Opening timeline
How long does it take to open a Play It Again Sports franchise?
9-12 months
Official typical period after agreement acceptance
The 2026 FDD states that the typical period from Winmark Corporation's acceptance of the Franchise Agreement to opening is approximately 9-12 months. This is not an opening promise: the agreement requires the store to open when the premises are ready or within 12 months after execution, whichever occurs first, and written opening approval is a separate requirement.
14
Calendar-day FDD review
Before a binding agreement or franchisor payment.
12 mo.
Contract ceiling
Earlier opening applies if premises are ready.
48 hrs.
Typical site response
Measured after Winmark receives a site request.
3
Required training sessions
All must be completed to Winmark's satisfaction.
$60K
Used inventory minimum
Winmark may refuse opening below this level.
Data basis. Legal franchisor: Winmark Corporation. FDD issuance date: March 16, 2026. Primary offer: one traditional Play It Again Sports retail store under one Franchise Agreement; separate rules apply to an additional store or transfer. Timeline mode: official total timeline. Evidence reviewed: FDD Items 1, 5-12, 15-17 and 20; Franchise Agreement Sections 1, 4, 7, 8, 10 and 15; Software License Agreement; Personal Guaranty; Additional Store Addendum. Checked July 17, 2026. State-specific addenda may modify the general terms.
Qualification
Who can qualify and what must the application disclose?
Winmark's current Play It Again Sports investment page states a minimum of $90,000-$105,000 in cash or liquid assets and $400,000 net worth, individually or with a financial partner. Financial information is verified as the candidate advances, but meeting these figures does not guarantee approval.
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Each partner applies separately. The
four-part franchise application requests personal, employment, financial and operating information for every proposed partner.
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Financial capacity is documented. Assets, liabilities, income, expenses, cash available, funding sources and business ownership are part of the application.
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Background matters are disclosed. The application asks about pending charges, convictions and personal or business bankruptcy; no universal credit-score minimum is published.
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An owner-operator is required. An individual franchisee must personally manage the store. For an entity, one individual must hold at least 50% of equity and voting control and personally manage it.
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Guarantors are identified. Every 10% or greater owner and that owner's spouse must sign the Personal Guaranty and be bound by payment, confidentiality and noncompete provisions.
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Experience is evaluated, not published as a minimum. Winmark says prior retail experience is not necessary, while the application asks what skills and experience support the candidacy.
Sources: official steps to ownership, official ideal-candidate guidance, 2026 FDD Item 15, p. 32, and Franchise Agreement Section 8(A).
Verified sequence
What happens from inquiry to written opening approval?
1
Submit qualification information
Action: Identify the proposed market, operator, partners and available capital.
Actor: Applicant and each partner.
Timing: No official review duration is disclosed.
Blocker: Incomplete financial or ownership information.
2
Complete mutual evaluation
Action: Speak with existing franchisees, attend Discovery Day if invited, and complete Winmark's final-approval review.
Actor: Applicant and Winmark.
Timing: Before franchise award; duration undisclosed.
Blocker: Discovery Day is not itself approval or a contract.
3
Receive and review the FDD
Action: Review the 23 Items, Franchise Agreement, Software License Agreement, guaranty and applicable state addenda.
Actor: Applicant, with independent advisers as appropriate.
Timing: At least 14 calendar days before signing or paying Winmark or an affiliate.
Blocker: Material agreement changes can create an additional review period under federal rules.
4
Sign the one-store agreements
Action: Execute the Franchise Agreement, Software License Agreement, Personal Guaranty and territory exhibit; pay the non-refundable initial fee at signing.
Actor: Approved franchisee, principal owners, spouses and Winmark.
Timing: After the federal review period.
Next dependency: Site, lease, financing and training remain incomplete.
5
Obtain site and lease approvals
Action: Locate a site inside the approved Development Area, submit it for consent, and send the proposed lease to Winmark before execution.
Actor: Franchisee, Winmark and landlord.
Timing: Site requests are typically reviewed within 48 hours.
Blocker: Site consent does not replace lease review or landlord acceptance.
6
Secure financing and complete training gates
Action: Attend Resale University 101, complete the online financial course, secure financing and execute the lease before Resale University 201, then complete in-store training.
Actor: Franchisee, lender, Winmark and training store.
Timing: Sessions are nonconsecutive.
Blocker: Unfinished financing, lease or course work delays the second session.
7
Design, permit and build the store
Action: Customize approved plans, obtain permits, hire contractors, complete leasehold improvements, install signs, fixtures, security and the POS System.
Actor: Franchisee, architect, contractor, suppliers and government authorities.
Timing: Runs in parallel where dependencies allow.
Blocker: Permitting, construction, landlord and equipment delays.
8
Prove opening readiness
Action: Hire and train staff, activate insurance and required technology, use designated service vendors, execute pre-opening marketing and assemble opening inventory.
Actor: Franchisee with suppliers and Winmark assistance.
Timing: Pre-opening assistance is typically 3-5 weeks before opening.
Blocker: Less than $60,000 of used inventory can stop authorization.
9
Receive written approval and open
Action: Obtain Winmark's written approval before commencing operations.
Actor: Winmark authorizes; the franchisee opens and operates.
Timing: Opening assistance is disclosed for the day before and opening day.
Blocker: Training, inventory, marketing or brand-standard deficiencies.
Sequence basis: official ownership process; 2026 FDD Items 5, 9 and 11; Franchise Agreement Sections 4, 7 and 8. The FTC franchise buying guide explains the federal disclosure timing rule.
Site approval
How are territory, site consent, lease review and buildout kept separate?
