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10 mistakes people make when opening a VR club
And how not to make them

Opening a virtual reality club sounds like a great business idea: cool tech, growing interest in VR games, and a chance to build something fun and profitable.
But in reality, many entrepreneurs run into big mistakes that lead to money loss — or even shutting down the business. Let’s look at the 10 most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Picking a location without thinking it through

Why it’s risky:
Even with great service and smart marketing, your VR club might get few visitors. High rent with low foot traffic means you’re losing money. No parking or tricky access? Some customers just won’t come. And don’t forget to check if you can get a rent-free period while you’re setting things up.
Why it happens:
Some people try to save money by choosing a cheap spot. Others pick a fancy location without checking the actual traffic. Sometimes, owners just go with what they like — and forget about what their customers need.
How to avoid it:
  • Analyze different locations. Check the foot traffic at various times of day and see what other entertainment spots are nearby.
  • Make sure there’s parking, public transport, and easy access.
  • When talking to the landlord, ask about a rent-free setup period and long-term rental terms — that can help lower your costs in the first few months.
Where’s the best place to open a VR club?
Shopping malls
One of the top options for a VR club location:
  • High foot traffic, especially on weekends and holidays
  • Built-in entertainment infrastructure — parking, cafés, restaurants, cinemas
Residential areas
A good alternative to shopping malls — especially if you focus on events like kids’ birthday parties.
  • Close to your customers — no need to travel to the city center or a mall
  • Lower rent compared to shopping centers
  • Flexible working hours, since you're not tied to mall opening times
Tourist spots and high-traffic areas
These locations let you rely on foot traffic alone — with minimal ad spend.
  • Great visibility and a constant flow of potential customers
  • A chance to attract tourists and passersby without heavy marketing

2. Treating marketing as something optional

Opening a VR club without a clear marketing strategy is a classic mistake. Many owners think:
“Let’s just open — we’ll figure it out later.”
“The first customers will come anyway.”
“I’d rather spend money on renovations — people will see the quality.”
As a result, the marketing budget ends up tiny — or non-existent. And that means fewer people hear about the club.

Why it’s risky:
Without active marketing, no one will know your VR club even exists. In the best case, you’ll get a few visitors. In the worst case — you’ll launch in the red. Rent, salaries, and idle equipment will start eating your budget. Even if you have the best product on the market, it won’t matter if no one knows about it.
Why it happens:
Marketing is often seen as an extra expense. Many business owners believe that customers will find them on their own — or that advertising is a waste of money. Some just want to save money and think renovations or gear are more important.
How to avoid it:
Plan your marketing budget ahead of time. At launch, it’s crucial to make some noise — throw an opening event, invite bloggers, and run social media ads.
Set up a full marketing campaign for your first few months. People should hear about your VR club right away, not 6 months later by accident.
Use multiple channels: targeted ads, SEO, local influencers, and promos in popular online communities.

3. Skipping market research and not building a solid business model

Opening a VR club without market research or proper financial planning is a common mistake. Many entrepreneurs overestimate demand, base their business model on overly optimistic visitor numbers, and forget to include key expenses.
Why it’s risky:
Bad calculations lead to money problems. VR clubs rarely run at 100% capacity, so if your plan assumes full bookings all the time, you’ll quickly face cash flow gaps and losses.
Why it happens:
Excitement and belief in how “cool” VR is can lead to unrealistic expectations. Lack of experience makes it hard to track key metrics — and market research often gets ignored completely.
How to avoid it:
Do real research: study local demand, your audience demographics, the competition, and visit other VR clubs.
Plan your budget with all costs included.
Use realistic revenue forecasts — expect 20–30% average occupancy, not more.

4. Ignoring the competitors

Launching a VR club without checking out the competition is a big risk. Some owners underestimate other VR clubs or alternative entertainment options. They don’t research competitor pricing or what makes others stand out.

