VR business plan: how to open a virtual reality club

About technology development

Many large electronics companies continue to improve immersive devices. The range of such devices on the modern market is quite impressive - from the simplest 3D glasses to helmet masks running their own software.

In recent years, the scope of applications for immersive devices has expanded far beyond the needs of gamers. Today, such devices can be used to conduct brilliant presentations, business negotiations and develop original attractions.

Due to the high demand for such technologies, they are considered an excellent direction for business development. In addition, conducting such activities requires relatively small investments (up to 100,000 rubles) and is characterized by simplicity in organization.

Documents and licenses

To officially conduct a vr business in the Russian Federation, it is enough to register an individual entrepreneur. The procedure for registering an individual business follows a simplified procedure and is very profitable in financial terms - you will have to pay 800 rubles in state duty.

To register, you must follow these tips:

1. We write an application in form P21001 and submit it to the tax service.
2. You should also provide a copy of your passport with a receipt for payment of the state fee.
3. When registering, select the simplified tax system (simplified taxation system). Currently, it assumes a tax rate of 15%.
4. To obtain permission to provide entertainment and entertainment services, the tax service registers the OKVED code 92.29.

At this point, registration ends, and the entrepreneur receives all the documents necessary to conduct the declared activity.

If you decide to open a vr business with partners, then the registration scheme described above will not suit you. In this case, the best option would be an LLC (limited liability company). The cost of registration is 4,000 rubles, and in addition to all the documents described above, you will need to provide the following to the tax office:

• application in form P1101;
• LLC charter;
• decision to create a limited liability company;
• package of constituent documents of a legal entity.

Equipment

Choosing equipment is the most important stage of running a vr business. Its cost can vary quite widely. For example, a minimum set of virtual reality attractions can be purchased for 70,000 rubles. It should include:

• 3D glasses or helmet with built-in software;
• a computer with sufficient power reserves and licensed software installed;
• manipulators through which the player will interact with the virtual world.

To better attract customers, it is advisable to complement such a set with a hanging chair. It will enhance the effect of presence and is guaranteed to increase income.

If you are interested in creating a serious business focused on significant profits, then you won’t be able to get by with just one set of 3D glasses. To create a high-quality virtual reality attraction you will need:

1. Oculus Rift helmet, the estimated cost of which is 55 thousand rubles. For a serious business you will need 5 units of such equipment.
2. Replacement lenses - 5 sets, cost 30 thousand each.
3. Good monitors, costing 20 thousand each (three will be enough).
4. Mouse and keyboard for each monitor (500 rubles per set).
5. Powerful laptop with discrete graphics card. The average cost is 40-60 thousand rubles.
6. Wireless headphones – 5 pieces for 800 rubles.
7. Five chairs, costing 2000-5000 rubles.

Thus, a full-fledged virtual reality room will cost you about 550 thousand rubles.

Oculus helmet

A virtual reality helmet is the main component of such attractions. The client’s involvement in the process and, accordingly, the success of the business depend on the quality of the image.

At the moment, the Oculus Helmet is not available in retail stores in the Russian Federation, but can be purchased by business entities. The cost of such a device is 40-60 thousand rubles.

The manufacturer of the helmet is Oculus VR, which has developed many games and entertainment for this device. The most popular programs remain for passive exploration of the virtual world.

To summarize. Expert opinion Andrey Terekhin

A well-known entrepreneur from Novosibirsk shares his opinion about virtual reality attractions. Previously, A. Terekhin was engaged in his own business in the field of licensed software and information technology. He owns a company that produces glasses and simulates virtual reality, VR Corp. The main thing, according to him, you should pay attention to:

1. Quality of products and equipment. You can't save money on them. This is an image.
2. Affordable price segment. At the initial stage, you should not inflate the cost - this will scare away the consumer. You need to do everything to attract the client.
3. Introduction of innovations. Pay attention to the latest in the world of games and virtual entertainment. You need to be aware of what is happening and keep your finger on the pulse.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cblvvmr9jSc

Also, don't forget about your competitors. This area is extremely attractive for 2017–2018 and is constantly being updated, supplemented with something new. You need to surprise your customers by maintaining a constant level of delight in them. This is the only way to stay in this entertainment segment and make a good profit.

