2013
50
$150,000
$45,000
$400,000
No
Escape Hunt is one of the world’s most recognized escape room entertainment franchises, offering immersive, story-driven adventures that attract families, friends, and corporate groups alike. Designed to challenge the mind and create unforgettable shared experiences, Escape Hunt combines the thrill of problem-solving with high-quality entertainment — making it one of the fastest-growing leisure franchises globally.
Founded with a vision to redefine interactive entertainment, Escape Hunt has built a reputation for innovation, creativity, and consistency in customer experience. Each location offers unique, themed escape rooms inspired by mystery, adventure, and suspense. With growing demand for experiential entertainment and team-building activities across the USA, Escape Hunt stands at the forefront of this booming industry.
This franchise provides entrepreneurs with a turnkey model that blends low overheads, strong margins, and high customer satisfaction rates — all under a trusted global brand.
Investing in an Escape Hunt franchise means joining an internationally recognized brand that has perfected the art of immersive entertainment. Escape rooms are one of the fastest-growing segments of the leisure market, attracting millennials, families, tourists, and corporate clients seeking unique, social experiences.
Escape Hunt stands out due to its globally tested business model, diverse revenue streams, and continuous innovation in game design and digital experiences. Franchisees benefit from corporate partnerships, repeat customer programs, and strong marketing support that help maintain steady foot traffic year-round.
With strong brand recognition and over a decade of success, Escape Hunt offers an ideal balance of creativity, scalability, and profitability for those looking to invest in a future-proof business concept.
Escape Hunt was founded in 2013 in Bangkok, Thailand by entrepreneur Paul Bart, who envisioned creating a premium, story-driven escape room experience that would captivate audiences worldwide. What started as a single location offering immersive puzzle-solving adventures quickly evolved into a global entertainment franchise with a strong reputation for innovation, creativity, and guest satisfaction.
Recognizing the growing global demand for interactive entertainment, Escape Hunt expanded rapidly through franchising. By combining intricate storytelling, immersive room designs, and high-quality production, the brand redefined the escape room industry and positioned itself as a market leader.
In 2017, Escape Hunt became part of the Private Media Group plc, a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange (AIM). This partnership provided significant capital and strategic resources to support the brand’s worldwide growth, ensuring franchise partners benefit from an established and trusted corporate foundation.
Today, Escape Hunt operates 50+ franchise units across 25+ countries, including a growing number in the United States, where the brand continues to target high-traffic metropolitan areas, tourist destinations, and entertainment hubs.
Each Escape Hunt location offers a variety of themed rooms — from mystery and adventure to historical and sci-fi — tailored to local markets while maintaining global quality standards. The company’s innovation also extends to digital escape games, virtual team-building solutions, and corporate events, diversifying revenue streams and keeping the brand relevant in an evolving entertainment landscape.
Industry Category: Leisure, Entertainment, Experiential Retail
Founded: 2013
Founder: Paul Bart
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Parent Company: Private Media Group plc
Franchise Units (2025): 50+ Worldwide (10+ in USA)
Escape Hunt’s commitment to storytelling, quality, and memorable guest experiences has made it one of the most respected names in the global escape room and immersive entertainment franchise sector.
Escape Hunt ensures that every franchisee is set up for success through comprehensive support and structured training programs.
Pre-Launch Support:
Detailed location analysis, site selection, and layout guidance.
Assistance with design, décor, and room setup to meet Escape Hunt’s global brand standards.
Vendor and equipment sourcing to ensure consistency and quality across all locations.
Training:
Initial training covering operations, customer service, and safety standards.
Game master and staff training to deliver the ultimate guest experience.
Marketing and local outreach strategies to ensure strong community engagement from day one.
Ongoing Support:
Continuous updates on new escape game designs and digital content.
Operational audits, marketing refreshers, and technology upgrades.
Access to a franchisee portal for ongoing support, marketing resources, and data analysis tools.
The brand’s commitment to innovation ensures that franchisees always have access to new storylines, puzzles, and event ideas to keep players returning.