Why it’s risky:
Customers might choose a well-known VR club with better prices, service, or equipment. Without competitor analysis, it’s hard to define your strengths or set the right prices.
Why it happens:
Overconfidence and belief that the idea is totally unique. A lack of marketing research — or the false feeling that “there’s no real competition.”
How to avoid it:
Do a full analysis: check out VR clubs in your city, compare their prices, how busy they are, and what people say in reviews.
Find your niche and competitive edge — maybe it’s better service, exclusive games, creative promotions, or something else that sets you apart.
Want to dive deeper?
Get full details about franchise: presentations about product, business model and videos with WARPOINT park overview and more materials
Get materials about WARPOINT franchise

5. Expecting big results without facing reality

Opening a VR club and hoping for instant success and quick profits — without looking at the real numbers — is a recipe for trouble.

Why it’s risky:
If your plan is based on best-case scenarios, you might be shocked when customer traffic isn’t as steady as expected. On average, VR clubs take at least a year to break even. You need to plan your budget with this in mind.
Why it happens:
The hype around VR and its fast growth make it feel like demand will grow on its own. But without a clear marketing strategy and customer engagement, long-term success just won’t happen.
How to avoid it:
  • Use real data to study the market. Learn from clubs already in business. Watch for seasonal drops and shifts in audience activity.
  • Build a financial model with breathing room. Base your budget on realistic attendance. Factor in all costs. It's better to be cautious than to run out of money in a few months.
How to avoid it:
  • Be ready to invest in marketing. If you don’t promote your club consistently, people will simply forget about it.
  • Think long-term. Don’t just plan for the first year — build a strategy that works for the next few years.
  • Plan how you’ll keep customers coming back. Without extra incentives, most people won’t visit a VR club regularly.

6. Expanding too fast — opening multiple locations before the first one is stable

Opening several VR clubs at once without testing and fine-tuning operations in your first location is a risky move.

Why it’s risky:
Managing multiple venues takes serious resources. Mistakes made in your first location can multiply across all others — leading to financial trouble.
Why it happens:
A rush to “grab the market” or overconfidence after a strong first few months.
How to avoid it:
  • Focus on making your first location profitable and stable. Get all systems running smoothly before thinking about expansion.
  • Test your business model in real-world conditions. Attracting your first visitors is great — but retaining them and reaching break-even is what counts.
How to avoid it:
  • Build clear processes and a management system that doesn’t rely on the owner being present 24/7. Scaling up requires structure.
  • Make sure you actually have the resources to grow: enough capital for new rent, gear, marketing — and a team that can handle multiple sites.

7. Ignoring seasonality

Many VR club owners build their financial forecasts assuming a steady flow of customers all year round — without thinking about the ups and downs of demand.

Why it’s risky:
During slow seasons, your revenue drops but expenses stay the same. Without a financial cushion or special offers, your business might start losing money. On the flip side, during peak months, you might miss out on profits if you don’t have enough staff or equipment to handle the crowd.
Why it happens:
Lack of experience, no data on entertainment industry trends, and the belief that demand will always stay high. Some owners make plans based on their first successful months — not realizing that interest may drop in summer or after the holidays.
How to avoid it:
  • Analyze how VR clubs perform in different seasons and use that data when planning. Boost ads and hire more staff during busy periods.
  • Offer deals in slow months — corporate packages, school groups, summer camps, or workplace team events can help fill the gap.
  • Set aside a financial reserve to cover expenses when business is slow.

8. Not sticking to renovation and launch timelines

Many VR club owners underestimate how long it takes to prepare the space and install the equipment. They plan to open fast, with no buffer for delays. As a result, renovations drag on, rent gets paid for an empty space, and launch dates get pushed back — or worse, they open too soon without testing equipment or training staff.

Why it’s risky:
Delays cost money. If your VR club doesn’t open on time, rent and other expenses keep piling up, and your planned marketing campaign becomes useless. Rushing the launch without testing can lead to tech problems, unprepared staff, and bad first impressions — which can seriously damage your reputation.
Why it happens:
Too much optimism, lack of experience, pressure from investors or landlords. Owners often forget about contractor delays, shipping issues, or setup problems. The urge to start making money leads them to skip a soft launch or proper testing.
How to avoid it:
  • Plan your renovations and equipment setup with extra time — always build in a buffer.
  • Keep close track of contractors, check progress regularly, and have a backup plan in case of delays.
How to avoid it:
  • Do a soft launch — run in test mode for a few days or weeks to catch issues before the grand opening.
  • Don’t start advertising with a fixed launch date until you’re absolutely sure you’re ready to open.