Location and rental

Choosing a location is a very important stage, because such attractions should be installed in places with high foot traffic. It is desirable that this be a large shopping center, where not only local residents, but also city guests are present every day.

The best place to locate such an attraction is the second floor of a shopping and entertainment center, near a popular cafe.

It would be good if it was a family establishment visited by parents and children. It should be noted right away that renting premises in a popular shopping center is not a cheap pleasure. Especially when it comes to a big city.

To install 5 virtual reality attractions, an area of ​​15 m2 is required. On average, you will have to pay 80-100 thousand rubles per month for rent. This amount already includes the cost of the following services:

• daily cleaning of the premises;
• payment of all necessary permits from the fire department;
• communal payments.

Thus, no additional rental costs are expected. The minimum rental period in large shopping centers is 2 months.

Brief summary of the project

The investor’s goal is to open a virtual reality attraction in one of the city’s shopping and entertainment centers. The source of financing is the entrepreneur’s own funds. The chosen organizational form is individual entrepreneur. The tax regime is simplified with a deduction rate of 6% of income.

Project goals:

• meeting the demand of the local population for entertainment services;
• creation of new jobs;
• replenishment of the local budget through tax deductions.

The target audience

Children and teenagers are interested in virtual reality. They make up 60% of the target audience. About 30% of potential clients are boys and girls aged 18 to 30. Approximately 10% of the target audience are people over 30 years old with an active lifestyle. All of them are united by the desire to try something new, unknown.

Advantages and disadvantages of the project

The main advantage of the business is a small start-up capital. Other advantages:

• high interest in VR among young people as a new type of entertainment;
• quick return on investment;
• mobility – the attraction can be transported if necessary;
• low level of competition;
• There are opportunities for development by opening new points or expanding the list of services.

Marketing

When choosing a place to install an attraction, you should analyze the market, identifying potential competitors. It is necessary to take into account the range of services provided and the prices for sessions set by competing companies.

In addition, to attract customers you will need to invest in marketing and advertising. For this purpose, the following tools are used:

1. Printing flyers and booklets that will be distributed to visitors to the shopping center - 15,000 rubles.
2. The cost of advertising in a shopping center is 10,000 rubles.

Thus, marketing expenses will be about 25,000. Next, you will have to spend about 10,000 rubles on advertising.

To attract customers, you need to set a discount dedicated to the opening day. Usually it is 15%. All kinds of promotions are a powerful tool for promoting your product. For example, you can introduce discounts for visiting an attraction for large groups of people, give away prizes for reposts, develop family programs, etc.

Marketing and advertising: effective ways to attract customers

If the attraction is located in a shopping and entertainment center, potential customers will quickly find out about it. The main thing is to hang a large sign and signs. Other ways to attract visitors:

• distribution of flyers and leaflets in shopping centers, schools, universities, and parking lots;
• audio advertising in shopping centers;
• development of promotional offers and loyalty programs.

Attention! It is very important to regularly update games in order to retain the established customer base. A person who has immersed himself in the interactive world more than once wants to experience new sensations every time.

Discounts for birthday people, regular customers and for group visits will help maintain the interest of the target audience. To inform city residents about the events, you will have to promote a group on a popular social network. You can organize competitions with prize draws among those who repost the advertising post.

Promoting VR space is an integral part of business. The main customer channel is a good location in an entertainment shopping center.

What else affects overall attendance? There are several factors:

• democratic prices.
• large selection of games.
• bright sign.
• distribution of leaflets.
• promotions and sweepstakes.
• installation of demo screens that show what is happening in the game.

Try to focus your customers’ attention on the fact that you are constantly buying new games and it makes sense to come to you again.

Varieties

Virtual reality attractions are a fairly new business area that is actively developing. Every year the amount of available equipment increases, which allows expanding the scope of such entertainment.

