How Much Does It Cost To Open A Recreation Center? $690K CAPEX
This startup cost guide separates the $690,000 CAPEX plan from pre-opening expenses, working capital, and excluded funding needs The model covers a first operating year with 60,000 total visits, $13 million in revenue, and $416,000 in EBITDA These are researched planning assumptions, not vendor quotes or guaranteed costs
Estimate Startup Costs with Calculator
Startup CAPEX Calculator
This estimates capitalized startup assets only for a recreation center, including buildout, equipment, systems, furniture, and contingency.
!
CAPEX only This calculator covers capitalized startup assets only. It excludes inventory, payroll runway, rent deposits, financing costs, debt service, working capital, marketing ramp-up, insurance deposits, and operating losses.
Calculate Fuding Needs
Startup cost summary
This table separates startup CAPEX from the opening cash reserve for a recreation center.
Highlighted CAPEX$610,000Base planning example
Excluded cash needs$516,000Outside CAPEX total
Funding need$1,126,000CAPEX + excluded cash needs
Cost Category
Base Estimate
Main Cost Driver
CAPEX Calculator
Fitness Equipment Initial
$250,000
Fitness floor package size and equipment mix
Yes
HVAC System Upgrade
$120,000
Mechanical scope and retrofit complexity
Yes
Sports Court Flooring
$100,000
Court finish area and installation specs
Yes
Pool Filtration System
$80,000
Pool size and filtration capacity
Yes
Locker Room Fixtures
$60,000
Fixture count and locker room fit-out
Yes
Operating Reserve
$516,000
Payroll, utilities, and early operating losses through Month 9
No
What does the Recreation Center CAPEX tab show?
Shows the Recreation Center CAPEX tab: startup costs, timing, amounts, depreciation/amortization. Open Recreation Center Financial Model Template and review assumptions.
Key screenshot highlights
Month 1 to 60 model
CAPEX runs Month 1-10
Local quotes drive outputs
Compare 3 Startup Cost Scenarios
Startup cost scenarios
A recreation center's startup cost swings with square footage, pool and court scope, and how much staffing and tech you fund upfront. Lean, Base, and Full show the tradeoff between launch speed and operating buffer.
Lean, Base, and Full launch cost comparison
Scenario
Lean LaunchFitness-led launch
Base LaunchCommunity multi-use center
Full LaunchSports and leisure hub
Launch model
A smaller fitness-led launch starts with limited square footage and a narrow service mix.
The Base launch matches the researched model and supports a full community multi-use center.
A Full launch adds deeper buildout, richer amenities, more technology, and a larger cash reserve.
Typical setup
Keep equipment light, skip pool scope, trim locker room work, and staff for core hours only.
Fund the $690,000 CAPEX plan, the Year 1 scale of 60,000 total visits, and the core staffing plan.
Expand equipment, finish more of the facility, raise tech spend, and carry extra working capital.
Cost drivers
Smaller buildout
limited equipment
no pool scope
thinner staffing
basic tech
Full core buildout
court flooring
pool system
standard staffing
opening reserves
Heavier buildout
richer amenities
more technology
larger reserve
broader staffing
Planning rangeCAPEX only
$450,000 - $600,000Lower buildout
$650,000 - $750,000Model aligned
$850,000 - $1,100,000Higher capital
Best fit
Best for owners testing demand with a community fitness focus before adding broader sports and leisure services.
Best for operators who want the researched operating model and a balanced launch across fitness, programs, and rentals.
Best for teams building a full-service sports and leisure hub that can absorb slower ramp-up and wider service scope.
!
Planning note: These ranges are researched planning assumptions, not vendor quotes, and they should be used to frame funding needs, not book exact costs.
What hidden costs of starting a recreation center should founders expect?
Founders of a Recreation Center should budget for more than buildout and equipment; the hidden costs start with deposits, permits, insurance, and utility setup, then keep running before revenue arrives. If you want the owner-pay side too, How Much Does The Owner Of Recreation Center Make? helps frame the risk if opening slips. Plan on $19,000 in monthly fixed costs, plus $1,500 for membership software, $3,000 for facility insurance, $2,000 for security, $1,000 for accounting and legal, and about $410,000 in Year 1 staffing, with payroll starting in Month 1.
