Sports & Recreation

The sports franchise industry presents an exciting opportunity for aspiring business owners. From fitness centers to youth sports leagues, there are many opportunities for success.

Growth Potential of the Sports Franchise Industry

The sports and fitness franchise industry in the United States has seen tremendous growth over the years. From established names like Read more

The sports franchise industry presents an exciting opportunity for aspiring business owners. From fitness centers to youth sports leagues, there are many opportunities for success.

Growth Potential of the Sports Franchise Industry

The sports and fitness franchise industry in the United States has seen tremendous growth over the years. From established names like Gold's Gym, to emerging fitness and sports franchise brands such as Planet Fitness and Snap Fitness, the demand for sports-related services continues to rise. Whether it's group fitness or sports bar franchises, prospective business owners have ample opportunity to find a niche that suits their interests and goals.

Investing in a sports franchise allows you to tap into a passionate consumer base, whether it’s for martial arts, fitness centers, or even gaming franchises. Sports culture in cities like San Francisco, New York, and L.A. is deeply ingrained, making it a great market for those looking to build a successful business.

Benefits of Investing in a Sports Franchise

When you invest in a sports franchise, you’re buying into a proven business model with brand recognition and support. Key benefits include brand recognition, training and support. 

Evaluating Franchise Opportunities

When considering which sports or recreation franchise to invest in, conducting thorough market research is crucial. Here are a few steps to guide your evaluation process:

  • Understand the Competitive Landscape: Analyze the competition in your desired market.
  • Assess the Franchisor’s Reputation: Look into the franchise partners and track record of the brand you’re considering. Speaking with current franchise owners can provide valuable insight.
  • Review the FDD: Carefully go through the Franchise Disclosure Document to understand the financial performance, fees, and legal requirements.
  • Financial Aspects: Consider the profitability and ROI expectations by evaluating financial performance representations provided by the franchisor.

Key Considerations for Prospective Franchisees

Before investing in a franchise opportunity, there are several factors to consider to ensure you make an informed decision.

1. Initial Investment and Franchise Fees

The initial investment for a sports franchise can vary widely depending on the brand, location, and type of franchise. For example, a fitness franchise may have different franchise fees and ongoing costs compared to a sports bar franchise.

It's crucial to review the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to understand the financial commitment, including any applicable pre-sale registration and disclosure requirements.

2. Location Requirements and Territory Exclusivity

Securing the right location is key to the success of your franchise. Understanding the market demand in your area is essential. Some franchises offer territory exclusivity, giving you the right to operate without competition in a specific region.

3. Training and Support

A key advantage of investing in a franchise is the training and support provided by the franchisor. From your first franchise to ongoing operational assistance, franchisors often provide a comprehensive training program to help you hit the ground running with confidence.

Start Your Franchise Journey 

With the support of a proven franchise system, extensive training programs, and ongoing operational support, you can build a successful business in this diverse industry. As the world’s largest membership organization for franchisors, franchisees, and suppliers, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is committed to providing guidance and support to help you navigate the process of becoming a franchise owner. Contact us today!

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Member since 2023

Purchase Green

Purchase Green is the highest-producing manufacturer and distributor of landscape and leisure products in the US. The organization provides nationwide distribution support that delivers a beautiful and broad product portfolio. Including artificial grass, putting greens and golf accessories, turf installation materials, artificial ivy, as well as modular tile for both indoor and outdoor multi-sport use-cases, retail or event operations, and residential applications.

Purchase Green’s fully integrated business solutions provide exceptional service and savings for their franchise partners. Paired with a successful business model that utilizes brick-and-mortar retail locations and local market distribution, the brand demonstrates outstanding potential for further expansion. Learn more today.
Lawn, Garden & Agricultural
Lawn, Garden & Agricultural
Green & Eco Friendly
Recreation: Equipment & Supplies
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Member since 2012

Aqua-Tots Swim School Holding, LLC

Since 1991, Aqua-Tots has been the industry leader in swimming instruction. We challenge the status quo in the swim industry, focusing on delivering top-quality swim lessons and providing our swimmers with Lessons for Life. Aqua-Tots Swim Schools offers year round, indoor swim lessons for children of all ages and abilities starting at 4 months. Aqua-Tots specializes in the following services: Small Group Swim Lessons (4:1 Ratio); Private Swim Lessons; Swim Club and Swim Team; Indoor Pool Parties; Adaptive Aquatics for Special Needs; Adult Swim Lessons.
Children's Services
Children's Services
Fitness & Gyms
Educational Products & Services
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Member since 2022