The Exclusive Territory is attached to the Franchise Agreement; the Development Area is the smaller area in which the franchisee may search. The FDD describes an Exclusive Territory typically extending 3-5 miles around the store, with population parameters that vary between urban and other markets. Winmark's U.S. territory page shows current market availability, but availability is not an award.
Territory exhibitDefines the Development Area and Exclusive Territory; it does not identify an approved storefront.
Site consentWinmark evaluates traffic, access, competition, demographics, premises, rent and similar factors.
Lease reviewThe proposed lease must be reviewed before execution and contain specified brand-protection provisions.
Plans and buildoutThe franchisee pays to adapt plans, obtain permits and build to Winmark's current standards.
Site approval is not lease approval
The franchisee is solely responsible for finding and obtaining the location. If Winmark and the franchisee cannot agree on a site, the Franchise Agreement may be terminated without refund of the initial fee. A site accepted by Winmark still depends on landlord terms, zoning, permits, financing and construction.
Source: 2026 FDD Item 11, pp. 23-24; Item 12, p. 29; Franchise Agreement Sections 1, 7(A)-(B) and 8(O). The official real-estate criteria describe a typical 3,500-4,000 square-foot retail format.
Training
What training must be completed before the store can open?
The owner-operator and any other trainee Winmark requires must successfully complete all three sessions to Winmark's satisfaction. Resale University 201 cannot begin until financing is secured, the lease is executed and the online financial-management course is complete. The official training and support page supplements, but does not replace, the FDD requirements.
Disclosed training and launch-support day counts
Bars use five days as the chart scale; lighter segments show disclosed ranges.
Resale University 101
4 days
Resale University 201
5+ days
In-store training
2-3 days
Pre-opening assistance
1-2 days
Opening assistance
2 days
Interpretation: the three training sessions total at least 11 disclosed days, but they are separated by financing, lease, online-course and scheduling dependencies.
Source: 2026 FDD Item 11, pp. 19 and 24-26; Franchise Agreement Sections 7(D)-(E). Travel, lodging, wages and the online course are the franchisee's responsibility.
Opening readiness
What must be installed, obtained and verified before authorization?
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POS and software: buy the Winmark-configured hardware, sign the Software License Agreement and install required systems.
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Connectivity: obtain dedicated broadband meeting the disclosed minimum speeds; the 2026 FDD excludes 5G as the required connection.
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Security and signage: install the required security system with at least four cameras and approved interior and exterior signs.
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Insurance: maintain required liability coverage through an A- or better AM Best carrier, name Winmark as additional insured and provide evidence when requested.
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Licenses and compliance: obtain locally applicable permits, business and secondhand-dealer licenses, music licenses if used, and required retailer-association membership.
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Approved sources: use designated suppliers for signs and flooring, bookkeeping, and pre-opening and first-year broadcast, online and social advertising.
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Staffing: employ enough trained personnel and have a designated management person on duty whenever the store is open.
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Inventory and marketing: meet opening inventory, pre-opening campaign and current brand-standard requirements before requesting written approval.
Sources: 2026 FDD Items 7, 8, 11 and 16; Franchise Agreement Sections 6(G), 8(D), 8(F), 8(J), 8(O)-(P) and 10. Local requirements vary by jurisdiction and must be verified with the landlord, contractors, insurers and government authorities.
Responsibility map
Who controls the critical opening dependencies?
Applicant or franchisee
Controls: truthful application, funding plan, owner-operator structure and adviser review.
Delivers: site proposal, lease, plans, permits, contractors, insurance, staff, systems, marketing and inventory.
Cannot delegate: the contractual duty to open and comply with Winmark's standards.
Winmark Corporation
Controls: candidate approval, Development Area, site consent, lease review, brand standards and training completion.
Provides: specifications, manuals, business-plan assistance, training, pre-opening support and opening assistance.
Authorizes: opening only through written approval.
Third parties
Landlord: lease economics, delivery condition and required lease language.
Lender and suppliers: financing, order timing, equipment, signs, fixtures and inventory.
Authorities and contractors: zoning, permits, inspections and construction completion.
Contractual deadline
Failure to open when the premises are ready or within 12 months after the Franchise Agreement is executed, whichever occurs first, is listed as a default that Winmark may terminate immediately without an opportunity to cure, subject to applicable law. The standard documents disclose no general extension right; any accommodation should be verified in a signed writing and against the applicable state addendum.
Alternative paths
What changes for an additional store or an existing-store acquisition?
Sources: 2026 FDD Items 1, 9 and 17; Additional Store Addendum Sections 1-3; Franchise Agreement Section 14(C).
Buyer verification
Which unresolved points should be confirmed before signing?
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Approval evidence: what remains after Discovery Day, and which people must receive final approval?
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Territory exhibit: are the Development Area and Exclusive Territory complete and mapped before execution?
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Site package: which documents trigger the typical 48-hour review, and what restarts the review clock?
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Opening deadline: how will “premises ready for occupancy” be documented, and does a state addendum alter termination rights?
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Training attendance: which owner, manager or partner must attend each session, and what happens after an unsuccessful completion?
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Opening approval: obtain the current written checklist for inventory, marketing, insurance, systems, permits, staffing and brand standards.
Synthesis
What is the verified path to opening?
The verified path is application and financial qualification, franchisee validation and Discovery Day, final approval, FDD review, execution of one store's agreements, territory and site work, lease and financing, three-part training, buildout and pre-opening readiness, then Winmark's written opening approval.
The total 9-12 month period is an official typical estimate measured from Winmark's acceptance of the Franchise Agreement, not a guarantee. The most important applicant-controlled dependency is securing an approved site and lease while completing financing, training, buildout, staffing and inventory. The most important outside dependencies are Winmark approvals plus landlord, lender, contractor, supplier and government timing. The key issue to verify is the earlier-of opening deadline and whether any state-specific rule changes its consequence.
