Laser tag is a simple product to explain: a group of people book a game, put on a headband or a vest, pick up a tagger and play. Behind that simple product is a handful of decisions that settle whether a new club pays for itself. This guide walks through them in the order you will meet them, and links to our deeper articles on each step.
Step 1: choose your format
Everything else depends on where your games will happen. There are three common ways to run a laser tag business, and many owners combine two of them over time.
Outdoor field or club
Games run on open ground: a forest, a park, a farm or a purpose-built field with cover. Outdoor taggers have a long range and realistic shapes, so this format suits teenagers, adults, corporate groups and scenario games. You need a site you can use regularly, plus somewhere to store and charge the equipment.
Indoor arena
An indoor arena is a fixed space, often dark, with lighting effects, walls and obstacles. Indoor systems are built for dark mazes and close quarters, which makes them a natural fit for family entertainment centers, malls and amusement parks. You trade the flexibility of an outdoor field for year-round play and the ability to fill the arena session after session.
Mobile laser tag
A mobile business brings the equipment to the customer: birthday parties, school events, company days, festivals. There is no venue to rent, so it is often the lightest way to start. Our article on laser tag equipment for a rental business covers the model in detail, and laser tag equipment for events explains how to set up a temporary field.
Not sure which suits you? Which type of laser tag club should you open? compares them side by side, and our guide to indoor vs outdoor laser tag equipment explains how the gear differs.
Step 2: find the right location
For an outdoor club, look for ground with natural cover, safe access, parking and a dry place for briefings and charging. For an indoor arena, the floor area decides how many players you can host at once and how interesting the layout can be. Our outdoor sets are matched to arena size, from under 300 m² to over 600 m².
Think about who will come: families, schools and companies within easy travel distance are the core of most clubs. Choosing a location for a laser tag business and how to choose a laser tag arena or playing field go through the checklist.
Step 3: choose the equipment
Laser tag equipment comes in a few groups, and a complete set covers all of them:
- Taggers (laser tag guns). The part players remember. Outdoor clubs choose from assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols, sub-machine guns and more; indoor arenas use arena blasters such as PULSAR.
- Hit sensors. Headbands and vests register every hit. Indoor systems such as Alphatag Arena pair a wireless blaster with a DEFENDER vest, with no cable between them.
- Game devices. Control points, digital flags, first aid kits, bombs, mines, grenades and targets turn shooting into scenarios: capture the flag, defuse the bomb, hold the point.
- Control and charging. A remote to start games and set rules, a router for live statistics, and chargers for the whole fleet.
- Cover. Inflatable bunkers and figures build a playing field anywhere and pack away after the game.
Buy for the group size you expect. A typical starter set equips 10 to 12 players: that is enough for two teams and most birthday or company bookings.
Pick an electronics generation
Our sets come in several electronics generations, and the choice depends on how you will play:
- 9th generation (Smart RGB): the proven option for mobile laser tag or a club without a fixed site yet. It plays on any ground with no site preparation, and the statistics arrive at the end of the game.
- 10th generation (X-GEN Wi-Fi): for clubs with a prepared field, Wi-Fi coverage and screens for live statistics.
- ALPHATAG: the newest platform. Smart NFC links up to 7 devices to each game set, with real-time statistics, dedicated software and a global statistics server that keeps players' achievements.
Whichever you choose, keep the whole club on one generation, or check compatibility before mixing, so every tagger, sensor and device works together.
Step 4: work out what it costs to start
The equipment is the one cost we can show you exactly. These are our complete sets with their current starting prices; open a set to see its full contents and the price for each electronics generation.
Outdoor laser tag sets
| Set | What it is for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| StartUp | The essential laser tag kit to open a club, for games of 10–12 players. | from $8,446 |
| Military Arena | A laser tag kit matched to the size of your arena, from under 300 m² to over 600 m². | from $9,694 |
| The Best Choice | A starter laser tag kit for a small arena, for 10–12 players. | from $9,632 |
| More Drive | A laser tag kit for a small arena that gets maximum variety out of 10–12 players. | from $10,678 |
| The World Special Forces | A themed laser tag kit with the guns of real special-forces units. | from $13,808 |
| A Set for Superheroes | A themed laser tag kit styled on your favourite video games. | from $14,039 |
| Phygital Center | Laser tag equipment for phygital training and tournaments, in Training, Optimal and Tournament versions. | $63,874 |
Indoor arena systems
| Set | What it is for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Alphatag Arena Start | A wireless PULSAR and DEFENDER arena system for 12 players. | $16,214 |
| Alphatag Arena Optima | A wireless PULSAR and DEFENDER arena system for 18 players. | $23,708 |
| Alphatag Arena Smart | A wireless PULSAR and DEFENDER arena system for 24 players. | $31,214 |
| Alphatag Arena Pro | A wireless PULSAR and DEFENDER arena system for 30 players, with the Perimeter nuclear case. | $38,574 |
| Alphatag Arena Elite | The largest wireless PULSAR and DEFENDER arena system, for 36 players. | $45,594 |
| CYBERTAG 2.0 BE START BUNDLE | An indoor arena set for 12 players. | $13,910 |
| CYBERTAG 2.0 BE OPTIMA BUNDLE | An indoor arena set for 18 players. | $21,950 |
| CYBERTAG 2.0 BE SMART BUNDLE | An indoor arena set for 24 players, with Energizers. | $27,757 |
| CYBERTAG 2.0 BE PRO BUNDLE | An indoor arena set for 30 players, with Energizers. | $34,177 |
| CYBERTAG 2.0 BE ELITE BUNDLE | The largest indoor arena set, for 36 players. | $41,368 |
Beyond the equipment, budget for the costs that depend on your market. We do not quote figures for these, because they vary too much by country and city:
- rent or a land agreement, and any fit-out of the site or arena (walls, lighting, obstacles);
- insurance, permits and any local registration your business needs;
- staff: at least one trained instructor for every game;
- marketing for the first months, before word of mouth takes over;
- shipping and import duties for the equipment, which depend on your country.
Our article on building a laser tag arena covers arena costs and planning, and laser tag arena equipment shows how we equip an indoor arena from one supplier. For a quote that includes shipping to you, get in touch.
Step 5: plan how you will earn
A laser tag club earns from games, but the average bill grows with what you add around them: party packages, food and drinks, photos, tournaments and memberships. Laser tag club extras that raise your average bill lists ideas, and laser tag business profitability explains what drives the numbers. For an honest view of both sides, read the strengths and weaknesses of the laser tag business.
Step 6: hire and train instructors
Instructors make or break the experience. They brief players on safety, explain the scenario, run the remote and keep the energy up. How to train a laser tag instructor shares one club owner's method.
Step 7: bring players back
The first game is the hardest booking to win; the second should be easy. Themed nights, tournaments, referral rewards and loyalty bonuses all help. Our marketing series starts with a treasure hunt day, and how to organise a laser tag tournament covers events. Reviews matter too: see how laser tag clubs should handle online reviews.
Mistakes to avoid
Most early problems come from the same few decisions: buying too little or too much equipment, a site that is hard to reach, or no plan for repeat visits. Read common mistakes when starting a laser tag club and laser tag business mistakes to avoid before you sign anything.
Next steps
- Compare outdoor laser tag sets and indoor arena systems.
- Read 10 reasons to start a laser tag business and the beginner's start-up guide.
- Check the warranty and service that come with the equipment.
- Ask us for a quote with shipping to your country.
