How to Finance a Let’s Go Pickleball Franchise: Indoor Club Costs
By Chris Cornella
A Let’s Go Pickleball franchise loan usually funds a large indoor club rather than a small storefront, so the building, the courts and the time it takes to build membership drive nearly every financing decision. This article covers what is publicly known about the brand, its SBA Franchise Directory listing, the loan programs that tend to fit and how lenders evaluate a request.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Let’s Go Pickleball; the name is used only to describe the business. Any figures in the franchisor’s disclosure document can change, loan programs and terms vary by lender and borrower, and every loan is subject to lender review and approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice, and buyers should review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a qualified franchise attorney and accountant.
Let’s Go Pickleball Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: a large indoor pickleball club, with its flagship in Peachtree City, Georgia.
- Franchisor entity: Let’s Go Pickleball, LLC.
- Initial franchise fee, royalty and brand fund: not published by the franchisor in any source we could verify; confirm them in Items 5 and 6 of the current FDD.
- Estimated initial investment: not published; Item 7 of the FDD is the only reliable source.
- Net worth and liquidity requirements: not published; ask the franchisor directly.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S8325, with a note about the Collateral Assignment of Lease when real estate secures the loan.
- Likely financing tools: SBA 7(a), SBA 504 if the club owns its building, conventional term loans, equipment financing and working capital lines.
What Is Let’s Go Pickleball?
Let’s Go Pickleball opened its indoor facility in Peachtree City, Georgia, in 2024, at Highway 74 and Moba Drive. The club was founded by Donald Young, a former professional tennis player who moved to pickleball and competes on the professional tour, and Joe Paletta, a real estate broker, entrepreneur and certified pickleball teaching professional.
The club is a large indoor building with cushioned courts, locker rooms, a pro shop, food options, event spaces, a training center and an observation deck for spectators and tournaments. Youth training is a stated focus.
Why the format matters to lenders. A big-box sports club concentrates its risk in the building, whether that is a long lease on a large space or owned real estate. Revenue can come from memberships or court fees, lessons, leagues, tournaments, events, retail and food. Because the brand is young as a franchise system, lenders will lean heavily on your own experience, capital and local research.
Let’s Go Pickleball Franchise Costs
The franchisor has not published fees or an investment range in any source we could verify, so this section describes what to look for in Items 5 and 7 of the FDD and why each cost matters for financing.
Initial franchise fee. Item 5 discloses the fee, when it is paid and whether any multi-unit fee applies. Lenders treat it as an intangible cost financed alongside the project.
Real estate and build-out. Usually the largest cost: court surfaces, lighting, HVAC for a high-ceiling space, locker rooms, a pro shop, a food area and spectator space. Buying or building the property produces a very different total than leasing.
Total investment. Check that the Item 7 lines add up to the stated total and note the period the additional funds line covers. Expect lines such as:
- Initial franchise fee
- Lease deposits or real estate costs
- Leasehold improvements and court installation
- Furniture, fixtures, equipment and technology
- Signage, opening inventory and grand-opening marketing
- Training, insurance, permits and professional fees
- Additional funds for the initial operating period
See how we approach family entertainment start-up financing.
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Loan
Item 6 of the FDD lists every recurring fee: royalty, brand or marketing fund contributions, technology fees, local advertising, and transfer and renewal fees. Also look for any requirement to resurface, re-equip or refresh the club on a schedule, since courts, cushioning and lighting wear with heavy use.
How lenders use these numbers. Lenders deduct royalties, fund contributions and technology fees from projected revenue before measuring the cash left to cover debt payments, then stress-test the ramp-up period and slower months.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
Let’s Go Pickleball has not published minimum net worth, liquid capital or experience requirements in a source we could verify. Ask for its written criteria early, because they set the floor for your equity contribution. Lenders generally look for:
- Liquid capital for the equity injection plus reserves after closing
- Management experience in sports, fitness, hospitality or multi-staff businesses
- Familiarity with pickleball programming, leagues and coaching
- A local market study covering player demand, competing courts and buildings
The approval process. Expect an inquiry, the FDD, discovery calls and a site review. Lenders will want the signed franchise agreement or a firm commitment before final approval.
