American Poolplayers Association Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2026)
The American Poolplayers Association is the leading organization for amateur pool players. With leagues and tournaments nationwide, they offer competitive play and a vibrant community for pool enthusiasts of all skill levels.
KEY FRANCHISE STATS
Franchisees
?
325
+
4%
4%
Franchise fee
?
$10,000
Investment
?
$22,000 - $31,000
Revenue (AUV)
?
Undisclosed
$0
+
n.a.
n.a.
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The American Poolplayers Association (APA)stands as the largest amateur pool league on the planet, with a community of more than 250,000 members spanning the United States, Canada, Japan, and Singapore.
Established in 1981 by pro players Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart, the APA has seen remarkable growth, offering organized league play and tournaments in both eight-ball and nine-ball formats.
With its headquarters located in Lake St. Louis, Missouri, the APA began franchising its league system in 1982, giving local business owners the opportunity to run and promote leagues within their own regions.
This franchise approach has fueled the APA’s impressive expansion, now with leagues active in over 13,000 venues throughout North America. Central to its success is the proprietary handicapping system known as “The Equalizer,” which allows players of all abilities to compete fairly — perfectly capturing the spirit of the APA’s motto: “Everyone Can Play – Anyone Can Win!”
Initial investment
The initial investment required for a American Poolplayers Association franchise is
$22,000 - $31,000.
That is the total cost you would need to finance if you were to start this franchise.
These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$10,000 – $14,000
Equipment/Computer Software and Hardware
$2,120 – $5,804
Broadband Internet Access
$300 for 3 months
Training Seminar I Expenses
$1,824 – $2,724
Real Estate & Improvements
$0
Initial Inventory
$0
Insurance
$692.22
Attorney/Accountant Fees
$4,000
Additional Funds – 3 months
$3,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment
$21,936 – $30,520
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Type of Expenditure
Amount
Initial Franchise Fee
$10,000 – $14,000
Equipment/Computer Software and Hardware
$2,120 – $5,804
Broadband Internet Access
$300 for 3 months
Training Seminar I Expenses
$1,824 – $2,724
Real Estate & Improvements
$0
Initial Inventory
$0
Insurance
$692.22
Attorney/Accountant Fees
$4,000
Additional Funds – 3 months
$3,000
Total Estimated Initial Investment
$21,936 – $30,520
Franchise Disclosure Document
Below is American Poolplayers Association's 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document. Upgrade to Pro or purchase the FDD to view and download the document.
Number of units
American Poolplayers Association had 329 total units in 2024, of which 325 were franchised-owned and 4 company-owned.
The American Poolplayers Association (APA) provides a detailed and multi-step training program for its franchisees to ensure they operate successfully. Here’s a summary of the training, numbered for clarity:
Discovery Day and Pre-Training Before approval, franchisees attend Discovery Day and Pre-Training, which cover operations, customer service, goal setting, and relationship management, typically conducted online.
The APA Academy This is an online e-learning platform that supplements other training with modules on operations, marketing, and league management.
Training Seminar I A six-day, in-person program held in St. Louis, Missouri, covering the APA system, operations manual, system standards, and software training. It includes classroom instruction and hands-on work with the software.
Field Training Within the first three months after Training Seminar I, an APA representative provides 3–4 days of in-market training to help with marketing strategy, sales, and office setup.
Territory Protection
The American Poolplayers Association (APA) grants franchisees a defined geographic territory where they can operate their leagues. While APA agrees not to license another franchise or operate its own leagues under the APA brand within that territory, the franchise does not offer full exclusivity or guaranteed protection from competition.
Franchisees may still face indirect competition from national programs or neighboring franchises under certain agreements. Additionally, APA retains the right to reduce the size of a franchisee’s territory at renewal if it determines the area is too large to manage effectively.
There are also provisions that allow neighboring franchisees to operate in a territory under pre-existing “Out of Area Agreements,” meaning some overlap can occur. If a franchisee wishes to expand into a new area, they must apply and be approved as if they were a new applicant, with no guaranteed option to acquire adjacent territories.
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