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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Play It Again Sports Franchise

Play It Again Sports is a sporting goods resale franchise built on a buy, sell, and trade model: customers bring in used sports and fitness equipment for cash or store credit, and locations resell it alongside new gear at value prices. Founded in 1983 and franchising since 1988, the brand serves families, youth athletes, teams, and fitness enthusiasts in their local markets.

The franchise is part of Winmark Corporation, a Minnesota-based resale specialist with more than 1,300 locations across its brands. Play It Again Sports is the largest of Winmark’s concepts, with a territory-protected network of roughly 300 brick-and-mortar stores across the United States and Canada.

The model sits in what Winmark calls the high-value resale niche, refined over more than three decades. Stores constantly refresh inventory through customer trade-ins, giving owners a steady supply of low-cost stock and shoppers an affordable alternative to full-price retail. A proprietary point-of-sale system helps owners price used items consistently and manage merchandising across categories.

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Why buy a Play It Again Sports Franchise?

Buying a Play It Again Sports franchise gives an owner an established retail format in a category with steady, value-driven demand. Used-gear resale tends to hold up when households tighten spending, and the brand’s recognition draws budget-conscious shoppers and growing families who replace equipment as children move through sports and seasons change.

The Winmark backing is a meaningful advantage. Owners gain a proprietary pricing and point-of-sale system, a Buyers Certification Program for sourcing quality used inventory, third-party vendor partnerships for new product, and ongoing style and trend guidance. Because inventory is largely customer-supplied through trade-ins, the model can support healthier gross margins than conventional retail.

Play It Again Sports Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1983

    • Franchising Since

      1988

    • New Startup Cost

      $346,300 – $459,700

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $25,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      $1,500

      per Year

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      309

    • New Units Opened *

      15

    • Units Transferred *

      7

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $1,172,630

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Play It Again Sports – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Incoming owners receive around two weeks of initial training (approximately 80 hours) at Winmark's corporate headquarters, plus an online training platform and ongoing field support. Day-to-day operations run on a proprietary point-of-sale system that sets resale pricing and a cloud-based reporting tool for remote access, backed by the Buyers Certification Program for sourcing used inventory and monthly "What's Hot" style and trend communications. Resale buyers should confirm with Winmark what transfer training and system access are provided to a new owner and any retained staff when the store changes hands.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The model suits a hands-on, retail-minded operator who enjoys inventory management, merchandising, and day-to-day floor operations. No sporting goods background is required, but owners should be comfortable buying and pricing used equipment, managing and motivating staff, and building relationships with local schools, leagues, and sports families. Community-minded operators who like active customer interaction and consistent local marketing tend to fit best, since each store's success depends heavily on its local reputation and a reliable flow of trade-in inventory.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Play It Again Sports has ranked on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 consistently since 2013, including the 2026 list, a signal of durability and scale within franchising. As the largest brand under Winmark Corporation, the Resale Company, it carries the credibility of a parent with more than 1,300 resale locations and a franchisee renewal rate the company reports at 99%. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific store's local reputation, customer reviews, and visibility within its territory.

  4. Industry / Market

    Play It Again Sports operates within the US sporting goods stores industry, worth roughly $118 billion in 2026. Demand is supported by continuous youth and adult sports participation, with families regularly replacing gear as children grow and seasons change. The trade-in and resale model adds resilience: it appeals to value-conscious shoppers in tighter economic conditions and aligns with rising consumer interest in sustainability and reuse. For resale buyers, local demand depends on the territory's demographics, youth sports activity, and the store's standing within its community.

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