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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy an i9 Sports Franchise

i9 Sports is the nation’s first and largest youth sports franchise, founded in 2002 and franchising since 2003. Its franchisees run recreational leagues, camps and clinics for children ages 3 to 14 in popular sports such as flag football, soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball and lacrosse, organised around a same-day practice-and-game format built for convenience and good sportsmanship.

The business is home-based with no real estate to buy. Instead of owning facilities, franchisees lease existing community fields and gyms only when needed and operate within protected territories mapped by ZIP code around the local population of children. Revenue comes mainly from participant registration fees across multiple sports and four seasons a year, supported by web-based technology for scheduling, marketing and staffing.

The network spans hundreds of communities from New York to Hawaii, with more than 5 million player registrations to date and close to 300 operating territories. i9 Sports markets itself as “The Way Youth Sports Should Be” and has extended its programming through a Nike Kids Camps partnership, giving the brand consumer recognition beyond its own name.

Latest Resales

  • There are currently no i9 Sports resales available
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Why buy an i9 Sports Franchise?

Buying an i9 Sports franchise is entry into youth sports, a category that has stayed resilient through economic cycles because families keep prioritising children’s activities. The brand’s standing as the first and largest operator in the space gives it strong name recognition, reinforced by a national Nike Kids Camps partnership that few independent youth-sports operators could match.

The ownership model is built for low overhead: no commercial lease, community fields leased only when needed, a large pool of volunteer coaches drawn from parents, and mostly part-time, game-day staff. Because families pay registration fees upfront, cash is collected before much of the season’s labour cost is incurred. Franchisees also gain web-based operating systems and business coaching that an independent league would have to build alone.

i9 Sports Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1998

    • Franchising Since

      2003

    • New Startup Cost

      $59,900 – $69,900

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $24,900

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      50%

      of Franchise Fee or $12,450, greater of

    • Royalty Fee

      7.50%

      of Network Revenues or $425–$450/month min

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Network Revenues or $275/month min

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      294

    • New Units Opened *

      36

    • Units Transferred *

      21

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $514,066

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

i9 Sports – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming owners complete i9 Sports' structured onboarding of 40.25 hours of classroom training plus 39 hours of on-the-job training, then receive ongoing support through assigned business coaches, web-based systems for scheduling, registration, marketing and staffing, and national marketing support. The franchisor's "When In Doubt, Sit Out" concussion protocol and operating playbooks guide day-to-day delivery. Resale buyers should confirm with i9 Sports what transfer training and management-system access are provided when an existing territory changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    i9 Sports suits outgoing, community-minded operators who enjoy youth sports and are comfortable with sales, customer relationships and local marketing; no coaching background is required. The role is organisation- and people-led, centred on recruiting and managing part-time staff and parent volunteers, building school and community relationships, and delivering a busy game-day schedule (typically Saturdays) while keeping flexibility through the rest of the week. Strong service instincts and a focus on children's fun and safety matter more than athletic credentials.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    i9 Sports ranked #226 on Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 in the Children's Businesses category, climbing sharply in recent years, and has earned multiple 2026 Franchise Business Review honours including Top 200 Franchise, Low-Cost Franchise and Top Franchises for Women. It is also recognised by Entrepreneur as a leading affordable franchise and for youth-safety initiatives such as its "When In Doubt, Sit Out" concussion protocol. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific territory's local reviews, referral sources and community standing.

  4. Industry / Market

    Youth sports is a substantial, resilient US category. The Aspen Institute's Project Play estimates American families spend $30-40 billion a year on children's sports, with family spending up 46% over five years to 2025, and roughly 27 million children ages 6 to 17 playing on organised teams. Demand is driven by parental focus on activity, structure and social development, and discretionary spending on kids' sports has historically held up well. For resale buyers, local participation levels, school partnerships and competition shape a territory's revenue.

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