The Costs To Start a Pickleball Business: A Full Breakdown

Pickleball is now one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. What started as a backyard game is drawing serious interest from entrepreneurs, facility owners, and youth sports leaders alike.

The pickleball industry has real revenue potential, whether you’re building a new facility or expanding an existing space. It can also strengthen your local sports community and bring more people into the game. But turning that vision into reality takes planning, particularly around budgeting.

Before you get started, it’s important to understand the costs involved. Below, we’ll walk through every major startup and operating expense so you can build a realistic budget and launch your pickleball business with confidence.

How much does it cost to start a pickleball business?

Startup costs can vary widely depending on your approach. Constructing a full facility with multiple courts from the ground up can easily exceed $1 million. On the other hand, if you already own a sports facility and want to add a few pickleball courts (or convert underused tennis courts), you might spend anywhere from tens of thousands to a few hundred thousand dollars.

If you’re exploring franchise opportunities, be sure to budget for the franchise fee. Depending on the brand’s scope and recognition, franchise owners typically require an initial investment ranging from $40,000 to more than $1 million.

Factors that influence pickleball business startup costs

Pickleball businesses can take many forms, from outdoor courts at local parks to full-service indoor facilities. That’s why startup costs vary so much. Your location, business structure, and services offered all play a major role in shaping your total budget.

Type of business model

Start by narrowing down your business model. Your setup will have a big impact on your total investment. Here are a few common options, listed from most to least expensive:

Build a dedicated facility from scratch.
Buy into a pickleball franchise.
Add pickleball courts to your existing sports facility.
Operate outdoor community courts.

Next, consider your target audience. Are you focused on the youth sports market? Planning a pro-caliber indoor pickleball facility? Aiming to serve beginners, casual players, or athletes at all skill levels? While your target market doesn’t directly impact startup costs, it shapes nearly every other cost-related decision you make, from location to programming to equipment.

Location and market demand

The cost for property, materials, and labor in your area will influence your overall budget. These costs are hard to control, but they impact all local competitors the same way.

What you can assess is demand. And right now, pickleball is surging in popularity: over 50 million American adults played in the last year. If your community lacks access to courts, that growing demand could make your business a much-needed addition.

Scope of services offered

The more services and amenities you plan to offer, the higher your upfront costs will be, but they also open the door to additional revenue.

Extras such as leagues, premium court surfaces, court rentals, lessons, a pro shop, or even food and beverage service can all increase your earning potential. Just make sure your offerings match your target audience and business model.

Startup costs for pickleball businesses

The factors above shape your overall budget, but you’ll also need to plan for specific upfront expenses. These one-time costs, like court construction, equipment, and facility setup, are essential to building a strong foundation for your pickleball business.

Here’s what to include in your business plan.

Court construction or renovation

Building a new pickleball court on an undeveloped site can cost $28,000 to $37,500 per court. That price doesn’t include lights, bleachers, or indoor construction, and it scales based on the number of courts you plan to build. If you’re building indoor courts, be sure to include the cost of the structure itself in your budget.

Resurfacing existing spaces like tennis courts is usually more affordable than building new ones. According to Angi, costs range from $4,000 to $33,875 per court, depending on the surface type and condition. (Artificial turf is the exception, which can run much higher.)

Equipment and supplies

You’ll need to budget for more than just courts. Essential equipment includes nets, balls, and seating. Add in staples like storage, water machines, and towels, plus optional upgrades such as ball machines or retail items like paddles and balls.

If you plan to host leagues or tournaments, you may also need extra equipment on hand for participants, as well as durable storage solutions to keep everything organized. Over time, plan for replacements, since high-use items like nets and balls will wear out.

Facility furnishings and amenities

Outfitting your facility adds another layer of cost. Key items include lighting, flooring, seating areas, signage, and restrooms. For larger or more advanced spaces, you may also need to budget for locker rooms.

Other considerations might include a reception area, pro shop displays, or food and beverage stations. While some of these are optional, the right furnishings and amenities can create a more welcoming environment and encourage repeat visits.

Business registration and legal fees

Starting a pickleball business requires meeting a range of administrative and legal requirements. These can include business licenses, site and construction permits, zoning or regulatory compliance costs, and liability insurance for your facility.

Depending on your location, you may also need to register as an LLC or corporation, obtain health and safety certifications, or meet accessibility requirements. These aren’t one-time expenses either, insurance premiums and certain renewals will continue as part of your annual costs, so be sure to include them in your budget.

Ongoing operating costs

Like any business, running a pickleball facility comes with recurring costs. Be sure to plan for the following operating expenses.

Facility rent or mortgage

Unless you own property outright, you’ll need to account for rent or a mortgage. Pickleball businesses require significant square footage, which often makes rent one of the largest ongoing expenses.

Location also plays a major role. Site selection should balance affordable real estate with proximity to your customer base, since accessibility can directly affect participation and revenue.

Staffing and payroll

Plan for wages and employment taxes for everyone involved in your business, including coaches, referees, maintenance workers, and administrative staff. Staffing needs will vary based on your offerings, for example, facilities that also run a youth sports league or team should factor in those additional expenses, from game officials to program coordinators.

For full-time roles, remember to include the cost of benefits where applicable.

All-in-one management platform

You’ll need a business management platform to handle your website, payment processing, player registration, and other administrative functions. Options range from general-market software to specialized tools built for sports facilities.

Jersey Watch is a sports management software designed for organizations that need to create a website, manage payments, schedule leagues, and communicate with participants — all in one place. You can even start with our free sports club budget template to map out your expenses.

➡️ Ready to simplify operations and keep your pickleball business organized? Try Jersey Watch free today.

Utilities and maintenance

Factor in regular utility costs such as electricity, water, and cleaning services. One significant ongoing expense unique to pickleball businesses is court resurfacing.

Recreational courts typically need resurfacing every five years or so. While infrequent, the cost can be substantial, so it’s smart to plan for it in your long-term budget.

Marketing and advertising

“If you build it, they will come” might work in the movies, but it’s not the best advice for a new pickleball business. To bring players in, you’ll need a clear marketing strategy — and it all starts with a website. Your website is the hub where every flyer, ad, and social media post should lead potential players. Without it, even the best marketing campaigns won’t have a reliable place to send interested players.

From there, you can layer in additional tactics:

Local marketing: Flyers at gyms, community events, billboards, signage, and direct mail are effective ways to reach new players and demonstrate your value.
Digital marketing: Social media, Google Ads, Facebook ads, and content marketing or search engine optimization (SEO) can all help increase visibility. Digital platforms also offer a relatively low cost of entry — for example, Facebook ads average about 70 cents per click or $12.74 per 1,000 impressions.

The good news is your marketing and advertising budget doesn’t need to start big. Begin with smaller, organic, and community-focused efforts, then scale as your business grows.

With Jersey Watch, you can build a modern, mobile-friendly website for your pickleball organization in minutes. Our templates are simple to use, so you can quickly launch a professional online presence to power every marketing campaign.

Get your pickleball business off the ground with Jersey Watch

Starting a pickleball business can be a meaningful way to invest in your community. For long-term success and profitability, you’ll need a clear budget, a solid operational plan, and a high-quality facility that pickleball players want to return to.

While it won’t build your courts, Jersey Watch can help streamline the business side of your operation. From launching a website to managing registrations, scheduling events, collecting payments, and communicating with players, it’s designed to make administration easier so you can focus on growing your pickleball community.

🏆 Bring more players into the game and expand your program with ease. Sign up for Jersey Watch free today.