Sports Franchise Opportunities

Sports Franchise Opportunities

What is a sports franchise?

In the UK, sports franchises cover a broad range of sectors, from after-school clubs for children to sports bars, sports clothing and equipment suppliers. Niche sports franchises are also growing. Examples include cycling, running and water sports franchises.

Trends in sports franchising 

Sport as a sector is experiencing a lot of change. And change can bring opportunity for some. New trends include eSports and a growing interest in more inclusive business models – that means more sport for women, people with disabilities and both the young and the old. 

Patrick Burge, regional director of Lime Licensing Group, describes sport as a “mature market with room for growth in more specialised areas”.

He adds that franchises in areas such as active ageing are likely to be popular as people live longer. New sports are becoming popular. He is working with a franchise specialising in padel tennis, which is essentially a hybrid of tennis and squash.  

Burge adds that, while some sports franchises have gone online or hybrid since Covid, many have high fixed costs and getting the capital funding can be a challenge. “Finance remains sticky and has done so since 2010,” he states. 

How to get into sports franchising 

By buying into an established sports franchise, you have access to business knowledge, training and support.

However, Patrick stresses, it's still important to shop around, get informed about what is happening in the market and question the help you'll get. “The best sports franchises offer extensive and ongoing support,” he says. 

How do sports franchises make money?  

Sports businesses generally make money from sports sessions, merchandise, membership fees and events. However, rising costs and economic uncertainty have spawned different revenue models, including generating money via digital platforms, content or services (for example, online coaching or training plans).

Cost of running a sports franchise 

The cost of running a sports franchise varies hugely depending on the type of franchise you choose. Will it require a fixed premise and expensive equipment, for example?

The initial fee can range from a few thousand to several hundred thousand pounds. Added to this are set-up and ongoing costs.

Franchises like First Gymnastics and Progressive Sports (which involves experts and coaches working with schools and community groups) have initial fees of between £8k-£15K. Meanwhile, Target Sports World, an indoor shooting range and target sports venue, estimates total capital of £345,000 is required, with a minimum personal investment of £150,000.  

Sports franchise example: Rise 

Rob Oyston was a successful children’s sports franchisor when he suffered a pulmonary embolism in 2018. He was put on anti-coagulant medication for life and told he could no longer play some of the sports he loved.

In hospital he met several people who had had strokes. “I thought maybe we can design sports for people with disabilities,” says Rob. A franchise idea was born. 

Working with his partners Sam and Trevor Brocklebank, Rob, a former PE teacher and sports lecturer, set up Rise. This sports franchise adapts sports like rugby, football, hockey and netball for people with disabilities by, for instance, using equipment made from foam.

As Tom is the founder of home care service Home Instead Senior Care, the team started by focusing on care homes and children’s hospices. They now cover everything from mental health facilities and day centres to special schools.

Rise also works with disability charities and with people with a range of disabilities, including those receiving palliative care and experiencing dementia. Rob and Trevor’s combined experience in care and sport (Rob owns the Sports Xtra franchise) has allowed the business to grow quickly. They now have 16 franchisees in 29 territories. 

They have also recently extended to corporate team building. Rob says he didn't initially think Rise would be of interest to corporates, but it has been embraced because of the programme’s ability to include everyone. 

"Every session is special"

Rob built the business model in Cardiff with guidance from Trevor. It was reignited after Covid and launched as a franchise business in late 2021. Rob describes Rise as “the most important thing I have ever done”. “Every session is special and you hear an amazing story or experience,” he adds. 

For instance, he talks about a 109-year-old man with dementia who was able to play dodgeball with his great-grandchildren. “His daughter and carers were crying when they saw him pass the ball. His daughter remembered when he was a rugby coach. It has a massive impact family-wide,” says Rob. Dementia sessions also include interludes for photos and music to stimulate memories. 

Rob says one challenge in the early days was that people didn’t understand what his sports franchise was about. They assumed it was similar to chair aerobics, but it is much more than that because it allows people to socialise, compete and engage in sports banter. At the end of each session someone wins a cup. 

Tailored package

Franchisees are offered a very comprehensive support package, including five days training at head office and shadowing the experts to learn how to reach out to care homes and others.

Franchisees get ongoing support tailored to their needs and regular check-ins. Rise is currently devising a recruitment support package as recruitment has been a challenge for some franchisees as they grow.  

Rob says franchisees are invited to see a session before they decide to take the plunge. He adds that the most important quality in a franchisee is a passion for what Rise does. 

The cost of a territory is £17.5K; £29.5K for two. That includes the cost of equipment, the operating system support, uniforms and more. However, regular running costs vary depending on the number of staff you employ and other factors. 

Rob is very proud of his sports franchise and hopes it can go international. He thinks there is nothing else like it. “I really believe people across the globe should be able to benefit from these sports,” he says.

“What sets us apart is that we enable people who thought they could no longer do so to play games again. This has benefits that are much broader than exercise. The progress we see in individuals is unbelievable. It is a true privilege to witness it.” 

A franchisee’s story 

Adam Sharp is a Paralympics table tennis player. He was born with a brain tumour which was only diagnosed when he was four. It has meant that he can't use the left side of his body.  

Adam grew up with a passion for sport. There were few sports he didn’t turn his hand to at school.  And when he left he trained as a sports coach.

He knew getting a job coaching children was going to be a challenge because he needed someone else to help with minor tasks such as tying children’s shoelaces.

He started coaching Parkinson’s patients through a friend and really enjoyed it. Then his mother saw a post on Facebook about Rise working in care homes in Cardiff. He says: “It looked like a brilliant company and Mum wondered if there was anything similar near us.” 

His mum Jos, who had taken time out from work to look after her own mother and help Adam through his school exams and college, found out that Rise was a sports franchise.

“I told Adam and he said let’s buy it,” she says. Adam had inherited some money from his grandmothers and the two got in touch with Rise in July 2023. By September they had launched as Rise’s 10th franchisee, covering St Albans, Welwyn and Hatfield in Hertfordshire. 

Support

They say the support, both to get initial bookings and on an ongoing basis in areas such as employment law, has been great.

Rise also recommended an accountant who understood the business model. Because Adam has trouble reading large amounts of text, Jos simplifies any guidance for him and the activity leaders.

Scaling the business means employing more activity leaders. They are getting to grips with that before they consider expanding to another territory.  

Jos and Adam say the feedback they have received has been very rewarding. Adam says the fact he is leading sessions shows people they can do it too.  

Jos says: “It’s not about the business. We have targets to grow every month, but that’s not why we’re doing it. This is about Adam getting the chance to share his knowledge with others for their benefit.” 

Sports franchises for sale 

If you're interested in buying a sports franchise, browse our wide range of franchise opportunities. You can also browse fitness studio franchises, health club franchises, gym franchises and education franchises.