Boomers Parks

Boomers Parks is a privately held company based in Boca Raton, Florida. The company owns and operates 6 Boomers parks in California and Florida, Big Kahuna’s Water & Adventure Park in Florida and Big Kahuna’s Water Park in New Jersey. Boomers Parks was founded in 2014 to acquire and operate best-in-class out-of-home entertainment assets and is committed to excellence, to the communities they serve, and to delivering value that exceeds expectation.
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Children's Services
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Discover Strength

At Discover Strength, we believe you should be able to build the career you want while doing work that changes lives. Imagine owning a distinguished fitness business, backed by a market-tested business model, where efficient, 30-minute workouts are provided to your clients by expert, educated personal trainers. Imagine building a thriving business while doing work that you love, with people you love.
Fitness & Gyms Fitness & Gyms
Fitness & Gyms
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Member since 2001

Gold's Gym

Build your legacy with the world’s most iconic and strongest fitness brand—Gold’s Gym. With over 96% brand awareness, Gold’s Gym sets the industry standard and continues to redefine strength training and fitness globally. Our legacy is unmatched, supported by a robust network of dedicated franchisees, all contributing to the strength of our brand. We offer franchisees multiple revenue streams, including membership, personal and group training, as well as clothing and supplement sales.
As we build strength for the future, our global presence spans 27 countries and is still expanding. Our contemporary redefinition of the brand focuses on strength and performance in every aspect, exemplified by our Berlin flagship location, which serves as an inspiration for the brand's future direction. This includes an outstanding personal training concept and a recently remodeled company gym featuring a state-of-the-art strength and functional training area that rivals the best college facilities.
Fitness & Gyms Fitness & Gyms
Fitness & Gyms
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Health & Beauty
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Member since 2022

INFINITY, beyond fitness

INFINITY is more than a health & wellness studio franchise; it's a solution to the pressing issues of obesity and poor health that have become an epidemic in our society.

The abundance of information available has overwhelmed individuals, leaving them unsure of how to apply it effectively to improve their well-being. The desire to become a healthier version of oneself is universal, but the question remains: how can we achieve it?

INFINITY has developed a unique approach that addresses the fundamental dimensions of well-being: training, nutrition, and recovery. By focusing on these key aspects, members of all fitness levels and backgrounds can transform their lives for the better.

Our journey has just begun with our Flagship studio in Miami, FL. We are committed to providing our members with exceptional results, ensuring that everyone who becomes a part of the community experiences positive and lasting changes in their lives.

We care and we do it with love!
Fitness & Gyms Fitness & Gyms
Fitness & Gyms
Health & Beauty
Weight Control
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Member since 2002

Pinch A Penny, Inc.

America's largest specialty retail swimming pool supply & services franchise with over 290 locations throughout AL, AZ, FL,GA, LA, NC, NV, OK, SC and TX.
Retail Stores: Specialty
Retail Stores: Specialty
Maintenance, Cleaning & Sanitation
Recreation: Equipment & Supplies
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Member since 2008

Sky Zone

First on the scene and best in its class, Sky Zone created the world's first wall-to-wall trampoline park in 2004, bringing healthy, high-flying fun to people across the globe. Now you can be part of this international sensation. See how fitness, entertainment, and interactive technology create a powerhouse of an opportunity. Sky Zone has over 300 global locations in 16 international markets, generating more than $300 million in revenue.
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Fitness & Gyms
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Slick City

Slick City is the world’s first indoor slide and action sports park! Co-founded by a team of experienced family entertainment center operators and pioneering attraction designers, Slick City features a wide array of never-before-seen, stomach-dropping “waterless water slides”.

Our proprietary dry-slide technology (with over 25 patents filed or granted) is pushing the boundaries of physics and friction… and the all-ages appeal of our attractions is driving major park attendance!

Our first two corporate locations generated an average gross revenue of $385,000 per month and 47% EBITDA over their first 20 combined months of operations, and that success has inspired us to begin opening or developing a dozen more locations – and to officially begin franchising!

