Opening roadmap
How do you go from inquiry to opening a Soccer Shots franchise?
Milestone-only
Timeline mode. The 2026 Soccer Shots FDD does not disclose one complete inquiry-to-opening duration. The official franchise site estimates 6–12 weeks for recruitment and award; the contract then governs FDD review, signing, Initial Franchise Training, readiness and the Operations Start Date.
6–12
Weeks to award estimateOfficial recruiting estimate; due diligence drives timing.Official Soccer Shots FAQ
14
Calendar-day FDD floorBefore a binding agreement or franchisor payment.FTC Franchise Rule; 2026 FDD cover
4–5
Training daysInitial Franchise Training must be completed satisfactorily.2026 FDD, Item 11
34
Disclosed training hours26 classroom plus 8 on-the-job hours.2026 FDD, Item 11
1st
Operations Start DateFirst calendar day of the month after training.Franchise Agreement §1.II
Legal franchisor: Soccer Shots Franchising, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company.
FDD basis: 2026 U.S. Franchise Disclosure Document issued April 1, 2026.
Offer structure: one Soccer Shots Business under the Franchise Agreement; additional territories use a separate then-current Franchise Agreement plus Schedule B-1.
Evidence used: FDD Items 1, 5–12, 15–17, 20 and 22; Franchise Agreement and schedules; official
Soccer Shots franchising website; FTC guidance. Checked July 19, 2026.
Analytical pointThe 14-calendar-day federal disclosure period is not automatically added to the 6–12 week recruiting estimate. Soccer Shots places FDD review before validation and Discovery Day, allowing disclosure review and due diligence to overlap. Award, signing, payment and opening remain separate events.
Qualification
What must a Soccer Shots candidate qualify for before signing?
Soccer Shots does not disclose a universal FDD minimum net worth, liquidity threshold or franchise-award credit score. Its application requests financial and ownership information, a current résumé, background screening and a credit check; the Franchise Agreement adds Manager, ownership and guaranty requirements.
Application and résuméComplete the Fast Track Application, identify a preferred Territory and provide a current résumé, ownership details and source-of-funds information.
Background and credit screeningConsent to the application’s checks. Before agreement execution, current background checks are required for the franchisee, owners and Manager.
Full-time operational coverageA person who completes Initial Franchise Training to Soccer Shots’ satisfaction must serve as full-time Manager; this may be an owner, Principal Owner or employee.
Entity ownership structureFor an entity franchisee, a Principal Owner must hold at least 25% and have authority to act. Each 5%+ owner signs the Personal Guarantee.
No coaching résumé prerequisiteThe official FAQ says professional soccer playing or coaching experience is not required; that does not guarantee franchise approval.
Work authorization where applicableNon-U.S.-national owners must maintain status allowing them to live and work in the United States.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 15, p. 33; Franchise Agreement §§5.I and 6.A–B. See the official Fast Track Application and franchise FAQ. A financing-related credit note on the application should not be read as a disclosed franchise-award minimum.
Application to award
What is the verified sequence before Soccer Shots can open?
The official selection process runs from an initial call through application review, FDD and business-planning work, franchisee validation, virtual Discovery Day and a mutual award decision. The FDD then controls the signing, training and commencement obligations.
1Initial inquiry and call
Action: Discuss fit and preferred market.
Actor: Applicant and Franchise Development Team.
Timing: Officially described as a 15–30 minute call.
Next dependency: Both sides choose to continue.
2Fast Track Application and screening
Action: Submit application, résumé and requested ownership/financial information; complete screening.
Actor: Applicant.
Timing: No FDD contractual duration disclosed.
Blocker: Incomplete information or unsatisfactory due diligence.
3Application review call
Action: Discuss application responses and follow-up questions.
Actor: Franchise Development Team and applicant.
Timing: Part of the official 6–12 week recruiting estimate.
Next dependency: Candidate advances to disclosures and planning.
4FDD receipt and business planning
Action: Review the FDD and attached contracts; complete the Business Planning Exercise.
Actor: Applicant; advisers as chosen.
Timing: At least 14 calendar days before binding agreement or payment.
Blocker: Unresolved contract, territory or financing questions.
5Validation, Discovery Day and award
Action: Speak with franchisees, complete virtual Discovery Day and reach a mutual decision.
Actor: Applicant and Soccer Shots Leadership Team.
Timing: Recruiting process estimated at 6–12 weeks overall.
Next dependency: Franchise award is not yet contract execution.
6Finalize documents and sign
Action: Execute the Franchise Agreement, Data Sheet and applicable schedules; confirm whether Territory boundaries are attached or will follow under the 30-day contract mechanism.
Actor: Franchisee, required owners/guarantors and franchisor.
Timing: After the federal disclosure floor.
Blocker: Missing Manager, guaranty or required background documentation.
7Complete Initial Franchise Training
Action: Franchisee and Manager attend and complete training to Soccer Shots’ satisfaction.
