Should You Start a Youth Sports Franchise?

Going into the youth sports business for yourself is a decision that should not be taken lightly. Just because you love sports doesn’t mean you should be the owner of a sports team. But if you do love sports, you want to open a franchise and you also love working with children, there are a number of franchise opportunities to choose from.

State of the Space

The youth sports space isn’t just about owning a team; it also includes handling travel for players, private coaching, and creating or running apps that help organize leagues and livestream games. There are also franchises dedicated to running general exercise programs for babies, and providing training in everything from soccer, tennis, swimming and golf.

The industry has grown substantially over the last few decades and is now worth an estimated $15 billion. According to private firm WinterGreen Research, the industry has grown by about 55% since 2010. As a result of this growth, there are a dozen new franchise concepts available to invest in, including i9Sports, Redline Athletics and National Youth Sports.

Pros of Owning a Youth Sports Franchise

There are a number of benefits when it comes to starting and owning your own youth sports franchise. For starters, they usually don’t require a large investment and can provide immediate returns by having players register and pay to join the team in advance. Youth sports franchises operate at lower costs than other franchises as they can be run out of a home office. Many use volunteers to coach the team, so you aren’t always required to hire a coach.

Buying into an already established youth sports team can also be beneficial, as you’ll immediately gain access to a preexisting customer base, brand recognition within your community and a fully trained staff.

However, many youth sports franchisees say one of the biggest perks of working in the industry is the satisfaction you get from helping children. You’re not only giving back and helping form your community, but you’re instilling what could be a lifetime love of sports in children.

Cons of Owning a Youth Sports Franchise

It’s important to note that owning a youth sports franchise doesn’t have a regular schedule like most other franchises would provide. The hours of operation for a youth sports franchise can vary. Owners will usually not work a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday shift. Instead, they will typically be working during the weekends.

In Conclusion

Before you decide to step into the youth sports industry, it’s important to decide whether or not this field is right for you. If you love sports, working with children and making a difference in your community, then youth sports may be a perfect path for you to start franchising. Regardless of which franchise you choose to invest in, make sure you talk to current franchisees and do as much research as possible. And remember, your franchise will only be as successful as the amount of work you put into it.