How Much It Costs To Open A Tennis Club: $760k CAPEX Plan
Based on the researched planning case, opening this tennis club requires at least $760,000 in startup CAPEX before adding operating runway, deposits, financing costs, or losses The largest cost is $450,000 for tennis court construction and surfacing, followed by $120,000 for facility infrastructure and lighting Fixed operating costs start at $22,000 per month, and Year 1 staffing is about $252,000 before marketing and variable costs These are researched assumptions for a planning model, not vendor quotes, so CAPEX, pre-opening expenses, and working capital should be modeled separately before setting the total funding target
Calculate Fuding Needs
Startup cost summary
This table summarizes startup CAPEX and opening cash needs for a tennis club facility.
Highlighted CAPEX$760,000Base planning example
Excluded cash needs$1,738,000Outside CAPEX total
Funding need$2,498,000CAPEX + excluded cash needs
Cost Category
Base Estimate
Main Cost Driver
CAPEX Calculator
Tennis court construction and surfacing
$450,000
Court build quality, surfacing, and prep work
Yes
Facility infrastructure and lighting
$120,000
Utility fit-out, lighting, and site infrastructure
Yes
Member management and booking system
$35,000
Software setup and implementation scope
Yes
Office furniture and equipment
$25,000
Front office furniture and work equipment
Yes
Clubhouse, pro-shop, and launch fixtures
$130,000
Pro-shop shelving, inventory, signage, sound, and locker-room fixtures
Yes
Operating runway
$1,738,000
Fixed overhead and launch staffing before cash turns positive
No
Estimate Startup Costs with Calculator
Startup CAPEX Calculator
Estimates the capitalized startup assets a tennis club needs across Month 1 to Month 6, not working capital or payroll runway.
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Funding gap warning This calculator covers startup CAPEX only: courts, site buildout, booking, fixtures, and opening setup. It excludes working capital, payroll runway, debt service, deposits, inventory runway, and other non-CAPEX funding needs. The researched plan shows minimum cash of -$1.738 million by Month 60, so CAPEX is not the full funding need.
What does the CAPEX tab show?
This Tennis Club Financial Model Template screenshot shows $760,000 CAPEX, Month 1–6 startup costs, runway, and depreciation timing. Review funding needs.
Financial model highlights
Month 1–6 CAPEX
Breakeven Month 21
Payback and EBITDA
Compare 3 Startup Cost Scenarios
Startup cost scenarios
Scenario scale changes startup cash fast because court build, staffing, and amenity scope move together. Lean, base, and full models keep build cost separate from operating runway.
Lean, base, and full launch cost comparison
Scenario
Lean LaunchBudget-constrained founder
Base LaunchLocal community operator
Full LaunchPremium membership operator
Launch model
Open with an outdoor-first club, staged technology, and limited retail, then add amenities as membership grows.
Build the model around the researched anchor: $760,000 startup CAPEX, $22,000 monthly fixed costs, $252,000 Year 1 payroll, and $45,000 Year 1 marketing.
Launch with expanded clubhouse space, more lighting, bigger amenities, event setup, more staff, and a larger working capital reserve.
Typical setup
Use fewer clubhouse finishes, a small pro-shop, and user-set tech inputs instead of a full build-out.
Use a standard clubhouse, normal court lighting, a modest pro-shop, and a steady member desk.
Add lounge and locker upgrades, more event space, and a fuller retail and coaching mix.
Cost drivers
court build
basic lighting
small clubhouse
starter tech
limited retail
court construction
lease and utilities
payroll
marketing
pro-shop setup
expanded clubhouse
extra lighting
event setup
more staff
working capital reserve
Planning rangeCAPEX only
$560,000 - $700,000Lower upfront cash
$760,000Base anchor
$950,000 - $1,250,000Highest cash need
Best fit
Best for a budget-constrained founder who wants to test local demand first.
Best for a local community operator who wants a balanced opening plan.
Best for a premium membership operator that needs a higher-touch club from day one.
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Planning note: These scenario ranges are researched planning assumptions, not exact vendor quotes or bids, and they separate build cost from operating runway.
How much does it cost to build tennis courts for a club?
For a Tennis Club, courts are the main CAPEX driver: use $450,000 for tennis court construction and surfacing during Month 1 to Month 6, plus $120,000 for facility infrastructure and lighting. The real cost depends on court count, surface type, base prep, drainage, fencing, lighting, net systems, and whether the build is indoor or outdoor, so there is no safe fixed price per court without scope. Budget $1,200 per month for court lighting and equipment operating cost, and note that site conditions and permitting can move the budget materially.
