add playground on a budget

Search online, and you’ll find countless articles about how to keep kids entertained while you’re dining out, on a shopping trip and more. That’s because children are naturally drawn to active and imaginative play and can become restless when they have to sit still or simply follow their parents around. It’s no wonder, then, that a playground at your business can be a major draw and a great solution for parents and kids alike.

If you’re interested in adding a play area in your business, you’re probably wondering about cost and how to budget for this project. We’re here to guide you through the process of budgeting for a play area addition at your business. With the value a playground will add to your business and budget-friendly options available, installing a playground at your location is a smart move.

Table of Contents

The Value of Adding a Playground to Your Business

If you haven’t already made the decision to add a playground to your business, you may be on the fence about whether the cost is worth it. After all, quality play equipment can be expensive. Especially if your business is operating within a strict budget, you may worry that such a purchase isn’t feasible. The good news is that you can purchase quality playground equipment on a budget, and that play area addition at your business can have an impressive return on investment.

Whether your business is geared toward kids or not, it’s likely that children walk through your doors every day, tagging along with their parents. Whether you’re a store, restaurant, gym or nearly any other type of business, you can quickly boost your appeal for families by adding a play area inside. When parents or caretakers know they can shop, dine, work out or do any other activity at your business without their children becoming restless, you can expect them to start choosing your business over your competitors.

Including a play area in your business shows that you truly care about the customer experience for families. Providing such a great experience is an effective way to encourage customer loyalty, which can ultimately help your business grow. While it may be difficult to track the exact return on your investment, if you see an in customers taking their time and spending more money at your business while their kids actively play, you can feel confident that you made a great choice for your business.

 

What to Include in Your Playground Budget

When you’re trying to budget responsibly, you need to know exactly what costs are entailed with adding a play area to your business. Here are the main components that go into a complete playground budget.

1. SURFACING

Surfacing is essentially the flooring material underneath your playground equipment. Playground surfacing materials are designed to absorb shock so children are less likely to hurt themselves if they fall down. If you get a quote from a play equipment company, make sure you know whether that price includes surfacing or whether you’ll have to purchase that separately. The cheapest surfacing option tends to be engineered wood fiber for outdoor playgrounds, and the most expensive is bonded rubber tiles.

2. PLAY EQUIPMENT

The main item in your playground budget is, of course, the equipment itself. This may include soft play sculptures, high-tech interactive play equipment or some other type of equipment to engage kids. As we’ll explore further in the next section, everything from the overall quality to the size of the playground equipment can influence the price point. If you get a quote from a playground company that is not all-inclusive, then it’s likely limited to just the price for the equipment.

3. TAXES AND SHIPPING

With small purchases, taxes may seem inconsequential, but when it comes to larger purchases like a set of playground equipment, you want to make sure you factor taxes into your budget. Shipping costs can be another substantial expenditure in some cases, especially if the equipment has to travel a long way from the company to your location. Some companies will include taxes and/or shipping in their prices, while others won’t. Make sure you know whether to add these costs to your budget.

4. SITE PREPARATIONS

Another important variable to consider is the preparations that need to happen to make way for your playground. For example, outdoor spaces may need to be graded and landscaped. If you’re preparing for an indoor play space in your business, you may need to do some renovations. Fortunately, for some businesses, the prep work is as simple as rearranging a bit to clear an area for a play area, which may cost next to nothing.

5. INSTALLATION

Finally, there’s the cost to install your playground equipment. It’s best to have the equipment company do a professional installation so you know your equipment is installed correctly, and your vision comes to life just as you imagined. Some companies may require professional installation for the sake of the equipment warranty. Just make sure you know whether the cost to install your equipment is included in the price you’re quoted or whether that is a separate cost you need to add to your budget.

How to Budget for Playground Equipment

Now, let’s look at the process you should go through to determine your indoor playground business cost and budget. There are three basic steps to create a budget that is perfectly tailored to your needs.

1. DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS

First, you need to determine your business’s needs. In other words, what do you want out of this playground? One of the most important aspects of this answer will be the number of children you need your playground to be able to accommodate at one time. Take note of your business’s foot traffic so you can make an informed determination, but also keep in mind that adding a playground may very well attract more customers to your business, so it’s best to plan for more children than you currently have.

Another component of your business’s needs is what sort of theming or messaging you want to include in your playground. Do you want something completely custom that reflects your brand identity? Do you want custom signage but are okay with unbranded play equipment? Are branding and customization not a priority? Determining what you want from your playground will help going forward.