Ways to Own a Let’s Go Pickleball
Opening a new club. In a young system, most owners build new locations, so a Let’s Go Pickleball franchise loan for a new club is underwritten on projections, your capital and experience, and the strength of the site and lease.
Buying an existing club. If franchised clubs come up for sale, a buyer can finance goodwill, equipment and working capital based on actual results, subject to transfer approval. See family entertainment acquisition financing.
Multiple clubs or conversions. If multi-unit rights are offered, the first club is usually financed on its own and later clubs as they are built. Converting a former retail or warehouse building can lower shell costs but may add HVAC, lighting and code upgrades that lenders will want documented in contractor bids.
Financing Options for a Let’s Go Pickleball Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. Because the brand is on the SBA Franchise Directory, an SBA 7(a) loan is a natural starting point. It can cover build-out, equipment, the franchise fee, working capital and, in some cases, real estate in a single loan.
SBA 504 loans. If you plan to buy or build the club’s building, an SBA 504 loan can finance owner-occupied real estate and long-lived improvements, with the operating costs handled separately.
Conventional term loans. Borrowers with strong capital or collateral may consider a conventional business loan.
Equipment financing. Cushioned court systems, nets and posts, lighting, ball machines, video and scoring systems, food service equipment and front-desk technology can often be financed on their own. Our entertainment equipment financing and leasing page explains the options.
Working capital and lines of credit. A large club pays rent, utilities, payroll and insurance from opening day while memberships grow, and players often move indoors when weather is hot, cold or wet, so demand shifts by season. A working capital line of credit can bridge pre-opening costs and quieter months.
Seller financing on resales. When buying an existing club, a seller may agree to carry part of the price. A seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA and conventional programs may limit how it is structured or repaid.
SBA Loans for Let’s Go Pickleball Franchisees
The SBA Franchise Directory lists brands whose franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility, and SBA lenders generally require a listing before making an SBA-guaranteed loan to a franchisee. A listing does not approve any borrower or project.
Let’s Go Pickleball’s listing. The brand appears on the directory under code S8325. The directory note says that when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Collateral Assignment of Lease may not be executed.
What that note means in plain English. A collateral assignment of lease lets a franchisor step into a franchisee’s lease if the franchise ends, which only makes sense when the franchisee is a tenant. If you own the building and pledge it for your SBA loan, there is no third-party lease to assign, so the assignment should not be signed. If you lease, your lender will review the lease and any franchisor lease documents.
SBA tips. Use the directory code on your application, provide the full FDD and franchise agreement, and document your equity injection. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. Our article on SBA loans for family entertainment centers covers how lenders approach these facilities.
How Lenders Evaluate a Let’s Go Pickleball Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Expect a review of credit, tax returns and a personal financial statement, plus personal guarantees from significant owners.
Net worth and liquidity. Lenders will confirm the source of your equity contribution and look for reserves remaining after closing, because a club needs a cushion during ramp-up.
Industry and management experience. Experience running a sports facility, gym or hospitality business carries weight; newcomers can offset it with a strong general manager and head coach.
Business plan and projections. Build projections from local data: active players nearby, competing courts, membership and court-fee pricing, lesson and league capacity, event bookings and the time needed to reach steady membership. Show a conservative case too.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read the term, renewal and transfer provisions, supplier requirements, territory rights and whether the franchisor offers any financing (Item 10). Check Item 19 to see whether the FDD includes financial performance representations, and do not rely on informal sales claims.
Site, lease or real estate. The building is central to an indoor club. Lenders review lease length and renewal options, landlord consent, ceiling height, parking, zoning and the cost of improvements. Our article on large-box leases and landlord consent explains what to negotiate before signing.
Courts, Equipment and the Building Shell
Court systems, cushioned surfaces, nets, lighting and video equipment can serve as collateral, but improvements to a leased building usually stay with the property. That is why lenders want the lease term to comfortably exceed the loan repayment period, and why detailed contractor and supplier quotes should be in hand before you apply.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
If Let’s Go Pickleball offers area development or multi-unit rights, read the development schedule carefully. Missed opening deadlines can cost territory rights, so each planned club needs a realistic financing path.