Upfront cash drains
Rent deposits hit before opening.
Utility setup costs cash early.
Business registration and local permits add fees.
Occupancy approval and fire inspections can delay launch.
Month 1 operating costs
Fixed payroll starts in Month 1.
Training costs money before revenue.
Maintenance and cleaning supplies keep adding up.
Cash reserves cover the slow ramp.
How much money do you need to start a recreation center?
You don't need one universal number to start a Recreation Center; use a planning range anchored to the model's $690,000 CAPEX, then fund above that for deposits, insurance, payroll ramp-up, marketing, and reserves, as covered in What Is The Most Important Measure Of Success For Your Recreation Center?. At Year 1 scale, the model assumes 50,000 member visits, 10,000 daily pass visits, 2,000 program registrations, and 100 rental events, producing $13 million revenue, Month 1 breakeven, $416,000 EBITDA, and $516,000 minimum cash in Month 9.
Funding Range
Anchor startup CAPEX at $690,000
Add lease deposits and insurance
Fund payroll ramp-up and marketing
Protect cash runway to Month 9
Cost Drivers
Size drives rent and buildout
Lease condition changes upfront spend
Courts, pools, HVAC raise CAPEX
Locker rooms and equipment add depth
What drives the cost of opening a recreation center?
Opening a Recreation Center is driven more by the building spec than by the marketing plan. The biggest modeled costs are $250,000 for fitness equipment, $120,000 for HVAC, $100,000 for sports court flooring, $80,000 for pool filtration, and $60,000 for locker room fixtures. The building decides the budget before the marketing plan does.
Big cost drivers
Fitness equipment:$250,000
HVAC upgrade:$120,000
Sports court flooring:$100,000
Pool filtration:$80,000
What changes the budget
Flooring, HVAC, and plumbing swing cost.
Accessibility and fire systems add more.
Showers, courts, turf, and pool systems vary.
Use case drives spend: fitness-only, pool-inclusive, rentals, or youth programs.
Key Takeaways
Buildout costs swing fast with pools and courts.
Equipment is capitalized; supplies start at 10%.
Furniture drives first impressions and member flow.
Permits, insurance, and software add monthly burn.
Recreation Center Core Five Startup Costs
Facility Buildout Startup Expense
Buildout Scope
Buildout is the most site-specific startup cost, and it moves fast with condition and layout. A court-heavy or pool-inclusive site can spike quickly: source CAPEX shows $120,000 HVAC, $100,000 sports court flooring, $80,000 pool filtration, and $60,000 locker room fixtures, plus walls, lighting, restrooms, plumbing, electrical, safety, and accessibility work.
Estimate It
Estimate this cost trade by trade, not as one lump sum. Get quotes for flooring, walls, lighting, HVAC, restrooms, locker rooms, accessibility, safety systems, plumbing, electrical, and space conversion, then test the site against square footage, zoning, existing showers, HVAC capacity for high occupancy, and fire work.
Control Rework
Save money by choosing a site that already fits the use. If zoning is in place and showers, HVAC, and life-safety systems already work, you can avoid repeat demolition and change orders. Lock pool and court scope early, because those two areas change the budget the fastest.
Check Before Spend
Ask one hard question before you sign: does the site already need fire or accessibility work? If yes, those costs hit before revenue starts, so include them in the first budget and permit timeline instead of treating them as surprises.
Software And Security Startup Expense
Core Tech Stack
Split the stack into hardware and monthly software. Upfront CAPEX is $65,000: $40,000 for IT infrastructure plus $25,000 for the security system. Monthly fixed cost is $3,500 from $1,500 membership software licenses and $2,000 security services. Payment processing is modeled at 20% in Year 1 and 18% by Year 5.