Core build cost
$450,000 for courts and surfacing
Use Months 1 to 6 for build timing
Scope by court count and surface
Include base prep and drainage
Cost items that shift budget
Add $120,000 for infrastructure and lighting
Budget $1,200 monthly operating cost
Factor fencing, nets, and lighting
Indoor builds cost more than outdoor
How should a tennis club turn startup costs into a funding plan?
If you’re turning a $760,000 buildout into a funding plan, the Tennis Club needs a month-by-month cash model, not just a startup budget. Build lender and investor materials around Month 21 breakeven, 53-month payback, and the fact that EBITDA stays negative in Years 1 to 5. Here’s the quick math: $22,000 monthly fixed costs, $252,000 Year 1 payroll, and $45,000 Year 1 marketing have to be funded before ramped memberships and services catch up.
Funding bridge
Start with $760,000 CAPEX.
Add $22,000 fixed monthly costs.
Layer $252,000 payroll and $45,000 marketing.
Show Month 21 breakeven and 53-month payback.
Cash flow drivers
Model memberships at $89 and $149.
Price lessons, clinics, and tournaments.
Include pro-shop sales with 85% COGS.
Set court maintenance at 90% utilization.
Use revenue by stream: $75 private coaching, $35 group clinics, and $65 tournament fees, plus membership ramp tied to utilization. The model should also show EBITDA negative through Years 1-5 and a minimum cash balance of -$1.738 million by Month 60, so the funding ask covers the full drawdown path.
What hidden costs of opening a tennis club should founders budget for?
Founders should budget hidden launch cash on top of court buildout, because pre-opening payroll, coach hiring, insurance deposits, permits, utilities setup, maintenance supplies, software onboarding, website work, local marketing, and opening promos all hit before steady dues come in. For the owner view, How Much Does The Owner Of Tennis Club Make? is useful, but the bigger risk is cash burn: Year 1 can still show negative EBITDA, and underfunding can push breakeven to Month 21. Budget $45,000 for Year 1 marketing, $150 CAC, and treat $28,000 of pro-shop inventory as startup inventory, not court CAPEX.
Launch cash
Pre-opening payroll before revenue starts
Coach hiring and training costs
Insurance deposits, permits, and setup fees
Website, onboarding, and opening promos
Run-rate burn
$2,000 monthly property insurance
$3,500 utilities and water each month
$800 software, $1,500 cleaning
$400 licenses and $600 admin supplies
Key Takeaways
Courts and surfacing need $450,000 plus $120,000 infrastructure.
Real estate structure drives opening cost sharply.
Amenities budget spans lockers, office, pro-shop, and audio.
Court maintenance can hit 90% of Year 1 revenue.
Tennis Club Core Five Startup Costs
Tennis Courts, Surfacing, Lighting, And Fencing Startup Expense
Court Build Budget
Plan on $450,000 for tennis court construction and surfacing in Months 1–6, plus $120,000 for facility infrastructure and lighting. That is the core CAPEX block. The real driver is court count: every extra court adds base work, surfacing, fencing, lighting, nets, and access work, so quote the package by court, not as one lump sum.
What Sets the Price
The estimate should break out court count, outdoor versus indoor setup, surface standard, base work, drainage, fencing, lighting, net systems, and accessibility upgrades. Ask whether this is a new build or resurfacing an existing court, and how hard local site prep is. That tells you whether the number sits near $450,000 or moves higher.
Court count
New build or resurfacing
Site prep complexity
Keep Costs Tight
Keep court CAPEX separate from recurring maintenance. In Year 1, maintenance can run at 90% of revenue, so treat it as operating cost, not build cost. The cleanest savings come from right-sizing surface choice, avoiding overbuilt fencing or lighting, and pricing accessibility work up front. One bad site assumption can blow the budget.
Budget Check
Before you commit, get quotes that split court surface, drainage, fencing, lighting, and accessibility into separate line items. That makes it clear what is one-time CAPEX and what is ongoing upkeep, and it keeps the build aligned with the actual court standard you need.
Permits, Insurance, Hiring, Payroll, And Launch Marketing Startup Expense
Pre-open cash
This is startup runway, not court build cost. It covers legal setup, permits, insurance deposits, licenses, recruiting, onboarding, uniforms, training, website, local ads, referral offers, and opening promos. The recurring base already shows $2,000 for property insurance, $400 for memberships and licenses, and $1,500 for cleaning.
Payroll burn
Year 1 payroll is about $252,000, or roughly $21,000 a month, across the general manager, head coach, assistant coach, front desk, and maintenance staff. Add $45,000 for launch marketing. At $150 CAC, that budget supports about 300 customer wins.
