Lil' Kickers

The vendor opportunity at Lil' Kickers

Lil' Kickers operates 102 total locations—96 franchised and 6 company-owned—with an average unit volume of $418,546.82. The brand grew units by 12.9% year-over-year, signaling a healthy expansion trajectory. For software vendors, this means a growing base of franchisees who must comply with HQ's tech mandates, starting with DaySmart Recreation. The royalty rate sits at 9%, and initial franchise terms run 5 years, with renewals also set at 5 years under potentially updated conditions. The operator footprint is thin in the available data: only one mapped operator appears, located in Wisconsin, with no multi-unit operators on file. This suggests a largely single-unit franchisee base, which can shape your sales motion—you'll likely need to engage both HQ and individual owners.

Who controls software purchasing

Decision-making authority rests with a small executive team based in Washington state. CEO Don Crowe and President Ty Redinger sit at the top. Director of Business Operations Josh Gibson and Director of Business Development Managers Gene Hogan are the operational leads most likely to evaluate or recommend software. Franchise Sales Manager Drew Easton may also influence tools that affect franchisee onboarding or sales processes. Because the brand mandates DaySmart Recreation, any pitch that touches operations, scheduling, or member management must address how your solution integrates with or replaces that system. The absence of a disclosed parent company means decisions stay in-house, without a larger corporate entity overriding choices.

Mandated and current tech stack

The 2026 FDD explicitly mandates DaySmart Recreation. No other required technology vendors are named in the disclosure. This gives you a clear starting point: if your software complements recreation management, you'll need a DaySmart integration story. If you compete, you'll need to demonstrate why HQ should switch a mandated system across 102 units. The FDD does not list additional POS, payroll, or marketing platforms, so those categories may be open for franchisee-level choice or simply not disclosed. Treat the absence of other mandates as an opportunity to fill gaps with solutions that reduce operational friction for both HQ and franchisees.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Item 8 of the FDD contains no extract regarding procurement restrictions or designated suppliers. This suggests an open procurement environment, though the DaySmart mandate indicates HQ is willing to enforce specific vendor choices when it sees operational necessity. Renewal terms in Item 17 show that franchisees can sign successor agreements for 5 years, but those agreements may contain materially different terms matching what new franchisees receive at that time. If a franchisee continues operating without signing a renewal, the relationship shifts to month-to-month, terminable by the franchisor with just 10 days' notice. This creates natural inflection points every 5 years—and potentially sooner if holdover situations arise—when franchisees may be more receptive to new software that helps them meet updated franchise requirements.

How to read the Lil' Kickers FDD

The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document is embedded below. Focus on Item 1 for executive names and backgrounds, Item 11 for the full list of mandated systems (DaySmart Recreation is the only one named), Item 8 for any procurement restrictions (none disclosed), and Item 17 for renewal and termination language that shapes contract windows. The operator data in this report comes from aggregated FDD filings and shows a single mapped operator in Wisconsin, with no multi-unit operators recorded. Use the FDD to verify unit counts, growth rates, and any updates to the tech mandate before you build your pitch. When you're ready to prioritize franchise brands by tech fit and decision-maker access, FranCloud can deliver a ranked target list tailored to your software category.