How to Start a Pro Image Sports Franchise in 7 Steps: Checklist

The official franchise website asks prospects to complete a confidential qualification report and describes financial and personal background checks. Neither the public site nor the 2026 FDD publishes a minimum credit score, net worth, or liquid-capital threshold, and passing screening does not guarantee approval.

The Franchise Agreement adds firm gates: the franchisee is responsible for funding and may not finance more than 70% of the amount needed to open. For an entity franchisee, the “Operating Principal” generally must own at least 20% of ownership and voting interests unless the franchisor approves less in writing, control franchise decisions, and bind the entity.

Each 5%+ owner, plus that owner’s spouse or domestic partner, must guarantee the obligations. The Operating Principal remains the primary franchisor contact and must participate in financial oversight, site selection, construction, personnel decisions, training, meetings, and inspections. A trained on-premises manager is required unless the Operating Principal manages full time.

The FTC requires delivery of the FDD at least 14 calendar days before a prospect signs a binding agreement with, or pays money to, the franchisor or an affiliate in connection with the sale. This is a disclosure-review period, not the total application timeline or an approval guarantee.

The FTC Consumer’s Guide says a prospect may request the FDD after the franchisor agrees to consider the application; the governing framework is the FTC Franchise Rule.

For Pro Image Sports, the $30,000 initial franchise fee is due in a lump sum when the Franchise Agreement is signed. The 2026 Franchise Agreement says no rights or privileges under the agreement exist until that fee is paid in full, and the fee is non-refundable. The signing date then becomes the trigger for the 90-day site-approval deadline, the 12-month lease deadline, and the outside 19-month opening deadline.

No. Exhibit A-1 first identifies a Search Area, which is not the protected Territory. The franchisor must approve the site in writing before the franchisee buys property, signs a lease, or starts construction. Only after site approval does the franchisor designate the Territory.

Item 12 calls the Territory non-exclusive but states that, while the franchisee is not in default, the franchisor will not place another traditional franchised or company-owned brick-and-mortar unit inside it. The boundary is generally the mall or shopping center; reserved channels remain separate.

If the franchisee misses an Article IV deadline, fails to cure, or the parties cannot agree on a site, the Franchise Agreement is subject to termination at the franchisor’s option. An extension is not an automatic right: the agreement says the franchisor may grant one in its discretion if the franchisee demonstrates a good-faith effort to comply.

The Operating Principal and managers must successfully complete initial training, generally lasting two to five days depending on experience and competency. The disclosed curriculum covers vendors and inventory, e-commerce and social media, construction, operations, merchandising, financial management, and store visits, with optional in-store training.

Training must be completed to the franchisor’s satisfaction at least six weeks before opening. Attendees sign a nondisclosure agreement; initial instruction is provided without tuition, while the franchisee bears attendee travel, lodging, meals, wages, and related costs.

Before opening, the franchisee must be compliant with the Franchise Agreement, have all applicable governmental permits, licenses, certificates of occupancy and authorizations, conform to system standards, hire sufficient personnel, complete required pre-opening training and certifications, pass the franchisor’s inspection, and receive written approval to open. Inspection may be virtual.

Opening dependencies also include the designated POS system, required insurance proof, compliant signage, and sports-related inventory sourced from authorized licensees under system specifications.

The 2026 FDD discloses no Development Agreement or Area Development Agreement. Additional units require the then-current Franchise Agreement and remain subject to territory availability, current qualification criteria, good standing, operational and financial review, and franchisor discretion; there is no disclosed development schedule.

Item 12 says the franchisor may, at its discretion, offer nontraditional locations such as airports, universities, arenas, transportation facilities, large retail stores, or educational facilities under the then-current Franchise Agreement. Because no separate nontraditional sequence is disclosed, verify in writing which site, lease, construction, territory, training, and deadline provisions apply.

The official site also markets conversion and small-town concepts, but the FDD attaches no separate conversion agreement or process. Confirm the governing agreement before relying on a different path.

Use the official Pro Image Sports franchise site for current application messaging, but use the 2026 FDD and Franchise Agreement for contractual opening requirements. FTC guidance recommends reviewing the full FDD and contacting current and former franchisees.