The award is based entirely on feedback from veteran franchise owners, so i9 Sports earned it from the people who know the system best.
i9 Sports has been named a 2026 Top Franchise for Veterans by Franchise Business Review (FBR), an independent research firm that rates franchises based only on what their franchisees say. Just 50 brands made this year’s list.
How the Top Franchises for Veterans List Works
Many brands advertise veteran discounts and perks. FBR’s list looks at what happens after the agreement is signed.
To pick this year’s winners, FBR surveyed more than 2,000 franchise owners about their overall satisfaction and how likely they’d be to recommend their brand to others. Franchisees answered 33 benchmark questions covering leadership, training and support, operations, franchisor and franchisee relations, and financial opportunity.
“Veteran discounts and perks are easy to advertise. What really matters is how the relationship plays out after the paperwork is done,” said Michelle Rowan, President of Franchise Business Review. “The franchises on this year’s list earned the strongest satisfaction marks from the veterans running them, which makes them smart places to start for veterans stepping into business ownership.”
Why Veterans Choose i9 Sports
Veterans already have the skills that make a great franchise owner: following a proven plan, leading a team, and showing up when people are counting on them. i9 Sports gives them a business that puts those skills to work.
- Lower startup costs. Startup costs begin under $40,000, so owners don’t need hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to get started.
- A model that scales. Owners can start small, keep overhead low, and grow as they gain experience and repeat families.
- Community support. Parents value the discipline, reliability, and leadership veterans bring, and communities want to support veteran-owned businesses.
- A new way to serve. Owners mentor kids in teamwork, leadership, and sportsmanship every season.
Janson Kinsley, an Army veteran who owns i9 Sports in the Minneapolis area, expressed how he received the support he needed to run a successful business :
“ I knew I would need help, but the home office has been absurdly supportive with teaching that skill set and providing the resources to help me learn.”
See why i9 Sports is one of the best franchises for veterans, and hear from more veteran owners →
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Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full 2026 Top Franchises for Veterans list.
