DESTINATION ATHLETE® is legally required under the Franchise Agreement to provide advertising, which it provides through its web site and social media outlets. (See FA Section VII, A.1.) Per the terms of FA Section VII, A.1., if DESTINATION ATHLETE® believes it prudent to commence a national advertising program (other than as already disclosed herein), it will institute the program upon written notice to you. DESTINATION ATHLETE® shall use both internet and non-internet channels of media, including its web site, digital and social media. The media shall be national, only. The source of the advertising shall be in-house and may include national agencies. The franchisor shall not be responsible for spending any amount on local advertising. The franchisee must obtain DESTINATION ATHLETE®’s approval for any advertising copy, brochures, fliers intended by franchisee for local marketing purposes. Franchisees must comply with all legal marketing requirements. Sending mass emails without consent, using purchased lists, or ignoring opt-out laws is prohibited. There exist no advertising councils of franchisees, or local or regional advertising cooperatives. Approved Regional names may only be used in email signatures, business cards, and approved social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram). Use in online stores, or unapproved materials is not allowed. HQ, with its sole determination may at any time revise regional names to reduce overlap and confusion. Non-compliance could result in penalties including shutting off all platforms.
From the filings
Destination Athlete
Retail non foodDestination Athlete is a 296-unit, 100% franchised retail brand headquartered in New Jersey. Software purchasing is controlled at the franchisor level through mandated technology and an approved-supplier list. The 2026 FDD names QuickBooks as required accounting software and obliges franchisees to use Facebook and Instagram, making HQ the primary software decision-maker.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
5% component; full terms unconfirmed
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.
Recorded percentage components
These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.
1recorded components (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
3 technology requirements are recorded in this filing. A required choice lists alternatives for one obligation. Read each cited clause for its conditions.
DESTINATION ATHLETE® is legally required under the Franchise Agreement to provide advertising, which it provides through its web site and social media outlets. (See FA Section VII, A.1.) Per the terms of FA Section VII, A.1., if DESTINATION ATHLETE® believes it prudent to commence a national advertising program (other than as already disclosed herein), it will institute the program upon written notice to you. DESTINATION ATHLETE® shall use both internet and non-internet channels of media, including its web site, digital and social media. The media shall be national, only. The source of the advertising shall be in-house and may include national agencies. The franchisor shall not be responsible for spending any amount on local advertising. The franchisee must obtain DESTINATION ATHLETE®’s approval for any advertising copy, brochures, fliers intended by franchisee for local marketing purposes. Franchisees must comply with all legal marketing requirements. Sending mass emails without consent, using purchased lists, or ignoring opt-out laws is prohibited. There exist no advertising councils of franchisees, or local or regional advertising cooperatives. Approved Regional names may only be used in email signatures, business cards, and approved social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram). Use in online stores, or unapproved materials is not allowed. HQ, with its sole determination may at any time revise regional names to reduce overlap and confusion. Non-compliance could result in penalties including shutting off all platforms.
You will have no obligation to purchase or lease goods, services, supplies, fixtures, equipment, inventory, real estate, or comparable items related to establishing or operating the franchised business from either DESTINATION ATHLETE®, its designee, or suppliers approved by DESTINATION ATHLETE®, or under its specifications. You are required to purchase appropriate business accounting software (we strongly recommend QuickBooks), which you pay directly to the software company. You are not required to purchase any items until you have first 20 | P a g e Destination Athlete, LLC (Iss.D.March 2, 2026,) received orders from customers. Therefore, there are no stocking requirements prior to opening the franchise. Further, the cost of the marketing kit is included in your franchise fee.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
13 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 11 explicit no's; 10 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
The franchisor shall have independent access to the information that will be generated or stored in any computer system dedicated for use of the franchise business by the franchisee
How the franchisor buys
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
The criteria shall remain within the sole discretion of the franchisor, which may be changed from time to time without notice to the franchisee.
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
The franchisor may derive modest revenue or other material consideration as a result of purchases of apparel, equipment, accessories or related durable goods or services.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
92.5Item 8
Purchases from approved suppliers/vendors……………….92.5%
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesItem 8
If you wish to use any type or brand of product or service item, or wish to purchase products or services from a vendor that is not currently approved by us, you shall notify us of your desire to do so and submit to us specifications, photographs, samples and/or other information which we request.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesFranchise agreement
We will advise you from time-to-time regarding the operation of the Franchise based on reports you submit to us or through inspections we make.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesFranchise agreement
Destination Athlete, LLC may supplement, revise, or modify the Manual, and Destination Athlete may change, add or delete System Standards at any time in its discretion.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 11
DESTINATION ATHLETE® may assist in this selection, but must approve the site selection.
