How to open an indoor playground in 2026

The structure and its standard — and the handbook that leaves soft play out. In the US no federal law certifies a soft-play frame. The industry standard is ASTM F1918: "This safety performance specification provides safety and performance standards for soft contained play equipment.", for users from "the 5th percentile 2 year old" "to the 95th percentile 12 year old."; "Public playground equipment, home playground equipment, sports equipment, amusement rides," "toys and juvenile products are not included in this specification." The standard costs $104.00 to buy, and you don't need to buy it — ask the maker for its written statement that the structure is built to F1918 and for the test report behind it (ASTM F1918-21, updated September 3, 2021). The toddler corner has its own: "the 5th percentile 6 month old through the 95th percentile 23 month old", and its exclusions name "soft contained play equipment" (ASTM F2373-24, January 16, 2025, $113.00); a conventional post-and-deck climber is F1487, which also says "soft contained play equipment are not included in this specification." (ASTM F1487, the store page, June 2025). The federal handbook page one never quotes says the same about itself: "These guidelines are not intended for amusement park equipment, sports or fitness equipment normally intended for users over the age of 12 years, soft contained play equipment, constant air inflatable play devices for home use," — and "Child care facilities, especially indoor, should refer to ASTM F2373". It does reach a climber, a slide or a toddler piece you set up indoors: "Concrete, asphalt, or other hard surfaces should never be directly under playground equipment." and "Carpeting and mats are also not appropriate unless they are tested to and comply with ASTM F1292." Its standing advice: "Some states and local jurisdictions may require compliance with this handbook and/or ASTM voluntary standards." and "risk managers, insurance companies, or others may require compliance at a particular site;" (CPSC, Public Playground Safety Handbook, December 2015). A maker's list of standards is a claim, not a test: one overseas maker lists "Certificates for USA - ASTM F1487, ASTM F1918, ASTM F2970." among others (Angel Playground, a maker's page, 2026) — ask for the report. This guide explains the standard; it certifies nothing.

The building — the 50-person line, the occupant load, the sprinklers. The model building code's own site refused our reader, so these lines are California's 2025 adoption of it, on a third-party code site: "Assembly Group A occupancy includes, among others, the use of a building or structure, or a portion thereof," "for the gathering of persons for purposes such as civic, social or religious functions;"; "A building or tenant space used for assembly purposes with an occupant load of less than 50 persons" "shall be classified as a Group B occupancy."; and "Group A-3 occupancy includes assembly uses intended for worship, recreation or amusement" — the list names "Amusement arcades" and "Gymnasiums (without spectator seating)", not playgrounds, so the class is the building official's call (2025 California Building Code §303, a code site updated October 24, 2026). The occupant load is floor area divided by a factor: "Unconcentrated (tables and chairs)" "15 net" square feet a person, "Exercise rooms" "50 gross" (2025 California Building Code, Table 1004.5) — 2,500 square feet is about 167 people at the first and 50 at the second, our arithmetic, and the factor the official picks decides the exits and the restrooms. Sprinklers are required where "The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m[2])." or "The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more." (2025 California Building Code §903.2.1.3) — a ground-floor play cafe usually sits under both; a 10,000-square-foot warehouse build at 15 square feet a person is 667 people, over the line. Accessibility: "Play areas for children ages 2 and over shall comply with 240.", ground-level play components — "at least one of each type shall be on an accessible route." — and elevated ones "at least 50 percent shall be on an accessible route"; but "Amusement attractions shall not be required to comply with 240." — which side a soft-play frame falls on, the page doesn't say, so ask your designer how the layout meets §240 (2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design). Your own state and city adopt their own code edition — ask the building department before you sign a lease.