In addition to using equipment with an “immersive effect” for its intended purpose, there are other options for running a VR business. Let's look at them in more detail:

1. Equipment trade. Considering the great demand for such devices, this line of business is very promising. It will require significant investments and careful market analysis.
2. Providing equipment for rent. In this case, the search for a place to place attractions and all the risks associated with this business fall on the shoulders of the tenant. You receive a guaranteed income from using the equipment.
3. Virtual shopping. Large online stores provide their customers with the service of virtual visits to trading floors. A striking example of such a portal is Aliexpress. This area of ​​VR business is considered promising, but has not yet received due popularity among users.
4. Maintenance and repair of equipment. In the future, this type of activity will be in high demand. Already today, many entrepreneurs prefer to invite a specialist to set up the equipment rather than understand the intricacies of its operation themselves.
5. Selling content. We are talking about both one-time promotions for the sale of multimedia packages and the sale of software on an ongoing basis. This type of business requires establishing contacts with copyright holders. In fact, you will have to become a broker for the development company, which will reduce the amount of possible earnings.

VR technologies do not stand still, and therefore we should expect other directions for the development of this business.

Financial plan

It is important to evaluate the economic indicators of the project at the planning stage. All information about investments and expenses for maintaining the business is entered into the financial section of the business plan. It also contains calculations of expected profits, on the basis of which profitability is assessed and the payback period of investments is determined.

Starting investments

To open the “Virtual Reality” attraction you will need 580,800 rubles. This includes expenses for:

• registration – 800;
• equipment – ​​550,000;
• advertising – 30,000.

Total: 580,800 rubles.

Current expenses

Monthly expenses include:

• rent – ​​60,000;
• employee salary – 15,000;
• advertising – 10,000;
• insurance premiums from payroll.

Total: 85,000 plus contributions to funds.

Income and calculation of estimated profit

If at least 10 people visit the attraction every day, 5 of whom pay for a ten-minute session, and the rest for a twenty-minute session, then the daily revenue will be 4,250, and the average monthly revenue will be 127,500 rubles. To calculate profit, subtract taxes and current expenses from this amount:

• 127,500 x 0.06 = 7650 – tax 6% of income;
• 127,500 – 7,650 – 85,000 = 34,850 rubles – net profit.

Reference. In high-traffic areas, 20 to 40 people may visit VR daily. In this case, profits will increase by 2–4 times.

The approximate payback period for investments is 1 year, and with a large load - 6–8 months.

Virtual reality as a business is an economically attractive idea that can be easily implemented in a big city. The main criteria for achieving success are a good location of the attraction, a well-structured marketing and pricing policy, and regular updates of games.

Buying a franchise

By purchasing a VR franchise, you can significantly reduce the amount of money spent on promoting the project. Using the name and intellectual property of a well-known brand, you do not have to declare yourself on the market - everything has already been done before you. And given the fact that the field of virtual reality has not yet had time to firmly establish itself in the services market, the costs of promoting such a product from scratch can be significant.

Therefore, it is better to save both time and money by thinking about buying a franchise. Thus, you can avoid a lot of difficulties that a beginner in this business faces, and start making a profit in the shortest possible time.

The franchisor company provides its clients with the following services:

• advises on all issues related to joint business;
• provides technical support at all stages of activity;
• provides access to original software;
• makes it possible to use a trademark;
• conducts training seminars, etc.

Sale of helmets, glasses and accessories

This business idea can bring good profits. According to experts, it is best to implement it on the basis of an existing enterprise that sells mobile equipment, since most VR helmets and glasses are essentially accessories intended for use in conjunction with smartphones, game consoles, etc.

Accessories for virtual glasses and helmets are also in good demand. In particular:

• joysticks;
• controllers;
• covers, etc.

The main advantage of this idea is the constant growth in popularity of devices for immersion in virtual space among young people. The disadvantages include the need to decide on the direction of brand promotion. The cost of good VR glasses from Oculus, which continues to occupy a leading position in the market, can reach up to 50 thousand rubles. Analogues from the Middle Kingdom are several times cheaper, however, their quality often leaves much to be desired.

Examples of business and franchises

Today, there are many options for purchasing franchises with different operating conditions. Depending on the payback period and profitability of the project, its cost varies.

One of the most prominent representatives of the virtual reality business is the Empire VR club franchise. At the moment, this company has several network areas not only in Russia, but also abroad. Purchasing a franchise from Empire VR offers the following advantages:

• the company provides the client with full consulting support;
• The payback period for a business is no more than 3 months, provided that the funds provided are used wisely.

The FIBRUM franchise offers its partners several areas for doing business. You can not only demonstrate devices, but also sell them. The most interesting product of the company is the VR helmet, which is in consistently high demand.