You can become part of a thriving and rapidly growing brand on the ground floor, with a unique, proprietary, and patented core product, an experienced franchise team, and a proven business model. Are you ready to join the Slick City movement? Read on to learn more:
Children's Services
Children's Services
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Fitness & Gyms
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Member since 2017

Stretch Zone Franchising, LLC

Stretch Zone is the first and largest franchisor in the stretching industry, and the only company that combines a proprietary stretch method with patented strapping equipment to improve muscle function throughout the body. Stretch Zone practitioners are certified and trained to follow specific methods to properly position, stabilize, isolate and manipulate muscles using powerful principles of neuromuscular behavior to improve range of motion, enabling efficient and effortless movement. Founded by Jorden Gold in 2004, Stretch Zone now has 355 locations open across 41 states nationwide.
Health & Beauty
Health & Beauty
Fitness & Gyms
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All Results

Member since 2022

iFlex Stretch Studios

The newest concept from the founders of The Joint Chiropractic, iFlex Stretch Studios Franchise, offers its clients the best in professional assisted stretching for one affordable price in one beautiful location. Prime regional developer opportunities and franchise locations are available right now.

By making quality assisted stretching affordable and convenient for clients seeking pain relief and ongoing wellness, iFlex Stretch Studios is raising the bar for the stretching profession.
Health Aids & Services
Health Aids & Services
Fitness & Gyms
Retail Stores: Specialty
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Member since 2003

i9 Sports

Based in Tampa, Florida, i9 Sports® is the nation’s first and largest youth sports league franchise business with more than 3 million player registrations spanning hundreds of communities from New York to Hawaii. Our franchise owners offer youth sports leagues, camps, and clinics for boys and girls ages 3 – 14 in today’s most popular sports such as flag football, soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse and volleyball.
Home-Based and/or Mobile
Children's Services
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Fitness & Gyms
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Member since 2022

Amazing Athletes

Amazing Athletes is a mobile franchise with year-round, educational sports and fitness programming that introduces young children to the fundamentals of 10 different sports while helping them master 6 key areas of motor-development and physical literacy. Instructors teach the basics of athletics, as well as education on nutrition and muscle groups in a preschool-based program. With over 148 locations and expert coaches operating in top schools and facilities across more than 34 states, Amazing Athletes is on a mission to keep kids active with engaging content that teaches them about life skills and teamwork.
Home-Based and/or Mobile
Children's Services
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
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Member since 2018

Urban Air Adventure Parks

The Urban Air opportunity represents the highest AUV’s and earnings potential in the family entertainment industry. Contact us today to learn more about the opportunity to own and operate the Nation’s Leading Indoor entertainment park. The franchise offers single, multiple and remote franchise ownership with two business in one. Learn more today about this first in class, fun, safe and rewarding franchise opportunity.
Children's Services
Children's Services
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Restaurants
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Member since 2014

GYMGUYZ

REDEFINING THE IN HOME & ON-SITE PERSONAL TRAINING INDUSTRY
Become a part of our incredible franchise family! GYMGUYZ offers the unique opportunity to venture into the fast growing in-home and onsite fitness industry. There are many franchise opportunities to choose from! As a GYMGUYZ franchise partner, you will be taking a fresh approach to changing people’s lives from the comfort of their own home, business or setting of their choice. Your highly trained team will be breaking down the traditional barriers to getting fit and implementing healthy lifestyles in the clients they work with - giving them their extra time back and ensuring the most accountability possible throughout their fitness journey. You can be open and operating in as little as 8 weeks! Our business doesn’t require opening a brick-and-mortar office space.

No fitness background? No problem! GYMGUYZ franchise owners come from a variety of different backgrounds and careers.

Do you have a passion for fitness or healthy living? Enjoy helping people? As we love to say, it’s great to making a living, but much better to make a difference. With GYMGUYZ, you can be in business for yourself but not by yourself. We provide unmatched training and support for all of our franchise partners. Our in-home and onsite personal training franchise is revolutionizing the fitness industry—and we invite you to come along for the ride. Even better, your GYMGUYZ business has an unprecedented opportunity to grow rapidly due to today’s growing remote workforce. In-home personal training has never been more popular and more needed in the community.

