Dealer Opportunities
Welcome to Flex Court International, and thank you for your interest in our custom sport surface business opportunity! To give you a bit of background, the original Flex Court sports tile started in Europe in 1978. In the past decade, Flex Court has successfully sold directly to builders and retailers in the marketplace. In past several years, we've expanded our Flex Court product line to include components for complete game court packages and a range of indoor sports tiles. Today, Flex Court is synonymous with high quality, affordable sports surface, recreational flooring and game court systems.Why become a Flex Court dealer?
If Flex Court’s products weren’t enough of a reason, becoming a Flex Court dealer you gain access not only to our top quality products, but you get the training needed to become a successful dealer. Flex Court offers Webinar based training where you can learn all about the products, about designing and installation. Flex Court also provides sample ad campaigns, as well as photos and artwork for you to use. You also get a dealer profile on the Flex Court website which can help you with lead generation. Another great reason to become a Flex Court dealer is that there are no quantity minimums, and you are under no obligation to hold inventory. Most of our dealers order only when they have a sale.Who is it for
Becoming a Flex Court dealer isn’t for everyone. If you are looking for a “Get rich quick” opportunity, this isn’t for you. Our existing dealers have gone into this business because they like the products and services; and their profit goals are tied to establishing long-term, successful businesses where they can be their own bosses or added to an existing business to improve their bottom line. Some of our more successful dealers are established businesses that have integrated Flex Court into their existing product or service offerings as they can offer customers additional services. This doesn’t mean that someone with an entrepreneurial spirit can’t do well. Flex Court does have successful dealers that have built their entire business by themselves selling the Flex Court product; it just requires commitment and hard work. One of the nice things about Flex Court’s offerings is that you don’t need to be an experienced contractor to install it. Like most small construction work our products require good, common sense skills to install them. Many of our new dealers have limited or no construction experience when they begin. We teach assembly and installation of all products step-by-step and provide an installation manual with instructions and illustrations. The key to good quality installations is demanding the best quality work from yourself or an installer of the product. Take the time to do a job well. Speed and increased skill will come with some time and practice.Launching your dealership
Getting your dealership successfully off the ground requires an array of tools and the knowledge to use them wisely. Your partnership with Flex Court will give you everything you need not only to get started, but also to continue on through success after success. Our Webinar based training will give you a great start with the basics and you will be provided with a comprehensive dealer manual and DVD covering all phases of product knowledge, court design and construction. And while it is difficult to cover absolutely-everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-Flex Court in a webinar, rest assured you will leave with a clear sense of direction and sufficient knowledge to confidently go forward with your business. You are never left on your own to "wing it." Our single and multi-page brochures and sales tools may be purchased when you want or need them. You simply add your own dealer contact information. Another Important tool will be a website. If you are already have an established business, adding a section about athletic court construction using Flex Court product will help inform site visitors about your service, and the quality product that you are offering. If you are establishing a new business, then the creation of a simple but good website with information about your business and the services and products you are offering is a must. A website is one of the first places that people look these days, and not having a website, or having a poor quality website can only hurt your business. As for purchasing products, some dealers order in advance while others choose to wait until they've made their first sale. When you're ready to place your first order, give us a call. We'll guide you through the processing system and ensure that your order contains all the necessary components for your first designs. There is never an obligation to purchase Flex Court product to become a dealer. Before your first order arrives, you'll need to plan for storage. For some dealers their garage is more than adequate for storing a court or two with components, others choose to rent storage space, or may already have a small warehouse operation. Once you get a feel for things, you'll be able to decide what type of inventory management system is best and easiest for you. When you've decided on how you want to manage your inventory space, the next step is finding the best way to transport the products to clients. Some dealers opt to purchase a van, truck or trailer right away. Others choose to use temporary transportation or just drop-ship directly to the customer site. Larger court systems (e.g. tennis courts or gym floors) makes most sense to drop-ship. As you discover what costs are involved and what you're comfortable with, you'll be able to make a good choice on what type delivery system is most appropriate for you. As you can see, one of the great things about launching a Flex Court dealership is that we don't ever leave you out in the cold. We are your partner from the start, and we will continue to be your partner. So when you need advice on installation, on advertising, ordering, or shipping, we'll be there to help. With Flex Court, you're never in this alone!Find out more about becoming a Flex Court Dealer
CONTACT USFrequently Asked Questions
Can you give me an overview of the startup for this business?