AR in retail and marketing

Retailers and brands are actively using augmented reality in loyalty programs and promotional companies. AR stands out from other sources of information and holds the audience’s attention 2-3 times longer.

Social networks, having become retailers themselves, are also using augmented reality and creating AR tools for brands. Thus, a social network user, while remaining within the same application, can try makeup, try on virtual glasses or shoes, and arrange virtual furniture in his apartment.

Also, with the development of streaming technologies, new products related to digital avatars are being formed. Such technologies are closely related to artificial intelligence and AR, and have great prospects in advertising, telecom, and new media.

Indicative business plan

When opening a VR business, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Select a project. This can be either promotion of your own brand or franchise activity. To determine the most profitable option, it is necessary to analyze the market in the region, identify probable risks and opportunities for development.
2. We form an individual entrepreneur or LLC. The registration period, regardless of the registration form, is 5 days.
3. We rent a point for installing attractions.
4. We purchase equipment.
5. We determine the number of employees indicating their salaries.
6. Additional advertising costs should also be factored into the business plan.

Staff

You will have to spend the least amount on staff. One or two operators are enough for one attraction. One person can work several days a week, and you will be the first person if you want to avoid spending money at all. Two operators can work alternately, then the attraction will function continuously. The staff must be polite and friendly, preferably young and attractive.

The average salary of an operator is about 30,000 rubles per month. If you wish, add a % of sales. Remember that a lot depends on the operator, because he either invites or does not invite people. Even the coolest attraction without a good operator will bring only a small amount of income.

Questions about organizing a virtual reality attraction

To avoid any difficulties when starting a virtual reality business , you should consider some organizational issues at the stage of planning your own business. We are talking about the following points:

1. Club name.
2. Personnel issues.
3. Choice of assortment.
4. SWOT analysis of competitors in the market.
5. Possible risks.
6. Advertising and marketing.
7. The volume of starting investments.

Sales of additional accessories

Almost all VR and AR products on the market today are actually accessories for PCs, consoles or mobile devices. the matryoshka principle works , so accessories can also have accessories.

Mobile VR and AR in general have little to offer in this regard - some cases and other tinsel . Perhaps controllers for portable virtual reality will also come in, but the reason for making them a source of income is debatable.

There is room for improvement in adult VR. We can already talk about the implementation of Oculus Touch and joysticks from Xbox One for Rift, Vive Controller for HTC’s brainchild, Move and DualShock 4 for PlayStation VR - as the experience of previous years shows, all this will regularly break down and require replacement. Great option .

Personnel issues

Running a vr business is impossible without recruiting staff. Therefore, labor costs must be included in the business plan. A significant advantage of such a business is that there is no need to hire a large number of employees. For a standard amusement room, you will need to hire the following specialists:

• several operators who will work in two shifts;
• an administrator who will manage the operation of the attractions in your absence;
• accountant and security guard on an outsourcing basis.

In the first months of operation, such a gaming club can do without significant investments. For example, personnel costs can be reduced by taking on the functions of an operator or accountant. Regarding security, most shopping centers include this service in the rental price.

Salaries are calculated according to the following plan:

• the attraction operator receives an average of 20 thousand rubles per month;
• An outsourced accountant should be paid about 5 thousand.

Where to begin

First, create a business plan for the “Virtual Reality” attraction. Write down in it the features of this business, the main expenses, in how many months or years your investment will pay off. This will help you adjust your strategy if you make a mistake and choose the right attraction.

Modern models of attractions are supplied with a tablet computer, which allows their buyers to use additional functions (for example, detailed statistical analysis).

An entrepreneur can receive data on the number of boardings and the amount at the box office in the form of SMS messages to his phone.

This will avoid financial risks associated with operator dishonesty.

In addition, remote control allows you to find out when an employee started the ride and at what time he completed it.

The target audience for such entertainment is young people aged 16 to 35 years.

Potential clients of such a gaming business can be representatives of almost any age group seeking a thrill.

Prices and profitability

The modern entertainment industry operates on the principle of a fishhook. It is based on two stages:

1. The benefits of a certain product are demonstrated to the consumer at an affordable price.
2. Amazed by what he saw, the client is ready to return again, having already paid a large amount.

Therefore, it is very important to provide truly high quality services. Now that the virtual entertainment industry is at the initial stage of its development, gaining a foothold in the market will not be difficult. As practice shows, even if a ten-minute session costs about 350 rubles, the consumer will find this amount quite acceptable, and he will happily return to you again.

The profitability of the attraction is based on simple psychology: a person is drawn into the game process and wants to continue the session. As a result, such a scheme allows you to make a good profit. The main nuance here is the length of the game - it should not be too short to frustrate the client, but not long enough to get bored.

According to statistics, virtual reality as a business is gaining normal momentum within a couple of months after opening. The first two months are necessary to attract clients. However, already from the third month the profit levels off. The approximate income at the cost of a ten-minute session is 350 rubles is 150-200 thousand per month.

In addition to standard short-duration sessions, your price list should include longer game options. Some clients will probably want to stay in the virtual entertainment room for 20 or 30 minutes. Occasionally there are those who would like to spend an hour on the attraction. And even though these people are few in number, they should also have a place in the price list.

Relevance of the business idea

Virtual reality as a business is relevant in large cities where the middle-income population is concentrated. Interest in computer technology continues to grow. More recently, Internet clubs were popular, but today there is no need for them - everyone can play and work on a computer at home.

The same thing may happen in the near future with virtual reality. While equipment for immersion in an interactive world is not available to the general public due to its high cost, investors have the opportunity to make money on a VR attraction. This area is now actively developing, because the new service attracts those consumers who are already tired of traditional entertainment.

The profitability of opening a virtual reality attraction

To understand whether it is profitable to start a vr business in our country, you should look at the numbers. Leaving aside the start-up costs, let's look at the monthly expenses that you should make in order to keep such a business afloat:

• rental premises average 80,000 rubles;
• advertising and marketing – 10,000 rubles;
• employee salaries – 45,000 rubles.

Total – 135 thousand rubles. If the income from 3-4 months of operation of the attraction amounts to 250 thousand rubles, then the net profit will be: 250 – 135 = 85 thousand. But we should not forget about taxes, which are levied at a rate of 15%. 85 x 0.15 = 12.75. Thus, after deducting taxes, the net profit will be 75,250 rubles from one amusement room.

Start-up costs when opening a vr business are about 800 thousand rubles. Thus, the payback period for the specified monthly income will be less than a year. However, as the point operates, its popularity will increase, and therefore a faster payback is possible.

Expenses and income

Now we will summarize the startup costs and monthly costs for developing and attracting visitors to virtual reality attractions. We will also calculate the estimated revenue, starting from the 3rd month of operation, and, accordingly, determine the profitability and payback period of investments.

Start-up costs

Monthly expenses

Investments in business are small, so you can easily do without credits and loans. This is what attracts many young entrepreneurs to this business. The idea is relevant, the investment is small. What is the profitability, we will see further.

Income

Starting period for attracting visitors: 1-2 months. During this period, it is necessary to form a basic assortment of genres of videos and games that will be in greatest demand.

Price-list:

We expect mainly clients for 10-minute sessions and slightly fewer clients for 20-minute sessions; for longer sessions the number of people will be smaller, however there are also fans of several games in a row that take more than an hour. The expected profit, starting from 3-4 months, will be 206,450 rubles.

Next, let’s calculate business profitability indicators.

Let's calculate the difference between income and expenses to calculate tax:

206 450 – 126 000 = 80 450.

We calculate the tax payment from the difference:

80,450 x 0.15 = 12,067 rubles.

Net profit will be:

80,450 – 12,067 = 68,383 rubles per month.

Let's calculate the profitability indicator based on estimated monthly expenses and estimated income:

(68,383 / 126,000) x 100 = 54.27%.

This profitability indicator can be called good. Within 6 months it is planned to bring it to 100% due to increased demand for the service. The image of the retail outlet and the activity of word of mouth play an important role; in addition, a demonstration of the effects will not hurt, because not everyone knows what virtual reality is.

Let's calculate the payback period for investments in the amusement ride business:

760,500 / 68,383 = 11 months. The payback period is quite long, but the profit was calculated during the start of the business, and it is planned to increase it every month, so the goal is to shorten the payback period.