BUY AN APA FRANCHISE
Wish pool was your job?
For APA League Operators, it is every day!
One of the Most Highly Rated Franchise Organizations
The APA has gotten accolades such as “Best in Category” for Sports & Recreation Franchises by Franchise Business Review, “10 Great Franchises for Less than $20,000” by Entrepreneur Magazine, and more!
APA is also a member of the International Franchise Association and Veterans Transition Franchise Initiative.
About APA
The American Poolplayers Association (APA) is the largest amateur pool league in the world with over 250,000 members. With leagues playing in over 13,000 venues across North America, it is the first choice for pool players of all skill levels.
Are you APA Material?
Outgoing and goal-oriented with a get-it-done attitude
Experience in sales and/or marketing with experience in a related field
Financially stable with a positive net worth
Computer skills should include Microsoft Office, Excel and online navigation
FRANCHISE TERRITORIES
Click on the map to view available territories by county. Once you click on the map an interactive map will appear. Simply click on the state of interest. A county map will appear, the areas you see shaded are currently franchised and those not shaded are currently available.
Testimonials from League Operators
With over 270 League Operators, the APA system is a proven success in the United States, Canada and Japan. Here are testimonials from some current APA franchisees about their experience.
Approval Process
TIMELINE FOR FRANCHISE APPROVAL PROCESS
Step 1
Submit a Request for Consideration
Step 2
Application Follow-up with APA
Step 3
Submit Confidential Franchise Application
Step 4
Conversations with the Franchise Development Manager
Step 5
Phone Interview and Discovery Day
Step 6
Training Seminar
Step 1
Submit a Request for Consideration
After you submit your online request for consideration, we will review it carefully to determine if we’re a good fit. You can expect to hear from us in approximately two business days. Once your pre-application is approved, we’ll chat with you further about the franchise opportunity and discuss the financial commitment.
Step 2
Application Follow-up with APA
After our initial discussion, a Confidential Franchise Application will be sent to you.
Step 3
Submit Confidential Franchise Application
When you return the Confidential Franchise Application to us, we will initiate credit and criminal background checks. After results come back, you will be contacted by telephone and a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) is emailed to you for review.
Step 4
Conversations with the Franchise Development Manager
At this point you will be contacted by the APA Franchise Development Manager to discuss the specifics of the franchise opportunity. You would now be sent a Franchise Disclosure Document and a Predictive Index survey. You will be required to contact a minimum of five League Operators to learn more about the business from their perspective, and then you would submit a summary of those conversations. Thorough market research is also expected by all applicants.
Step 5
Phone Interview and Discovery Day
After all of the information is reviewed, a phone interview is scheduled with the APA President, other key staff and you. A decision is made at this point whether or not to move forward; if so, a “Discovery Day” will be scheduled. This is a two-day event at the National Office and is an opportunity for both parties to meet and further discuss the franchise opportunity. You will be asked to make a firm decision on moving forward and to make an initial deposit. Materials will be provided to you to prepare for training, and you will receive a copy of the franchise agreements.
There will also be a required session of interactive pool during this process.
Step 6
Training Seminar
Training takes place in two sessions. The first session is a week-long course, Monday through Saturday, designed to familiarize you with the APA system and the National Office Staff. You will be educated about APA procedures, marketing, league software, and franchise management. Upon arrival for the first session, you will sign your franchise agreements and pay remaining fees.
Following the first session of training, you will be required to complete a weekly series of 8 mandatory webinars. These webinars begin approximately 2 weeks after you return from Session 1 training.
Session two takes place approximately 6 months after your session one training. It is a three-day course designed to further enhance your skills as an APA franchisee/ League Operator. It will be scheduled while you are in St. Louis for the session one training.
This entire process to become a League Operator can be completed within one month, or extended if necessary. Much of this depends on your own timeline.
Support
We are with you all the way!We’re an organization of go-getters. At the National Office, we’re always asking ourselves: What can we do to help Franchisees develop new host locations, members and teams?
Marketing/Advertising
Our League Operators are supported by our national marketing department. We provide you with templates and materials to conduct your own local advertising and PR campaigns. The marketing materials we provide are first-rate. We help you reach your customers – team members and the owners/managers of bars and pool halls – with posters, presentation materials, promotional items, and our national membership magazine, The American Poolplayer®.
Franchise Support
Training and support is provided at your initial training seminar and on an ongoing basis. Our staff provides software and operational support. You’ll be assigned a personal Representative at the National Office to help guide you in growing and administering your League.
Network
We’ve learned a lot in our 25+ years of experience. Nearly every challenge you might face has already been experienced by our League Operators. Our network of Franchisees are encouraged to interact frequently with each other to help overcome those challenges and to discuss best practices. We offer networking opportunities through our annual Convention, regional meetings, quarterly newsletter and a private web site just for Franchisees and APA staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a successful APA League Operator?
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Research shows that our best League Operators:
Enjoy meeting and interacting with a variety of individuals.
Have a sense of urgency in meeting goals and a strong desire to succeed.
Are able to work independently, and love building teams.
Are willing to cold-call new host sites.
Are confident in their social skills.
Possess the ability to follow the rules, and enjoy creative problem solving that will achieve their goals.
Are driven to keep their business moving at a fast pace.
Request for Consideration
Attention: Are you an international applicant? Use this form instead!
Please fill out this form to start the franchise process: