I Think I Have A Good Business Idea

[ResidentEvil7]

As you guys know by now being autistic with Asperger's Syndrome has costed me many years of my life trying to get a job and having to live off of disability SSI deposits and SNAP benefits. Unless, I somehow manage to find a job, hopefully at my local Best Buy, this holiday season where I can start in the warehouse and work my way to Geek Squad after taking some tech courses, the follow business idea might not happen.

If I ever get enough money, I'm highly considering starting a small business just on the next block from where I live that used to be occupied by a Bath & Body Works store. I love electronic games; so I'm considering opening up a small arcade gaming lounge with arcades, pinball, snack vending, soda vending, tabletop games and PC and console gaming. I figure I either charge $20 unlimited free play for the day, or do prepaid gaming cards like they do instead of tokens. I even have a cool name for the could-be business.

I want this, because I don't want to live the way I have been my entire adult life any longer: getting up late, no work, just sitting in front of the computer or TV watching time pass, searching for a job that's not a VERY stressful pain in the butt to apply for (assessment tests and difficult hiring process) while living with my only living parent and stepfather when I should of been exploring this world. I want to live with my best friend someday and so does he, and both of us are unemployed with mental disabilities that just want to venture out. We want a nice house where we can have our own private arcade and bar in the basement and a garage gym. Let's face it, this job search has been a REALLY stressful waste of time and it got me nowhere.

This short video shows just what is possible with an arcade business. It shows a grown man with a passion of arcades starting a business and he's doing well enough that he's expanding. So he must be doing something right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXbi...NpbmVzcw%3D%3D

[Roseangelo]

I would recommend starting smaller by buying and selling video games locally and online. You'll learn a lot about the market, and also the costs of business. Taking some community college classes in business would probably also be helpful. Unfortunately, while this is a nice idea in concept, making it a viable business is going to be difficult. Which is why I recommend starting small and scaling up. Good luck!

[Andrew NDB]

[CyberCubed]

So basically you have to pay rent for a building space, buy all these arcade and pinball machines, pay the electric bill to keep them going, buy snack/food vendors, advertise it somehow online or in your local paper so people are aware it exists....and on top of all that hope random strangers just stop by and want to kill an hour or so just playing random games?

There's a reason even the "big" arcades struggle to do business these days, and most shut down over a decade or two ago.

As said above...good luck I guess?

[Barkworm]

Without a good business plan, you're not going to get anywhere. You'll also need a good amount of seed funding to make anything happen.

[ResidentEvil7]

Are you guys trying to discourage me, or are you guys being honest? You can't blame a guy for following a dream and a cool one too. Besides, even if I did go through with it, I have a good location; in a mini-mall above an underground parking garage and just off from an apartment building in a downtown area of Arlington Heights, just the next block from me.

[Barkworm]

Originally Posted by ResidentEvil7

Are you guys trying to discourage me, or are you guys being honest?

We're being completely honest. Starting a business can completely ruin you if you go at it half-assed. My wife and I have been goofing around with the idea of opening our own bookstore and it's a lot to consider.

[ResidentEvil7]

The thing that could benefit me is the nearby Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL. It's the biggest mall in the state of Illinois (fifth biggest in America), it's a VERY commercialized area with an IMAX theater, stores, restaurants, hotels (the pinball expo 2024 is coming next month here), major expressways. I mean, just name it; there's something here for everyone and it's a booming mall outside Chicago. And it's only a few miles from where I live.

[CyberCubed]

I mean are you honestly aware how much money you need to open a business? You said above you rely on government assistance and SSI deposits for money.

To run a business you'll need to pay rent for the space, pay the electricity to keep it going, buy all the arcades/pinball machines, keep it running, possibly pay salary for any workers, etc. You have to have a small fortune set aside, and if you don't get enough customers, you won't make any of that money back even in 6 months to a year.

[ResidentEvil7]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I mean are you honestly aware how much money you need to open a business? You said above you rely on government assistance and SSI deposits for money.

I'm not talking about anytime soon. I'm just planning ahead and if I manage to get a job (that would be nice, if someone would let me) that I'll be saving up each paycheck that doesn't need to go towards my current bills: car insurance, gas for the house, and cat food/litter and Amino Energy I get from eBay and a sushi dinner out every month all of which I charge on my Sony Visa card and pay off in full each month. The point I'm trying to say is I'm planning on saving my money one way or another and when the time comes, if the time comes, I'll come back to see if it's a good time to start. Also the economy right now sucks with inflation in all.

I understand that I'm on SSI and SNAP, but the thing is, I don't want to live like this, in my house behind my mom and stepfather's house sitting around watching TV or playing on the internet. All my adult life, I wanted to work, but no one would let me and failing assessment tests. I'm looking into hopefully a holiday hiring at Best Buy, since tech is my passion. I just wanted to do something big and grand with my life and doing what makes ME happy. There's nothing wrong with a guy wanting to do something big he enjoys.

[FredWolfLeonardo]

I think the nicest advise is to keep arcades as a hobby because this current economic climate is only good for mega corporations. The system is not good for everyday people like you and me.

As for job searching, what worked for me is applying in literally every store in the city until something landed. If there are 100 employers in your area, apply to every single one in your area and offer to work every day and odd hours, no exceptions.

