Established
2002
Franchise Units
286
Minimum Investment
$59,900
Franchise Fee
$24,900
Total Investment Range
$69,900
Home Based
No
Description
i9 Sports® is the nation’s leading youth sports league franchise, offering organized, age-appropriate recreational sports for kids in a fun, safe, and family-friendly environment. With a unique approach that emphasizes fun, convenience, and sportsmanship, i9 Sports is revolutionizing youth sports by eliminating the overly competitive culture and prioritizing child development.
This low-cost, home-based franchise is ideal for entrepreneurs passionate about sports and community involvement. Franchisees manage local leagues across multiple sports like soccer, basketball, flag football, baseball, and more without needing to own sports facilities.
Background
Established Year: 2002
Franchise since: 2003Founders: Frank Fiume
Active Units: 286
Ownership: Owned by Youth Enrichment Brands (YEB), a major player in the youth activities space that provides deep institutional support and resources.
Brand Journey: What started as a local flag football league in Tampa, Florida, has evolved into a national powerhouse. Today, i9 Sports has served over 3 million registered players across hundreds of communities, maintaining a consistent focus on its core mission: Helping Kids Succeed in Life Through Sports.
Support Training
i9 Sports is famous for its comprehensive support structure. They don't just hand you a whistle and wish you luck; they guide you through a phased onboarding process:
Pre-Launch (Phase I & II): Includes comprehensive classroom training at the corporate headquarters in Tampa and deep-dive webinars covering the "Countdown to Game Time" checklist.
Operational Support: Every franchisee is assigned a Dedicated Franchise Support Coach. You’ll have a personal mentor to help you navigate logistics, facility acquisition, and staff hiring.
Marketing & Branding: You receive a localized digital presence, professionally designed marketing collateral, and a national brand fund that drives awareness to your specific territory.
Proprietary Software Training: Complete mastery of the internal management system so you can run your league efficiently from a laptop.
Ongoing Education: Annual conferences, regional meetings, and constant "best practice" sharing within the franchisee network.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal i9 Sports franchisee is:
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Passionate about youth development and community sports
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A strong communicator and relationship-builder
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Detail-oriented and organized
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Comfortable with marketing and local outreach
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Energetic, motivated, and aligned with the brand’s mission
No sports background is required—just a love for community involvement and leadership skills.
Financial Detail
| Category | Investment Range / Fee Details |
| Minimum Liquid Capital | $50,000 |
| Total Estimated Investment | $59,900 – $69,900 |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $24,900 |
| Territory Fee | $15,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 7.5% of gross revenue |
| National Brand Fund | 2% of gross revenue |
| Local Marketing Requirement | 2% of gross revenue |
| Infrastructure Cost | Minimal (Home-based; equipment: $3,000–$4,000) |
| Working Capital (3 Months) | $8,000 – $13,000 |
| Average Unit Revenue (AUV) | $330,798+ (based on reported Item 19 data) |
| Break-Even & ROI | Estimated payback within 1.6 to 3.6 years |