Actor: Franchisee, Manager and franchisor trainers.
Timing: Approximately 4–5 days; scheduled after signing.
Blocker: Unsatisfactory completion can support termination.
8Finish readiness and commence operations
Action: Secure office acceptance, insurance, systems, approved supplies and legally required licenses; begin marketing, offering and selling.
Actor: Franchisee, with limited franchisor assistance.
Timing: No later than the Operations Start Date.
Blocker: Failure to open or obtain office consent by that date may lead to termination.
Official selection sequence: Soccer Shots Next Steps. Contractual sequence: 2026 FDD, Items 5, 8, 11, 12 and 15; Franchise Agreement §§1.II, 5.A, 6 and 8.A.
FDD and signing
What do you actually receive and sign before training?
FDD receipt, franchise award and Franchise Agreement execution are separate events. The 2026 FDD lists a Franchise Agreement with schedules, not a Development Agreement or Area Development Agreement for a new candidate.
| Document or stage |
Who signs or completes it |
Opening-process effect |
| FDD receipt |
Prospective franchisee signs the receipt and returns one copy. |
Documents disclosure; it is not the Franchise Agreement and grants no Territory. |
| Franchise Agreement + Data Sheet |
Franchisee and Soccer Shots Franchising, LLC. |
Records the Effective Date, Operations Start Date, Manager, Principal Owner and Territory data. |
| Personal Guarantee |
Each 5%+ owner of an entity franchisee. |
Personally guarantees contractual performance. |
| Financing Addendum |
Only if franchisor financing is approved and used. |
Adds promissory-note obligations; approval is not automatic. |
| State addenda and confidentiality schedules |
As applicable. |
May modify terms or require additional signatures. |
Contractual deadline
Under the FTC Franchise Rule, the FDD must be furnished at least 14 calendar days before a binding agreement or payment to the franchisor or an affiliate. The 2026 FDD says the Initial Franchise Fee is due when the Franchise Agreement is signed and is generally non-refundable. See the FTC’s
Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Franchise and 2026 FDD, Item 5, p. 7.
Territory and office
Does Soccer Shots require a retail site, field lease or buildout before opening?
No retail storefront or dedicated playing field is disclosed as a standard opening requirement. Programs run at childcare centers, preschools, parks and other community locations; the business is managed from an accepted Franchise Office Location that may be a home office.
Territory comes from the contract, not the office. The FDD describes approximately 500,000 people. The Data Sheet identifies the Territory; if absent at signing, §1.RR provides notice within 30 days after the Effective Date.
Office acceptance is separate. The franchisee selects the Franchise Office Location. Soccer Shots must accept it in writing no later than the Operations Start Date.
Class locations are a franchisee dependency. Soccer Shots does not find class sites or assist with ordinances, building codes, permits, construction or remodeling there.
Territory is not exclusive. Item 12 provides defined protections and exceptions but expressly denies an exclusive territory. Office acceptance or market discussion does not change that.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 11, pp. 21 and 27; Item 12, pp. 27–29; Franchise Agreement §§1.RR and 5.A. The official business model page likewise states that a franchisee does not need to own or rent a field or facility.
Training
What training must be completed before the Operations Start Date?
The franchisee and Manager must complete Initial Franchise Training to Soccer Shots’ satisfaction before the Operations Start Date. The FDD discloses approximately 4–5 days, 26 classroom hours and 8 hours of on-the-job sales training in the Territory.
Initial Franchise Training: 34 disclosed hours
Back Office / Admin
6.0 h
Company Information
1.25 h
Leadership Development
1.0 h
Sales — in Territory
8.0 h
Interpretation: The 8-hour in-Territory sales component is the largest block; classroom training totals 26 hours. After successful training, one franchisor representative provides one day of commencement assistance, including local marketing and potential-customer visits.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 11, pp. 23–24; Franchise Agreement §6.B–C. Training is scheduled after signing; the current annual schedule can change.
Training is not opening authorization
Successful training removes a contractual pre-opening blocker, but the FDD does not describe a separate formal “opening certificate.” The franchisee still must complete the other pre-opening obligations and begin marketing, offering and selling authorized programs no later than the Operations Start Date.
Opening readiness
What must be ready before Soccer Shots operations begin?
The critical path is operational rather than construction-heavy: training, office acceptance, insurance, systems, supplies, personnel compliance, payment infrastructure and applicable licenses must be ready as the franchisee develops customer and host relationships.
Franchise Office Location acceptedObtain written consent by the Operations Start Date. A home office may be requested, subject to contract restrictions.
Required insurance in forceAfter signing and before the Operations Start Date, maintain required coverage and provide evidence when requested.
Computer and operating systems readySet up required hardware, Internet access, Soccer Shots email, enrollment and approved software; provide bank information before accepting enrollments.
