Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

6 Recreation Franchises You Can Buy for Less Than $40,000 Be more active by investing in a fun franchise.

By Matthew McCreary

juststock | Getty Images

Working in a cubicle every day can take its toll on a body. It makes your shoulders and back hurt from hunching over your desk and your eyes sting from staring at a screen all day long. It makes you feel stagnant, bloated and tired and sore.

That goes double if you're working for a cause or a company you don't believe in.

If you're thinking about leaving behind the 9-to-5 lifestyle, or hoping to be more active in your daily life, then buying one of the recreation franchises from the Franchise 500 list could make sense for you. So, start the slideshow to see the recreation franchises that cost $40,000 or less or check out the recreation franchise page for the full list.

Related: Just How Much Does It Cost to Own a Fast-Food Franchise?

Related Video: Should I Franchise? Advice From a Shark Tank Star.

Jazzercise Inc.

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list rank: 81

Initial investment: $3,530 to $12,900

Initial franchise fee: $1,250

New units in 2016: 181 units (2.1 percent)

While you can buy every franchise on this list for less than $40,000, you can buy a Jazzercise franchise for less than a tenth of that. No wonder there were 8,880 Jazzercise franchises across the globe as of 2016.

Related: 5 Franchises You Can Buy for Less Than $18,000

My Gym Children's Fitness Center

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list rank: 251

Initial investment: $36,750 to $249,700

Initial franchise fee: $25,000 to $55,000

New units in 2016: 48 units (12.7 percent)

My Gym Children's Fitness Center offers movement, tumbling and exercise classes for children from the age of 3 months to 9 years. Check out the domestic opportunities for My Gym.

Related: 100 Franchises You Can Start For Less Than $50,000

Soccer Shots Franchising LLC

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list rank: 334

Initial investment: $35,584 to $48,100

Initial franchise fee: $29,500

New units in 2016: 12 units (7.1 percent)

Soccer Shots franchises provides 30 to 40-minute weekly programs that teach children basic soccer skills and character-building lessons. If playing soccer for a living sounds fun, you can check out the company's list of available territories..

Related: Our Top 5 Franchises You Can Run From Your Own Home

Destination Athlete LLC

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 Rank: 405

Initial investment: $31,300 to $144,110

Initial franchise fee: $20,000 to $50,000

New units in 2016: 12 units (66.7 percent)

Destination Athlete franchises sells equipment, uniforms, trophies and more to local sports teams. So, you might not actaully be playing games if you invest in one of these franchises, but you'll be helping children and adults alike find the right recreation league for them. You can find more information about available territories on the company's website.

Related: The Top 5 New Franchises to Keep Your Eye On

HappyFeet Legends International

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list rank: 456

Initial investment: $22,500 to $29,400

Initial franchise fee: $15,000

New units in 2016: 4 units (2.4 percent)

HappyFeet Legends International combines soccer with an educational curriculum and works heavily with preschools to create a holistic, academic and athletic experience for young children. You can learn more about franchising options for HappyFeet here.

Related: 5 Affordable Franchises You Can Start for Less Than $10,000

Kinderdance International Inc.

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list rank: 471

Initial investment: $17,950 to $46,100

Initial franchise fee: $15,000 to $40,000

New units in 2016: 4 units (3.0 percent)

Kinderdance International Inc. mostly offers classes for children ages 3 to 5, but there are also programs designed for kids as old as 12 or as young as 15 months. Like HappyFeet, Kinderdance classes often take place at child-care facilities or preschools. You can learn more about available districts, testimonials and other information on the business website.

Related: 5 Tech Franchises You Can Start Now for as Little as $25,000

Matthew McCreary

Entrepreneur Staff

Associate Editor, Contributed Content

Matthew McCreary is the associate editor for contributed content at Entrepreneur.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Living

These Are the 'Wealthiest and Safest' Places to Retire in the U.S. None of Them Are in Florida — and 2 States Swept the List.

More than 338,000 U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023 — a 44% increase year over year.

Starting a Business

This Sommelier's 'Laughable' Idea Is Disrupting the $385 Billion Wine Industry

Kristin Olszewski, founder of Nomadica, is bringing premium wine to aluminum cans, and major retailers are taking note.

Business News

DOGE Leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Say Mandating In-Person Work Would Make 'a Wave' of Federal Employees Quit

The two published an op-ed outlining their goals for their new department, including workforce reductions.

Business News

These Are the Highest Paying Jobs Available Without a College Degree, According to a New Report

The median salaries for these positions go up to $102,420 per year.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.