Team building for small businesses

The best team building for small businesses is one hour with a live host, booked in your slow season or outside opening hours, at a price that works for 5 to 50 people. Under about 10 people, a kit workshop or a flat-price game often costs less than a game package priced for up to 25.

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A shop owner in an apron and five staff laugh around a laptop on the shop counter during a hosted game

What team building costs a small business at 6, 12 and 25 people

At this size, package prices and base fees decide the bill more than the activity does. Here is the total and the price per person, from live catalog prices.

Spending the owner's money well

  • A hosted game package covers up to 25 people. Six people pay the same as 25, so invite everyone.
  • A kit workshop has one base fee, then a price per kit. The base fee is most of the bill at 6 people and a small part at 25.
  • A flat-price game costs the same at any size. For a team of 5 to 12 it is often the cheapest hosted hour.
  • Pay the way you pay other vendors. Card with a 50% deposit to hold the date, or an invoice.
  • Make one event do two jobs. Fold it into the holiday party, a work anniversary or a new hire's first week.
Total price for the whole group and per person, by headcount
Murder Mystery Escape Room - The PsychiatristHosted game, one flat price6 people$650$108 each12 people$650$54 each25 people$650$26 each
Trivia with a Twist!Hosted game, a package for up to 256 people$975$163 each12 people$975$81 each25 people$975$39 each
OrigamiKit workshop, base fee plus a kit each6 people$529$88 each12 people$679$57 each25 people$1,004$40 each
PaintingKit workshop, base fee plus a kit each6 people$703$117 each12 people$1,027$86 each25 people$1,729$69 each

Totals for the whole group, worked out from live catalog prices. Kits include continental US shipping; Alaska, Hawaii, US territories, Canada and international addresses cost extra. Get a free quote for your exact headcount.

8 small business team building ideas with a live host

Four hosted games for the shop laptop or the break room TV, and four kit workshops made at home or around the counter. Prices are live from our catalog.

Hosted games need about 2 weeks to book; kit workshops about 3 weeks for US addresses. See all activities.

When a small business can spare an hour

Closing for an hour costs real sales, so pick the hour that costs least. Four times that work for most owners.

  • Slow season

    The quiet weeks you already know

    Every business has them: January for many shops and restaurants, winter for landscapers, the weeks after tax season for bookkeepers.

  • After the rush

    Right after the busy season ends

    Thank people while the rush is still fresh, before the next one starts. A week or two after is about right.

  • Friday lunch

    A long lunch on a Friday

    Order lunch in, close the door for an hour and play on the shop laptop or the conference room TV.

  • Before or after hours

    Before opening or after close

    An hour before the doors open, or right after close, so nobody loses a sale and the phones stay quiet.

For a holiday lunch on Friday, December 18, 2026, book a hosted game by December 4 or a kit workshop by November 27, 2026. For a thank-you after the holiday rush on Friday, January 29, 2027, book a game by January 15 or a kit by January 8, 2027. With anyone in Canada or abroad, book kits about 5 weeks ahead.

Everyone does three jobs: who covers the shop?

In a company of 8, the person who answers the phone is also in the game. Four ways owners handle it.

  • Close for one hour and say so

    Put a sign on the door and a note on your voicemail and booking page a week ahead. Regulars understand.

  • Run it outside opening hours

    Games and workshops run about 60 minutes, so an early start or a late finish covers it.

  • Let people join from home

    Part-timers and anyone on a day off join the video call from a phone or laptop. With a kit workshop, each box ships to their door. See remote team building.

  • Split it only if you must

    Two sessions mean two bookings: a game package price twice, or a second base fee for a kit workshop. One session with everyone costs least.

Small business, small group or startup?

Three pages that sound alike and answer different questions.

  • A small business

    An owner-run company of 5 to 50, paying from its own revenue, that can't close for long. This page.

  • A small group

    Any team of 5 to 20, inside a company of any size, choosing a format by group size. See small group team building.

  • A startup

    A funded company hiring every month, often remote from day one. See team building for startups.

Own a franchise location? See team building for franchises for owner groups and conventions.

Small business team building questions

What is good team building for a small business?

One hour with a live host, held in your slow season, on a Friday lunch, or before opening or after close so nobody loses a sale. A hosted video game, a kit workshop shipped to each home, or a host at your shop all work for 5 to 50 people.

How much does team building cost for a small business?

For 6 people, the Origami kit workshop is $529 in total ($88 each) and Trivia with a Twist is $975 ($163 each). The trivia price covers up to 25 people, so at 25 it drops to $39 each. The Psychiatrist murder mystery is $650 flat at any size.

What is the cheapest team building for a team of 5 to 10?

A flat-price game or a small kit workshop. The Psychiatrist murder mystery is $650 for the whole group, and Origami is the lowest-priced kit workshop on this page. A game package priced for 25 is the least efficient choice at this size.

Can we do it without closing the shop?

Yes. Book the hour before opening or right after close, or let people on a day off join from home. If you do close, an hour with a sign on the door and a voicemail note is usually enough.

Can a host come to our office or shop?

In 30 US cities a painting host can come to you with all the materials; Canvas Painting is $1,410 for 12 people. In 17 of those cities hosts also run games like Feud Night, priced as a package for up to 50 guests.

How far ahead should a small business book?

About 2 weeks for a hosted game and about 3 weeks for a kit workshop to US addresses, or about 5 weeks when anyone is in Canada or abroad. On most activities you can move the date for free up to 2 days before.

Keep planning

Plan an hour your whole team can make

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