About GolfCave Franchise
GolfCave is an indoor golf entertainment franchise that launched its franchise program in 2022, backed by GolfCave Franchising Holdings LLC.
The brand offers high tech golf simulator suites where customers can play virtual rounds on famous courses, practice their swing, and enjoy food and beverages in a social, lounge style setting.
The franchise fee is $50,000.
GolfCave Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$506K
Average Investment
$754K
Maximum Investment
$1.0M
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $50,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 8.5% of Gross Revenues of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | $1,000/month (System Brand & Technology Contribution, may increase to greater of $1,600/month or 3% of Gross Revenues) | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $505,820 – $1,003,136 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $506K–$1.0M reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (8.5% of Gross Revenues) and marketing fee ($1,000/month (System Brand & Technology Contribution, may increase to greater of $1,600/month or 3% of Gross Revenues)) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Training Expenses (transportation/lodging) | $2,000 | $5,000 |
| Real Property (3 months rent) | $18,000 | $52,500 |
| Construction/Leasehold Improvements | $207,967 | $448,313 |
| Office Equipment, Supplies, Decor, Fixtures and Furnishings | $42,693 | $74,713 |
| CPUs, Monitors, TVs, Projectors, Misc. Electronics | $32,000 | $56,000 |
| Golf Simulators (4-7 Caves, includes 1st year software) | $80,000 | $140,000 |
| RingCentral (2 months pre-opening) | $160 | $160 |
| OpenPath (1st year access control) | $600 | $600 |
| Point of Sale System | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Opening Advertising | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Inventory (branded merchandise, gift cards) | $3,500 | $3,500 |
| Security Deposits | $8,500 | $32,000 |
| Organizational Expenses (legal/accounting) | $500 | $2,500 |
| Permits and Licenses | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Professional Fees | $5,000 | $15,000 |
| Uniforms | $900 | $1,600 |
| Signs | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| Insurance (3 months) | $3,000 | $5,250 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $35,000 | $65,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | Two-thirds (2/3) of then-current Initial Franchise Fee for similarly situated Stores |
| Renewal Fee | 25% of then-current Initial Franchise Fee for similar franchised Stores (Successor Franchise Fee) |
| Technology Fee | Included in System Brand & Technology Contribution |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit plus interest at highest legal rate or 4% above prime if understated by 2-8%; if understated by 8%+ franchisor can terminate |
| RingCentral (telephone service) | ~$80/month |
| OpenPath (access control software) | ~$600/year |
| USchedule or similar (scheduling software) | ~$600/3 months |
| Golf simulator software | ~$1,000/year/simulator |
| Store-specific marketing from approved vendors | Up to 25% upcharge over vendor standard rates |
| Merchandise Cost | As invoiced (menu panels, branded materials) |
| Additional/replacement trainee | $500/trainee/day |
| On-site training and assistance | $1,500/day |
| On-going training (quarterly virtual) | Up to $500/person |
| Insurance | $12,000-$21,000/year estimated |
| Late Charge | 4% above prime rate + $50/month for late financial statements |
| Securities offering review fee | $10,000+ |
| Management Fee on Death/Disability | Greater of 2x salary of assigned person or 10% of weekly Gross Revenue |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | Approximately 30 hours (14.5 classroom + 18.5 on-the-job) |
| Classroom Training | 14.5 hours (Accounting 2.5, Employee Support 2.5, Manager Training 5, Tech Support 1, Marketing/Sales 2.5, Safety/Security 1) |
| On-the-Job Training | 18.5 hours (Ranger Training 15, Customer Support 1, Repair/Maintenance 2.5) |
| Training Location | Existing GolfCave Store in New Jersey, or virtually |
| Additional Training | Additional/replacement trainee: $500/day. On-site training: $1,500/day. Quarterly virtual update meetings: up to $500/person. Annual conference/convention may be required. Virtual training library provided at no additional cost. Must complete training at least 2 months before opening. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Non-exclusive (Store Location protection only) |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Store Location premises only (no radius or geographic territory) |
| Description | You will not receive an exclusive territory. Protection is limited to your Store Location only - franchisor will not operate or grant a franchise for a GolfCave Store within your Store Location. Outside your Store Location, franchisor and affiliates may operate any number of GolfCave Businesses at any location. Franchisor retains extensive rights including: non-traditional locations (arenas, malls, airports, hospitals, military bases), national/regional/institutional accounts, internet/e-commerce sales, alternative distribution channels, and acquiring competing businesses. No options, rights of first refusal, or rights to contiguous territories. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 5 years (up to 2 consecutive 5-year Successor Franchise Agreements) |
| Renewal Fee | 25% of then-current Initial Franchise Fee (Successor Franchise Fee) |
