The nine numbers
- Children nearby. How many children aged 5 to 18 live within a 15-minute drive.
- Players you can reach. A small share of them will train in your sport.
- Rivals. How many academies already compete for those children.
- Your fee. Set against local rivals and what families can afford.
- Monthly costs. Rent, coaches, staff, power, equipment, marketing.
- Break-even players. Monthly costs divided by your fee. This is the number of players you must keep every month.
- Drop-out. The share of players who leave each month. A healthy academy loses under 2%.
- Fees collected on time. Strong academies collect about 95% on time.
- Cash. At least 3 months of costs in the bank before you open.
Plan the year, not the month
Admissions follow school exams, holidays and weather. Your plan should show when players join, when they leave, and when cash is tight.
The number most plans miss
Most business plans count how many players will join. Few count how many will leave. Drop-out is the quiet number that decides whether an academy grows. Knowing exactly why children leave, and what it costs, is half the problem solved.
Want these numbers for your academy?
The free Academy Scorecard gives your health score and fees at risk in 2 minutes. The Leak Report shows exactly where the money goes.
Questions owners ask
What should a sports academy business plan include?
Children nearby, players you can reach, rivals, fee, monthly costs, break-even players, drop-out rate, fees collected on time and cash in the bank.
How many players does a sports academy need to break even?
Divide monthly costs by the monthly fee. For example, ₹2.4 lakh in costs at ₹3,000 a player needs 80 players.
What is a good drop-out rate for an academy?
A healthy academy loses under 2% of players a month.
Costs and prices are typical ranges in India in 2026 and vary by city, size and builder. Use them to plan, and confirm with local quotes before you spend.
More guides
Typical cricket academy fees in India by level and city, what parents expect for the money, and how an academy owner should set the right fee.
Academy businessHow to Start a Cricket Academy in India: A Step-by-Step Guide (2026)Step by step: choosing the location, ground, coaches, fees, registration and the first 100 players for a new cricket academy in India.
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