Mystery Game Store

How Profitable Is A Mystery Game Store? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

How Profitable Is A Mystery Game Store? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start a mystery game store?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are mystery game stores actually profitable?”

With a market size of $159B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a mystery game store with as low as $1,000
Based on our data, mystery game stores generate an average of $15.5M per year
You could see gross margins as high as 23% with mystery game stores

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a mystery game store.

Let’s dive in!

Is a mystery game store profitable?

Yes, a mystery game store is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $15.5M per year with an estimated gross margin of 43%, you could expect to recover your investment within 9 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your mystery game store.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your mystery game store is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is a mystery game store worth it?

If you’re wondering if a mystery game store is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With mystery game stores, you have the potential to earn $15.5M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $159B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a mystery game store to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful mystery game stores case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Mystery Game Stores

Here are a few examples of profitable mystery game stores, and a few more details about them:

1. Crimibox ($1.02M/year)

Jimmy, the founder of Crimibox, came up with the idea for his business while working in criminal investigations for the Federal Police in Belgium. Seeing that most cases are now solved at the detective's desk instead of out in the field, he decided to create fictional murder cases for people to solve using a police file and online media. With over 4,000 Crimiboxes sold and a monthly revenue of more than $8,000, the business has reached aspiring detectives who love escaping from escape rooms.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $1.02M/year

$8K Per Month Side Project Helping People Solve Murder Cases

Belgian-based Crimibox has sold over 4,000 crime-solving games with monthly revenue of $8,000 and a retention rate above 38%, featuring real-life police files, an accompanying app, and a host of fictional suspects.

Read this case study

Read by 11,238 founders

2. Gameray ($1.02M/year)

As a project manager at a major CIS online store, Mikhail Tsyrulnikov noticed physical logistics hampering sales. Combining his e-commerce acumen and passion for gaming, he launched Gameray—a digital game distribution platform—with an MVP built in 2.5 months, driving over 3 million euros in annual turnover.

Is it profitable? Yes
What's the gross margin? 23%
How much money it makes: $1.02M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K

My Gaming Distribution Business Makes $1M/Year

Discover how an aspiring founder turned a $30,000 investment into a profitable digital game distribution platform with an annual turnover of 3 million euros, leveraging key partnerships and innovative marketing strategies to attract 50,000 monthly users.

Read this case study

Read by 792 founders

Learn more about starting a mystery game store:

Where to start?

-> Mystery game store plan
-> How to finance a mystery game store?
-> How much does it cost to start a mystery game store?
-> Pros and cons of a mystery game store

Need inspiration?

-> Other mystery game store success stories
-> Marketing ideas for a mystery game store
-> Mystery game store slogans
-> Mystery game store names

Other resources

-> Mystery game store tips

How much can you make with a mystery game store?

With a mystery game store, you can make an average of $15.5M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $1,000. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 9 months.

How much does a mystery game store make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a mystery game store ranges around $323K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $1.29M.

To know if your mystery game store achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your mystery game store.

How much do mystery game stores owners make?

The income of a mystery game store owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established mystery game store is about $323K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as a mystery game store owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Mystery Game Store Profit Margins

Generally speaking, a mystery game store can expect profit margin of around 43%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of a mystery game store, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, mystery game store owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, mystery game store owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Mystery game store owner salary

The salary of a mystery game store owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established mystery game store, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $139K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a mystery game store may be a promising business to start - but the success of your mystery game store mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable mystery game store.

Part of

Starting A Mystery Game Store: Everything You Need To Know

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