What Is My Bowling Alley Worth?

Bowling alleys have evolved from pure bowling venues to entertainment destinations. Modern concepts combining bowling with food, bars, arcades, and events command significantly higher valuations than traditional lane-only operations.

Typical Valuation Ranges

Most bowling alleys sell for 3x to 5x SDE. Real estate is often a major component of total value.

Factors that push toward the higher end:

• Strong food and beverage program (30%+ of revenue)
• Active league program providing weeknight base revenue
• Modern entertainment additions (arcade, laser tag, event space)
• Owned real estate
• Revenue above $1M
• Lane modernization (automatic scoring, cosmic bowling)
• Private event and party revenue

Factors that push toward the lower end:

• Bowling-only without food/beverage
• Aging lanes and equipment
• Declining league participation
• Leased facility with high rent
• Weekend-only traffic
• Deferred maintenance on building

Key Value Drivers

League revenue provides weeknight base-loading — guaranteed, recurring revenue during otherwise slow periods. A strong league program is worth significant value.

Food and beverage margins far exceed bowling revenue margins. Modern bowling venues generate 30–50% of revenue from food and drink.

Real estate — bowling alleys sit on large parcels. The real estate value may exceed the business value in strong markets.

How to Increase Your Value

1. Build food and beverage. Full bar, kitchen, and dining area dramatically improve per-visit revenue.
2. Grow leagues. Youth, adult, corporate, and specialty leagues fill weeknight lanes.
3. Add entertainment. Arcades, VR, laser tag, and event packages attract families and groups.
4. Modernize lanes. Cosmic bowling, updated scoring, and comfortable seating improve the experience.
5. Build event revenue. Birthday parties, corporate events, and private bookings at premium rates.

Browse the valuation multiples guide for industry data, or schedule a free call for a confidential valuation.