Sports franchise owners Jim and Becky Avers recommend opening an i9 Sports franchise to entrepreneurs who enjoy kids and sports
i9 Sports franchise owner Jim Avers enthusiastically recommends an i9 Sports franchise to like-minded entrepreneurs who enjoy working with kids and sports. He left a 30-year-old lawn care business to pursue a more rewarding career. One day, researching franchise opportunities, he discovered i9 Sports.
It didn’t take long for Jim to recognize that opening an i9 Sports franchise had real potential for him and his wife, Becky. Having raised four athletic sons, Jim spent many weekends on ball fields. He usually volunteered as coach for his boys’ sports teams.
“Coaching my sons in sports became one of the best parts of the week — going to practice, games or tournaments with my kids,” Jim says. “Since I’ve always thought sports taught kids lessons beyond the field, I was interested to learn more about the sportsmanship values that i9 Sports teaches. I met with the home office team, and the people were great; everything just clicked.”
Jim and Becky Avers celebrated their franchise’s fifth year this past spring; their business opened in April 2012 in the Denton County, Texas, area near the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. He started with just one field and 150 kids, but the franchise has now grown to about 1,500 kids playing in four venues.
Owning an i9 Sports franchise offers entrepreneurs a great deal of independence and flexibility, and the opportunity to build a business that helps others. Jim says that seeing hard work pay off in such a tangible way is deeply gratifying. “This is a sports-rich area with lots of local, well-organized programs,” Jim says. “We knew we were going into a competitive area and we would have to work hard on marketing to set ourselves apart. It’s rewarding to see our business grow, especially since it’s ours and we have a passion about it.”
Jim is committed to i9 Sports’ unique approach to youth sports, which highlights the importance of making sure the kids have fun. “We speak to all parents throughout the season and reinforce the mission. I like to say we’re running a ‘highly organized sandlot experience’ — meaning, we all remember going out to the fields as kids and playing. You didn’t really care who won or lost; you had a good time playing with your buddies. Honestly, today, too often, we adults have over-organized sports, and the kids just don’t have fun. At i9 Sports, all the kids have a fun, positive experience.”
Jim and Becky credit hard work and a hands-on approach for the financial success of their i9 Sports business. “As long as you don’t disassociate yourself from the business and think you can grow something from afar — which is possible but is not our way of doing it — you can make money doing something you like,” Jim says. “The more you put into your business, the more you get back. It’s important to be involved in the business, roll up your sleeves and take part in every aspect of growing it.”
What would Jim say to someone who’s interested in opening an i9 Sports franchise — maybe to someone who is thinking of leaving behind a successful business, just as he did?
“If kids and sports are your cup of tea, you should consider i9 Sports, absolutely!” Jim says. “The whole business is rewarding. You get to see the results of your hard work and watch as your business becomes something people will talk about.”
i9 Sports is the country’s premier youth sports franchise
i9 Sports is the nation’s first and largest youth sports league franchise that offers flag football, soccer, baseball and T-ball, basketball, lacrosse and cheerleading to children between the ages of 3 and 14. i9 Sports provides a youth sports experience unlike any other by teaching the importance of good sportsmanship on the field and in life. With convenient, flexible hours that translate into an enviable work/life balance, and no real estate or large upfront inventory requirements, i9 Sports is a compelling low-investment franchise opportunity with an attractive profit potential. Our long-term vision is to become the undisputed leader in recreational youth activities worldwide by delivering a superior and extraordinary customer experience.
Learn more about i9 Sports franchise
We are seeking qualified candidates to become i9 Sports franchise owners. Download our free report to start a conversation with us about opening an i9 Sports franchise!