The ride law — a bounce house is a ride in Texas and exempt by name in three other states. Texas: an "Amusement ride" is "a mechanical device that carries passengers along, around, or over a fixed or restricted course", and the term excludes "nonmechanized playground equipment, including a swing, seesaw, stationary spring-mounted animal feature," "rider-propelled merry-go-round, climber, playground slide, trampoline, and physical fitness device;" (Tex. Occ. Code §2151.002). The Texas Department of Insurance's list of rides includes "continuous air-flow inflatable rides or devices (bounce houses, inflatable slides), and various simulators." and "rock climbing walls"; "TDI doesn't inspect rides. Amusement rides are inspected by the ride owner's insurance company."; "continuous air flow inflatables (Class B Rides) require limits of liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence."; "Owners and operators must pay a filing fee of $40 per ride." and "An amusement ride compliance sticker is valid for one year from the date of inspection." (TDI, Amusement ride FAQ, March 2025); "you'll need to hire an inspector that your insurance company approves." (TDI, Amusement ride requirements, July 2026). Florida runs the other way: its ride law "does not apply to:" "mechanical bulls; inflatable rides; trampolines; ball crawls; exercise equipment;" — while "Nonmotorized playground equipment that is not required to have a manager." is only half-exempt, "but may be inspected by the department" "upon request following a complaint or pursuant to an accident"; a covered ride needs "at least $1 million per occurrence" of insurance (Fla. Stat. §616.242). New York's article covers "amusement devices, viewing stands and tents at carnivals, fairs and amusement parks" "where an admission or fee is customarily or usually charged" (N.Y. Labor Law §870-b), and an "Amusement device" is "any contrivance that carries and conveys passengers along, around or over a fixed or restricted course" (N.Y. Labor Law §870-c) — no playground or inflatable exclusion is written there, so ask the Department of Labor before you buy an inflatable. Where a device is covered: "$100 application fee, per device paid online through MPWR.", "One Million Dollar minimum occurrence based coverage", filed "annually, at least 10 days before the ride's first use." (NYS DOL, Amusement Device Permitting), with "Proof of Liability, Workers' Compensation and Disability Insurance." (NYS DOL, P217 guide, 2017); in New York City rides "must be inspected by the Department of Buildings (DOB)" and "also need a license from the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP)" (NYC Business, Permanent Amusement Ride Installation and Inspections). California's permanent-ride law "does not include slides, playground equipment, coin-operated devices or conveyances" (Cal. Labor Code §7921), and Cal/OSHA's rule "does not apply to" "bowling alleys, miniature golf courses, mechanical bulls, inflatable rides, trampolines, ball crawls, exercise equipment," (Cal. Code Regs. tit. 8, §344.5). Colorado's statute says "'amusement ride' shall not include inflatable amusement rides." (C.R.S. §8-20-1001); its rules don't apply to "Playground equipment that meets the relevant ASTM standards listed in section 1.4.1 of the U.S." "Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Handbook" (7 CCR 1101-12 §1-4, August 2024) — the handbook's list names F1918, so in Colorado the maker's F1918 statement is the paper that keeps a soft-play frame out of the ride program — and they define a "TRAMPOLINE COURT OR TC" as "A defined area comprising one or more institutional trampolines or a series of institutional trampolines." (7 CCR 1101-12 §1-6, August 2024); the program's own pages refused our reader, so its fee and insurance minimum go unprinted here. A trampoline park is a different and much bigger build with its own rules — Colorado regulates trampoline courts that Texas, Florida and California leave out of their ride laws — and this guide doesn't cover it.

