The Real Costs of Competitive Cheerleading
- Amari H.
- Aug 17, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Let's Talk About the Number Nobody Wants to Say Out Loud
$19,550.
That's the average annual cost of competitive cheerleading.
Some families pay $8,000. Some pay $35,000+.
And here's what makes me mad: Nobody tells you this upfront.
You sign your daughter up thinking "cheer team, cool!" and six months later you're drowning in competition fees, uniform costs, choreography bills, and travel expenses that never. seem. to. end.
Let me break down every single cost so you know EXACTLY what you're getting into.
Then I'll show you how families are actually funding this without second mortgages.
The Complete Cost Breakdown (Nothing Hidden)
Expense Category | Low End | High End | Average | When Due |
Gym/Team Fees | $2,000 | $8,000 | $4,500 | Monthly/quarterly |
Uniforms & Bows | $500 | $2,000 | $1,200 | Once per season |
Competition Fees | $1,500 | $5,000 | $3,000 | Throughout season |
Travel (hotels, gas, food) | $2,000 | $10,000 | $5,500 | Per competition |
Choreography | $500 | $3,000 | $1,500 | Pre-season |
Music & Mixes | $200 | $800 | $400 | Pre-season |
Private Lessons/Tumbling | $1,000 | $5,000 | $2,500 | Monthly |
Shoes | $200 | $600 | $350 | 1-2x per season |
Practice Wear | $300 | $1,000 | $600 | Throughout season |
Team Bonding/Events | $200 | $800 | $400 | Throughout season |
Makeup & Hair Supplies | $100 | $400 | $200 | Throughout season |
TOTAL ANNUAL | $8,500 | $36,600 | $19,950 |
Let that sink in.
Month-by-Month: Competitive Cheerleading Costs
Because it's not just the total. It's WHEN you have to pay.
July-August (Pre-Season)
What's due:
Team registration: $500-$1,500
Uniform deposit: $200-$500
Choreography fees: $500-$3,000
Music/mix fees: $200-$800
First month gym fees: $150-$600
Total pre-season hit: $1,550-$6,400
This is when families realize what they signed up for.
September-November (Season Starts)
What's due:
Monthly gym fees: $150-$600/month
Uniform balance: $300-$1,500
Practice wear: $200-$400
First competition fees: $300-$600
First competition travel: $400-$1,500
Private tumbling (if doing): $200-$800/month
Monthly average: $1,550-$5,400
December-February (Competition Season)
What's due:
Monthly gym fees: $150-$600/month
Competition fees (2-4 comps): $600-$2,000
Travel (2-4 trips): $800-$4,000
Additional private lessons: $200-$800/month
Replacement items (shoes, bows): $100-$300
Monthly average: $1,850-$7,700
This is peak expense season. Families are STRUGGLING.
March-May (Regionals/Nationals)
What's due:
Monthly gym fees: $150-$600/month
Nationals bid fees (if qualified): $500-$2,000
Nationals travel (if qualified): $1,500-$5,000
End-of-season events: $100-$400
Next season deposits: $200-$500
If your team makes Nationals: Add $2,000-$7,500 to this period.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Warns You About
1. "Optional" Extras (That Aren't Really Optional)
Team bonding events:"Optional $50 team dinner before Nationals"(Your daughter is the only one not going? Yeah, you're paying.)
Professional photos:"Optional $150 photo package"(Every other parent is buying them. You're buying them.)
End-of-season banquet:"Optional $75/person"(Not attending is social suicide. You're going.)
Add $400-$1,000/year for "optional" expenses.
2. Size Changes Mid-Season
Your daughter grows. Shockingly, teenagers do this.
New uniform needed: $600-$1,200New shoes: $80-$150New practice wear: $100-$200
Can't compete in a uniform that doesn't fit.
Add $780-$1,550 for growth-related replacements.
3. Last-Minute Competition Fee Increases
What happens:"Competition venue changed, fees increased by $50 per athlete""Added a division, need additional $100""Late registration penalty: $75"
These add up FAST.
Budget extra $200-$500/season for surprise competition costs.
