Key Takeaways
- An FEC ROI calculator turns machine, fit-out and systems CAPEX into a concrete payback month count.
- Results are illustrative — real payback depends on your local revenue per seat, rent and labor.
- Use the estimate to pre-scope an equipment mix, then request a configured quote.
Illustrative estimates based on operator-provided inputs. Actual results depend on market conditions, player behavior, and regulatory requirements. Licensing and compliance in your market are your responsibility — confirm your local rules.
How This Calculator Works
This tool models a venue-level payback: your total investment — machines, fit-out and systems, plus a contingency buffer — divided by your monthly net operating income. It is built for operators and investors scoping an FEC, arcade or game room, and it runs entirely in your browser on figures you supply. Nothing here is a promise of return; it is a planning estimate.
The model follows the same framework as our FEC cost & profit model guide: CAPEX in three buckets plus contingency, revenue built from seats upward, and OPEX as a monthly drain. Read that guide if you want the reasoning; stay here if you want the numbers.
The Formula
total_capex = (equipment + fit_out + systems) × (1 + contingency%)
monthly_gross = revenue_per_seat_per_day × seats × operating_days
monthly_net = monthly_gross − monthly_opex
payback_months = total_capex / monthly_net
annual_roi% = (monthly_net × 12) / total_capex × 100
Revenue per seat per day is the one input you must source yourself — from a pilot venue, a comparable location, or a deliberately conservative estimate for your market. Do not borrow someone else's figure.
A Worked Example
Picture a mid-size venue plan (illustrative, not a specific project): $120,000 of equipment, $80,000 of fit-out and systems, 12% contingency, 60 play seats, $18 revenue per seat per day, 30 operating days, $22,000 monthly OPEX.
- Total CAPEX = ($120,000 + $80,000) × 1.12 = $224,000
- Monthly gross = $18 × 60 × 30 = $32,400
- Monthly net = $32,400 − $22,000 = $10,400
- Payback = $224,000 ÷ $10,400 ≈ 22 months
- Annual ROI ≈ 56% before taxes and financing
That is a healthy but plausible plan. Push the inputs around — drop revenue per seat to $14, or raise rent — and watch how fast the payback month count moves. Stress-testing the pessimistic case is the real value of the tool.
Reading the Result
- Under 18 months — a strong plan on paper; double-check that your revenue input is not optimistic.
- 18–36 months — the window operators commonly use when planning a new venue.
- Over 36 months — revisit the equipment mix, the seat count or the site before committing.
These bands are planning heuristics, not industry law. Local rules on machine types, redemption and prizes can change both your revenue line and your cost line — confirm your local rules as part of your feasibility work.
Related Products & Next Steps
- FEC solution — equipment mix and floor planning for family entertainment centers
- Fish game machines — the revenue anchor of most FEC floors
- Arcade profit calculator — machine-level profit across a mixed floor
- FEC layout planner — turn the plan into a physical layout
- Break-even calculator — the month a deployment turns profitable
When the numbers hold up, request a configured quote and we will scope the equipment side — machines, boards, code and documentation.
Entity context
- Tool: FEC ROI Calculator: Arcade & Game Room Payback | GOLDPRIME — a business application by GOLDPRIME GAME, a licensed-market gaming machine manufacturer.
- Part of GOLDPRIME's gaming operations toolkit; pairs with the FEC solution and the FEC cost & profit model guide for venue-level planning.
- Industry standard: GLI / BMM certification for gaming machine math and RNG (per market, per order).
- Related: FEC Solution
- Related: FEC Cost & Profit Model
- Related: Arcade Profit Calculator
- Related: Instant Quote
References & standards
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good payback period for an FEC?
Operators commonly plan around an 18–36 month payback window for a new family entertainment center, with under 18 months considered strong. Treat these as planning heuristics, not promises — your local rent, labor and player spend decide the real number.
Is the ROI figure a guarantee?
No. Every output is an illustrative estimate from the figures you enter. Actual performance depends on location, traffic, pricing, taxes and local requirements. Verify your model with a qualified accountant before committing capital — this tool is not financial advice.
Can I use it for an arcade or game room instead of a full FEC?
Yes. The math is venue-agnostic: any seat-based or machine-based amusement business can plug in its own equipment cost, revenue per seat and monthly operating cost. Smaller game rooms simply use smaller inputs.
Who handles permits and local compliance for the venue?
You do, with your local advisors. GOLDPRIME GAME is an equipment and software supplier — machines, boards, code and documentation. Licensing and compliance in your market are your responsibility, so confirm your local rules before you finalize a floor plan.
Do you supply the machines this calculator models?
Yes. We manufacture fish game machines, slot and skill game cabinets, redemption machines and the platform stack behind them, with OEM/ODM customization. Use the estimate to size your mix, then request a configured quote.
Does the calculator send my numbers anywhere?
No. The math runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you enter is transmitted or stored.