Pathways
The step template behind each process. This is the master list - a live pathway copies these steps onto a team.
1. Team Launch
2. Team Reset (annual)
3. League Launch
4. Franchise Sale
5. Team Sale
6. Team Acquisition
7. League Acquisition
8. Team Rebrand or Relocation
9. League Rebrand
43 steps · 10 contract gates · 2 can start straight away
| # | Phase | Step | Who | Hands to | When | Blocked by | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -6 | The deal |
Management services agreement already in force
GATE
The MSA binds the entity, not the owner. If it is not signed before the sale, nothing holds the buyer to TPL management for the rest of the season.
Hands over: An executed MSA running to 31 August
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -24 days after start | nothing - can start now | |
| -5 | The deal |
Confidentiality agreement signed
Hands over: A signed confidentiality agreement
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -22 days after start | nothing - can start now | |
| -4 | The deal |
Franchise application completed
Hands over: A completed franchise application
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -19 days after start | Confidentiality agreement signed
|
|
| -3 | The deal |
FDD issued and receipt signed - the 14-day clock starts
GATE
Federal franchise rule - the FDD must be in the buyer's hands at least 14 days before they sign anything or pay anything. The receipt is the proof.
Hands over: A signed FDD receipt and a dated clock
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -14 days after start | Franchise application completed
|
|
| -2 | The deal |
Second FDD with their information issued and receipted
GATE
A second FDD carrying the buyer's own information starts its own 7-day period before signing.
Hands over: A second signed receipt, seven days clear of closing
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -7 days after start | FDD issued and receipt signed - the 14-day clock starts
|
|
| 1 | The deal |
Buyer approved by TPL
GATE
A franchise cannot transfer without TPL approving the buyer. Everything after this is wasted if the buyer is refused.
Hands over: An approved buyer, in writing
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | -16 days after start | Franchise application completed Management services agreement already in force
|
|
| 2 | The deal |
Terms agreed
Hands over: Agreed terms ready to paper
|
TPL corporate |
Outside counsel | -12 days after start | Buyer approved by TPL
|
|
| 3 | The deal |
Seller obligations brought current before closing
Hands over: A clean ledger at closing
|
Management Services |
Management Services | -5 days after start | Terms agreed
|
|
| 4 | The deal |
Transfer fee collected
GATE
Manual 13.2 - the transfer fee is due on transfer. $2,500, $5,000 or $2,000 depending on the transferee.
Hands over: The transfer fee invoiced and collected
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | -3 days after start | Terms agreed
|
|
| 5 | The deal |
Purchase documents signed
GATE
Nothing transfers until the purchase documents are executed. Every step after this depends on it.
Hands over: Executed purchase documents and a closing date
|
Outside counsel |
Management Services | 0 days after start | Buyer approved by TPL Terms agreed Seller obligations brought current before closing Transfer fee collected FDD issued and receipt signed - the 14-day clock starts Second FDD with their information issued and receipted
|
|
| 6 | The deal |
Handover date set - 31 August, or at closing out of season
GATE
Which date the handover runs from decides every step below it.
Hands over: An agreed handover date everyone is working to
|
TPL corporate |
Management Services | 1 days after start | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 7 | The deal |
Stub season arrangement agreed - approvals, funding, view access
GATE
Without a spending threshold, every umpire payment waits on a new owner answering an email.
