The most important job of a General Manager isn’t just calling the shots—it’s managing the budget that makes every strategic move possible. For a prospective owner of a Tropical Island Baseball Academy, seeing the real, line-item costs is what transforms a dream into a actionable plan.
Below are four distinct, fully detailed first-year operating budgets for a franchise in Bohol. Each model reflects a different owner commitment level, from fully remote to fully resident. These are not estimates, but calculated financial blueprints built on local Philippine costs. Study them, critique them, and visualize where you would allocate your own capital to build your player development empire.
Budget Model 1: The Remote Director (Jagna Cobras)
Total First-Year Investment: $5,000 USD
This model is for the strategic GM who builds and manages the system from abroad, relying on a trusted local director for day-to-day execution.
- Franchise License Fee: $1,500 (One-time payment for the proven “Academy-in-a-Box” system, operations manual, and branding rights)
- Field Lease & Preparation: $900 (One-year lease for a vacant lot; includes initial clearing, basic grading, and installation of portable pitching mound)
- Baseball Equipment & Gear: $1,100 (15 wood bats, 6 dozen baseballs, 4 catcher’s sets, 20 fielding gloves, 20 batting helmets, 3 equipment bags, first-aid kit)
- Team Uniforms: $400 (60 jersey & cap sets, screen-printed locally)
- Local Staff Salary: $800 (Part-time Academy Director, 15 hours per week for player training, admin, and owner reporting)
- Operational Expenses: $300 (Prepaid mobile internet for director, liability insurance deposit, utility hook-up fees, bank charges)
Budget Model 2: The Visiting Owner (Loboc Crocodiles)
Total First-Year Investment: $7,200 USD
This budget is for the hands-on GM who makes two extended visits per year to lead training camps, evaluate talent in person, and build local relationships.
- Franchise License Fee: $1,500
- Field Lease & Premium Preparation: $1,200 (Lot with better drainage; includes basic covered dugout benches and secure storage shed)
- Enhanced Equipment Package: $1,300 (Adds pitching machine, premium baseballs for showcase events, additional training aids)
- Team Uniforms & Travel Gear: $500 (Home & away jersey sets, team travel bags)
- Local Staff Salaries: $1,200 (Part-time Academy Director and Assistant Coach during peak season)
- Owner Travel Costs: $1,000 (Two round-trip flights to Tagbilaran, budget lodging for 8 weeks total)
- On-Ground Operations: $500 (Local motorcycle rental for visits, scout event hosting costs, increased utility usage during camps)
Budget Model 3: The Part-Time Resident (Ubay Mackerels)
Total First-Year Investment: $12,400 USD
This plan is for the GM who lives on Bohol for six months, providing sustained daily leadership, advanced coaching, and deep community integration.
- Franchise License Fee: $1,500
- Field Lease & Facility Upgrade: $1,800 (Multi-year lot lease; includes permanent fencing, improved lighting for evening practice, and equipment cage)
- Professional Equipment Suite: $1,800 (Complete set including L-screen, multiple pitching mounds, advanced training technology like pocket radar)
- Comprehensive Apparel: $600 (Uniforms, training shirts, jackets, and promotional gear)
- Local Staff Wages: $2,000 (Full-time Academy Director and part-time groundskeeper)
- Owner’s Semi-Permanent Residence: $3,000 (Six months’ rent for furnished apartment, utilities, and scooter purchase)
- Living & Operational Fund: $1,700 (Owner’s food, fuel, local transport, and expanded player recruitment/community event budget for 6 months)
Budget Model 4: The Full-Time Founder (Valencia Sea Turtles)
Total First-Year Investment: $27,100 USD
This is the comprehensive budget for the GM building a flagship academy and a permanent local legacy through year-round, full-time presence.
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- Franchise License Fee: $1,500
- Premium Facility Development: $5,500 (Lease for superior location with existing infrastructure; construction of player clubhouse with locker area, office, and covered viewing area; professional-grade field lighting system)
- Elite Training Equipment: $3,000 (Commercial pitching machine, full bullpen setup, video analysis equipment, gym equipment suite, year-round baseball inventory)
- Branded Apparel System: $1,100 (Multiple uniform sets, full range of fan merchandise, and professional scout presentation packs)
- Full Professional Staff: $4,500 (Salaries for Full-time Academy Director, Pitching Coach, Operations Manager, and part-time grounds crew)
- Owner’s Full-Year Residence: $8,000 (12-month house rental, utility allotment, purchase of utility vehicle for player transport, comprehensive health insurance)
- Marketing & Business Development: $2,500 (Professional website development, player highlight video production, regional scout travel budget, local business partnership initiatives)
- Strategic Reserve Fund: $1,000 (Dedicated fund for unexpected opportunities, equipment replacement, or advanced player support
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Budget Model 5: The Model Franchise (Bohol Coconuts)
Total First-Year Investment: $51,000 USD
I. Community Development & Social Welfare Programs
This section funds the club’s heart: its direct service to the local community, building immense goodwill and a powerful local brand.