The child-care line — the parent supervises, or you may need a license. Open play where the parent supervises their own child isn't child care on our reading of the five states' rules — New York's definition says so outright, the others by exemption or implication; staff watching children while parents leave can be. Texas exempts a "Program with Parents on the Premises" only where "The program operates in association with a shopping center, business, or other elective activity", "The program does not advertise as a child care operation and informs parents it is not regulated by the state.", "The parent or person responsible for the child attends or engages in the elective activity nearby." and the caregivers can reach the parent "at all times." — capped at "four and one-half hours per day and 12 hours a week." (Texas HHSC, Licensing Policy Handbook §2331, July 2025). Florida goes furthest: ""Drop-in child care" means child care provided occasionally in a child care facility in a shopping mall" "or business establishment where a child is in care for no more than a 4-hour period" "and the parent remains on the premises of the shopping mall or business establishment at all times." — and "Drop-in child care arrangements shall meet all requirements for a child care facility unless specifically exempted." (Fla. Stat. §402.302). New York's line is the definition itself: "Child day care" is care "for less than twenty-four hours per day by someone other than:" "the parent, step-parent, guardian, or relative within the third degree of consanguinity" (N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law §390) — a regular drop-off program is child day care unless an exclusion fits; ask the state's Office of Children and Family Services. California exempts temporary care only where "The services are only provided to parents and guardians who are on the same premises" and "The child daycare program is not operated on the site of a ski facility, shopping mall, department store," (Cal. Health & Safety Code §1596.792) — a play cafe in a mall can't lean on it. Colorado exempts care at a business "during short periods of time while parents" are "shopping, patronizing, or working on the premises", where "'short periods of time' means fewer than three hours in any twenty-four-hour period." (C.R.S. §26.5-5-304). A parents'-night-out or a drop-off class is child care to ask about first — the license itself is its own business, covered in how to start a daycare.

The admission tax — the ticket is taxed in three of the five states. Texas: "Sales tax is due on the sale of an admission to an amusement service" where the service is in Texas, amusement meaning "Entertainment, recreation, sport, pastime, diversion, or enjoyment that is a pleasurable occupation of the senses." — the rule carries its own list of exemptions and of services that aren't amusements, and none of them reads as a for-profit playground's open play (34 Tex. Admin. Code §3.298); the Comptroller's list of amusement services runs to "carnivals, country clubs, amusement parks and other similar events and venues" (Texas Comptroller, Pub. 96-259, January 2026). The rule doesn't name playgrounds or birthday parties, so ask the Comptroller how to split a package that bundles play and food. Florida: admissions include "season pass charges, cover charges, greens fees, participation fees, entrance fees," (Fla. Stat. §212.02), taxed "at the rate of 6 percent of sales price," and "Each ticket must show on its face the actual sales price of the admission," or the price must be posted where it's charged (Fla. Stat. §212.04; Florida DOR, GT-300015) — the open-play fee, the membership and the season pass. New York names the trade: "Examples of taxable admission charges include, but are not limited to, admission charges to:" "museums, zoos, and aquariums;" "play centers for children;" (NYS Tax Department, TB-ST-8). California is the inversion: "separate charges solely for admission or for a ticket to a place furnishing" "entertainment are not subject to tax." (CDTFA, Publication 22, January 2025) — but "Tax applies to sales of food products when sold within, and for consumption within," "a place the entrance to which is subject to an admission charge," (CDTFA, Regulation 1603), so charging at the door can make the cafe's cold drinks and snacks taxable; whether a per-child play fee is an "admission charge" or a charge to use the equipment, ask the CDTFA in writing. Colorado: "Sales of services are generally not subject to Colorado sales tax." (Colorado Department of Revenue, Sales Tax Guide, May 2026), while the cafe's counter is — tax applies "Upon the amount paid for food or drink served or furnished in or by restaurants, cafes, lunch counters," (C.R.S. §39-26-104); home-rule cities set their own tax bases.

