Superior Play Systems franchise
2023 filing · April 30, 2023Shares sales figures
Superior Play Systems at a glance
A backyard play equipment store selling and installing wooden swing sets, trampolines and basketball goals, with an indoor play area for open play and parties. At the end of 2022 there were 7 Superior Play Systems locations in the US, all company-owned.
The business
- Franchisor
- Superior Play Franchising LLC
- The company that sells the franchises
- Franchising since
- 2017
- 6 years of selling franchises
- Franchisor based in
- Norristown, Pennsylvania
- Typical size
- 10,000–12,000 sq ft
What you pay
- Cost to open
- $266K–$318K
- Fee, build-out and opening working capital
- Franchise fee
- $40,000
- 20% less for honorably discharged veterans
- Royalty
- 5%
- 5% of gross sales, paid weekly
- Brand fund
- 1%
- 1% of gross sales, paid weekly; it can rise to 2.5%
- Renewal fee
- See terms
- 25% of the then current franchise fee; subject to a $10,000 minimum.
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- None
- No exclusive territory
- Franchisor financing
- None offered
Where it is
- US locations, 2022
- 7
- Franchised and company-owned
- Franchised
- 0
- Company-owned
- 7
- Change in 3 years
- 0
- Franchised locations, 2020–2022
From Superior Play Franchising LLC’s 2023 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
Where it ranks
Superior Play Systems among all franchises with the same figure.
| Figure | Superior Play Systems | Among all franchises |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, midpointHalfway between the low and high estimate | $292,258 | Costs less than 57% of franchises |
| Franchise feePaid once, when you sign | $40,000 | Lower than 46% of franchises |
| RoyaltyShare of sales paid to the franchisor | 5% | Lower than 69% of brands with a set rate |
| US locationsFranchised and company-owned | 7 | Fewer than 66% of franchises |
How much a Superior Play Systems franchise costs
Opening one Superior Play Systems costs an estimated $266,170 to $318,345. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
The biggest costs are construction, leasehold improvements ($40,000 to $60,000) and additional funds – 3 months ($44,300 to $58,800). Here is every line of the estimate as filed:
| What it pays for | Range | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $40,000 | ||
| Construction, Leasehold Improvements | $40,000 | $60,000 | |
| Furniture and Fixtures | $8,000 | $10,000 | |
| Equipment | $6,900 | $9,375 | |
| Signage (interior and exterior) | $10,000 | $12,000 | |
| Computer, Software and Point of Sales System | $20,200 | $22,900 | |
| Opening Inventory | $35,000 | ||
| Rent Deposits | $14,200 | $17,200 | |
| Utility Deposits | $1,500 | $2,500 | |
| Insurance Deposits and Premiums | $10,000 | ||
| Pre-opening Travel Expense | $3,570 | $5,070 | |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $30,000 | ||
| Professional Fees | $1,500 | $3,500 | |
| Business Permits and Licenses | $500 | $1,000 | |
| Printing, Stationery and Office Supplies | $500 | $1,000 | |
| Additional funds – 3 Months | $44,300 | $58,800 | |
| Total | $266,170 | $318,345 | |
Source: Superior Play Franchising LLC, 2023 filing, page 20
Superior Play Systems franchise fee
The franchise fee is $40,000, 20% less for honorably discharged veterans. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Superior Play Franchising LLC, 2023 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 5% of gross sales, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 1% of gross sales, paid weekly; it can rise to 2.5%. |
| Technology Fee | $2,200 annual software fee, beginning in year 2 |
| Renewal Fee | 25% of the then current franchise fee; subject to a $10,000 minimum. |
| Additional training | Currently $1,000 per person per week plus expenses incurred. |
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Superior Play Franchising LLC, 2023 filing, pages 14 and 15
Other fees as filed, from pages 15–16. The filing lists every fee, including late fees and audit costs.
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Superior Play Systems publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Superior Play Franchising LLC, 2023 filing, page 44
How Superior Play Systems compares
Of the 168 entertainment franchises on this site, Superior Play Systems is the 80th cheapest to open and the 84th largest by number of locations.
| Figure | Superior Play Systems | Typical entertainment brand | Typical franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $266K | $286K | $222K |
| Cost to open, high end | $318K | $598K | $477K |
| Franchise fee | $40K | $45K | $40K |
| Royalty | 5% | 6% | 6% |
| Brand fund | 1% | 1.3% | 2% |
| US locations | 7 | 8 | 21 |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 113 of 168 | 2,147 of 3,352 |
Typical is the median across the 168 brands in entertainment franchises; typical franchise, across every brand here.
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 (0) | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 (0) | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 (0) | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
More in the guides: franchises for veterans and franchise failure rates.
Source: Superior Play Franchising LLC, 2023 filing, page 48
Who owns Superior Play Systems?
Superior Play Systems franchises are sold by Superior Play Franchising LLC. Its filing names no parent company.
From Superior Play Franchising LLC’s 2023 filing, page 11.
Lawsuits and bankruptcy
| Lawsuits and regulatory actions | None. The filing says no litigation has to be disclosed. |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcy | None. The filing says no bankruptcy has to be disclosed. |
Franchisors must disclose lawsuits and bankruptcies involving the company, its parents and affiliates, and its executives. Many cases are routine disputes with franchisees over fees or contracts; read the descriptions in the filing and ask current owners about anything that worries you.
Source: Superior Play Franchising LLC, 2023 filing, litigation on page 14, bankruptcy on page 14
Superior Play Systems filings
The figures on this page come from Superior Play Franchising LLC’s 2023 filing, issued April 30, 2023, on record with the NASAA Electronic Filing Depository.
| Filing | Issued | Registry | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 filing | April 30, 2023 | NASAA depository | Costs, fees and locations, 2020–2022 |
Each link opens the filing as a PDF. See the newest filings across all brands.
Other entertainment franchises
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