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This Business Runs Itself
← Business
Chris Koerner on The Koerner Office Podcast

This Business Runs Itself

3 min read3 May 2026Worth watching
TL;DR
Jay Meldrum quit corporate America and opened a single-bay private golf simulator membership business called Swing Cave Golf. Six months in, it broke even in 3 months, runs at ~50% net profit margins, and is nearly at max capacity of 40 members with almost zero marketing.
Key points
1
Swing Cave Golf reached break-even at 15 members within 3 months of opening in September, and now has 28 members at ~$250 average monthly revenue per member, generating roughly $7,000/month in revenue
2
Total startup cost was ~$100K for equipment and buildout, with a projected ~2-year payback period and 50-55% net profit margins at full capacity of 40 members (~$100K/year revenue)
3
The business is nearly fully automated: 24/7 keyless door access, scheduling software at $40/month, and a $100/year software subscription are the main tech costs with no full-time staff required
4
Three membership tiers are offered: PAR at $175/month (4 visits), Birdie at $275/month (8 visits), and Eagle unlimited at $325/month, plus punch card options added recently
5
Jay negotiated a favorable lease by stepping into a vacated vape shop space at 15% below market rate, and secured a no-rent clause until the business officially opened, significantly reducing early-stage risk
Actionable insights
→
Validate demand before spending on marketing: Jay got 5 personal contacts to commit first, used one as a beta tester for feedback, and reached break-even purely through word of mouth before spending on any advertising
→
Target under-utilized assets as your business concept: home golf simulators sit unused 23 hours a day, making a shared membership model economically superior for both owner and customer
→
Negotiate lease terms aggressively: securing a no-rent-until-open clause and leasehold improvement allowances can meaningfully reduce upfront risk and extend your runway during buildout
→
Cap membership at 40 per single bay regardless of facility size, and use scheduling friction as a signal to open a second location rather than overselling and driving churn
→
Use the first location as a no-marketing learning experiment, then compress the timeline aggressively on the second location with a grand opening and paid marketing to benchmark true growth potential
Notable quotes

“This business right here is six months old. It was at break even within 3 months. It makes 50% net profit margin and they have never lost a customer.”

“There is very little maintenance. It is a 247 door access. I love the fact that I do not have to worry about it or do anything.”

“There is 100,000 people within 5 miles of us right now and you need 40 of them.”

Worth watching?
✅
Worth watching the full video?
Watch if you want the tone and energy of Jay telling his story firsthand, but all the key numbers, strategy, and lessons are captured here.
Topics
BusinessFinance

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