2026 FDD Issued Mar 16, 2026, amended Oct 13, 2026 Minnesota Commerce (CARDS) Checked Nov 2, 2026
Play It Again Sports Franchise Cost (2026)
A Play It Again Sports franchise costs an estimated $346,300 – $459,700 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). That total includes the $25,000 initial franchise fee (Item 5) and covers this format: Single Store. Item 6 lists continuing fee: 5% of Gross Sales, subject to the conditions below.
- Total investment
- $346K – $460KItem 7 source and qualifications
- Franchise fee
- $25KItem 5 source and terms
- Continuing Fee
- 5% of Gross SalesItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Brand fund
- $1,500 per yearItem 6 conditions and fee bases apply
- Units (2025)
- 309Item 20 source and scope
- Franchise exit rate
- 1.9% / yrCalculated 3-year average; definition and source
What stands out about Play It Again Sports
Sales here are skewed by a few large stores. The average of $1,172,630 sits well above the median, and the single highest-selling store reported far more than a typical one, so most stores fall short of the average. Stores opened in recent years average noticeably less than those open longer, a gap a buyer should expect to start in.
The margin on used and new sporting goods is thinner than the headline sales suggest. Item 19's gross profit, sales minus the cost of the goods, leaves a much smaller share of sales, before any rent, wages or fees. Item 6 adds that keeping shelves stocked takes a large outlay every quarter, which shapes how much working capital an owner needs beyond the Item 7 estimate.
Fixed and percentage costs combine. The royalty of 5% of Gross Sales is paid weekly, a flat yearly marketing fee applies, and owners must devote a set share of sales to advertising through the new ad fund, cooperatives and local marketing. Exits are rare: Item 20 shows a few terminations a year among 309 franchised stores at the end of 2025.
What are the initial franchise fees and financial requirements for Play It Again Sports?
Item 5 lists an initial franchise fee of $25,000 for Play It Again Sports. Check the cited Item 5 for payment timing, discounts and format-specific terms.
Item 5 (PDF pages 12-13): the Initial Franchise Fee is $25,000 for a single Store, or $15,000 for a second or later Store or for an existing franchisee of another Winmark brand, paid at signing and non-refundable. The Winmark point-of-sale system and proprietary software cost $18,800 to $22,700 per Store. New sporting goods for opening inventory cost $40,000 to $60,000, of which only $0 to $2,000 is paid to Winmark.
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 12.
This record lists no minimum net worth or liquid-capital requirement for Play It Again Sports, because no sourced figure has been recorded. Ask the franchisor for its current financial qualifications in writing.
How much does it cost to open a Play It Again Sports franchise? (Item 7)
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 17.
Item 7 of Play It Again Sports’s 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document estimates the total cost to open one single store at $346,300 – $459,700. This total includes the initial franchise fee.
| Expense Category | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Fixtures and Supplies | $40,000 | $52,000 |
| Signs | $11,000 | $16,000 |
| Security System and/or Cameras | $1,500 | $4,000 |
| Point-of-Sale (POS) System | $18,800 | $22,700 |
| Leasehold Improvements | $7,000 | $12,000 |
| Build-Out | $35,000 | $55,000 |
| Deposits and Business Licenses | $8,000 | $18,000 |
| Letter of Credit | $0 | $5,000 |
| Opening Inventory | $100,000 | $120,000 |
| Miscellaneous Pre-Opening Expenses | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| Rent – First 3 Months | $20,000 | $30,000 |
| Additional Funds – 3 Months | $40,000 | $50,000 |
| Total | $346,300 | $459,700 |
For comparison, the median high-end investment among 5 retail records without a source-review hold is $485,900.
Item 7 (PDF pages 17-18) prints $346,300 to $459,700 for one Store; its 13 lines add to that total. Opening inventory is the largest line and is prepaid when ordered. A letter of credit of up to $5,000 may be needed for some purchases.
What ongoing royalties and fees does Play It Again Sports charge? (Item 6)
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 13.
Item 6 of Play It Again Sports’s 2026 FDD lists the charges below. Recurring charges and charges triggered by a transfer, renewal or other event have different conditions. Read each fee’s basis and notes before comparing rates.
