USL Championship
USL Championship franchises enable investors to own and operate a men's professional soccer team (Club) participating in the USL Championship league, a Division II league sanctioned by the United Soccer Federation. Franchisees must comply with league standards, rules, minimum performance for revenues and attendance, and compete for fans, sponsors, merchandise, and event attendees against other sports and entertainment options. The business model involves substantial initial investments for team setup and ongoing league participation fees, targeting sports entrepreneurs in local markets.
Franchise Costs
No royalty or ad fund. Key ongoing fees include annual Participation Fee up to $378,896 (max 15% annual increase), $1.50 per ticket surcharge, USSF membership ~$106,667 and player registration $1,333 annually, plus variable reporting software, website hosting/maintenance, insurance, referees, and other pass-through fees.
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
This franchise did not provide Item 19 financial performance data.
Be careful if you are interested in investing. The lack of financial performance representations may indicate limited data or varying results across franchises.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How USL Championship Compares
Key Insights
- Higher investment than 100% of Sports & Recreation franchises
| Franchise | Investment | Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
USL Championship Current | $31.5M – $39.8M | $25.0M | N/A | 24 |
| FREEDOM BOAT CLUB | $224K – $503K | $50K | 6.0% | 269 |
| i9 SPORTS | $60K – $70K | $25K | 7.5% | 264 |
| AQUA-TOTS SWIM SCHOOLS | $1.6M – $2.9M | $50K | 6.0% | 131 |
| X-GOLF | $1.1M – $1.7M | $40K | 7.0% | 122 |
| Cruisin' Tikis | $83K – $124K | $20K | 6.0% | 106 |
Sports & Recreation Average 26 franchises | $1.8M – $2.7M | $1.0M | 7.0% | – |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 26 Sports & Recreation franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+6 more states
Franchisee Contacts
13 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.
| Name | SBA Loan |
|---|---|
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
John Smith ABC Franchise LLC | $350,000 2023 · Active |
13 Contacts Available
Unlock all USL Championship franchisee contacts with verified contact information
Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
Termination dispute with former franchisee (team operator) alleging improper termination, fraudulent inducement, and related financial obligations.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
The total initial investment to open a USL Championship franchise ranges from $31,486,450 to $39,761,944. This includes a franchise fee of $25,000,000.
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