Overview / Executive Summary
You’ve got a fast-growing sport (pickleball), a surprisingly profitable backyard game (cornhole), and an audience that will happily pay for the right setup. With $99/month memberships, one court can spin off $15K/month in profit. This business is small-footprint, high-margin, and validated by the simplest test: a 13-second Facebook ad. People don’t want just a place to play. They want a place to belong. That’s what we’re selling.
Value Proposition
We offer exclusive access to a private pickleball court and social cornhole league events without waitlists, public park politics, or grumpy rec center rules. Members get clean courts, recurring games, and a built-in community. It’s sports, without the sportiness. Whether you’re competitive or just like tossing bags with a beer in hand, this is your place.
Target Audience
Who They Are
Adults aged 35–65 who love low-impact but competitive activity
Retirees and active boomers who value fitness and social time
Urban and suburban professionals who don’t want to fight for court time
Niche hobbyists who enjoy structured leagues with fun formats
Casual cornhole players looking for something more regular than backyard BBQs
What They Need
Guaranteed access to a court or event
A social outlet that doesn’t feel like a frat house
Consistent, local play without driving across town
A reason to meet up every week that’s more fun than brunch
We solve these by giving them curated access, simple scheduling, and fun formats. It’s country club vibes without the dress code.
Market Landscape
Pickleball is exploding. The market is worth $2.6 billion in 2025 and tracking to $9.6 billion by 2034, with a wild 15.9% CAGR. There are 13.6 million players in the US, a 223% increase in just three years. Demand is way ahead of supply.
Cornhole isn’t just a tailgate activity anymore. It’s pacing from $169 million in 2025 to $257 million by 2032, growing at 6.2%. More bars, backyards, and now private leagues are bringing it mainstream.
The competition? Municipal courts that are overbooked, or expensive clubs that feel intimidating. For cornhole, it’s mostly scattered tournaments and bar nights. No one is bundling these sports into a repeatable, local club model. That’s our opening.
SEO Opportunities
Here are the actual search phrases people are typing:
“Private pickleball club”
“Pickleball membership near me”
“Cornhole league sign-up”
“Indoor pickleball court rental”
“Start a pickleball club”
We’ll target these locally with dedicated landing pages, Facebook lead forms, and Google My Business optimization. Keyword-rich blog content like “Best Pickleball Courts in [City]” or “How to Join a Cornhole League Near You” gives us long-tail discovery. This is niche SEO with buyer intent.
Go-To-Market Strategy
Phase 1: Pre-Launch Validation
Create a simple ad: 13-second video of the space, music, and a bold hook ("$99/month private court access who’s in?")
Run Facebook and Instagram lead ads within a 6-mile radius
Collect leads via instant form → Typeform → Zapier → CRM
Validate interest before spending a dime on construction
Phase 2: Founding Membership Drive
Limit to 50–100 spots at $99/month
Emphasize exclusivity, easy scheduling, and first pick at league spots
Bonus: free merch or guest passes for founding members
Phase 3: Launch Event
Host a cornhole kickoff tournament or open house pickleball mixer
Showcase the facility, play music, serve food, and collect testimonials
Film everything use it in ads and your landing page for the next wave
Monetization Plan
Primary Revenue
Pickleball club memberships at $99/month
Cornhole league entries: $25–$75 per player, depending on prize pool
Secondary Revenue
Court rentals for non-members ($30–$50/hr)
Clinics and private lessons
Sponsorships from local breweries, gear companies, or real estate agents
Merch: hats, paddles, bags, shirts
Food and beverage (light concessions or event pop-ups)
We’ll keep pricing simple, tiered only if demand requires it.
Financial Forecast
Year 1 Targets (Single Court)
Startup Costs:
Court install + fencing + lights: $35,000
Cornhole setup + event signage: $3,000
Ads, tech stack, website, branding: $7,000
Total: ~$45,000
Monthly Revenue:
150 members × $99 \= $14,850
Add-ons (rentals, events, merch): ~$2,000
Total: ~$16,850
Monthly Costs:
Rent and utilities: $2,500
Staff and admin: $2,000
Marketing and tech: $1,000
Total: ~$5,500
Net Profit/Month: ~$11,000
Break-even: 5–6 months
If one court is this profitable, scaling to two or three becomes a no-brainer.
Risks & Challenges
What Could Go Wrong
Launching in a low-demand area
Outdoor court limitations due to weather
Tech glitches during member onboarding
Competition from low-cost or free public options
Cornhole uptake slower than expected
How We Hedge
Start small: validate with ads before signing leases
Offer indoor or covered courts when possible
Use proven automation tools to streamline sign-ups
Emphasize quality and ease people pay for convenience and comfort
Treat cornhole as a bonus social feature, not the core revenue driver
This is a lean model with upside, not a capital sink.
Why It’ll Work
Because hobbies are the new social network. People don’t just want to exercise. They want to belong to something. This business takes two growing sports pickleball and cornhole and builds a simple system around them: one court, one price, one community.
It’s profitable from day one if marketed right. The numbers work. The audience exists. The acquisition is cheap. And best of all? Nobody else is doing it quite like this.
The only question is whether you’ll be the one to set it up in your town.