Investment from
£15,995
Category
Children Franchises
Established
2008
About This Franchise
SportsCool is a market-leading provider of sports education for primary school children, established in 2008 by three former sports coaches. Operating across 30-plus territories, franchisees deliver PE lessons, after-school clubs, holiday camps and more to thousands of children each week. With a guaranteed income scheme, multiple revenue streams, and a consistent presence in the Elite Franchise Top 100, SportsCool offers a compelling route into the booming children's activity sector.
A detailed look at the SportsCool Franchise franchise opportunity, what's involved and what makes it stand out.
The SportsCool Franchise is one of the most recognised and respected names in primary school sports education. Founded in 2008 by three passionate sports coaches, the brand has grown from a single territory into a thriving national network, consistently ranked among the top franchises in the country. If you're passionate about children, sport and building a business with real community impact, SportsCool could be the opportunity you've been looking for.
The SportsCool Franchise operates primarily within primary schools, delivering curriculum PE lessons, before and after school clubs, lunchtime sessions, holiday camps and birthday parties. This multi-revenue model means franchisees are not reliant on a single income stream. Every territory comes with an exclusive area covering a defined number of schools.
The franchise is structured around two models. Both operate within the same proven system, supported by the same award-winning training and support infrastructure.
Franchisees across the network speak highly of both the commercial results and the personal satisfaction of the role. One West Essex franchisee noted that while operating the Director model required focus and hard work in the early stages, exceeding first-year revenue targets by more than 50% made it more than worthwhile. Another franchisee from Lancaster highlighted how the franchise helped deliver financial security and a sustainable legacy for his family.
When you join the SportsCool Franchise, you benefit from a comprehensive onboarding process including hands-on training at SportsCool HQ and ongoing mentorship from the founding team, who still run their own territories and understand the realities of the business first-hand. This practical, founder-led approach sets the support on offer apart from many other franchises in the sector.
The market SportsCool sits in is large, statutory and growing. According to Sport England's Active Lives Children and Young People survey for the 2024 to 2025 academic year, 49.1 per cent of children and young people in England, around 3.6 million, now meet the Chief Medical Officers' guideline of 60 active minutes a day, the highest figure recorded since the survey began. Yet 28.4 per cent, roughly 2.1 million children, still average less than 30 minutes a day, with stubborn inequalities by ethnicity and household income. Schools sit at the centre of the response. Under the School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Document, every teacher is entitled to at least 10 per cent of their timetabled teaching time as planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time, and primary heads routinely fill that window with external sports providers. SportsCool franchisees are selling into that protected, recurring demand, alongside curriculum PE, breakfast and after-school clubs and lunchtime sessions.
SportsCool was founded in 2008 by Andy Preston, Lee Lysons and Matt Parker, three former sports coaches who had previously run franchises themselves and wanted to design a children's coaching business they would buy. They operated a single pilot territory for six years, refining sessions, school relationships and back-office systems, and only began offering franchises in 2014 once the pilot was a proven seven-figure operation. The brand was named the UK's top sports education franchise in the 2024 Elite Franchise Top 100, ranking 55th overall and finishing above Premier Education and Football Fun Factory. The founders still run their own territory today, which is unusual at this stage of a network and shapes the support model.
New franchisees go through a structured onboarding programme delivered by the founding team. Initial training is a three-day cluster at SportsCool HQ covering session design across the 25-plus sports in the catalogue, school sales conversations, safeguarding, the online assessment platform and the day-to-day operations of clubs, camps, parties and PE delivery. That feeds into an eight-week induction during which the central team works alongside the new operator on the live launch, helping book first schools and onboard early coaches. The headline differentiator is a five-year mentorship programme, with regular goal-setting calls, marketing reviews and access to the founders for the full term of the agreement. Support also includes HR guidance for hiring coaches, a bespoke income guarantee in the early months, ongoing sales coaching and access to centrally negotiated supplier deals on kit and equipment from partner brand Joma.