Yes. If you are starting from scratch, you'll need to do a lot of legwork for the basics: Order a phone line; determine whether or not to incorporate, form an LLC, or operate as a sole proprietor. You'll also want to research and obtain appropriate insurance, business licenses, and so on. In some states you may even need a contractor's license. These are some of the basic steps to setting up most businesses. To learn all about starting and successfully running a custom game court business, offer you Webinar based training conducted by a Flex Court executive, as well as a comprehensive dealer manual and DVD that covers all phases of court design, construction and products. Once you get home the real work begins: We'll help you set up your advertising in the Yellow Pages phone book to ensure you start off with the most appropriate advertising. You may also have a home show to prepare for to advertise your services. Whether you have an installation question or need advice on advertising opportunities, we'll be happy to help you get established. Like most new businesses, it takes a bit of time to get the word out about your new products and services. Many of our new dealers find it takes 90 days or more to get up to speed. The length of time it takes for your business to really get going and attract a steady clientele can vary quite widely. There are simply so many variables affecting start up, including your own skills at speedily setting up a new enterprise and learning the unique skills to game court construction.How much does it cost to start up?
Startup costs can vary widely depending upon what you may already own and what you choose to spend for recommended capital equipment. You can expect these costs to range from $21,000 to $52,000. For example, if you already own a good laptop computer and peripherals, you can cross off that cost from your start up list. Here’s a basic overview. All the prices below are averages and can vary from location to location:| Laptop computer and peripherals | $600 |
| Design Software | FREE! |
| Installation Tools | $2,000* |
| Flex Court Training Classes | FREE! |
| Truck, Van or Trailer | $10,000* |
| One Year: Business License, Insurance, Registration… | $2,000 |
| 1st Year Advertising Recommended Budget (incl. yellow pages, print ads, home shows, website, etc.) Advertising rates vary by region. | $10,000 - $25,000 |
| Inventory Purchase | As Required |
| Working Capital | $5,000 - $10,000 |
| TOTAL START UP COST: | Est. $20,700 - $51,200 |
Why is this custom game court business so much less expensive to start than many other national franchises?
We are not a franchise. Flex Court International is offering a more cost effective dealership opportunity to market and install our products in combination with your existing business. Flex Court wanted to make it reasonably-priced for a smart business person to get into the custom game court business. You don't have to manufacture the finished product from raw goods with us. We provide finished product from which you may customize the components for each and every design and client.What kind of profit can I make?
We make no promises about our custom game court business being a ‘get rich quick’ opportunity. Our existing dealers have gone into this business because they like the products and services; and their profit goals are tied to establishing long-term, successful businesses where they can be their own bosses or added to an existing business to improve their bottom line.Can I do this business by myself?
The majority of our Flex Court dealers in the custom game court business are sole operators. They run all the appointments from the sales calls and estimates, and then they come back to install the product for their customers. Some dealers have set aside specific days of the week that are sales days and others that are installation-only days. Other dealers keep more flexible schedules. A second person is not a requirement to run this business. However, we will let you know that at a certain point you may wish to add a part-time or full-time helper in installation or sales. But it is entirely your choice.Is the product difficult to install? Do I need to be an experienced contractor to do this well?
No. Like most small construction work our products require good, common sense skills to install them. Many of our new dealers have limited or no construction experience when they begin. We teach assembly and installation of all products step-by-step and provide an installation manual with instructions and illustrations. The key to good quality installations is demanding the best quality work from yourself or an installer of the product. Take the time to do a job well. Speed and increased skill will come with some time and practiceHow do I know if I need a contractor’s license?
Every jurisdiction has different requirements regarding licensing for game court businesses. You need to contact your local government building department to ask about these requirements. In most cases, building construction is overseen and regulated at the state level. And while most of us think of game courts as minor construction work many state building departments have a different perspective. Contact your local authorities to see how this may apply to you.Is the training seminar mandatory?
There is nothing requiring you to take any of the Flex Court training webinars. They are provided for your benefit though, and offer valuable information to help you become a successful Flex Court dealer. We can’t imagine why anyone wouldn’t want to take advantage of these free training resources and learn from our years of expertise in this industry.How can I compete with internet sales of multi-game court products?
First, you should know that the customer who buys game court products on the internet isn't interested in your services. The Do-It-Yourselfer isn't interested in paying for your personalized service. On the other hand, your Do-It-For-Me client wouldn't dream of building their own custom multi-game court or custom garage floor. Your customers want it handled by a professional - you! They want you to custom design their game court to match their needs. They want it professionally installed. YOUR customer is NOT the same as an internet customer. The similar-looking products manufactured and sold on the internet are NOT the same products that our dealers sell. They may look similar, but they aren't. In fact, we go into great detail at FC University explaining the technical specification differences of these products. We also discuss at length how you respond to your customers' inquiries about the product similarities if you're asked.Do you grant exclusive territories?
In some international areas we do grant exclusive territories, however we do not offer exclusive territories in the United States. That said though, it isn’t good business for either of us if your neighborhood has too many dealers, so we make every effort to ensure new dealers aren’t entering an already saturated market.Still have unanswered questions?
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