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesFranchise agreement
You must participate in our supply purchase program, under which you shall only purchase apparel, equipment, accessories or related durable goods or services (hereafter “products and services”) from us, or vendors we have pre-approved and with whom we have a supply agreement.
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesFranchise agreement
You must participate in our supply purchase program, under which you shall only purchase apparel, equipment, accessories or related durable goods or services (hereafter “products and services”) from us, vendors or partners* we have pre-approved and with whom we have a supply agreement.
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesFranchise agreement
implementation and modification of the electronic funds transfer system and procedures by means of which you will pay Royalties, contributions to the Marketing and Promotion Fund, amounts due for purchases of equipment, other products, materials and supplies from us and other amounts due us
Point of sale
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
The franchisor shall have independent access to the information that will be generated or stored in any computer system dedicated for use of the franchise business by the franchisee
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
Additional training programs, refresher or retraining courses shall be required and you will be notified in writing at least 90 days prior to the program/course, the cost of which shall be $250.00 per person and per session and/or topic, payable in advance by Franchisee.
The filing answers no to 11 questions
- Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?Item 8
- Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?Item 8
- Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?Item 11
- Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?Franchise agreement
- Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?Franchise agreement
- Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Franchise agreement
- Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?Franchise agreement
- Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?Item 11
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
- Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?Item 11
- Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at Destination Athlete
Destination Athlete operates 296 franchised locations, all franchisee-owned, with no company-owned units. The brand is part of the Destination Athlete holding company. The operator footprint shows 23 mapped operators across roughly 23 located units, with no multi-unit operators. Top states by unit count are Texas (6), New Jersey (4), Tennessee (3), Maryland (2), and North Carolina (2).
For software vendors, the addressable market is 296 franchised locations. The FDD makes no financial performance representation under Item 19, so no average unit volume figure is available.
Who controls software purchasing
Software purchasing authority sits at the franchisor level. Item 11 of the FDD obliges franchisees to use Facebook by Meta, Instagram by Meta, and QuickBooks by Intuit. Item 8 requires franchisees to purchase Destination Athlete software/technology updates from the franchisor, estimated at 2.5% of purchases and capped at $2,000 per year.
Named officers in Item 2 include Douglas D. Dickison (Founder and Chairman), Deb Gurski (Executive Director), Deana VanDoren (Senior Director of Marketing), Drew Dickison (Senior Director of Strategy), and Tricia Charbonneau (Senior Director of Franchising). For software pitches, the Senior Director of Marketing and Senior Director of Strategy are likely relevant buyers given the mandated social and accounting tools.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
The FDD names three third-party systems. Facebook by Meta and Instagram by Meta are mandated under Item 11—the FDD obliges franchisees to use them. QuickBooks by Intuit is mandated under Item 8 as the required accounting software; the filing states franchisees are required to purchase appropriate business accounting software and strongly recommends QuickBooks.
The filing also requires franchisees to purchase Destination Athlete software/technology updates from the franchisor, capped at $2,000 per year. Franchisees are responsible for purchasing and installing proper hardware, WiFi, and internet connections.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 establishes an approved-supplier list. Franchisees must purchase only from vendors or partners pre-approved by the franchisor with whom the franchisor has a supply or services agreement. The franchisor provides a list of approved products and services. Franchisees may propose a supplier for approval and pay approved suppliers directly.
Initial franchise terms are 10 years. Renewal terms are 5 years. Franchisees must give written notice 180 days before term end. The franchisor has 180 days to respond with a renewal notice or notice of deficiencies. New agreements must be executed within 60 days of delivery. Renewal contracts may bear materially different terms than the preceding agreement.
How to read the Destination Athlete FDD
The embedded PDF below is the brand's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 2 names the officers, Item 8 covers supplier restrictions, Item 11 covers technology and training, Item 17 covers renewal terms, and Item 19 covers financial performance. For a ranked target list of franchise systems, talk to FranCloud.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
Destination Athlete, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
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Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
23 operators run 23 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| TX | 6 |
|---|---|
| NJ | 4 |
| TN | 3 |
| MD | 2 |
| NC | 2 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind Destination Athlete
Ownership: Destination Athlete.
Related Retail non food brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.