The Escape Hunt franchise attracts entrepreneurs who are passionate about entertainment, creativity, and customer engagement. The ideal franchisee is someone who thrives on creating memorable experiences, enjoys problem-solving, and understands the value of immersive, social entertainment.
Escape Hunt franchise partners are not just business owners — they are experience curators who bring people together through teamwork, curiosity, and adventure. Whether hosting families, corporate team-building events, or tourists, successful franchisees are enthusiastic about delivering moments of excitement and accomplishment for their guests.
Key Characteristics of an Ideal Escape Hunt Franchisee:
Entrepreneurial Mindset: A forward-thinking individual with a drive to build and scale a local entertainment business.
Strong Customer Orientation: Passionate about delivering exceptional service, ensuring every guest leaves with a smile and a memorable story to tell.
Business Management Skills: Prior experience in retail, hospitality, leisure, or customer service is an advantage, though not mandatory.
Marketing Savvy: An understanding of local marketing, community outreach, and social media engagement to promote events, parties, and team-building packages.
Leadership Qualities: Ability to hire, train, and motivate a small but dynamic team that thrives on customer interaction.
Financial Capability: Access to sufficient capital to invest in the franchise setup, operations, and ongoing marketing efforts.
Investment Capability:
Minimum Liquid Capital: $150,000
Net Worth: $300,000+
Preferred Locations:
High-traffic areas such as downtown entertainment zones, tourist destinations, shopping malls, or university towns are ideal. Proximity to corporate offices also enhances weekday bookings for team-building activities.
Ideal Franchisee Types:
Entrepreneurs seeking a scalable entertainment business.
Investors exploring low-inventory, high-experience ventures.
Professionals transitioning from corporate careers into business ownership.
Hospitality operators looking to diversify into the experiential entertainment sector.
Personality Traits That Excel:
Energetic, outgoing, detail-oriented, and passionate about storytelling and guest experiences. A successful Escape Hunt franchisee is someone who values creativity as much as profitability — blending fun with business growth.
| Category | Estimated Cost (USD) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $45,000 – $60,000 | One-time fee granting rights to operate under the Escape Hunt brand, including training, setup support, and access to proprietary game content. |
| Total Initial Investment | $150,000 – $400,000 | Includes all setup costs, equipment, design, marketing, and working capital. |
| Minimum Liquid Capital Required | $150,000 | Recommended minimum available funds for startup and early operational expenses. |
| Net Worth Requirement | $300,000+ | Minimum financial stability required to qualify as a franchise partner. |
| Leasehold Improvements & Fit-Out | $80,000 – $150,000 | Includes décor, escape room build-out, sound systems, lighting, furniture, and branding elements. |
| Equipment & Game Props | $30,000 – $60,000 | Includes puzzles, locks, props, technology, and room-specific game components. |
| Technology & Software | $10,000 – $15,000 | Custom game management software, booking systems, and POS integration. |
| Initial Marketing Launch Budget | $10,000 – $20,000 | Local advertising, grand opening campaigns, and promotional materials. |
| Working Capital (First 3–6 Months) | $20,000 – $40,000 | Covers staff salaries, utilities, rent, and operating expenses until breakeven. |
| Royalty Fee | 8% of Gross Revenue | Paid monthly to Escape Hunt for ongoing brand use, support, and updates. |
| National Marketing Fund Contribution | 2% of Gross Revenue | Supports national marketing, new game development, and brand campaigns. |
| Expected ROI (Return on Investment) | 25% – 35% Annually | Based on average franchise performance and market conditions. |
| Break-Even Period | 18 – 24 Months | Typical time frame for a location to reach profitability. |
| Franchise Term | 5 – 10 Years (Renewable) | Standard franchise agreement duration with renewal options. |
| Revenue Streams | Multiple | Escape room bookings, team-building packages, private events, birthday parties, school programs, merchandise sales, and corporate bookings. |
Summary:
Escape Hunt offers a relatively low-overhead, high-experience business model with scalable revenue potential. With flexible location options, moderate staffing needs, and recurring business from groups and corporate clients, the franchise provides strong financial stability and long-term profitability for investors seeking to enter the experiential entertainment sector.
