The

10

best

Arts / Sports

franchises of 2026

Complete ranking by Growth & Profitability

Arts-sports franchises operate in an education- and activity-driven segment focused on youth sports instruction, swim programs, and creative arts experiences.

These businesses typically emphasize structured classes, community partnerships, and repeat participation, with many models offering relatively low overhead and flexible operating formats.

Below are the top 10 arts-sports franchises in the market today, highlighting the brands that combine scale, growth, and efficient investment profiles.

Soccer Shots

8.6
/
10

Soccer Shots offers soccer programs for young children, promoting skill development, physical activity, and character-building through engaging and fun sessions.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

306
+
20%
20%
Franchise fee

?

$36,500
Investment

?

$43,000 - $54,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$243,000

+
-0.4%
-0.4%
Operating Profit

?

17.8%

Our score
8.6
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Soccer Shots delivers youth soccer instruction through schools, childcare centers, and community programs nationwide.
Its ranking is driven by outstanding capital efficiency, massive system scale, and consistent demand.

  • Large system with 306 franchisees
  • Very low average investment (~$48.5K)
  • Exceptional 0.20x payback, best in the category
  • Healthy franchisee growth (~20%) supports long-term expansion

British Swim School

8.0
/
10

British Swim School offers swimming lessons and water safety programs for all ages, focusing on small class sizes and experienced instructors to ensure a safe and effective learning environment.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

189
+
69%
69%
Franchise fee

?

$55,000
Investment

?

$109,000 - $145,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$404,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

22.0%

Our score
8.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

British Swim School provides swim instruction focused on water safety and foundational skill development.
Its ranking reflects strong unit economics paired with rapid system expansion.

  • Established system with 189 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$127K)
  • Excellent 0.31x payback
  • Strong franchisee growth (~69%) signals accelerating demand

Board and Brush Creative Studio

7.2
/
10

Board and Brush Creative Studio offers DIY wood sign workshops where customers can create personalized, handcrafted home decor and gifts under the guidance of experienced instructors.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

226
+
-10%
-10%
Franchise fee

?

$25,000
Investment

?

$65,000 - $90,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$117,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.2
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Board & Brush Creative Studio offers instructor-led DIY wood sign workshops and creative experiences.
Its ranking benefits from large scale and solid economics, despite recent contraction.

  • Large system with 226 franchisees
  • Low-to-moderate average investment (~$77.5K)
  • Healthy 0.66x payback
  • Slight franchisee decline (~-10%) weighs on ranking

Painting with a Twist

7.1
/
10

Art studio franchise offering guided painting classes for all skill levels, allowing participants to create their own artwork while enjoying a fun and social environment.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

219
+
-5%
-5%
Franchise fee

?

$25,000
Investment

?

$119,000 - $256,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$488,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.1
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Painting with a Twist is a paint-and-sip franchise offering guided painting events for groups and private parties.
Its ranking reflects strong unit economics balanced against modest system decline.

  • Large system with 219 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$187.5K)
  • Strong 0.38x payback
  • Minor franchisee contraction (~-5%) limits momentum

School Of Rock

6.9
/
10

Music education franchise providing individual and group lessons for aspiring musicians, with a focus on performance-based learning and ensemble playing.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

234
+
18%
18%
Franchise fee

?

$49,900
Investment

?

$387,000 - $664,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$648,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

21.0%

Our score
6.9
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

School of Rock provides performance-based music education for children and teens.
Its ranking is driven by brand scale and steady growth, offset by higher capital requirements.

  • Large system with 234 franchisees
  • Higher average investment (~$525.5K)
  • Respectable 0.81x payback
  • Positive franchisee growth (~18%) supports expansion

Skyhawks & Supertots Sports Academy

6.8
/
10

Skyhawks Sports & Supertots Sports Academy offers youth sports programs, promoting skill development, teamwork, and physical activity for children.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

75
+
25%
25%
Franchise fee

?

$42,500
Investment

?

$58,000 - $89,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$217,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
6.8
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Skyhawks Sports Academy offers youth sports camps, leagues, and training programs nationwide.
Its ranking benefits from attractive economics and solid growth at a smaller scale.

  • Mid-sized system with 75 franchisees
  • Low average investment (~$73.5K)
  • Strong 0.34x payback
  • Healthy franchisee growth (~25%) reflects rising participation

AR Workshop

6.4
/
10

AR Workshop offers DIY crafting workshops nationwide, providing materials and guidance for creating custom home decor and gifts.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

123
+
-11%
-11%
Franchise fee

?

$30,000
Investment

?

$94,000 - $174,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$141,000

+
-20.0%
-20.0%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
6.4
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

AR Workshop delivers hands-on DIY crafting workshops and creative retail experiences.
Its ranking reflects balanced economics weighed down by declining franchisee counts.

  • Mid-sized system with 123 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$134K)
  • Near-1.0x payback (0.95x) limits upside
  • Franchisee decline (~-11%) pressures ranking

Color Me Mine

6.3
/
10

Color Me Mine offers a creative experience where customers can paint their own pottery pieces in a relaxed and welcoming studio environment, perfect for individuals, families, and groups alike.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

112
+
11%
11%
Franchise fee

?

$30,000
Investment

?

$180,000 - $438,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$438,000

+
31.3%
31.3%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
6.3
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Color Me Mine operates pottery painting studios offering creative experiences for families and groups.
Its ranking is supported by stable economics and brand longevity.

  • Established system with 112 franchisees
  • Moderate average investment (~$309K)
  • Solid 0.71x payback
  • Modest franchisee growth (~11%) provides limited momentum

Goldfish Swim School

6.2
/
10

Goldfish Swim School is a swimming instruction franchise offering swim lessons in a safe and engaging environment for children of all ages and abilities.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

172
+
26%
26%
Franchise fee

?

$50,000
Investment

?

$1,663,000 - $3,747,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$1,980,000

+
-0.9%
-0.9%
Operating Profit

?

31.2%

Our score
6.2
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Goldfish Swim School operates facility-based swim schools focused on structured aquatic instruction.
Its ranking reflects strong growth offset by heavy capital requirements and weaker payback.

  • Large system with 172 franchisees
  • Very high average investment (~$2.7M)
  • Weak 1.37x payback
  • Strong franchisee growth (~28%) supports long-term scale

D-BAT

6.0
/
10

D-BAT is a baseball and softball training franchise providing batting cages, lessons, and coaching for players of all ages and skill levels.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

128
+
28%
28%
Franchise fee

?

$45,000
Investment

?

$536,000 - $1,031,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$751,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
6.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

D-BAT is a baseball and softball training franchise offering indoor training facilities and coaching programs.
Its ranking reflects solid scale and growth weighed down by capital intensity and slower returns.

  • Established system with 128 franchisees
  • High average investment (~$783.5K)
  • Moderate 1.04x payback
  • Healthy franchisee growth (~28%) supports expansion

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