| Renewal Conditions | Written notice 6-9 months before expiration, compliance with Franchise Agreement and Brand Standards, met material obligations on time throughout term, all monetary obligations satisfied, evidence of acceptable lease renewal, sign General Release (not releasing from future claims under Successor FA), complete required training, pay Successor Franchise Fee, refurbish Store to current standards, sign then-current form (may have materially different terms but Store Location remains same, no initial franchise fee, and Continuing Royalty not greater than similarly situated franchisees) |
| Transfer Fee | Two-thirds (2/3) of then-current Initial Franchise Fee for similarly situated Stores |
| Transfer Conditions | Transferee must apply and be accepted, come for personal interview, demonstrate skills/qualifications/economic resources, complete training, landlord consent, cure all defaults, all monetary obligations paid, transferee signs new FA (for balance of your term), correct deficiencies, transferee upgrades Store, general release (subject to state law), Total Sales Price not excessive, transferee signs guarantees and confidentiality/non-competition. Franchisor has right of first refusal for 2 years. |
| Termination for Cause | Curable: 15 days for general defaults, 5 days for non-payment. Non-curable (automatic): bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, dissolution, levy. Non-curable (on notice): fail to sign lease in 6 months, fail to open in 15 months, abandonment, omitted/misrepresented material facts, agree in writing, felony conviction, unauthorized transfer, non-compete/confidentiality violations, fail to complete training, conceal revenues/false records, understate Gross Revenues 8%+, refuse inspection, take employee withholdings, health/safety danger, widespread publicity/ridicule, repeated defaults (even if cured), and many more |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | 2 years post-termination/expiration. No competing business within your Store Location, within 30 miles of the perimeter of your Store Location, or within 30 miles of the perimeter of (or within) any other GolfCave Store Location (company-owned, franchised or otherwise). Also 2-year no-poach/non-solicitation of franchisor employees. Subject to state law. New York law governs. Litigation in Union County, New Jersey. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Must personally supervise the operation of the franchised Business unless franchisor permits in writing. Must either serve as or designate a full-time General Manager (approved by franchisor) who exercises on-premises supervision and personally participates in daily operations. If business entity, must designate a Managing Owner. General Manager need not have equity interest but must complete Initial Training Program. All owners of an interest must sign personal guarantee. |
| Required Suppliers | Must purchase golf simulators and simulator software from designated suppliers (~$80,000-$140,000 for 4-7 Caves). Must purchase electronics (CPUs, monitors, TVs, projectors) from designated suppliers (~$32,000-$55,000). Must use USchedule for scheduling, RingCentral for phone service, OpenPath for access control. Must purchase cleaning supplies, branded merchandise, uniforms, signage from approved suppliers. |
| Supply Restrictions | Approximately 75% of the cost to establish and 7-10% of operating expenses from designated or approved sources |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | Neither franchisor nor affiliates received any revenue from sales of proprietary products or from required purchases/leases by franchisees, nor any payments or rebates from any supplier, during fiscal year ended December 31, 2024. |
GolfCave Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$801K
Median Revenue
$763K
Revenue Range
$704K – $938K
Sample Size
3 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
GolfCave Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordGolfCave has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
GolfCave System Growth
Total Units
6
Franchised
3
Company-Owned
3
GolfCave currently operates 3 franchised locations and 3 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Transfers: 0 | Closures: 0
State Registrations
Registered in 15 states: CA, CT, HI, IL, IN, MD, MI, MN, NY, ND, RI, SD, VA, WA, WI
GolfCave Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a GolfCave franchise ranges from $505,820 to $1,003,136, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $50,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
GolfCave charges a royalty fee of 8.5% of Gross Revenues of gross sales, plus a $1,000/month (System Brand & Technology Contribution, may increase to greater of $1,600/month or 3% of Gross Revenues) contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the GolfCave Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from GolfCave to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, GolfCave franchise owners report average revenue of $801K and median revenue of $763K. This is based on a sample of 3 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
GolfCave has been franchising since 2022. The FDD shows an investment range of $505,820-$1,003,136, a 8.5% of Gross Revenues royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $50,000 and the total investment ranges from $505,820 to $1,003,136 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from GolfCave and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with GolfCave or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com