Dill Dinkers

What Dill Dinkers does

Dill Dinkers is a U.S. indoor pickleball club franchise founded in 2022 by Will and Denise Richards in Columbia, Maryland, after the couple struggled to find consistent year-round indoor playing facilities. The company operates dedicated, climate-controlled pickleball facilities featuring outdoor-style court surfaces, fenced courts, event space, pro shops, and ball machines. As of 2025, Dill Dinkers reports 30 clubs open across 12+ states with over 380 locations in development, spanning Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, Midwest, and West Coast regions.

The company's core product is the indoor pickleball club experience, sold through two primary access tiers — "Big Dill" memberships (recurring subscription, half-price court fees, 5–7 day advance booking, free ball machine use, discounts on lessons/clinics/tournaments) and "Little Dill" visitor pay-as-you-play access — supplemented by PPR-certified instruction (individual, couple, kids, private group, clinics), league and tournament programming, corporate and social event hosting, and a Pro Shop powered by Pickleball Central. The operating platform is the Dill Dinkers app, powered by CourtReserve for reservations, billing, and member management, layered onto a proprietary CRM/marketing portal and Dill Dinkers University for franchisee training.

Dill Dinkers monetizes primarily through a franchise model: a $50,000 initial franchise fee for single-club operators ($125,000 per 1M population for regional developers) and an 8% ongoing royalty on club sales. Additional corporate revenue streams include tiered on-site advertising (Ace/Put Away/Rally packages), pro shop and equipment partnerships with JOOLA and Pickleball Central, court installation revenue share via Just Courts, and selective international master franchising. Corporate headcount is reported at 1–10, consistent with an asset-light franchisor model that capitalizes unit growth through independent operators.

Name

Dill Dinkers

Legal name

Dill Dinkers Franchising LLC

Website

https://dilldinkers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dill Dinkers is a U.S. indoor pickleball club franchisor founded in 2022 by Will and Denise Richards, operating 30 climate-controlled clubs across 12+ states with 380+ in development, serving players of all skill levels via memberships, lessons, leagues, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indoor Pickleball Clubs

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue-Owned/Operated Event Organizers (In-House Promoters) (MPAKADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pickleball Equipment & Accessories Retail (CRAMAFAB), Party Venue Sourcing & Booking Services (HSACACAL)

Keywords

• Indoor pickleball clubs
• Pickleball franchises
• Court reservations
• Pickleball lessons
• Sports facility memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices25 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Court Reservations and Membership Fees: Members pay recurring membership fees for access to half-price court fees, advance booking privileges (5-7 days before visitors), and free ball machine use. Visitors pay full court fees per hour or per session. No signup or initiation fees for members.
2. Instruction and Programming: Revenue from individual lessons, couple's lessons, doubles partner lessons, kids lessons, private group lessons, clinics, and leagues taught by PPR Certified Teaching Professionals.
3. Tournaments and Events: Organized tournaments and private event rentals including corporate events, birthday parties, team building activities.
4. Pro Shop Sales: Revenue from paddles, clothing, accessories, and equipment powered by Pickleball Central partnership.
5. Advertising: Tiered advertising packages including Ace, Put Away, and Rally tiers with benefits such as banner displays, social media shoutouts, court sponsorship, newsletter features, and event access.
6. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fee of $50,000 for single-club franchise; $125,000 per 1M population for regional developer model. Continuing royalty of 8% of sales.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Dill Dinkers operates a national chain of dedicated indoor pickleball clubs offering year-round, climate-controlled playing facilities with outdoor-style court surfaces. The company provides memberships, court reservations, lessons taught by PPR-certified professionals, league and tournament play, private events and corporate team building, and on-site pro shops, supported by a franchise model for expansion.