The SportsCool calendar is built around the academic year. From September to mid-December, weekdays revolve around in-school PE blocks, lunchtime sessions and after-school clubs, with the autumn term traditionally focused on signing new school contracts ahead of January. Spring brings the heaviest delivery weeks of the year, with curriculum PE running at full tilt and weekend birthday parties picking up. Easter, the May half-term, summer and October half-term unlock holiday camps, several of which are funded through the Department for Education's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. HAF is delivered by upper-tier local authorities and funded for the 2026 to 2027 financial year, with eligibility tied to benefits-related free school meals. SportsCool's status as a national delivery partner means franchisees can bid for blocks of guaranteed paid sessions across the four main holiday windows.
The Coach model suits energetic, hands-on operators who genuinely enjoy being in front of children all day, ideally with a background in coaching, teaching, PE, the armed forces or community sport. The Director model is for people who want to build a small business, recruit a team of coaches and split their week between sales, school relationships and day-to-day management. Both routes need someone comfortable approaching head teachers and selling on outcomes for pupils rather than price.
“"Managing the Director Model of the SportsCool franchise has allowed me to focus on strategy, growth, and relationship-building, leading to a hugely successful first year. We even exceeded our first-year revenue target by more than 50%. It took relentless focus on sales, marketing, and planning, but the results have been worth it."”
The SportsCool Franchise gives you HAF partner status, founder-led mentorship, and a 5-year support programme. Request information through Franchise Hunt to explore territories.
Interested in exploring more opportunities in this sector? Take a look at other sports franchise opportunities available on Franchise Hunt.
See where this franchise sits compared to others on Franchise Hunt
Cheaper than
70%
£16k
Under £20k
Franchises Like This
Children Franchises
Super Star Sport is the leading children's sports coaching franchise in the country, delivering fun, energetic sessions to over 25,000 children every week across 900+ locations. Founded in 2012 by Angelo Ciccarelli and now operating through 28+ franchise territories, the brand works with primary schools, nurseries, and early years settings to make every child's first experience of sport a positive one. A BFA Expanding Member with a proven model generating franchisee turnovers of £500,000 to £800,000+, Super Star Sport offers a purpose-driven business with strong demand and multiple revenue streams.
Sports Franchises
Little Kickers is the world's leading pre-school football franchise, founded in London in 2002 by Christine Kelly and operating in 26 countries with 320+ franchises and around 80,000 children attending sessions every week globally. The brand delivers fun, curriculum-linked football classes for children aged 18 months to seven years, combining FA-qualified coaching with early years learning principles. Family-friendly, flexible and community-focused, it is a rewarding business with proven global scale.
Education Franchises
Premier Education is the UK's leading provider of sports and physical activity to primary schools, delivering curricular, extra-curricular and holiday camp activities to over 2,700 schools through a network of more than 130 franchise territories. Founded in 1999, the brand employs 1,300-plus professional coaches and offers franchisees a year-round income model with full BFA membership, comprehensive 14-month training and exceptional network support.
Sports Franchises
Football Fun Factory is the number one children's football coaching organisation in the country, founded in 2017 and franchising since 2019. With over 100 franchisees across the UK and Ireland, the brand delivers weekly football sessions, holiday camps, parties and events for boys and girls aged two to twelve. Backed by former Manchester United player Luke Chadwick and with partnerships including Center Parcs, it is a fast-growing franchise opportunity for football lovers and ambitious entrepreneurs alike.
To find out more about the SportsCool Franchise franchise opportunity, simply click below to fill out the form to speak with a representative from the brand.
Request Free Information Today
The minimum investment for a SportsCool Franchise franchise starts from £15,995. This typically covers the franchise fee, training, and initial setup. Additional costs such as premises, equipment, and working capital may apply.
Yes, SportsCool Franchise provides training for new franchisees. This typically covers operations, business management, marketing, and ongoing support to help you get started and grow your franchise.
SportsCool Franchise offers third party financing options to help prospective franchisees fund their investment. Contact the franchise directly for details on available funding support.
SportsCool Franchise was established in 2008. With 18 years of experience, the brand has built a track record in the UK franchise market.
SportsCool Franchise currently has 30 franchise outlets operating across the UK, demonstrating network coverage and brand presence.
SportsCool Franchise franchise opportunities are available across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Contact the franchisor through the enquiry form to confirm specific territory availability in your area.
