There is a meaningful difference between a CageList host who earns $8,000 a year and one who earns $60,000. It is not the size of their cage. It is not their location. It is how they run their operation. The hosts at the top of the earnings range treat their cage like a real business — and this playbook shows you exactly what that looks like.
Start with the numbers — run the ROI calculator to set your income target
Step 1: Build the Right Foundation
Everything downstream depends on having a setup that delivers a great experience. Before you focus on marketing, pricing, or calendar management — make sure your cage checks these boxes.
Quality netting: #42 nylon minimum, #60 for heavy use. Renters notice netting condition immediately. A sagging or patched net is the fastest way to a bad review.
Netting Pros #42 TK Nylon 70x14x12
A pitching machine: the single biggest driver of booking rate and hourly price. If you do not have one, adding it is your highest-ROI upgrade.
Hack Attack Full Pitching Machine
Clean surface: turf or quality hitting mats. Bare dirt or damaged turf photographs poorly and creates a bad first impression.
ProTurf Batting Cage Turf Mat
Proper lighting: if your cage is not lit for evening use you are turning away your highest-demand booking window. Evening lighting is non-negotiable for serious hosts.
LED High Bay Fixture 4-pack
Clear access: renters need to find you easily, park safely, and access the cage without confusion. Post your address clearly, describe access in your listing, and consider an exterior sign or marker.
See the complete build guide — every component and what it costs
Step 2: Build a Listing That Converts
Your listing is your storefront. Here is what separates high-converting listings from ones that sit idle.
Photos first: 8–12 photos minimum. Wide shot, hitter perspective, machine close-up, surface, netting, exterior. Great photos do more work than any description you can write.
Clip-On Wide Angle Phone Lens
Complete your amenities checklist: every amenity you have listed — pitching machine, turf, lighting, covered structure, L-screen, portable mound — adds search visibility and justifies a higher rate.
Write a description that answers every question before it gets asked: machine brand and model, surface type, tunnel count and dimensions, lighting availability, parking, access instructions, and any house rules.
Set your availability generously at launch: new listings with wide-open availability rank higher in search and build reviews faster. Tighten availability once you have established demand.
The complete photo guide for CageList hosts — shoot your cage like a pro
Step 3: Price Strategically
New hosts consistently make one of two pricing mistakes: they start too high and get no bookings, or they start too low and leave significant money on the table long-term.
The right approach: start at the midpoint of your market for the first 30 days. Focus on getting your first 10 reviews. Then raise your rate 15–20%. Repeat after 20 reviews.
Set a team rate: offer a session-based rate for team bookings that is higher in absolute dollars but represents value relative to the per-hour rate. This attracts your highest-value customers and fills your calendar in blocks rather than individual hours.
Use seasonal pricing: raise rates 10–20% during peak baseball season. Lower them slightly in the off-season to maintain booking momentum and keep reviews coming in year-round.
The complete pricing guide for CageList hosts
Step 4: Build Your Repeat Customer Base
The economics of a successful CageList operation depend heavily on repeat bookings. A renter who books once a week for a full season is worth 20x more than 20 one-time renters. Here is how to build that base.
Deliver a great first experience: respond to booking requests within 2 hours. Have the cage clean and ready before the renter arrives. Check in briefly at the end of the session to make sure everything was good. This alone puts you in the top tier of CageList hosts.
Follow up after the first booking: a simple message thanking the renter and letting them know their preferred time slot is available next week converts first-time bookers into regulars at a very high rate.
Build relationships with coaches: a private coach who uses your cage for lessons 4 days a week is your most valuable customer. Make their experience frictionless. Give them their preferred slot on a recurring basis. Consider a monthly flat rate for coaches who book consistently.
Create team packages: offer travel ball teams a weekly recurring slot at a slightly discounted session rate in exchange for a seasonal commitment. Predictable revenue at slightly lower per-hour rate beats unpredictable revenue at full rate every time.
How coaches and teams are using CageList — and how to position your listing to attract them
Step 5: Manage Your Calendar Like a Business
Block your peak hours for premium pricing: Friday evenings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday afternoons are your highest-demand windows. Price them accordingly and do not discount them.
Fill your off-peak hours with packages: weekday morning slots are harder to fill at full rate. Offer them at a slight discount to coaches and teams who can book during off-peak hours in exchange for volume.
Review your calendar monthly: identify which time slots are consistently going unbookable and either reprice them or promote them specifically in your listing description.
Track your numbers: revenue per month, bookings per week, average booking duration, repeat customer rate. The hosts who track these numbers make better decisions and earn significantly more over time.
Step 6: Grow Beyond Your First Cage
Add a second tunnel: doubles your team booking capacity and your peak-hour pricing power.
Netting Pros #60 TK Nylon 70x14x12
Add a mound: opens up pitcher training, bullpen sessions, and coach-facilitated pitching lessons as use cases.
Pinta Portable Pitching Mound
Refer other cage owners to CageList: every cage added to the platform in your market strengthens the platform and brings more renters to the area. A rising tide lifts all listings.
Ready to run your cage like a business? List free at cagelist.com
The Bottom Line
The difference between a cage that earns $8,000 a year and one that earns $60,000 is not luck and it is not location. It is intentionality. Build the right setup, list it correctly, price it strategically, deliver a great experience, and manage your calendar like the business it is.
CageList provides the platform. You provide the cage and the commitment. Everything else in this playbook is the work that separates the top hosts from everyone else.
List your cage free at cagelist.com and start building your operation today.