Product overview

Dill Dinkers is a chain of dedicated indoor pickleball clubs founded in 2022 by Denise and Will Richards, operating 30 locations across the United States with over 380 in development. The company provides year-round, climate-controlled indoor courts with outdoor-style playing surfaces for players of all skill levels. The core product offering centers on indoor pickleball club memberships (Big Dill Membership with premium benefits and Little Dill visitor access), supplemented by clinics and lessons taught by PPR-certified teaching professionals, party and event hosting services, corporate team building packages, and a Pro Shop powered by Pickleball Central. The company also operates a franchise program offering single-club and regional developer franchise opportunities, as well as international master franchising for global expansion. The business is technology-enabled through a proprietary app powered by CourtReserve for reservations and club management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indoor Pickleball Clubs Year-round, climate-controlled indoor pickleball facilities featuring outdoor-style court surfaces where members and visitors can play regardless of weather. Open to individuals of all skill levels seeking dedicated pickleball venues.
• Big Dill Membership Subscription membership offering dedicated pickleball players priority court access, member rates, and exclusive club benefits. Designed for frequent pickleball players seeking regular play at Dill Dinkers indoor clubs.
• Pickleball Lessons and Clinics Instructional pickleball lessons and clinics taught by PPR-certified professional staff for players ranging from beginners to advanced competitors. Available to club members and visitors.
• Leagues and Tournaments Organized competitive pickleball play including leagues and tournaments for members and visitors. Provides structured competition opportunities for players seeking regular organized match play.
• Parties and Corporate Events Private party and corporate team-building event bookings at Dill Dinkers indoor clubs. Targeted at companies, organizations, and groups seeking unique group activities in a weather-independent venue.
• Pro Shop Powered by Pickleball Central On-site retail pro shop operated in partnership with Pickleball Central, offering paddles, balls, apparel, and pickleball accessories to club members and visitors.
• Dill Dinkers Franchise Franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs to own and operate a Dill Dinkers indoor pickleball club, including brand licensing, operating systems, training through Dill Dinkers University, and ongoing support. Requires a $50,000 initial franchise fee plus 8% ongoing royalty.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 clubs open with over 380 in development
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and support.

• Just CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2025Just Courts is the 'Official Court Installer' for the pickleball industry. This partnership provides Dill Dinkers franchisees with access to expert court-building solutions, competitive pricing, quality control, and enhanced construction support. Just Courts specializes in high-quality court construction with a mission to eliminate one of the sport's largest entry barriers—court installation.
• Pickleball CentralcoreTechnology or IntegrationPickleball Central powers the Dill Dinkers Pro Shop, providing paddles, clothing, accessories, and equipment. This partnership enables professional-grade equipment availability at all club locations.
• JOOLAcoreTechnology or IntegrationJOOLA provides industry-leading paddles, nets, and other pickleball products to Dill Dinkers facilities as part of a national partnership.
• CourtReservecoreTechnology or IntegrationCourtReserve provides the court management and reservation platform powering the Dill Dinkers app and booking system. Integrated for reservations, membership management, and club operations.
• Collin Johns and Martina KochliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional pickleball players and national partners who represent the Dill Dinkers brand.
• Kaitlyn KerrminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPickleball influencer and national partner representing the Dill Dinkers brand.
• Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR)supportTechnology or IntegrationPPR is the certification body for pickleball teaching professionals. All Dill Dinkers instructors are PPR Certified Teaching Professionals, ensuring quality instruction standards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Life Time Group Holdings: Life Time operates large athletic country clubs offering racquet sports (tennis, pickleball), fitness, and events under a membership model - a broad incumbent in the membership-based racquet sports space.
• Topgolf Callaway Brands: Topgolf is a large active-entertainment venue operator adjacent to Dill Dinkers in the experiential/social-sports category, offering hitting bays plus food and events rather than pickleball specifically.
• Invited (formerly ClubCorp): Invited operates a national network of private membership clubs offering racquet sports (tennis, pickleball), dining, and events - a broad incumbent in the membership club category overlapping with Dill Dinkers.

Direct peers

• iPickle: iPickle runs indoor pickleball clubs with membership tiers, lessons, and leagues, serving the same recreational and competitive player segments as Dill Dinkers.
• Pickleplex: Pickleplex builds and operates multi-court indoor pickleball complexes, directly comparable in facility type (dedicated indoor courts, fencing, climate control) and event programming.
• Chicken N Pickle: Chicken N Pickle operates indoor pickleball clubs co-located with restaurants, bars, and games - the closest direct analog to Dill Dinkers' climate-controlled clubs with food, pro shop, and event space.
• The Pickleball Club: The Pickleball Club operates membership-based indoor pickleball facilities with coaching and social programming, directly comparable to Dill Dinkers' club-plus-lessons-plus-events model.
• Pickleball Kingdom: Pickleball Kingdom is an indoor pickleball club franchise expanding across the US with similar membership, lesson, and tournament programming - the most direct franchised competitor in the same indoor pickleball niche.

Others

• USA Pickleball (Association): USA Pickleball is the national governing body for the sport, not a competitor but directly relevant as the ecosystem driver whose growth, ratings, and tournament structure Dill Dinkers benefits from.

Emerging players

• Swingovy: Swingovy operates pickleball-focused clubs with memberships and lessons, an emerging player intersecting with Dill Dinkers on indoor club operations and instruction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@dilldinkers
• Facebookfacebook.com/dilldinkers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dill-dinkers
• Instagraminstagram.com/dilldinkers
• Xx.com/DillDinkers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dill Dinkers