Game developers can enter the industry as testers.
As you begin to think about starting your own gaming franchise, you need to consider what kind of business in the gaming industry you are really interested in starting. If you want to be on the retail side of the industry, you should consider one of the few big game outlets and contact the company for more information on the franchise. You could also consider starting a gaming franchise that is still customer-based, but not as retail-oriented, such as a gaming cafe, arcade, or similar business.
In some jurisdictions, it is common to find gambling establishments that serve beer.
The reality of video game retail is that it is predominantly controlled by a few large companies. Major electronics stores and big box retailers often carry video games, and many people shop at these places for convenience and ease of access. There are only a few video game specialty retailers left that you could choose from to start a game franchise. Of these, GameStop®, the largest video game specialty retailer in the United States, does not offer franchise opportunities, opening only flagship stores nationwide.
Fortunately, there are still some game franchise opportunities available for those who are interested. Examples like Game On® and Play N Trade® are among the fastest growing and may be the most viable as they offer different approaches and setups from other competitors. If you are interested in starting a game franchise through them, please contact them for more information. However, you should know that the startup capital required to start this type of business can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You could also consider a different type of game franchise, such as an arcade or game cafe that offers games as a service rather than focusing primarily on sales. While traditional arcades may not be as popular as they once were, newer forms of gaming and social arcades offer new and unique opportunities to start a gaming franchise. These types of businesses seek to establish physical locations where members of the ever-growing gaming community can gather, relax, and play.
Gaming cafes are places where gamers can meet and play games via computers and game consoles, sometimes on their own computers and sometimes on company-provided machines, while enjoying the atmosphere and services of the cafe. This can often include food and drink, as well as possible membership fees for increased access to bandwidth or preferred services. Some venues have even set up businesses often called “barcades,” in which traditional games and entertainment are combined with alcoholic beverages being served, to provide a distinct gaming environment for adults. You might seriously consider opening a game franchise in one of these types of businesses if the typical sales and retail job doesn’t appeal to you.