A sports franchise is a professional or semi-professional sports team granted exclusive territorial rights to operate within an organized league in exchange for fees and revenue sharing, operating under league governance while generating income through ticket sales, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and merchandise.
There’s a powerful and growing model in youth sports, one that blends business-ownership with coaching and purposeful kids development. Let’s dive into what a sports franchise is, how it works, and whether it might be the right fit for you.
Sports program franchise: business model.
You (the franchisee) operate within a defined territory using an established franchise brand’s systems. You’ll deliver programs (sport classes, sport camps, etc.) using the franchisor’s proven systems, curriculum, branding, and support.1 In simple terms: you’re building your own sports business, but you’re not starting from scratch, you’re partnering with a franchise brand that’s already been established.2
This is a “business format franchise” model where the franchisor sells you a system: operations, branding, training, curriculum, coaches, and marketing tools. They provide a launch roadmap and guardrails so you can succeed. You bring the energy, local market knowledge, execution, handle hiring, secure locations, run classes, and manage the customer experience.
At Sportball, this model translates into offering multi-sport programs for children, driven by strong values such as skill-building, fun, and creating a life-long love of sports and physical activity.
Why go the franchise route vs independent start-up?
The risks involved when starting a business from scratch are high. With a franchise business, you benefit from brand recognition, tested systems, and collective knowledge.3 Depending on the franchise brand, you should receive plenty of support along the way. Your job shifts from testing how to run a business to executing the game plan and growing. Especially with kids sports, you’re helping shape the future of children and their communities. That adds meaning to the business beyond profits!
With some sport franchises, like Sportball, you’ll have access to a dedicated Growth Coach who will be with you every step of the way. Growth Coaches are seasoned operators that have run their own operation. Their experience is only exceeded by their passion for the impact that sport programs can make on a community.
Key responsibilities of a sports franchise owner:
Owning your franchise territory means owning your impact. Here’s what that looks like:
You’ll drive:
- Business operations: Scheduling, budgeting, staffing, equipment, enrollment: you’ll run a real business with real momentum behind it.
- Program excellence: You’ll hire, train, and support coaches who deliver purposeful sports programs for kids. Some sport franchises, like Sportball, offer technology to help you train your team and ensure your high standards are achieved with every onboarding.
- Local marketing & outreach: You’ll build relationships with schools, child care facilities, parents, community centres, and local organizations to market your business. You’ll have a turn at developing your business through different local marketing channels like paid ads, email marketing, organic social media, and PR.
- Customer experience: Parents want safety, structure, results, and answers to their questions! You’ll receive phone calls, emails, and DMs about your business. It will be up to you to provide a friendly customer experience for your community.
- Brand alignment: You follow a tested curriculum and operations model, but you put your unique stamp on how it comes to life locally. Inject local language, cultural flair, or event timeliness to programs, marketing assets, and more.
- Growth mindset: New locations! More classes! Expansion! The opportunity to scale is built into the sports franchise business model. Are you located near a neighboring city? If it’s an available territory, the franchisor should be happy to assist with your expansion when you’re ready. Many franchisors will offer preferential rates to existing franchises to help you become a multi-unit operator.
Sports franchise comparisons:
Choosing a sports franchise looks different from choosing a typical food, retail, or service franchise. In youth sports, you can pick between single-sport or multi-sport models, competitive or non-competitive philosophies, and brick-and-mortar or mobile operations. Each model shapes your day-to-day workload, startup costs, and market potential. Understanding these differences helps you find the franchise approach that best aligns with what you’re looking for.
| Franchise Type | What It Means | Best For |
| Single-Sport Franchise | Focuses on delivering programs in one specific sport. | Owners passionate about one sport looking to cater to children over 12 years of age during a specific season. |
| Multi-Sport Franchise | Offers a rotation of several sports within one program. | Entrepreneurs seeking broader market appeal, year-round programming, family-friendly development, and providing the best start to sports for kids ages 16 months – 12 years of age. |
| Competitive Sports Franchise | Emphasizes leagues, tournaments, and performance. | Owners with an interest in developing competitive athletes. |
| Non-Competitive Sports Franchise | Focuses on fun, fundamentals, and healthy active movement. | Entrepreneurs prioritizing early childhood development, skill building, and developing a child’s life-long love of movement. |
| Brick-and-Mortar Sports Franchise | Operates from a dedicated physical facility or studio. | Owners looking for a fixed-location model. |
| No Fixed Location / Mobile Sports Franchise | Runs programs in rented community spaces, schools, or outdoor locations. | Franchisees seeking a low-cost, low-risk, and flexible business model. |
What is the initial investment needed?
Initial investment costs vary between franchises.
With an estimated initial investment of $76,250–$106,000, Sportball offers a compelling entry point into the youth sports market. This accessible range is highly competitive compared to other franchise opportunities, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs seeking favorable unit economics.
Why Sportball could be right for you.
Are you an entrepreneur with a passion for winning? Do you dream of leaving a positive mark in this world? If you answered yes to both of these questions, this could be a very real opportunity for you.
At Sportball, we’re searching for partners who care deeply about the experience they deliver. You don’t need to have all the answers, we’ve built the playbook so you don’t have to, but you do need drive, a passion for community building, and the willingness to lead from the front.
When you partner with a brand like Sportball the result becomes more than a business, it becomes a legacy in your city.
Your Growth Coach will be by your side from day one, helping ensure it’s the right fit both ways. Curious to learn more? Start here.
References
- International Franchise Association. (2019, April 15). Franchising 101. Retrieved from https://www.franchise.org/2019/04/franchising-101
- Sportball Central Team. (2024). How Sportball is Becoming the Fastest Growing Youth Sports Franchise. Retrieved from https://sportballfranchise.com/blog/how-sportball-is-becoming-the-fastest-growing-youth-sports-franchise/ sportballfranchise.com
- Neighborly®. (n.d.). Franchising 101: The Complete Guide to Franchise Ownership. Retrieved from https://franchise.neighborly.com/how-this-works/franchising-101