How to read an Item 6 fee table.
| Fee Type | Amount / Rate | Payment Frequency | Notes & Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing Fee | 5% of Gross Sales | Every period | 5% of Gross Sales, withdrawn weekly for the prior week; franchisees with earlier agreements may pay less. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Marketing Fee | $1,500 per year | Every period | $1,500 per year, due January 1 (prorated in the first year); may rise by no more than $1,000 over the term. (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Advertising Spending Requirement (Ad Fund, Cooperative and Local Marketing) | 6% of Gross Sales | Every period | Advertising Fees, cooperative contributions and local marketing must together reach at least 6% of Gross Sales each calendar year; Winmark may collect and spend any shortfall (notes 5-7). (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| North American Ad Fund | 2% of Gross Sales | When it applies | From January 31, 2027, 2% of Gross Sales paid weekly, which may rise to 3%; it counts toward the 6% requirement (note 7). (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Cooperative Advertising | Varies | When it applies | Set by a local cooperative if formed, at least 0.5% of Gross Sales, within the 6% requirement (note 5). (Item 6, PDF p. 13) |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000 before completion of a transfer. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Audit Expenses | Varies | When it applies | Audit costs if an understatement exceeds 2%. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Renewal Fee | $10,000 | When it applies | $10,000 at least 30 days before the agreement expires. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Software Fee | $295 per month | Every period | $295 per month plus tax from the month after opening; subject to compounded annual increases of 10% (note 9). (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Technology Fee | Varies | When it applies | Currently $0; if established, estimated at $500 to $2,500 per year per Store, with 10% annual increases (note 10). (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Remodeling Expenses | Varies | When it applies | Required modernization no more than once every 5 years (note 11). (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Insurance | Varies | When it applies | Reimbursement if Winmark pays a premium you failed to pay. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Inventory | Varies | When it applies | Ongoing replenishment of new and used sporting goods, generally $90,000 to $150,000 per quarter (note 12). (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Interest Expenses | Varies | When it applies | The lesser of 18% per year or the legal maximum on late payments. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
| Costs and Attorneys' Fees | Varies | When it applies | Costs and reasonable attorneys' fees if you lose a dispute with Winmark. (Item 6, PDF p. 14) |
Explore annual fees and payback assumptions
Start with the recorded Play It Again Sports inputs, then enter your own operating costs and sales assumptions. The result is a scenario, not an FDD profit forecast.
Play It Again Sports startup investment and modeled fees over 10 years
Over a 10-year period, startup investment plus modeled recurring fees for Play It Again Sports total approximately $1,686,593 – $1,799,993. Based on the average gross sales, franchised stores disclosed in Item 19 ($1,172,630, 12 months ended December 27, 2025), recurring fees come to about $134,029 a year:
| Expense Component | Low ($) | High ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Startup investment (Item 7) | $346,300 | $459,700 |
| Recurring fees × 10 years (Item 6) | $1,340,293 | $1,340,293 |
| Startup + modeled fees | $1,686,593 | $1,799,993 |
Calculated model, not a disclosed FDD total. Assumes flat sales at the disclosed figure. Excludes rent, payroll, food or product costs and taxes, which the FDD does not set. Change the assumptions in the calculator · Estimate your payback for Play It Again Sports.
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 7 (startup inputs), PDF p. 17.
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 6 (fee inputs), PDF p. 13.
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 19 (sales input), PDF p. 46.
Item 20: Play It Again Sports franchised outlet history
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 55.
Item 20 Table 3 reports 309 franchised outlets at the end of 2025. The company-owned table reports a further 0 outlets. Our calculated average annual franchised exit rate is 1.9% across the 3 reported years, using the definition below.
| Year | Franchised at Start | Opened | Reported Exits | At End | Franchise Exit Rate (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 281 | 17 | 4 | 294 | 1.4% |
| 2024 | 294 | 13 | 5 | 302 | 1.7% |
| 2025 | 302 | 15 | 8 | 309 | 2.6% |
Franchised units went from 281 to 309 over 3 years (+28).
Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations. A reacquired outlet may continue operating. How we calculate the exit rate. How to read the Item 20 outlet tables. Compare Play It Again Sports’s exit rate with other brands.
7 units changed owners in 2025.
Item 20 reports U.S. and Canadian Stores together; the record uses the combined Table 3 totals (PDF page 55), which match Table 1. At the end of 2025 there were 274 U.S. and 35 Canadian franchised Stores and no company-owned Stores. Transfers are U.S. and Canada combined.
How much do Play It Again Sports franchise owners make? (Item 19)
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 46.
Item 19 of the 2026 FDD reports average Gross Sales, franchised Stores of $1,172,630 (12 months ended December 27, 2025, 287 of 287 franchised U.S. and Canadian Stores operated by the same owners all year (of 309 open); 114 (40%) attained or exceeded the average). Besides sales, Play It Again Sports’s Item 19 reports “Average Gross Profit (Gross Sales less Cost of Goods Sold), franchised Stores” and “Median Gross Profit (Gross Sales less Cost of Goods Sold), franchised Stores”. Each figure follows the franchisor’s own definition in Item 19, which decides which costs are deducted and whether an owner’s salary is one of them. None of them is necessarily an owner’s take-home pay.
See every Play It Again Sports Item 19 figure, with its period and sample.
Estimate your payback for Play It Again Sports using Item 7 startup costs and Item 6 fee rules.
How to interpret Play It Again Sports’s Item 19 figures and sample limits.
How long is the Play It Again Sports franchise agreement term?
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 17, PDF p. 40.
The standard Play It Again Sports franchise agreement runs 10 years, with renewal terms of 10 years.
Item 17 (PDF page 40): a 10-year term, with the Software License Agreement running alongside it, renewable for additional 10-year periods if you meet the requirements.
How long does it take to open a Play It Again Sports franchise? (Item 11)
Source: Play It Again Sports 2026 FDD, Item 11, PDF p. 31.
Item 11 of the 2026 FDD states the time from Winmark's acceptance of the Franchise Agreement to opening: approximately 9-12 months. The agreement requires you to open within 12 months.
Franchises with a similar investment range
These published records are selected by proximity to Play It Again Sports’s $346,300 low-end Item 7 investment, starting with Retail. Formats, fees and source qualifications differ; the figures are not interchangeable budgets:
- Once Upon A Child $356K – $486K Retail
- The Good Feet Store $266K – $638K Retail
- FS8 $349K – $841K Fitness
- Waxing the City $340K – $646K Beauty & Personal Care
- European Wax Center $332K – $777K Source review pending Provisional publication Beauty & Personal Care
- F45 Training $362K – $858K Source review pending Provisional publication Fitness
Compare other retail franchises
Sources
Winmark Corporation Franchise Disclosure Document, issued March 16, 2026, as amended October 13, 2026, as filed with the Minnesota Commerce (CARDS). Read the source FDD PDF. How to get this FDD yourself.
- Item 5: cited PDF p. 12
- Item 6: cited PDF p. 13
- Item 7: cited PDF p. 17
- Item 19: cited PDF p. 45
- Item 20: cited PDF p. 55
- Agreement term (Item 17): cited PDF p. 40
Page references for Play It Again Sports use the PDF viewer's digital page count, not printed page headers. Some viewers download the document instead of opening the referenced page.
If the state document viewer does not open, use Minnesota Commerce's public filing instructions to look up the filing by franchisor name and document date.
Document & verification changelog
- November 2, 2026: Source check completed against the recorded FDD.
- November 2, 2026: Initial cost profile published from the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (issued March 16, 2026).
- November 2, 2026: Independently checked against the March 16, 2026 Minnesota Clean FDD, as amended October 13, 2026: cover, Items 5, 6, 7, 11, 17, 19 and 20. Corrected the issue date and recorded the amendment. Item 6 now lists all 15 rows and models the combined 6% advertising requirement once. Added the opening time, renewal terms, Item 19 scope and the U.S. and Canada scope of Item 20. Rewrote the analysis.
- October 13, 2026: Amendment date recorded for the source FDD.