How to Start a Corn Maze Business

Part 1 - How to start a Corn Maze business - Background

A corn maze is a large labyrinth made entirely from corn stalks. Customers pay an entrance fee for the challenge of making their way through. Corn mazes take place in the fall after the harvest but before the plants go dormant for the winter. Corn mazes are often depicted as scary, but many maze operators will design their corn maze for people of all ages.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Corn Maze business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a corn maze business?

Owners should account for the following expenses:

• Crop planting/maintenance

• Employee salaries

• Registration fees/permits

• Office supplies

• Marketing

• Commercial insurance

The exact costs for an owner will depend on where they live and how far they want their marketing campaign to reach. Some sources put starting a corn maze from scratch at around $3,000 to $4,000.

What are the ongoing expenses for a corn maze business?

Owners will need to budget for insurance, staff salaries, and maze maintenance. This includes repairing or replacing equipment, yearly registration fees, and planting new seeds.

Who is the target market?

The target market can be anyone looking for something fun and different to try. Families may want to come with their children, or teenagers may come with a group of friends.

How does a corn maze business make money?

A corn maze business will charge people to enter the maze based on operation costs, or they may charge a flat fee for private parties. Owners may also sell food and drinks to customers to supplement their income.

How much can you charge customers?

The average cost for tickets is typically around $7 to $10 for adults (13 and up) and $5 to $7 for kids. Children under two are free.

How much profit can a corn maze business make?

Profits for a corn business will depend on how you structure your pricing. However, a private party that charges $15 a head can easily generate 50% profit margins or more. Because the maze has already been constructed, the party may just need a few employees and concessions to operate.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Consider selling related crops to your customers in addition to prepared concessions. For example, you can set up a pumpkin patch on the property or a display of various fall squashes. These extras make the maze that much more versatile. People can take their kids and then pick up a few local specialties to make dinner the next day.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a corn maze business?

Owners will spend their time constructing and maintaining the maze, working with customers, and managing staff. They should also budget time for negotiating an insurance policy and marketing their business.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful corn maze business?

Ideally, you’ll have some experience working on a farm, but it’s not required. Much of what you need can be found online, so you really just need a can-do attitude to make it happen. If you already own a large piece of land, you can designate a space to plant the corn for the maze. If not, you’ll need to rent land, construct the maze, and then plant seeds.

What is the growth potential for a corn maze business?

Owners have an opportunity to get the majority of the community involved, especially if their maze is satisfying enough to spark plenty of word-of-mouth advertisements. However, corn mazes are limited by distance in that people will only travel so far to attend. Owners should assess the demographics and population of their community before determining if they should move forward.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a corn maze business?

The corn maze should be thick enough that people are genuinely unsure of where to go next. If people can clearly see the exits, it encourages people to take shortcuts to the end, which can ultimately destroy the crops. You can use other designs for inspiration for your maze, but add your own personal spin to make it special. Consider paying homage to your community. For example, you may want to make the center of the maze the shape of the first letter of the town or the symbol of a local sports team.

When it comes to the type of corn you’ll use, you want a crop that can hold up to drought. If your maize maze withers halfway through, your sales will plummet. Seeds like Oaxacan Green Dent or Hopi Blue hold up well against drought. Plant corn in both directions to encourage resistance during windstorms. If they’re planted perpendicularly, they’re more likely to remain standing and less likely to pave the way for impatient maze solvers.

Try to make the maze as versatile as possible. For example, making the maze family-friendly during daylight hours before transitioning to a haunted attraction, complete with fake chainsaws and terrifying jump-scares. Kids can attend during the day while teenagers can return at night for the thrill of a lifetime. You can also rent out the maze for private parties. For example, a child’s birthday celebration or a retirement party. You can even market the maze as a professional event. Employees of an organization can team-build by working together to solve the puzzle.

Finally, your maze should be as safe as possible. Your insurance should cover any potential accidents or injuries people may have in the maze, but you should also be regularly monitoring the maze for hazards. From rocks to holes, there are plenty of ways for people to accidentally harm themselves. Some people may even panic because they begin to feel trapped. Your employees should know the maze by heart in case they need to quickly evacuate someone.

How and when to build a team

You’ll need employees who can take tickets and help manage the maze. Employees will need to be friendly, calm under pressure, and able to memorize the many twists and turns of the maze. They should feel comfortable working with people of all age groups.

Part 2 - Is a Corn Maze business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Corn Maze business in 90 days