A franchise focused on teaching kids soccer skills while making new friends and boosting their self-confidence is expanding around Australia. Grasshopper Soccer runs non-competitive soccer sessions for kids aged 2 to 12 during school terms and holidays, for schools, for birthday parties and as corporate programs.

Franchisees invest about $20,000 in a country territory and about $35,000 for a metro business. Financial assistance is offered in some circumstances.

Franchisor Blake Brinklow said the 20 year old business started franchising nearly three years ago in Western Australia and 18 months ago expanded to east coast States.

There are four franchises and a master franchisee in Victoria, one franchise each in Sydney and Brisbane, and five franchises in Perth, in addition to company owned stores.

“We could have expanded a lot faster but we wanted to make sure we got the right people on board,” Brinklow told Franchising. “Everyone is doing very nicely. We are happy with slow and steady growth,” he added.

The Franchise Shop has been recruited to handle the national franchisee search, but Brinklow is also looking to expand overseas, with New Zealand the first stop.