I guess I'm trying to understand how it could COST money and not MAKE money.

The numbers don't lie.

I can guaranee you my shop has 30 guys on the range plan per year. That's $4,500 a year to replace cores.....run the lights....pay the help.

Have shoots only one night a week.....and charge an extra fee for these shoots.....and you HAVE to make money. You're spending $1K in replacement cores. If the guy makes $10/hr.....3 extra hours a week......throw in labor burden and let's say it costs you $50 a week extra in wages (TOPS!). That's $2K in extra wages.

So....you're now at $3,500 in expenses (with $4,500 tendered)....and you haven't even accounted for a single dollar in entry fees.

Nope....I'm calling lazy.

ORIGINAL: GMMAT

Let's look at it this way.....

I pay $150 a year for the ability to shoot unlimited at my shop (used to). There are 20 targets in there....and let's say the cores need replacing every year.

So......dealer cost on a core....let's say is $50. So.....I'm paying for 3 new cores a year. you get 7 guys on the "range plan".....and the cost of replacing cores is a moot point.

Now.....add in the fees garnered from entry fees (everybody's gotta pay to play).....and let's figure you get 20 guys per shoot. Pay out 1/2 in gift cert's.....and you're getting an additional 160 (3 cores) every shoot. Have just ONE of these a month......for the 9 non-deer-hunting months.........and you've got enough to pay your help for the extra hours.

Let's also assume that there are more than 7 of us paying range fees.....PLUS what you charge the non range plan guys to shoot a round of 3D ($12).....and the light bills aren't an issue.......and you're actually making money on your range.

This is before the first person buys something.

I call the lack of having these shoots.....nothing short of lazy....and no less than a poor business decision.

Sure the numbers add up to make money, but is the amount of money you make worth hassle you go through?

Jeff, I totally agree with you .... it's nuts to me .... the more you're open to leagues and for business, the more the oportunity to make sales and gain customers ...... I'll tell you what it is ... they lost their love for the sport .... I would love Dave Steve (Buellahunter?) to comment here ... he opened up Double Lung Archery last year .....

ORIGINAL: GMMAT

I guess I'm trying to understand how it could COST money and not MAKE money.

The numbers don't lie.

I can guaranee you my shop has 30 guys on the range plan per year. That's $4,500 a year to replace cores.....run the lights....pay the help.

Have shoots only one night a week.....and charge an extra fee for these shoots.....and you HAVE to make money. You're spending $1K in replacement cores. If the guy makes $10/hr.....3 extra hours a week......throw in labor burden and let's say it costs you $50 a week extra in wages (TOPS!). That's $2K in extra wages.

So....you're now at $3,500 in expenses (with $4,500 tendered)....and you haven't even accounted for a single dollar in entry fees.

Nope....I'm calling lazy.

ORIGINAL: GMMAT

Why would you need to hire more employees?

ORIGINAL: BigJ71

You wouldn't get anyone to come work for $4,500.00 a year....not reliable help that's for sure.Also, depending on the size of the range it would cost you about $1,000.00 a month to heat and light it, add in the cost of the targets, range maintenance, hell even the bathroom supplies would triple. There is WAY more to it than you are figuring. Take it from someone who runs a business, employee's cost a lot more money than what you pay them. You can add another 25% to their wages (depending on what health insurance you provide) after Uncle Sam takes his share.