9. Neglecting staff and customer service

Some VR club owners underestimate how important their team is — and forget to build a proper customer service system. They may hire unmotivated staff, skip training, and never set clear service standards for guests.

Why it’s risky:
Unfriendly or clueless admins and VR operators can ruin a guest’s experience. Rude behavior, slow service, or just a lack of care will turn people away. Even the most high-tech VR arena won’t keep customers coming back if the service is bad. Poor service also leads to bad reviews and a damaged reputation.
Why it happens:
Owners often focus on gear, content, and marketing — and treat staffing like an afterthought. There’s also a myth that “VR sells itself,” so service doesn’t matter. Some just don’t know how to hire or train people properly. And cutting staff costs can seem like a smart move — but it’s not.
How to avoid it:
  • Set clear hiring standards: your admins should know the tech and how to talk to guests.
  • Invest in training: hold onboarding sessions, teach conflict handling, and show how to deal with complaints.
  • Create service guidelines: write out instructions for guest interactions and equipment use.
How to avoid it:
  • Motivate your team: offer bonuses for good reviews, track performance, run regular meetings, and get staff involved in improving service.
  • Track feedback: read reviews, fix what’s wrong, and build a customer-first culture.

10. Cutting corners on design and materials

Some owners try to save money by using cheap or unsuitable materials when building their VR club — going for basic renovations, poor flooring, weak soundproofing, or bare-bones interior design.

Why it’s risky:
Cheap materials wear out fast, leading to more repairs and extra costs. Poor soundproofing ruins the atmosphere, and bad ventilation makes the space stuffy. A bland or awkward design breaks the sense of immersion and leaves guests underwhelmed.
Why it happens:
Trying to reduce startup costs. Lack of experience in setting up public spaces. Many owners believe that hardware and content are all that matter — and that comfort or design don’t affect the experience much.
How to avoid it:
  • Use durable materials suited for high-traffic areas.
  • Invest in proper soundproofing and lighting that matches the virtual vibe.
  • Think about comfort and flow: cozy waiting zones, quality furniture, and clear navigation inside the club.
  • If your budget is tight, it’s better to do less but do it well — instead of spreading too thin and ending up with a low-quality result.

How to avoid rookie mistakes and launch with confidence?

Opening a VR club is just as serious as launching any other business. Yes, virtual reality is exciting and popular — but don’t overestimate the power of the niche. And don’t underestimate the importance of analytics, marketing, and customer service.
Most mistakes happen due to lack of experience, poor planning, or not having a proven business model.
But here’s the good news — you don’t have to learn the hard way. There’s a way to enter the market with confidence from day one.

The WARPOINT franchise

The WARPOINT franchise is a ready-to-launch solution for opening a successful VR club — with payback starting from just 11 months.

WARPOINT is an international network of virtual reality parks operating under a franchise model. It’s a dynamic community of entrepreneurs with over 265 locations in 18 countries, exclusive in-house VR games, and an active player base of more than 280,000 people every month.
A proven business model
A tested system with clear tools for reaching profitability. You get a realistic business plan — not vague expectations.
Full support from the WARPOINT team
Franchisees receive hands-on help at every stage — from launch to scaling.
Help choosing the right location
We assist in finding a space based on foot traffic, rental conditions, and other key factors that affect profitability.
Esports, tournaments & events
Extra income streams and loyal audiences through large-scale VR tournaments. WARPOINT parks don’t just earn from play sessions — they also profit from events, merch, drinks, and gift cards.
Customer service standards
Clear guidelines for working with guests, plus staff training — so your VR club delivers a great experience every time.
Built-in marketing
You get full advertising support, effective promotion strategies, and ready-to-use marketing materials.
With the WARPOINT franchise, you don’t have to go through trial and error. You get a ready-to-run business in 2025 — with a strong brand, a proven model, and a growing community of players.
Want to open a successful VR club?
Do it with the WARPOINT franchise!
Get full details about franchise: presentations about product, business model and videos with WARPOINT park overview and more materials
Get materials about WARPOINT franchise