What It Covers
This cost covers membership management, booking software, point-of-sale setup, website setup, Wi-Fi, cameras, access control, check-in hardware, payment processing setup, and reporting tools. Build the estimate from number of doors, check-in points, cameras, terminals, and users. One line: more entry points means more hardware.
Count doors and check-in lanes
Quote software by active members
Separate install from monthly fees
Control the Spend
Keep the system simple so you do not pay twice for features you will not use. Ask whether access is staffed, card-based, or controlled by mobile check-in, because that choice drives hardware and support load. Here’s the quick math: $3,500 a month is $42,000 a year before processing.
Match access to traffic
Get 12-month subscription quotes
Price service before install day
Security Setup Choice
The access model changes the budget fast. A staffed front desk needs less automation, while card or mobile check-in needs more readers, software, and support. What this estimate hides is the operating load after launch, so line up quotes for hardware, licenses, and monitoring before you lock the site plan.
Permits And Insurance Startup Expense
Permit Map
Permits and insurance are not one-size-fits-all. For a recreation center, state, city, and activity mix drive the list: business registration, local permits, occupancy approval, fire and safety inspections, liability insurance, workers’ compensation, legal review, and accounting setup. Build the budget from local quotes early, because rules change by location and use.
Cost Base
The operating base starts at $3,000/month for facility insurance and $1,000/month for accounting and legal fees from Month 1. Add filing fees, inspection fees, and renewals. A pool, children’s program, rentals, or events can raise requirements fast, so use actual local quotes, not generic estimates.
Stay Ahead
File registration first, then confirm the permit path with the city before hiring. One delay can push payroll, rent, insurance, and utilities ahead of revenue. The cleanest savings come from one legal review, one accounting setup, and a clear list of approved activities before lease signing.
Approval Risk
If the facility includes swimming, fitness instruction, children’s programs, rentals, or events, expect more checks and more time. That can be fine, but only if cash is ready for the gap between opening costs and first revenue.
Furniture And Fixtures Startup Expense
Front-of-house spend
Furniture and fixtures are the customer-facing items that make the site feel open, clean, and ready: reception desks, lobby seating, lockers, changing areas, showers, benches, signs, storage, vending, and concessions. The known CAPEX lines are $60,000 for locker room fixtures and $15,000 for office furniture, or $75,000 total before other items.
What it covers
Price this as units × quote per item by zone: front desk, lounge, lockers, showers, storage, and member amenities. Keep it separate from buildout work like plumbing, flooring, and HVAC. The key question is how many fixed touchpoints the center needs for member flow, check-in speed, family use, and event rentals.
How to control it
Buy only the items needed for opening day, then phase nicer extras after traffic is proven. Get quotes for durable pieces with easy-clean surfaces, and avoid overbuilding lounge space that sits idle. The biggest mistake is mixing fixtures with construction costs, which hides the real front-of-house budget and delays the opening plan.
Why it matters
Members judge the facility before they finish the first workout. A clean desk, clear signs, working lockers, and a calm lobby lift trust fast, while poor fixtures make the whole center feel unfinished even if the courts, pool, and gym are ready.
Equipment Startup Expense
Equipment Budget
Equipment is a separate CAPEX line. The base case here is $250,000 for initial fitness equipment: courts gear, nets, goals, mats, benches, racks, weights, cardio machines, group room items, turf gear, games, storage, and maintenance tools. Durable items are capitalized; program supplies are operating costs.
Cost Build
Build the quote from units and delivery timing, then separate replacement reserves from day-one buys. Model program supplies as operating costs at 10% in Year 1, then 8% by Year 5. Ask whether each item will be bought, leased, or financed, because that changes cash needs and monthly debt.
Save Cash
Phase purchases and buy only opening-day gear, then add extras after traffic proves out. The mistake is overbuying storage, games, and duplicate equipment too early. One rule: opening-day only. Keep quality high, but don’t tie up cash in items that won’t help launch or first-month use.
Buy or Lease
Make the funding choice early. Buying raises upfront cash need, leasing lowers first-day spend, and financing spreads payments but adds debt service. That decision should match opening cash, expected use, and how fast the center can fill the courts, gym, and class space.