The cafe counter — a food permit like any other. Texas: where no city or county permits food, the state does — "$258", "$515" or "$773" by food sales; a business "Inspected and permitted by a City, County or Public Health District;" is exempt from the state's (Texas DSHS, retail food permits). Austin's schedule — "This fee schedule is effective November 1, 2026." — prices "Risk 1C" at "$309", the lowest fee on the schedule, plan review for new construction at "$312" and the "Pre-Opening Inspection" at "$178": $799 in the first year, our arithmetic; a coffee-and-snacks counter's class is the health department's call (Austin Public Health, Permit Fee Schedule, November 2026); "all food employees shall successfully complete an accredited food handler training course, within 30 days of employment." (Texas DSHS, Food Handler FAQ). Florida licenses food service at the state: "$242" for a permanent non-seating counter, "$262" for 1–49 seats (Fla. Admin. Code R. 61C-1.008, 2023); "Managers have a period of 30 days after employment to pass the required test." (Fla. Stat. §509.039) and "Food service employees must receive certification within 60 days after employment." (Fla. Stat. §509.049). New York City: "The permit fee for most food service establishments in New York City is $280.00" (NYC Business, Food Service Establishment Permit); "The online course is free." and "The final exam costs $24 and must be taken in person." (NYC Business, Food Protection Certificate). Los Angeles County: plan check "$1,044.00" for up to 500 square feet, the annual permit "$319.00" at low risk or "$719.00" at moderate — $1,363 to $1,763 in the first year, our arithmetic (LA County Environmental Health, FY 2026-2027 fee schedule); a California food handler "shall obtain a food handler card within 30 days after the date of hire", the course costing "no more than fifteen dollars ($15)" (Cal. Health & Safety Code §113948). Colorado's statute sets "$385" for up to 100 seats, a "$100" plan-review application and a review fee that "shall not exceed five hundred eighty dollars." (C.R.S. §25-4-1607, current through Fall 2025) — the 2026 fees under the state's newer law weren't on a page that opened, so ask your county. The espresso machine and the coffee menu are their own subject — how to start a coffee shop.

The entity, the permit to collect tax, the card fees. Texas: "for filing a certificate of formation, $300;" (Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code §4.152); "There is no fee for the permit, but you may be required to post a security bond." (Texas Comptroller, permit FAQ). Florida: "For filing original articles of organization or articles of revocation of dissolution, $100." plus "$25" for the registered agent and "$50" for each annual report (Fla. Stat. §605.0213). New York: "two hundred dollars" (N.Y. LLC Law §1101) and the notice "published once in each week for six successive weeks, in two newspapers of the county." (N.Y. LLC Law §206); register for sales tax "at least 20 days before you begin business." (NYS Tax Department, TB-ST-360). California: "Seventy dollars ($70)" and "Twenty dollars ($20)," (Cal. Gov. Code §12190), "a minimum franchise tax of eight hundred dollars ($800)." (Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §23153); "Is there a fee charged for a seller's permit?" — "No." (CDTFA). Colorado: "Articles of Organization" "$50.00" (Colorado Secretary of State, fee schedule revised July 1, 2024); the sales-tax license, "a fee of sixteen dollars" "together with an additional fifty-dollar deposit." (C.R.S. §39-26-103). Our arithmetic for the first year's government fees with the cafe permit: $1,099 in Austin, $387 in Florida with seats, $504 in New York City before the newspaper notice, $2,253 in Los Angeles County at low risk, $66 in Colorado plus the $50 deposit before the food license. "You never have to pay a fee for an EIN." (IRS). Cards: "2.6% + 15¢" in person (Square) — $0.64 on a $19 admission and $14.42 on a $549 party, our arithmetic; "Standard card payments are 2.9% + 0.30 USD in the US" (Stripe) — $16.22 on the same party booked online.

The franchise door — almost nothing is printed on the franchisors' own pages. "The Rule requires franchisors to provide all potential franchisees with a disclosure document containing 23 specific items" (FTC, Franchise Rule), handed over "at least 14 calendar-days before the prospective franchisee signs a binding agreement with, or makes any payment to," the franchisor (16 CFR §436.2) — ask for it; the fee and the costs are in it. Romp n' Roll prints its revenue figure above and no fee (Romp n' Roll, 2026). Urban Air: "$1.5M Net Worth (Assets Minus Liabilities) and $750,000 in Liquid Assets are required minimums." (Urban Air, 2026) — the scale of the bigger build. Hyper Kidz, a large indoor playground, as a third-party index reproduces its 2024 disclosure: "the estimated total initial investment for a single Hyper Kidz franchised business ranges from $751,633 to $1,800,333", an "initial franchise fee of $42,500", "leasehold improvements, which ranges from $250,000 to $900,000" and "furniture, fixtures, and equipment ($250,000 to $400,000)" (fdd.ninja, Hyper Kidz 2024 FDD, a third party's copy) — the only printed equipment figure for a big soft-play build found today. Little Land's franchise page now describes a pediatric-therapy clinic in a play-gym setting — a licensed health business of its own, not a play cafe — and prints no fee (Little Land, the franchisor's page, 2026); We Rock the Spectrum's site calls itself "THE GYM FOR ALL KIDS" and prints no franchise figures (We Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym, 2026). The aggregators' fee figures for these brands disagree with each other, so they aren't printed here. This guide explains the rule; read the disclosure document with a franchise lawyer before you sign.

