So, You Want to Build Your Own Baseball Or Softball Training Facility? Part 3 of 3

PART 3 - Important Food For thought

PC or Laptop?

A Laptop and inexpensive scheduling software for staying on top of your week and coaches and general computer business function. I find more and more facilities using laptops for their portability when combined with simple wireless internet service. You can operate with one machine and can then expand into using your older or cheaper laptop for scheduling only.

Scheduling software is simple database software and don't require much of what makes computers expensive. (Microsoft has customer appointment software that may have come bundled with your PC or laptop. Check before buying what you may already own).

I HIGHLY recommend that you begin writing a short newsletter to ALL of your students and their parents. Gear it to the specific time of year or season. I time per month is not asking too much to show your interest in your students and will pay huge dividends in the short and long run...Use the Baseball Tips articles (I have no problem with this IF you will give credit to Baseball Tips, Softball-Tips and the specific article-author). Knowledge is powerful stuff and in this case, costs nothing other than your time.

A comfortable room for parents...especially mom

A clean fabric couch and a few chairs plus a couple of inexpensive magazine subscriptions won't break the bank and will go a long way. Figure some way to dispense or sell a few drinks as well

Know This:

If momma ain't happy...nobody is happy... she is an important part of your future and runs the family calendar so make her comfortable and make here a supporter from day 1!

Concessions and Selling of Baseball Equipment

Do you really want to try and compete with the local sporting goods stores? Is this going to be a large part of your business plan? Other than drinks and batting gloves, you may want to think hard and long on this aspect of your business. And now that I think about it, batting gloves are available locally, come in various sizes and colors without a lot of profit either... at least not enough to shape your month. So either:

1. Dive in if you are convinced it is a viable profit-center and personnel will always be able to service customers during all business hours. Know that it has its problems and will tie up more working cash than you figured...no matter what!
2. Carry only what is needed...like something to drink for players, moms & younger siblings... you can always add to this part of your business later.

Choosing a Location & Expanding on the Cheap:

Just as a new bat doesn't make for a better hitter, prime real estate does not insure a successful training facility. Actually, it is a key benefit in this business in that, unlike say a dry cleaner, you don't have to be so convenient because you probably don't have competition on every corner! As the word gets around, baseball families WILL find you, especially with some guerrilla type marketing! You and your sincere interest, your teachers and your services will drive your successes!

(Read the book named Guerilla Marketing for some great and cheap ideas to jump start your opening.)

A Main Street or mall location is unnecessary and expensive so keep those extra rent dollars in your pocket or in your business plan! Overhead can kill a budding young company.

Out Your back Door - Here's a thought that often gets overlooked.

If you have any area outside and in back of your building...think in terms of how it can add to your stations or cages; thus "on the cheap".

You will probably be one batting cage or pitching tunnel short during your busy times so call us if you would like some ideas on a free standing batting cage or two (all can be taken down during slow or cold season). Even our outdoor portable pitchers mounds are durable enough for outdoors, yet are portable enough to bring indoors!


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