How Much Money Can You Make Renting out a Home Golf Simulator?

If you’re thinking about renting out a home golf simulator (or other recreation space), you may be wondering whether it’s worth it. What you can expect to make in terms of revenue and profit, of course, depends on several key factors. We break down some things to consider below, and walk through a few scenarios to give you a realistic look at potential earnings. 

Preferences Can Vary

Demand for indoor golf is on the rise. According to a recent market study, increased demand for golf simulators is driven by a number of factors, “including the convenience and accessibility of indoor golfing, as well as the advancements in technology that have made golf simulators more realistic and immersive than ever before.” What’s more, simulator golf can be less expensive, less time-consuming, and ideal for lessons. If you’re considering hosting, take note of how your space stacks up against other options in your area. This might include: facilities with simulators, commercial simulator bars and golf lounges, and other residential spaces like yours. Also consider the quality of your setup, including your technology, space, and the look and feel of the experiences guests will have in your space. 

Keep in mind that there are a number of reasons a person may be looking for a space like yours, as opposed to a public experience at a golf facility or commercial business with numerous sim bays. A player might be recovering from an injury, picking up the sport again after a long hiatus, or looking for a space that works well for an individual lesson. Players also care about location, are sometimes looking for a specific type, brand, or model of equipment, or availability outside peak times or open business hours for some commercial spaces. 

Factors to Consider

When trying to determine how much money you might be able to earn from renting your golf simulator, consider how your space stacks up from a demand standpoint. Then calculate some loose numbers based on the pricepoint you land on and how often your space will be booked. 

Consider, first, a scenario in which you have substantial availability. Perhaps your space has a keypad entry or you work from home and can accommodate a very open calendar when it comes to availability. Let’s say your space is listed at $40 per hour and you are able to secure roughly 21 hours of bookings each week (that is, 13 or so one-and-a-half hour bookings or 21 one-hour bookings). After payment processing and other fees (which go toward insurance, marketing, other RecDay platform support), your RecDay listing brings in well over $30,000 per year in passive income after processing and other fees. With more bookings or a higher rate, your space could certainly earn more. 

A golf simulator space listed at $40 per hour that receives 20 bookings each week on average can expect to bring in well over $30,000 per year in passive income after processing and other fees.

Let’s say you live in an area with a great golf scene, but harsh winters. This allows you to capitalize on the high demand season. You intend to only list your home golf simulator for bookings from October through March. With a consistent 30 bookings per week at $40 per hour, you can expect to bring in around $23,000 per year after processing and other fees–even with only six months of availability!

Let’s look at a more conservative estimate. Say you expect to have less availability and intend to price your space at a lower pricepoint. You expect 10 bookings each week at $30 per hour. After processing and other fees, you can expect to bring in around $12,000 in additional income over the course of the year.

Keep in mind that RecDay does not charge listings fees. In fact, we make money when your space is successfully booked and rented–assessing a small Platform Fee that helps us cover costs like insurance, marketing, and technology/service costs. That means you can experiment with things like price points, availability, and amenities to see what works for your income goals, setup, and lifestyle. And, there’s no pressure. Create, modify, pause, or stop your listing whenever you need to without incurring fees or hassle.

Other Advantages to Renting Your Golf Simulator

Keep in mind that there are other benefits to renting out your space. Hosting a space can be a great way to meet people and network with people in your area who share your interests. Like other short-term rental platforms for homes and vacation properties, RecDay hosts can also take advantage of tax deductions. This might include costs for things like equipment, platform fees, business expenses like office and cleaning supplies, and potentially depreciation. Note that were here at RecDay are not tax professionals and certainly are not privy to your personal tax and financial information–so it’s important to consult a tax professional regarding your individual financials with all tax-related questions. 

Get Started

When you’re ready to list your space, RecDay makes it easy. We provide an online platform and community of hosts and guests specifically for short-term, private recreation spaces. You create and manage your listing, a landing page that showcases your unique space and everything it has to offer. Worried about risk, damage, or accidents? Our Host Protection Guarantee provides insurance and coverage, including liability and damage protection. Plus the platform streamlines calendar availability, bookings, payment, and reporting–so everything stays secure and all your records are easily accessible. 

Ready to get started on your golf simulator listing? Follow the link below. Have questions or need a hand? Reach the RecDay Customer Success team directly at info@recday.com.