The equipment, at the makers' and dealers' own prices — and the one price nobody prints. No US soft-play maker printed a price for a commercial structure on a page that opened today; makers quote per project. What the vendors say instead, as theirs: "Startup costs typically range from $50,000 to $500,000" and "Most indoor playgrounds need at least 5,000–20,000+ square feet" (ROLLER, a booking-software vendor, June 17, 2026); "On average, costs range from $50,000 to $500,000." — the same range, word for word (Dreamland, a maker's blog, updated 2026); "A small playground (1,000 to 3,000 square feet) needs about $100,000 or more.", "$30–$150" a square foot, and to "Can I start with $50k?" — "No—this only works for small pop-ups" (Zhejiang Nannan, an overseas maker, May 5, 2026); a US maker calls its small-footprint structures "a budget-friendly option that doesn't require a lot of space." with no price (softplay.com, August 10, 2022). The pretend-play street: Little People's Cove's "Town Collection - Library, Cafe and Market Playhouse Set" at "$3,564.00" on sale, the "Town Collection Café Playhouse" "$1,336.50", the "Town Collection Library Playhouse" "$1,262.25", and a fire station, a post office and an animal hospital at "$2,489.85" each — our six-front street is $11,033.55 before freight; the listing marks its prices as including sales tax while its page data says without, so ask for a quote (Little People's Cove, playhouses). The toddler corner: a foam climber at "$618.75" on sale (Little People's Cove, Activity Play Zone), a foam ball pit with "130 polyethylene balls" at "$1,311.75" (Little People's Cove, ball pit), a "Children's Factory® Ladybug Climber" at "$999.99" and a folding gym mat at "$476.99" (Discount School Supply) — $2,930.49 for the climber, the pit and the ladybug, our arithmetic. The floor: "Indoor Playground Foam Tiles" "Approximate Cost: $3 per sq. ft." — "rated for a 4-foot fall height" (Greatmats, September 2024); general foam tiles "about $1.75 per square foot" for the cafe and toddler areas (Greatmats, May 2026) — 1,200 square feet of play floor at $3 is $3,600, our arithmetic; ask the seller for the ASTM F1292 report behind a fall-height claim. The fittings (WebstaurantStore, shoe racks; cubbies; changing stations; high chairs; folding tables; table-and-chair sets; sprayers; wipes): a shoe display at "$65.99", a three-shelf cubby unit at "$266.99", a wall-mounted changing station at "$129.99", a high chair at "$46.99", a 30" x 72" folding table at "$48.49" or a table-and-eight-chair set at "$238.49", a handheld sprayer at "$12.99" and a case of disinfecting wipes at "$31.99" — $1,302.88 for the play cafe's set, our arithmetic; no dealer page listed a fogger or a UV wand today. Check-in and booking software: ROLLER prints plans but "Contact sales." and no price (ROLLER, pricing); one waiver-software maker's plans start at "$19/mo" (WaiverForever, pricing). Owners and insurers commonly use a signed waiver; have a lawyer write yours — this guide prints none. The room: "national asking rents reaching $25.82 per square foot (psf)" (Cushman & Wakefield, shopping centers, Q3 2026) — $5,379.17 a month for 2,500 square feet and $21,516.67 for 10,000, our arithmetic; the industrial survey prints "The national industrial vacancy rate fell 20 basis points (bps) from year-end 2025 to 6.8%," but no asking rent (Cushman & Wakefield, industrial, Q3 2026) — a warehouse is cheaper by the foot, and usually a change of use to assembly. The policy: "General liability: $45 per month", "Business owner's policy: $83 per month", "Workers' compensation: $54 per month" — Insureon's averages, method not stated; a policy plus workers' comp is $137 a month, $1,644 a year, our arithmetic (Insureon, Indoor Playground Insurance, 2026). A Texas bounce house adds its own $1,000,000 policy.