GYMGUYZ is proud to be the largest in-home and onsite personal training company in the world. Join our growing franchise system today!
Home-Based and/or Mobile
Fitness & Gyms
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Member since 2018

Altitude Trampoline Park

Altitude Trampoline Park is a premier family-friendly entertainment destination offering cutting-edge attractions and revenue streams such as Party Packages to accommodate all of life's most meaningful celebrations. Recommend 25,000 square feet of indoor space - offering trampolines, playgrounds, basketball, dodgeball, interactive games, augmented reality, and more.
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
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Member since 2022

XP League

XP League delivers school aged kids the experience of professional style game play just like the pros. Our innovative program bridges the gap between conventional youth athletics and competitive esports. Through coach-led weekly practice and match play, XP League emphasizes social & sportsmanship values to develop lasting life skills. The thrill and excitement of competitive gaming in a positive format.
Home-Based and/or Mobile
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Children's Services
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Member since 2018

Athletic Republic

Sports Performance Training for the youth, teen, college or pro athlete looking to gain a step on the competition. High Intensity Interval Training for the active adult looking to get stronger, move better and stay healthier. Endurance Training for the runner, cyclist, and triathlete looking to achieve their personal best. Return 2 Play for the athlete who is looking to return to sport safely from an ACL or concussion. Over 2 million athletes trained and growing.
Fitness & Gyms Fitness & Gyms
Fitness & Gyms
Children's Services
Health & Beauty
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Member since 2015

SafeSplash Swim School

SafeSplash provides a premium, warm water learn-to-swim program that uses a proven, proprietary curriculum in a small, personal class to positively teach children and adults alike safety skills and confidence in the water. The Customer Service Center, a centralized service that uses a proprietary software platform to handle many time consuming logistics such as: customer relationship management (registration, scheduling, and program information services); a 24-hour call center; billing services; credit card processing; collection services; website management, and e-mail services.
Children's Services
Children's Services
Educational Products & Services
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
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Member since 2015

Destination Athlete

Home-based business, leader in the team sports market. Since our beginning in 2008, the purpose of Destination Athlete® has been Building Better Communities Through Athletes®. We believe sports can bring people together and teams can achieve winning outcomes when all involved have confidence in knowing they have everything they need to succeed. We are committed to the complete satisfaction and success of our customers. Our motto: Everything Team, Everything Better® means we have the most comprehensive offering of Equipment, Apparel, Fundraising solutions and Performance products and services of any team dealer in the country. We are also home to 360 DEVELOPMENT™, a holistic, customizable development program led by a best-in-class team of experts in the areas of Leadership, Mental, Educational, and Wellness.
Home-Based and/or Mobile
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Children's Services
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Self Esteem Brands

Improving the self-esteem of the world. That’s the lofty goal of Self Esteem Brands, the parent company of Anytime Fitness (one of the largest fitness franchises in the world) Waxing the City, Basecamp Fitness, and The Bar Method. Self Esteem Brands is also the parent company to affiliates Healthy Contributions, and PumpOne. With the vision of improving the self-esteem of the world at its core, Self Esteem Brands seeks to enrich the lives of all of those who interact with our companies in nearly 40 countries on seven continents worldwide. That includes our consumers, vendors, employees, franchisees and the surrounding communities where more than 5,000 of our independently owned and operated franchises are located. Additionally, Self Esteem Brands is actively seeking other innovative business concepts to partner with and franchise.
Fitness & Gyms Fitness & Gyms
Fitness & Gyms
Health & Beauty
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Member since 2023

Five Iron Golf

Five Iron has quickly re-shaped urban golf culture and has expanded from Manhattan to Chicago, Baltimore, and Philadelphia, growing from Mike’s original lesson crew to a re-imagined, high-tech, inclusive urban golf experience for golfers and non-golfers alike. Five Iron is for everyone.

For the serious golfer, Five Iron hosts best-in-class: simulators; Trackman lesson studios; access to teaching professionals; practice time; leagues; club storage; showers; top-of-the-line clubs that are free to use during your booking, and in-house club fitting services.

For the less-than-serious golfer (and let’s be honest, most of the serious golfers too), Five Iron’s locations offer: flexible event spaces; full bar service, and fantastic food menus. Games like ping pong; shuffleboard; pool and Golden Tee (depending on the location). Widescreen TVs; NFL Sunday Ticket; regular women’s events; a junior program, and much more.
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
Recreation: Exercise/Sports Ent./Products
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