- Community Soup Kitchen: $5,000 (Weekly meal program for families in need. Major sponsorship opportunity for local businesses.)
- Discount Mini Food Store: $5,000 (Subsidized grocery sales for club members and local residents. Designed for sponsorship and small-scale revenue generation.)
- Adult Social Activities: $1,000 (Monthly gatherings, games nights, and community meetings for parents and local adults.)
- Youth Social Activities & Field Trips: $2,000 ($1K each for organized non-sports activities and educational/cultural trips. Prime sponsorship avenue for companies targeting families.)
- School Supplies Program: $1,000 (Annual distribution of notebooks, pens, and materials for player-families and local children. Ideal for branded sponsorship.)
II. Sports & Recreation Operations
This is the core athletic investment, covering all equipment, facilities, and leagues for baseball and beyond.
- Baseball Equipment Fund: $5,000 (Bats, balls, gloves, catcher’s gear, training aids, and machinery for the elite academy track.)
- Softball Equipment Fund: $4,000 (Parallel equipment suite to support a full women’s softball program.)
- Team Uniforms (Baseball & Softball): $4,000 (High-visibility sponsorship asset for logo placement.)
- Adult Recreational Sports League: $1,000 (Operations for community basketball, volleyball, or football leagues to engage parents and non-baseball athletes.)
- Field Rental & Maintenance: $2,000 (Annual lease for primary field and upkeep of diamonds.)
- Transportation Fund: $2,000 (Fuel and vehicle rental for team travel, field trips, and supply logistics.)
- Comprehensive Insurance: $2,000 (Liability, equipment, and accident coverage for all activities.)
III. Brand Building, Events & Operations
These costs power the club’s visibility, morale, and day-to-day functions, turning it into a vibrant local institution.
- Club Apparel & Merchandising: $5,000 (Production of shirts, hats, and gear for public sale. This is a direct revenue-generating line.)
- Club & Community Events: $4,000 ($1K for internal club events, $3K for public festivals, open days, and tournaments. Events are key sponsorship drivers.)
- Volunteer Recognition & Benefits: $3,000 (Monthly appreciation events (e.g., beach party), “Volunteer of the Week” awards, and small stipends to retain crucial local help.)
- Utilities & Communications: $3,000 (Electricity, water, internet, and mobile services for office and facility.)
- Part-Time Local Staff: $5,000 (Salaries for part-time office staff.)
- Production Equipment: $500 (Two heat press machines for creating custom apparel and uniforms on-site, reducing costs and enabling merchandise sales.)
The Coconuts model is not designed to run at a loss. Every community program is also a potential revenue pillar. The budget is built with Sponsorship woven into nearly every line item, from naming rights for the soup kitchen to branded school supplies and event sponsorship.
Primary Revenue Streams to Cover Costs:
- Player Agent Fees (5%): The core revenue from the academy’s success, when graduates sign professional contracts with MLB, NPB, or KBO clubs.
- Sponsorship & Partnerships: Local and international businesses sponsor specific programs, events, or equipment in exchange for prominent branding and community association.
- Volunteer Abroad Program: Baseball and Softball players from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia can spend two weeks in a Tropical Island Paradise teaching fundamentals to boys and girls.
- Merchandise Sales: Revenue from the sale of club apparel and gear produced with the on-site heat press.
- Program Fees: Modest, subsidized fees for the food store, adult sports leagues, and special events.
- Grants & Donations: Targeted fundraising for specific social welfare programs like the soup kitchen and school supplies.
The Path to Profitability
Every peso in these budgets builds toward the core revenue event: the 5% agent fee when a player signs a professional contract. A single $50,000 signing bonus returns $2,500 to
the academy—covering a significant portion of the “Remote Director” model instantly. A $500,000 bonus returns $25,000, which can fund an entire year of the “Full-Time Founder” operation.
As a prospective GM, your task is to look at these ledgers and decide: Which model aligns with your capital, your commitment, and your vision for player development? The $1,500 franchise fee is your key to the system. The budget you build is your blueprint for the empire. The choice, General Manager, is yours.
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