 

2. DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPEND

Now, it’s time to do some old-fashioned budgeting and find out how much your business can afford to spend. Remember, though, that adding a playground to your business is an investment that can help your business grow profits in the long run, so it’s not simply a cost. Also, make sure your budget is informed by a basic understanding of how much it costs to build a playground. There is no simple answer to the question of cost because cost largely depends on various factors, such as:

  • Size: One of the most significant factors is size. The more children your playground equipment is designed to accommodate, the more it will cost. For this reason, you’ll see some estimates online that put the cost in terms of the cost per child. However, these estimates do not account for the next two factors.
  • Quality: Another critical factor that influences cost is the quality of the equipment. How safe is it? How durable is it? How engaging is it for kids? Partnering with a reputable playground equipment provider may cost more, but it’s worth it if it means you get higher-quality equipment.
  • Customization: Customization can also play a major role in determining price. Widely available designs that you may find at other businesses or parks are likely to cost less, while completely customized designs will cost quite a bit more. Semi-custom designs are a great third option to consider when you’re working within a budget.

3. DISCUSS OPTIONS WITH YOUR PROVIDER

Once you have a basic understanding of your needs and what you can afford, you can discuss options with a playground equipment provider. You may want to get multiple quotes from different companies, but keep in mind the quality factor we discussed above. Just because one company may return with a lower quote, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the right company to order from.

Inquire about what options are available within your specifications or browse through options if they’re available online or in a catalog. With Soft Play, you can let us know what you’re looking for, and we’ll provide you with a quote. A playground equipment company with great customer service should be willing to work with you to help you find a solution that meets your needs.

Ways to Maximize Your Play Area Budget

We’ve covered the basics, but now we want to provide some do’s and don’ts to help you get the most out of your playground budget. If you’re going to make the investment, you want to make sure you do it right so you can enjoy great results.

First, here are some possible budgeting missteps you want to avoid:

  • DON’T sacrifice safety standards: Safety should be a top priority. Make sure the playground equipment you choose meets or exceeds relevant health and safety standards, such as ASTM standards for antibacterial properties and for safe public playground equipment. Also make sure you choose surfacing materials that will protect children’s safety, even if it adds to the cost.
  • DON’T buy low-quality equipment: The relationship between cost and quality is not always straightforward, but in many cases, if prices seem too good to be true, there’s a reason for it. If you buy low-quality equipment that breaks down after a year or two of use, then you’ll ultimately end up spending more than if you invested in high-quality equipment from the start.
  • DON’T settle for generic designs: One way to save on costs is to forgo the option to completely customize your playground equipment, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for something completely generic. Semi-custom designs are a great option to consider when you’re after budget commercial playground equipment but want to put your personal touch on it. Soft Play’s Pick & Play line is a perfect example.

Maximizing your budget isn’t just about avoiding mistakes. There are also some positive things you want to make sure you do when you’re budgeting for a play area in your business:

  • DO carefully plan: Planning is key, and planning usually takes time, so don’t rush the process too much. When you take the time to do your research, figure out what you want and what you can afford and consider the possible return on your investment, you’ll end up with a well-thought-out plan that makes the best use of your budget.
  • DO know all your options: Knowing your options is also important. You may first need to shop around and learn about various companies to make sure you partner with the right company. Then, consider what choices they offer that are within your budget. You may be able to customize or tweak certain options to tailor them to your needs.
  • DO capitalize on the benefits: Finally, since you’re putting in the investment, you want to make sure you maximize your return on that investment. Knowing you’ll increase your business’s revenue with the addition of a play area can help you justify the upfront cost. This means you need to develop a marketing strategy to get the word out about your business’s fantastic new amenity for kids.

Quality, Budget-Friendly Playground Equipment From Soft Play

If you need top-of-the-line playground equipment that is still affordable, Soft Play has the ideal solution. While we have made a name for ourselves creating completely customized playground designs for businesses all over the globe, we have also created an amazing semi-custom line of products called our Pick & Play line.

This line consists of soft-sculpted foam play equipment that is safe and fun for kids. You can select from vibrant themes kids will love, like aquatic or jungle, specify whether you want a corner or a freestanding play space and then choose from three sizes. Our Pick & Play line allows you to tailor the play area to your specifications while still taking advantage of a budget-friendly, turn-key solution.

Soft Play will provide you with a transparent cost estimate for your project and help you get the most indoor playground profit. Our total cost includes state sales tax and shipping and handling, making it easier for you to budget accurately. As a leading provider of play equipment, Soft Play is a partner you can trust to provide you with quality play equipment that will engage kids’ imaginations and encourage healthy physical activity. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you include a playground inside your place of business.