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2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#401 Ranked #432 last year
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Initial investment
$314K - $421K
Units as of 2024
298 Increase 8.8% over 3 years

Play It Again Sports is a Winmark Corporation-owned sporting goods retailer. The company offers new and used sporting merchandise in North America. The franchise was founded in 1983 and began franchising in 1988. 

Today, the brand has grown to become one of the biggest sporting goods retailers in North America, with many locations across the U.S. and Canada. By blending the sales of new and used name-brand sporting equipment, Play It Again Sports stores continue to be a significant driving force in the industry. 

Why You May Want to Start a Play It Again Sports Franchise

Play It Again Sports has carved out a great spot for themselves in the retail marketplace through a proven resell system. This defendable position in the industry has been created by specializing in selling and buying within the market. By building its operation around core values of excellence and efficiency, the company has built a reputation of offering high-quality used and new fitness and sports goods at affordable prices.

The company does not require its potential franchisees to have a retail background. Play It Again Sports franchisees are often customers, fitness enthusiasts, and sports fans. This background creates a rich pool of knowledge that franchisees can leverage to better understand the market's needs and serve customers. By offering potential franchisees an opportunity to start a franchise, Play It Again Sports has carved out a niche in the industry and has survived for nearly four decades.

What Might Make a Play It Again Sports Franchise a Good Choice?

To be part of the Play It Again Sports team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment that will include a franchise fee and other startup costs. Ongoing fees will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. If your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand's requirements, you may qualify to open a franchise, and you can get started with the initial investment.

It may be wise to consider contacting your attorney or money manager to ensure that you may the necessary funds to open a Play It Again Sports franchise.

How To Start a Play It Again Sports Franchise

The first step towards becoming a Play It Again Sports franchisee is submitting an online qualification form. The franchisor will verify your background and credit information to determine if you meet the application requirements. If you are financially approved, the company will assist you in coordinating visits with existing franchisees.

If you find the opportunity to be the right fit for you, the franchisor may invite you to a discovery day at their headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Here, you will meet with the Play It Again Sports executive team. If mutual consent is established, the company will work with you to get the franchise agreement in order. It will take several months before you can open your store for business. As you wait for the grand opening, Play It Again Sports will take you through an extensive training program. Once you complete the training program and your store is ready, it will be time for you to step into the sporting goods industry. 

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Company Overview

About Play It Again Sports

Industry Recreation
Related Categories Sports Equipment & Apparel, Sports
Founded 1983
Parent Company Winmark Corp.
Leadership Brett Heffes, CEO
Corporate Address 605 Hwy. 169 N., #400
Minneapolis, MN 55441
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since 1988 (36 years)
# of employees at HQ 89
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.

This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada

# of Units 298 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Play It Again Sports franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$25,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$314,300 - $420,800
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$400,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$90,000 - $105,000
Royalty Fee Information Circle
5%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
$1.5K/yr.
Term of Agreement Information Circle
10 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing Play It Again Sports has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 18.5 hours
Classroom Training 42 hours
Ongoing Support
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 3-5
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Play It Again Sports landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Play It Again Sports ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022