If they don't come back to you, try with even more employers until something clicks. The aim is to secure a source of money that is consistent, and that will help you achieve your goals.

[IndigoErth]

Also, as someone with a disability, there might be some loans or whatnot available specifically for such would-be disabled entrepreneurs.


Just a thought, if there's space to store them and a way to move them, have you considered owning some machines and renting out? Like for parties or something.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by sdp

Don't let the haters get to you, they're just jealous. This is a FANTASTIC business idea. You should definitely start it up as soon as possible, ask the bank for a loan, if they don't give you the money then borrow from your family and friends. This idea will change your financial life. This last sentence I can guarantee it.

Originally Posted by IndigoErth

Also, as someone with a disability, there might be some loans or whatnot available specifically for such would-be disabled entrepreneurs.

I'm not saying you're wrong because I genuinely don't know but... I kinda doubt it? I can't imagine there are investors lining up to throw money into businesses behind people who are already disadvantaged in various ways, handicapped in others.

[IndigoErth]

There seems to least some out there -- as I try to Google stuff like that before just guessing and talking out of my ass -- but is it local to him, or are there specific requirements, or is it helpful enough... no idea, I didn't look far into it. *shrug*

Edit: Unsure if they have to be for existing business or would-be start-ups, one I just went back and looked at appears to be for the former.

[Bluelightsaber]

The arcade lounge idea has potential, especially with a good location and a clear passion behind it. Even though it’s a tough market, starting small, like renting out arcades or pinball machines for events, could be a smart way to test the waters without diving into major expenses right away. It’s also a good way to build experience, contacts, and maybe even a bit of early buzz.

On the branding side, something as simple as custom merchandise can help build recognition and loyalty, especially if the theme and name are memorable. This article lays out how branded merchandise can play a bigger role than most people expect: https://www.thelogocreative.co.uk/br...lp-your-brand/.

Planning ahead with a clear, realistic timeline and learning step by step might not be flashy, but it’s how most successful ventures really start.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by ResidentEvil7

The thing that could benefit me is the nearby Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL. It's the biggest mall in the state of Illinois (fifth biggest in America), it's a VERY commercialized area with an IMAX theater, stores, restaurants, hotels (the pinball expo 2024 is coming next month here), major expressways. I mean, just name it; there's something here for everyone and it's a booming mall outside Chicago. And it's only a few miles from where I live.

So. You want to open a chinzy arcade as a life goal. In Schaumburg. Which of course most people here don't know the area nor what that means.

But you want to do this, basically near the "Streets of Woodfield" were a 50-million dollar Gameworks couldn't survive and has been replaced by it's competitor, Dave & Busters in the same location. A Dave & Busters, btw, who just downsized from Addison to overtake the smaller 50-million dollar Streets of Woodfield space because even Dave & Busters is struggling.

And you want to do this.... in Schaumburg where now your biggest competitor is Dave and Busters?

I say go for it. Once it's up and running I would literally be one of the first to stop by and put a face to the name. In support of your business endeavor.

[ResidentEvil7]

Originally Posted by IMJ

So. You want to open a chinzy arcade as a life goal. In Schaumburg. Which of course most people here don't know the area nor what that means.

But you want to do this, basically near the "Streets of Woodfield" were a 50-million dollar Gameworks couldn't survive and has been replaced by it's competitor, Dave & Busters in the same location. A Dave & Busters, btw, who just downsized from Addison to overtake the smaller 50-million dollar Streets of Woodfield space because even Dave & Busters is struggling.

And you want to do this.... in Schaumburg where now your biggest competitor is Dave and Busters?

I say go for it. Once it's up and running I would literally be one of the first to stop by and put a face to the name. In support of your business endeavor.

This is an old topic and I don't know why it got brought back. I gave up the idea of a public arcade months ago and decided it was better to save up my money with my best friend anyway we can (hopefully we both get work soon with summer coming up), get a bigger house with a basement, than this studio apartment I'm in right now behind my mother's main house and then save up again after bills each month a paid, for our own arcade, pinball, vending machines (snack and Pepsi machine) a pool table and a bar with beer and cheesy fried food every Saturday night. Besides, right now it's just a dream that we both have ambition and determination to get it going for a future plan. Nothing happens overnight.

As far as the public arcade business plan goes, I gave up the thought, but you can't blame a struggling man to show ambition and pursue something that makes him happy.

[IMJ]

Originally Posted by ResidentEvil7

As far as the public arcade business plan goes, I gave up the thought, but you can't blame a struggling man to show ambition and pursue something that makes him happy.

When I was a kid I came up with all sorts of cool ideas - at age 9 I had the brilliant dream of a steam engine in a car that would solve all of the world's pollution problems. My Dad was a design engineer so I drew the engine for him and explained how we could use a piece of flint (which burns underwater) to burn the water that would be in the pan and the steam would rise up to move the pistons in the engine. It was well crafted science fiction pushing a nine year old's limits of knowledge. And all it made perfect sense then and there.

My point? We all have child like ideas to put onto an audience. But that's not "ambition". It's just clever science fiction until you do something. I can't even bring myself to address the "pursue" part.....