An indoor golf franchise rents simulator bays by the hour, where players hit real balls into a screen that tracks each shot and plays a virtual course. The formats differ in what surrounds the bays. Some are bars and restaurants built around simulators, earning from food, drink and private events as well as play. Others are quiet member clubs open around the clock, with a door code instead of staff, which keeps wages low. Many add lessons, leagues and club fitting.
Also here are golf lesson centers, simulators on a trailer that go to corporate events and parties, and a brand that installs putting greens. Mini golf is a different business, outdoor or glow-in-the-dark courses for families, and is listed on its own.
The golf simulator franchises
Indoor golf simulator venues
| Brand | Cost to open | Locations | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| X-GolfAn indoor golf venue with simulators, instruction and food and drink service.$1.15M–$1.8M | $1.15M–$1.8M | 133 | +63 |
| Five Iron GolfA Five Iron Golf franchisee operates an indoor golf simulator venue with lessons, events, a restaurant and a bar.$1.96M–$4.66M | $1.96M–$4.66M | 37 | +22 |
| GolfCaveAn indoor golf venue with simulator bays for practice, play and events.$524K–$1.31M | $524K–$1.31M | 11 | +8 |
| Tee BoxAn indoor golf business offering golf simulation, practice, fitting and related services.$730K–$964K | $730K–$964K | 9 | +7 |
| The BunkerA luxury sports bar and event space with indoor golf simulators, entertainment, food and drinks.$628K–$1.43M | $628K–$1.43M | 7 | +4 |
| Golf EnvyA Golf Envy franchisee runs a membership-based indoor golf facility with round-the-clock simulator access.$349K–$697K | $349K–$697K | 3 | +3 |
| Golf VXA Golf VX franchisee runs an indoor golf simulator venue with instruction, tournaments, food and drinks.$809K–$2.56M | $809K–$2.56M | 3 | +3 |
| GolfTRKAn indoor golf simulator business offering practice, play and related services.$399K–$696K | $399K–$696K | 2 | +2 |
| Another NineAn indoor golf facility with private simulator suites and around-the-clock member access.$310K–$797K | $310K–$797K | 1 | +1 |
| TruGolf LinksAn indoor golf venue with simulator bays, arcade games, a bar and event space, offering memberships, lessons and leagues.$765K–$1.28M | $765K–$1.28M | 0 | – |
| The Back NineAn indoor golf simulator business serving members and the public.$307K–$689K | $307K–$689K | – | – |
| The Swing BaysAn indoor golf facility with simulators, lessons, practice areas, club fitting and event hosting.$261K–$1.05M | $261K–$1.05M | – | – |
Golf lessons, mobile simulators and putting greens
| Brand | Cost to open | Locations | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOLFTECA golf instruction center offering lessons, club fitting and practice using swing-analysis technology.$323K–$898K | $323K–$898K | 222 | – |
| DryveboxA mobile golf simulator business bringing a trailer-mounted simulator to corporate events, parties and festivals.$135K–$376K | $135K–$376K | 9 | – |
| Southwest GreensA business designing and installing artificial turf putting greens and sports surfaces for homes and businesses.$83K–$342K | $83K–$342K | – | – |
Mini golf
| Brand | Cost to open | Locations | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monster Mini GolfAn indoor glow-in-the-dark miniature golf and entertainment center.$892K–$1.56M | $892K–$1.56M | 37 | +11 |
| Putt-PuttA recreation center built around Putt-Putt miniature golf; larger formats add video and prize games and other attractions.$420K–$975K | $420K–$975K | 25 | −4 |
What golf simulator franchises cost to open
The typical brand here costs $420K at the low end of its estimate and $975K at the high end. The lowest starting cost is Southwest Greens’s, from $83K. Use each brand’s full range for budgeting: the low end is a small site in a cheaper market.
| Kind | Brands | Typical cost to open |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor golf simulator venues | 12 | $576K–$1.17M |
| Golf lessons, mobile simulators and putting greens | 3 | $135K–$376K |
| Mini golf | 2 | $656K–$1.27M |
Simulators, screens, launch monitors and the bays around them are the largest equipment cost, and the build-out depends on ceiling height: a full swing needs more headroom than most retail units have. Venues with a kitchen and bar cost far more than a member club, which needs little beyond the bays, a lounge and an access system.
Fees and royalties
The typical franchise fee is $45K and the typical royalty 7% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. Of these brands, 2 charge a flat, tiered or other royalty instead of one percentage. Royalties come off sales before rent, wages or loan payments. The fees and royalties guide compares industries.
What locations sell
Of these brands, 2 publish a comparable yearly sales figure per location. Sales are before costs, so they say nothing on their own about profit.
| Brand | Yearly sales | Sales ÷ cost |
|---|---|---|
| Five Iron Golf2025, 20 locations | $2.87M | 0.9× |
| Monster Mini Golf2025, 27 locations | $985K | 0.8× |
Which golf simulator franchises are growing
Of the 11 brands with three years of location figures, 10 grew from 2023 to 2025 and 1 shrank, a net change of +120 locations between them. The typical one lost none of its franchised locations a year to closures, terminations and non-renewals, against 3.0% across all franchises. On the SBA Franchise Directory are 14 of the 17, so SBA-backed loans are open to them.
Before you buy
Indoor golf is seasonal in a way people forget: bays fill in winter and in bad weather, and empty when courses open. Ask existing owners how their bookings and memberships hold up through the summer, and what share of sales comes from events, leagues and food rather than bay rental. Several of these brands are young, so ask how many locations are open, not just sold, and how long the first ones took to break even.
Simulator technology also ages. Ask who chooses the hardware, whether you must buy it from the franchisor, and how often the brand expects you to replace it.
Questions
Do golf simulator members get 24-hour access?
At some brands, yes. Member clubs give each member a code or app key and let them book a bay at any hour, with cameras instead of staff on site, so the business runs with very few employees. Venues with a bar and restaurant keep normal opening hours and staff, and sell bay time by the hour to anyone.
How much space does an indoor golf simulator franchise need?
It depends on the format. A member club can fit a handful of bays into a few thousand square feet, while a venue with a restaurant, a bar and a dozen or more bays needs a much larger unit. Every bay needs enough ceiling height for a full swing, usually about ten feet or more, which rules out many strip-mall units.