The door — what real playgrounds charge. Indigo Play in Austin: "6 - 23 months" $13 and "2 - 17 years" $19 all day, "18 years & Older" $3, a "Monthly Pass" at $70 a child "with 2 free adults" or $60 on auto-pay, and "Socks required" — "Please note we do not allow shoes or bare feet past the gates – for anyone!" (Indigo Play, 2026). My Village Playhouse in Raynham, Massachusetts: "Single Child (crawling and up): $20" and "One adult included with each child admission." (My Village Playhouse, session play); "One Child: $78/month" — "Unlimited play for 1 child. Includes 2 adults." — and "Two Siblings: $148/month" (My Village Playhouse, membership); a party at "$549" — "Set up and admission for 10 children is included." and "2 hrs of Party and shared Play time for up to 10 children" — or "$699" for the "Deluxe Décor Party" (My Village Playhouse, birthday parties). Little Beans Play Café in Lincoln, Nebraska: "We charge $12 plus tax per child, beginning at 6 months to 5 years old.", "One adult is always FREE during open-play hours!", "we have non-slip socks for $3, available in all sizes." and "We have a strict capacity at 25 total people." (Little Beans Play Café, FAQ). Liberty PlayTown in Spring Lake, North Carolina: "$15.75 for ages 0-7.", "$5 for each additional child after one full priced admission." and socks at "$2 a pair." (Liberty PlayTown, open play). Play N' Learn in Chantilly, Virginia: "$10 per child (12 months and up)" and "NO, PARENTS MUST STAY WITH THE KIDS. ADULT SUPERVISION IS REQUIRED." — the parent-on-premises model in one line (Play N' Learn, Chantilly). A Tampa parenting magazine lists "$15.95 weekday drop-ins (all-day)" at one play cafe and "$20-22 for 90-minute sessions" at another (Tampa Bay Parenting, November 2025, updated March 2026). So open play runs $10 to $20 a child on the five playgrounds' own pages, grown-ups go free or pay $3 to $5, and an unlimited month for one child is $60 to $78.

In the UK: "Businesses have to register for VAT if their VAT taxable turnover is more than £90,000." (GOV.UK); admission to soft play is standard-rated at 20% again — a temporary 5% rate for soft-play venues, indoor bounce parks and indoor play facilities ran only "from 25 June 2026 to 1 September 2026 (inclusive)." (HMRC, Revenue and Customs Brief 5 (2026), July 2026), and the cultural exemption covers "Only admission charges to museums, galleries, art exhibitions and zoos" and cultural performances, not play (GOV.UK, VAT Notice 701/47, June 2026); "Health and safety law applies to the supply, hire and use of inflatables for commercial purposes." — with "a numbered PIPA tag or an ADIPs declaration of compliance (DoC)" and "an annual inspection" "by a competent person." (HSE, Inflatables, June 2026); soft-play equipment and the surfacing under it go to the British standards BS EN 1176 and BS EN 1177; and the cafe must "register at least 28 days before trading." (GOV.UK, Register a food business). In Australia: "It's free to register for an ABN" (business.gov.au); register for GST at "a GST turnover of $75,000 or more" (business.gov.au); in New South Wales, devices that don't need registration include "inflatable devices, other than inflatable devices (continuously blown) with a platform height of 3 meters or more" (SafeWork NSW, Amusement devices); the play-equipment standard is AS 4685; and "You need to notify your local council if your business sells or serves food directly to consumers." (Service NSW, 2024). Whether admission is GST-free wasn't on a page that opened — ask the ATO. Fees, thresholds, the ride rules and what is taxed change every year — confirm your own state's rule with your accountant before the first ticket, and check your local building department and health department before you sign a lease.