Last week on the Smart Business Strategies podcast, we sat down with Chris King, CEO, partner, and multi-unit franchisee of Monster Mini Golf—a 21-year legacy brand in the family entertainment space.
From Operator to Owner: A Franchisee-Led Brand
Chris has been in franchising for nearly three decades, first helping grow My Gym from ~40 locations to 360 across 32 countries. Eventually, he wanted more ownership, more leadership, and more say in the strategic direction. That led him to Monster Mini Golf, then a 17-unit brand needing systems, polish, and scale.
He came in as COO, then became a franchisee himself, opening three locations in Charlotte, NC. His wife runs their local stores so he can stay focused on leading the brand—an intentional division of labor that creates both profit and lifestyle.
In 2022, the founders decided to retire. Instead of selling to private equity, they handpicked four experienced, multi-unit franchisees—including Chris—to buy the brand and carry the legacy forward. Today, every partner on the leadership team is also a multi-unit Monster Mini Golf franchisee.
For an investor, that matters. These are not suit-and-tie executives far from the field. They’re owner-operators making decisions with P&Ls, culture, and franchisees in mind—because they are franchisees.
Owner Role: On the Business, In the Business, or Both
One of the most attractive aspects for executives considering a lifestyle shift is flexibility.
At Monster Mini Golf:
You can be heavily involved in the early months—learning the business, shaping culture, and building a strong leadership team.
Over time, with a strong general manager and shift supervisors, you can step back from daily operations and focus on:
Community partnerships
School and nonprofit relationships
Business development and local brand building
Chris shared that his wife spent the first four months deeply in the business. Now, with three locations, she spends roughly six hours a week inside the buildings—mostly in focused meetings with store managers—while still keeping her thumb on the pulse.
That’s the kind of model that appeals to high-performing professionals who want strong cash flow without creating another full-time job.
Labor Model: Big Space, Lean Team
Typical Monster Mini Golf locations run 10,000–12,000 square feet, but they’re designed with direct lines of sight so you can operate more efficiently than a massive entertainment center.
On a slow day, a location can run with just two people on the floor.
On a typical week:
1 General Manager – runs the ship, reports to the owner
2–3 Shift Supervisors – trusted leaders for open/close, training, and cash handling
9–10 Part-Time Team Members – primarily high school and college students
Even when labor increases for birthday parties and events, the beauty is that those hours are baked into pre-booked, pre-paid revenue. The events don’t wreck your labor model; they enhance your top line.
For a numbers-driven investor, that combination—manageable headcount with leveraged peak revenue—is a compelling part of the value proposition.
Who Thrives in This Brand?
You don’t need a background in family entertainment. Monster Mini Golf franchisees come from:
Corporate retail
Finance
Tech (including companies like Amazon)
Other executive and leadership roles
What you do need:
Solid leadership skills
A willingness to lead young teams (high school and college age)
A desire to create in-person, phone-down experiences for families
This is a brand that values human connection over screens. Owners who love culture, coaching, and building a local “third place” tend to thrive.
Smart Business Strategy: Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin
When asked for one core strategy behind Monster Mini Golf’s success, Chris didn’t talk about chasing trends. Instead, he talked about discipline:
Stay confident in a model that works.
Avoid shiny-object syndrome in an industry full of fads.
Double down on guest experience, operational discipline, and a simple labor model.
Mini golf has been around for over 100 years and has always been a profitable family activity—even as a seasonal outdoor business. Monster Mini Golf simply brought it indoors, under black lights, with immersive theming, and kept the core of what made the game timeless.
That’s a lesson for any executive investor: you don’t have to invent the next fad—you can own a modern, proven version of a timeless experience.
🎥 Watch Last Week’s Replay
If you missed it live, you can still catch every insight.
If you’d like to explore whether Monster Mini Golf—or another franchise—fits your financial goals and lifestyle vision, reply to this email or book a call.
