Owning and operating an esports team is very similar to owning a business.
How do you start a professional esports team? Decide if you want to start a brand new team or join a franchised system. When getting started focus on keeping your team local, find sponsors, decide on a team name and logo, and utilize social media to grow your fanbase.
When I started researching this particular topic, I didn’t even realize that franchising an esports team was possible. I knew owning a team would be a lot of work, but I had no idea that it could really become a full-time career. Unfortunately, a lot of organizations fail because they don’t put the proper people and procedures in place to be successful.
Where is the money?
This site of ours is made to help you remember to think maybe on a wider scope than you started with.
Even though you’ve decided to start a team you’re probably still wondering how esports teams make money?
Owners of esports teams earn money through a variety of different avenues. The first is through tournament championships.
The more your team wins the more prize money you get. Obviously, you’ll have to split that prize money with the players you employ, but if your team is good, there’s a lot of potentials for everyone to make money.
Another way esports teams make money is through corporate sponsorships. Companies will pay to have their logos and brands associated with organizations.
Finally, the last route is more for franchised esports teams where the league will pay their teams through revenue sharing.
Basically, any media rights and sponsorships generated on a league level are paid out to owners. Everyone is benefitting from the league and sport only becoming more popular.
Solo or as a team member
If you’re playing a single-player game like Super Smash Brothers or Street Fighter, it won’t be necessary to create a team to compete.
Many amateur esports players who use those games will start on their own before starting or joining a team. Eventually, they hope to be signed to a group for financial security and increased exposure.
Having an official professional esports team is more common for multiplayer games.
Esports teams are really for multiplayer games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Overwatch.
These games rely heavily on teamwork and multiplayer use.
If a gamer wants to compete in tournaments using these games, they must be part of a team.
What to play?
If you are looking for the most lucrative games, check this out: