Operations · Updated 5 October 2026
Investment gets the attention, but operating costs decide whether a centre makes money year after year. Include these in your budget.
Premises
Rent or ownership costs, property taxes and service charges.
Staff
Reception, coaches, cleaning and management, including peak and holiday coverage.
Energy and utilities
Lighting, heating or ventilation and water. Energy use depends on the building and lighting level – see the lighting guide.
Maintenance and replacement
Turf care, glass, lighting, nets and general upkeep. Plan a reserve for replacements.
Insurance, fees and software
Liability and property insurance, booking and payment systems and accounting.
Marketing
Launch campaign and ongoing activity to keep courts booked.
Financing costs
Interest and repayments on loans.
Combine them with the investment budget and your revenue forecast to see the picture in the business plan.
Fixed and variable costs
| Cost | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Rent / property costs | Fixed |
| Core staff and management | Mostly fixed |
| Energy: heating, ventilation | Semi-variable; depends on season and building |
| Energy: lighting | Variable with opening hours and light level |
| Maintenance and replacement | Variable with usage |
| Insurance and fees | Fixed |
| Software and payment fees | Mixed |
| Marketing | Chosen by you |
| Loan interest and repayments | Fixed |
How to estimate them
Get a quote or a clear estimate for every line: rent from the landlord, energy from your supplier based on the building and lighting level, insurance from a broker, software prices from providers. Where you cannot get a figure, mark it as an assumption and test a higher and a lower value in your business plan.
Where costs are often underestimated
- Energy for indoor centres, especially heating, ventilation and lighting.
- Staffing across long opening hours, weekends and holidays.
- Replacement of turf, nets and lighting over time.
- Marketing after the first few months.
Choosing the right court specification
The type of glass, turf and lighting you choose affects both investment and running costs – see the guides to glass and turf and lighting, and read how profitability comes together.
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