Hands over: A funded, pre-approved stub season everyone has agreed
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 2 days after start | Purchase documents signed Handover date set - 31 August, or at closing out of season
|
|
| 10 | Money |
Bank signatories move to the buyer
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Bank account in the buyer's control, TPL off it
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 26 days vs season end | Stub season arrangement agreed - approvals, funding, view access
|
|
| 20 | Money |
Square — final payout swept, then transfer or close the account
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Square settled and transferred
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 3 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 30 | Money |
Square — remove TPL bank connection
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: TPL bank connection removed from Square
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 7 days vs season end | Square — final payout swept, then transfer or close the account
|
|
| 40 | Money |
Stripe — disconnect from the team company, confirm final payout
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Stripe disconnected and finally paid out
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 3 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 50 | Money |
Spend & Expense — cancel credit line and destroy all debit cards
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Credit line cancelled, every card destroyed
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 1 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 60 | Money |
Bill.com — remove entity, unlink bank, deactivate the @bill.com alias
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Entity off TPL Bill.com, alias retired
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 7 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 70 | Systems |
QBO — close the books for the final period, then transfer or cancel the subscription
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Books closed to the closing date, subscription transferred
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 21 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 80 | Systems |
QBO — remove TPL bank connection
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: TPL bank feed removed from QuickBooks
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 24 days vs season end | QBO — close the books for the final period, then transfer or cancel the subscription
|
|
| 90 | Systems |
SimpleTix — transfer the account to the buyer or close it
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: SimpleTix in the buyer's hands with tickets intact
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 10 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 100 | Systems |
Odoo - reconciled, and the team flipped to privately managed
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Final reconciliation done, the team off TPL-managed systems
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 28 days vs season end | Franchise agreement executed with the new owner Staff contracts run out, then transfer Players and host families finish the season where they are
|
|
| 110 | Systems |
Domain and admin@ mailbox — transfer to the buyer
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Domain and mailboxes under the buyer's control
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 7 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 120 | Tax |
Sales tax — file the final return and close the state account
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Sales tax current to closing, account with the entity
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 21 days vs season end | QBO — close the books for the final period, then transfer or cancel the subscription
|
|
| 130 | Tax |
Resale certificate — surrender or transfer
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Resale certificate confirmed with the entity
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 14 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 140 | Tax |
DBA filing — transfer or withdraw
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: DBA in the buyer's name
|
Management Services |
Outside counsel | 14 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 150 | Tax |
EIN — confirm treatment with counsel (transfers with the LLC, or is closed)
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Written confirmation of the EIN treatment
|
Management Services |
Outside counsel | 14 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 160 | Tax |
Insurance — remove TPL from the policy
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: TPL off the policy, buyer insured and certified
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 1 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 170 | League |
Franchise agreement executed with the new owner
GATE
A team in a TPL league without an executed Franchise Agreement has no right to play.
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: An executed Franchise Agreement with the new owner
|
Outside counsel |
Management Services | 1 days after start | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 180 | League |
Royalty and advertising fund billing set up for the new owner
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: The new owner set up to be billed monthly
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 3 days vs season end | Franchise agreement executed with the new owner
|
|
| 190 | League |
Field agreement assigned to the new owner
GATE
A sold team whose venue did not transfer has nowhere to play.
Hands over: The venue agreement in the new owner's name
|
TPL corporate |
TPL corporate | 7 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 200 | League |
Foul Pole — camera install and streaming split agreement updated
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Streaming arrangement rewritten for the new owner
|
Foul Pole |
Foul Pole | 10 days vs season end | Franchise agreement executed with the new owner
|
|
| 210 | League |
Concessions and alcohol permits - transferred or reapplied for
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Permits in the new owner's name
|
Management Services |
Management Services | 14 days vs season end | Handover date set - 31 August, or at closing out of season
|
|
| 215 | League |
Staff contracts run out, then transfer
Hands over: Staff finished their term, buyer knows who is available
|
Whoever manages the team |
TPL corporate | 5 days vs season end | The season finished under TPL management
|
|
| 216 | League |
Players and host families finish the season where they are
Hands over: A season finished properly before anything changes
|
Team GM |
TPL corporate | 3 days vs season end | The season finished under TPL management
|
|
| 217 | League |
The season finished under TPL management
Hands over: Every fixture played
|
Commissioner / League GM |
TPL corporate | 1 days vs season end | Handover date set - 31 August, or at closing out of season
|
|
| 220 | League |
Clarkston — outstanding gear orders settled and supplier terms confirmed
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Gear orders settled and supply terms explained
|
Management Services |
Clarkston | 10 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 230 | Handover |
Export pack: company ledger and full transaction history
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Full ledger and transaction history handed over
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 14 days vs season end | QBO — close the books for the final period, then transfer or cancel the subscription
|
|
| 240 | Handover |
Export pack: player records and executed contract PDFs
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Player records and signed contracts handed over
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 14 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 250 | Handover |
Export pack: host family records
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Host family records handed over
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 14 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 260 | Handover |
Export pack: schedule, roster and sponsor list
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: Schedule, roster and sponsor list handed over
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 14 days vs season end | Purchase documents signed
|
|
| 270 | Handover |
Player-signing process walkthrough delivered to the buyer’s coach
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: The buyer's coach trained on signing players
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 18 days vs season end | Franchise agreement executed with the new owner
|
|
| 280 | Handover |
Buyer signs receipt for the data export pack
Imported from the existing Team Sale - Teardown Template (project 9), wording unchanged.
Hands over: A signed receipt for everything handed over
|
Management Services |
TPL corporate | 24 days vs season end | Export pack: company ledger and full transaction history Export pack: player records and executed contract PDFs Export pack: host family records Export pack: schedule, roster and sponsor list Player-signing process walkthrough delivered to the buyer’s coach
|