Hire to opening date
Track CAC weekly
Match ads to referrals
Spend control
Keep this budget lean by phasing hires, sharing training, and buying only the coverage you need. Use quotes for licenses, insurance, and ads, then tie each cost to months of coverage or headcount. If staffing or marketing comes in late, Month 21 breakeven can slip fast.
Delay nonessential headcount
Protect opening-week promotions
Review every monthly contract
Runway gap
Think of permits, hiring, payroll, and launch marketing as cash you need before revenue catches up. The club’s fixed base includes $2,000 insurance, $400 memberships and licenses, and $1,500 cleaning, while the real pressure comes from $252,000 payroll and $45,000 marketing.
Equipment, Technology, Security, And Pro-Shop Inventory Startup Expense
Startup Stack
The durable setup is $82,000 for member management, booking, security, access control, office gear, and point-of-sale setup, plus $28,000 for opening pro-shop stock. Keep inventory separate from fixed assets so you do not blur cash tied to shelves with cash tied to systems.
What It Covers
Estimate this line with vendor quotes and one-time setup fees. The recurring cost is $800 a month for software, while $1,200 for court lighting and equipment stays in durable capital spending. One clean rule: software renews monthly, hardware lasts years.
Quote each module separately.
Track recurring fees monthly.
Count stock at cost.
Lower the Burn
Trim spend by buying only the modules you need at open. Negotiate the $35,000 member system and the $22,000 security package, and do not load up on pro-shop stock before you see traffic. The usual mistake is treating inventory like equipment.
Delay add-on gear.
Requote software each year.
Order stock to demand.
Merch Margin Check
Year 1 pro-shop COGS at 85% of revenue means only 15% stays before labor and overhead. A $10,000 merch month carries $8,500 of product cost and $1,500 gross profit, so turnover matters more than shelf size.
Land, Leasehold, Parking, And Site Development Startup Expense
Site Setup
Real estate can swing opening cost fast. This model includes $12,000 per month for facility rent and property lease, but no land acquisition amount. Estimate deposits, grading, utility hookups, parking, access roads, landscaping, zoning work, and site prep with local quotes. Land bought separately should sit outside startup CAPEX if financed on its own.
Cost Pieces
For this club, site work needs clear line items, not one lump sum. Use $15,000 for signage and branding and $120,000 for facility infrastructure and lighting as source figures. Add civil bids for grading, parking, roads, and utilities. Here’s the quick math: rent, deposits, and site work can change the opening budget more than court finishes.
Quote grading and drainage
Price utility connection fees
Separate signage from branding
Control Spend
Start with the real estate structure, then price the work. An owner-owned land site usually shifts spend into site prep and improvements. A leased facility often needs deposits and tenant improvements. A build-to-suit deal can push more cost into landlord work. The safest savings come from fixed bids, scope control, and not mixing land cost with startup CAPEX.
Bid parking and access roads early
Check zoning before design
Use one civil scope owner
Real Estate Scenarios
Flag each location by structure before you budget. Owner-owned land can raise upfront CAPEX but lower rent exposure. Leased facility keeps land off the balance sheet, but rent at $12,000 per month still hits cash flow. Build-to-suit can reduce site headaches, but only if the lease clearly covers access, parking, and utility work.
Clubhouse, Locker Rooms, And Member Amenities Startup Expense
Clubhouse Scope
The clubhouse budget covers reception, restrooms, locker rooms, pro-shop space, office space, storage, lounge seating, fixtures, HVAC, and member-facing amenities. For a tennis club, the right spend is driven by positioning, not just square footage. A basic community club can stay lean; a full-service club needs better finishes, more lounge space, and stronger event support.
Core Build Costs
Use line items, not a lump sum. The source numbers total $90,000: $35,000 for locker room and amenities fixtures, $25,000 for office furniture and equipment, $18,000 for pro-shop shelving and display systems, and $12,000 for sound system and audio equipment. That still leaves reception, restrooms, storage, HVAC, and finish work to quote.
Quote each room separately
Split fixtures from inventory
Ask for installed pricing
Keep It Lean
To control cost, buy durable fixtures first and delay nice-to-have décor. A basic club can use simpler locker rooms and seating, but a premium club needs better lounge flow, retail display, and event-ready space. What this estimate hides: HVAC, plumbing, code work, and furnishings often move fast, so compare vendor quotes room by room.
Delay nonessential lounge upgrades
Reuse usable office gear
Keep inventory separate
Separate Capex From Inventory
Draw a hard line between fixed assets and consumables. Fixtures, office furniture, shelving, and audio gear belong in startup capex; pro-shop stock and daily supplies do not. That keeps the budget clean and makes it easier to track what should last for years versus what gets replaced as members buy merch and use amenities.
