Maintenance Risk

Shop your insurance quotes annually to lock in better rates for your general liability policy; don't just auto-renew. For repairs, preventative maintenance is key to avoiding catastrophic failures, especially with the refrigeration unit. A good service contract can stabilize that $1,800 estimate.

Bundle insurance policies for savings.
Schedule HVAC/ice plant preventative checks.
Keep detailed logs for compliance.

Prioritizing Fixed Spend

Honestly, the $3,000 here is manageable, but it sits on top of $33,500 in lease and utilities. If your maintenance estimate proves low, watch out for surprise capital expenses hitting your cash flow hard next quarter. That’s where small facilities fail.

Running Cost 5 : Food and Beverage COGS

F&B Margin Check

Your 2026 projection shows Food and Beverage Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) hitting 50% of revenue. Given the $2,000 average transaction amount, controlling inventory shrinkage is critical to ensure the lounge actually contributes profit, not just volume. This margin profile demands operational discipline starting now.

What F&B COGS Covers

This 50% figure covers all direct costs for items sold in the lounge—ingredients, beverages, and associated supplies. To validate this, you need precise tracking of inventory purchases versus sales volume, especially for high-ticket items associated with the $2,000 average transaction. Failing to track waste means this cost balloons fast.

Track ingredient purchase costs.
Monitor spoilage and waste rates.
Compare inventory value to recorded sales.

Controlling Inventory Spend

Managing a 50% COGS means treating perishable stock like cash; waste directly erodes the overall business margin. Since F&B supports the ice rentals, focus on predictive ordering based on league schedules and corporate bookings. Avoid overstocking specialized, high-cost ingredients that might expire before the next big event.

Negotiate bulk pricing for staples.
Implement strict FIFO (First-In, First-Out).
Use sales data to forecast weekly needs.

Profitability Lever

If your actual F&B COGS runs closer to 55%, you defintely need higher gross margins elsewhere or must increase the volume sold through those $2,000 transactions. Your primary lever isn't cutting ingredient quality; it's increasing the attachment rate of food and drinks to every ice sheet hour rented.

Running Cost 6 : Marketing and Promotions

Marketing as Variable Spend

Marketing isn't optional; it's a direct variable cost budgeted at 40% of total revenue for 2026. This spend fuels volume targets, specifically driving the required 2,500 Ice Sheet Hours and securing 350 League Memberships. If revenue falls, this cost drops proportionally, but hitting volume requires consistent funding.

Calculating Acquisition Budget

This 40% variable cost covers all customer acquisition needed to hit volume goals. You calculate the dollar amount by multiplying your projected total revenue by 0.40. For example, if 2026 revenue hits $1 million, the marketing budget is $400,000. This spend directly converts prospects into booked hours and league spots.

Estimate revenue first
Multiply by 40%
Fund volume drivers

Controlling Marketing Spend

Manage this by focusing on the highest yielding acquisition channels first. Don't spread the budget thin trying to capture every customer type. Track the Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) against the lifetime value (LTV) of a league member versus a one-time renter. If onboarding takes 14+ days, churn risk rises.

Prioritize high-LTV customers
Monitor CPA vs. LTV
Avoid broad, untargeted ads

Variable Cost Discipline

This 40% marketing cost scales perfectly with revenue, unlike fixed costs like the $17,500 lease. The operational trap is under-funding acquisition early on, which prevents you from ever hitting the 2,500 Ice Sheet Hour goal. You must commit the capital to drive the necessary volume in the defintely first place.

Running Cost 7 : Administrative Overhead

Fixed Admin Costs

Fixed administrative overhead is $2,000 monthly, which is relatively low compared to facility expenses. It breaks down into $400 for software subscriptions, $1,000 for professional accounting services, and $600 for general office supplies. You need this baseline to operate legally and efficiently.

Admin Cost Inputs

This $2,000 figure is purely fixed overhead, meaning it won't change if you book one extra league night. You estimate this by summing quotes for required software subscriptions and fixed monthly retainers from your accountant. Honesty, this is a low starting point for a physical venue.

Software subscriptions: $400 monthly.
Professional accounting: $1,000 monthly retainer.
General office supplies: $600 monthly budget.

Controlling Admin Spend

Keep the $1,000 accounting line item variable if possible, or negotiate based on transaction count as you grow. Relying solely on fixed fees might hurt margins if revenue spikes unexpectedly. Avoid overspending on software; use free tiers until you absolutely need premium features for the curling rink.

Audit software licenses quarterly for usage.
Shift accounting to hourly rates past $50k revenue.
Bulk buy office supplies annually to save cash.

Fixed Cost Coverage

Since this $2,000 is fixed, it must be covered regardless of how many ice rentals or league fees you collect. If your total fixed costs are high—like the $17,500 lease and $8,000 in utilities—this administrative portion is manageable, but watch for scope creep in software costs. It's defintely small, but it adds up.