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We, as a franchise community, have an undeniable affinity for athletes in franchising. Why? Partly because of our fascination with celebrities. Partly because we love a good story. Partly because we believe athletes can follow a playbook. And partly because of the PR power that comes with it.All of that is fair. But the real question becomes: how do we get in front of athlete franchise buyers? Where are they—and why would they want to buy?In this special Franchising Coffee &amp; Analytics episode, I'm joined by <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmartinelli/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=athletes-in-franchising-2730529" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Martinelli</a> from<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnmartinelli?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=athletes-in-franchising-2730529" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> NOCAP Sports</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/damiere-byrd/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=athletes-in-franchising-2730529" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Damiere Byrd</a>, former NFL player and current<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/damiere-byrd/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=athletes-in-franchising-2730529" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> Bumble Roofing</a> franchise owner.&nbsp;Why Athletes Need FranchisingThe average NFL career lasts just 3.3 years. The median player salary? About $860,000 per year. Over a career, that’s roughly $2.8 million earned. The good news: that’s more than the average retiree’s net worth of $1.8 million. The bad news: after taxes, agent fees, and lifestyle costs, that $2.8 million can shrink to closer to $1 million.That’s why franchising can be such a powerful post-career path — it offers structure, community, and the opportunity to build long-term wealth.A Few Thoughts<ul><li>For Athletes: Choose a franchise in your college town or hometown. That’s where your fan base—and customer base—already exists. But remember, being a franchisee is just like being an athlete: you still have to put in the reps, race to breakeven, and build toward scale. &nbsp;</li><li>For Franchisors: Don’t get blinded by the spotlight. Treat athlete candidates like any other franchise prospect. If you skip proper qualification, you set both sides up for failure. &nbsp;</li><li>For College Athletes: With NIL opportunities growing, franchising could be a smart way to invest your earnings into a scalable business. Only 2% of NCAA athletes go pro. That means your best play might be using your platform to learn, invest, and build a career beyond sports.</li></ul>These ideas and more were discussed on the session — including how Byrd chose to become a franchisee, what Martinelli is seeing from athletes entering business ownership, and how to find and attract athlete buyers who could be the perfect fit for your system.

Coffee & analytics image with photo of Nick Powills

Athletes in Franchising: A Guide for Players & Franchisors

1851 Franchise

Athletes bring PR power and a great story to a franchise. Learning how to find and appeal to them, beyond the opportunity to turn high earnings into long-term wealth, is the trick for franchisors.

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