Approved equipment, vehicle and suppliesUse approved sources. An alternative-supplier request needs at least 30 days’ prior written notice and may require testing.
Marketing materials approvedUse provided or approved materials. Permitted custom submissions require at least 5 business days’ advance submission; silence is not approval.
Personnel and legal complianceCoaches must complete required training; applicable background checks, licenses, permits, certificates and host requirements remain the franchisee’s responsibility.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 7–8 and 11, pp. 14–18 and 21–27; Franchise Agreement §§5.A–I, 6.D and 8.I. Soccer Shots’ official support page describes enrollment technology, equipment sourcing and an initial sales visit, but the FDD controls the contractual scope of assistance.
Responsibility matrix
Who controls the main dependencies between signing and opening?
The franchisee controls most readiness work; Soccer Shots controls training delivery, Territory documentation and office acceptance; third parties control insurance, screening, leases, licensing and host-site access. Those roles should not be treated as shared guarantees.
| Phase |
Applicant / franchisee |
Soccer Shots |
Third-party dependency |
| Selection |
Application, résumé, disclosures, screening consent. |
Review, due diligence, award decision. |
Background and credit providers. |
| Disclosure / signing |
Review FDD and contracts; complete required checks and signatures. |
Furnish FDD; execute Franchise Agreement; document Territory. |
Professional advisers; state-law requirements. |
| Office / Territory |
Select office and negotiate any lease or purchase. |
Accept office in writing; define Territory under the contract. |
Landlord or seller if a non-home office is used. |
| Training |
Franchisee and Manager attend and pass. |
Schedule and deliver Initial Franchise Training. |
Travel and lodging providers. |
| Readiness |
Insurance, systems, vehicle, supplies, staff and legal compliance. |
Specifications, approved-source lists, systems and limited support. |
Insurers, suppliers, government authorities and host venues. |
| Commencement |
Begin marketing, offering and selling by the Operations Start Date. |
One-day post-training field assistance; no separate opening certificate disclosed. |
Market readiness and customer/host availability. |
Alternative paths
How do an additional Territory or a resale change the process?
The 2026 FDD does not disclose an upfront multi-unit Development Agreement. An existing franchisee may request an additional Territory under a new then-current Franchise Agreement and Schedule B-1; a resale follows the transfer provisions and requires the buyer to qualify as an Assignee.
| Path |
Governing documents |
Process difference |
| New single franchise |
Franchise Agreement + Data Sheet and applicable schedules. |
Initial Franchise Training and all standard pre-opening obligations apply. |
| Additional Territory |
Then-current additional Franchise Agreement + Schedule B-1 Addendum. |
Approval is discretionary. A separate office may be waived, and repeat Initial Franchise Training may be waived if the same trained Manager continues. |
| Resale / transfer |
Transfer application and consent process + then-current Franchise Agreement. |
Assignee must satisfy current applicant standards, complete the application process and required training; the seller must submit transfer materials at least 30 days before the proposed transfer. |
Sources: 2026 FDD, Items 5, 17 and 22; Franchise Agreement §10 and Schedule B-1. The official Available Territories page identifies some current opportunities as resales, but availability changes and must be verified directly.
Buyer verification
What should you verify before signing and again before opening?
The FDD provides no guaranteed opening date. Verify the dependencies most likely to move the schedule: training, Territory documentation, Manager structure, office acceptance and third-party readiness.
Next available training dateConfirm the post-signing training date and whether the 8-hour in-Territory sales component and one-day field visit are scheduled separately.
Exact Territory attachmentConfirm the Data Sheet boundaries and, if absent at signing, the contract’s 30-day notice mechanism.
Manager and guarantor structureConfirm the full-time Manager, Principal Owner and every 5%+ owner who must sign the Personal Guarantee.
Office acceptance and insurance evidenceConfirm the accepted office configuration and required proof of insurance before the Operations Start Date.
Local and host requirementsVerify licensing, child-safety screening, venue access and applicable permits or certificates with authorities and host organizations.
Franchisee validationUse Item 20 and Exhibits F/F-1 contacts to ask how long screening, training scheduling, office acceptance and first customer acquisition took.
For due-diligence context, see Soccer Shots’ official Role of a Franchisee page and the FTC’s franchise buyer guide. The FTC recommends reviewing all 23 FDD Items and speaking with current and former franchisees before investing.
Bottom line
What is the practical opening path for a Soccer Shots franchisee?
The verified path is inquiry → application/screening → FDD and business-planning due diligence → validation and virtual Discovery Day → award → Franchise Agreement/Territory documentation → Initial Franchise Training → readiness → commencement by the Operations Start Date. The total timeline is undisclosed. The main applicant-controlled dependency is completing screening, Manager/entity documentation and readiness; the main franchisor-controlled dependency is training scheduling. The key contractual deadline is the Operations Start Date, including office consent and commencement of marketing, offering and selling.