Real-World Scenarios
A former tennis club manager opening a first club. She leases a former big-box store and uses an SBA 7(a) loan for build-out, courts and working capital alongside personal equity. The lender focuses on her facility experience, the lease term and a conservative membership ramp.
An investor building from the ground up. A business owner uses an SBA 504 loan for land and building and a separate loan for equipment and opening costs. Because the building secures the loan, the collateral assignment of lease is not signed.
A partner group planning several clubs. The group finances the first club with an SBA loan, keeps a line of credit for pre-opening costs and plans to finance the second club once the first has operating history.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing a lease before the lender and franchisor have reviewed it
- Underestimating HVAC, lighting and code upgrades in a converted building
- Building projections on national pickleball growth rather than local demand
- Leaving too little working capital for the membership ramp-up
- Ignoring court resurfacing and equipment replacement in long-range plans
- Assuming the FDD includes performance figures without checking Item 19
- Signing a collateral assignment of lease when the real estate will secure the SBA loan
For broader pitfalls in this industry, read the entertainment center loan mistakes that cost owners the most.
Next Steps to Finance Your Let’s Go Pickleball Franchise
Step 1: Request the FDD. Contact the franchisor, confirm that franchises are available in your area and request the current disclosure document.
Step 2: Review it with advisors. Study Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17 and 19 with a franchise attorney and accountant.
Step 3: Study your market and sites. Count active players and competing courts, then shortlist suitable buildings.
Step 4: Build your budget and projections. Use the Item 7 table and contractor bids, then estimate payments with our SBA loan calculator. Estimates are for planning only.
Step 5: Talk with a financing specialist. Read our guide to financing an emerging franchise and discuss whether SBA 7(a), SBA 504 or conventional financing fits your plan.
Step 6: Apply and coordinate approvals. Submit your loan package with the franchise agreement, lease or purchase contract, budget and projections, and align closing with the franchisor’s timeline.
Let’s Go Pickleball Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Let’s Go Pickleball franchise?
The franchisor has not published an investment range in any source we could verify. Item 7 of the current FDD will list the estimated initial investment. The building and whether you lease or own are the largest variables.
What is the Let’s Go Pickleball franchise fee and royalty?
Those figures are not publicly verified. Items 5 and 6 of the FDD disclose the initial fee, royalty, marketing contributions and other recurring fees.
Is Let’s Go Pickleball eligible for SBA loans?
Yes. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory under code S8325, so lenders can consider SBA-guaranteed financing, subject to normal underwriting.
How much liquid capital or net worth do I need?
The franchisor has not published minimums. Ask for its written requirements, and expect lenders to look for an equity contribution plus reserves after closing.
Can I finance court equipment separately?
Often, yes. Court systems, nets, lighting, video systems and food service equipment may be financed with an equipment loan or lease.
Does Let’s Go Pickleball offer financing?
Check Item 10 of the FDD, which discloses any financing the franchisor offers or arranges.
Can a first-time business owner get a Let’s Go Pickleball franchise loan?
Possibly. Lenders will weigh your capital, credit and any management or sports industry experience.
What documents do I need to apply?
Expect to provide tax returns, a personal financial statement, the FDD and franchise agreement, your lease or purchase contract, contractor bids and projections.
How long is the franchise term?
The term and renewal rights are set out in Item 17 and the franchise agreement. Lenders prefer a term, and a lease, that run at least as long as the loan.
Does the FDD include financial performance information?
Review Item 19 of the current FDD to see whether it includes financial performance representations, and base your projections on local research rather than informal claims.
Final Thoughts
A Let’s Go Pickleball franchise loan is really a facility loan. With limited public data on this brand, the FDD, a careful market study and solid contractor bids are what will convince a lender, and planning enough working capital gives a new club the best chance of a smooth opening.
US Professional Funding helps franchise owners and buyers finance start-ups, acquisitions, equipment, working capital and refinancing for established and emerging brands. Learn more about our franchise financing and family entertainment financing solutions.