4. Injury-Related Expenses
When (not if) injuries happen:
Doctor visits: $100-$300
Physical therapy: $50-$150/session × 6-12 sessions
Braces/supports: $50-$200
Time off = still paying gym fees while not participating
Budget $500-$2,000 for injury-related costs (hope you don't need it, but be ready).
5. Bid Fees and Nationals Qualification
If your team qualifies for a major championship:
Bid fee to compete: $500-$2,000
Travel: $1,500-$5,000 (flights, hotel 4-5 nights, food)
Additional uniform pieces: $200-$500
Special choreography for Nationals: $500-$1,500
Total Nationals add-on: $2,700-$9,000
Most families don't budget for this because "we might not qualify."Then you qualify and have 6 weeks to come up with $5,000.
Why It Costs So Much (The Honest Breakdown)
Gym Overhead and Insurance
Commercial rent: $5,000-$15,000/month
Liability insurance: $10,000-$50,000/year
Equipment: $50,000-$200,000 investment
Staff salaries: Coaches aren't volunteers
These costs get passed to families.
Highly Specialized Coaching
Competitive cheer coaches need:
Certifications (USASF, safety, first aid)
Years of experience
Choreography skills
Tumbling expertise
Stunt training
Good coaching is expensive. You're paying for expertise.
Competition Production Costs
When your team competes:
Venue rental: $10,000-$50,000
Judges' fees: $500-$2,000/day × 4-8 judges
Sound and lighting: $5,000-$20,000
Livestreaming: $5,000-$15,000
Staff and security: $10,000-$30,000
These costs get divided among participating teams.
Your $300 competition fee pays for your team's share of production.
Travel to Major Competitions
Competitive cheer requires travel.
Regional competitions: 1-3 hour drive (manageable)
State championships: Possibly out of state
Nationals: Usually Florida, Texas, or Las Vegas
Hotels during competition season? $150-$300/night.
Food for family during 3-day comp? $300-$600.
Gas/flights? $100-$1,500.
4-6 competitions/year = travel costs ADD UP.
Funding Strategies That Actually Work
Strategy 1: Team Fundraisers (Collective Effort)
What works:
Restaurant nights (team gets 20% of sales)
Car washes ($5-$10/car, 50 cars = $250-$500 for team)
Product sales (cookie dough, candles, etc.)
Sponsorship from local businesses
Average team fundraising: $500-$2,000 per family/year
Pro: Shared effort, builds team camaraderieCon: Still requires your time and hustle
Strategy 2: Individual FundraisHER Campaigns
How it works:
Create FundraisHER Athlete Hub
Link fundraising campaigns (GoFundMe, Venmo, etc.)
Share on social media
Community donates directly
Real example: Taylor's mom created FundraisHER Hub, ran campaign for Nationals travel.
Result: $2,800 raised in 6 weeksDonors: Extended family, friends, local community members, her daughter's supporters
Her quote: "We would not have made Nationals without FundraisHER. The Hub made it easy to share our story and needs. People WANT to help when they understand the situation."
Strategy 3: Local Business Sponsorships
How it works:
Athlete approaches local businesses
Offers social media posts in exchange for financial support
Business gets community goodwill + athlete's audience exposure
Real example: Emma, competitive cheerleader with 3,200 Instagram followers:
Partnerships landed:
Local gym: $200/month for social posts
Sports store: $150/month + gear discount
Restaurant: Free team meals + $100/month
Total: $450/month = $5,400/year
This covered 27% of her season costs.
Strategy 4: Payment Plans with Gyms
Most gyms offer payment plans.
Instead of:$4,500 gym fees due upfront
You pay:$375/month for 12 months
Doesn't reduce total cost BUT makes it manageable.
Ask your gym:
Do you offer payment plans?
Is there a payment plan fee?
Can I pay monthly instead of quarterly?
Strategy 5: Multi-Child Discounts
If you have 2+ kids in cheer:
Ask about:
Sibling discounts (10-20% off second child)
Family rates
Bundle pricing
Example: One child: $4,500/year Two children: $8,000/year (save $1,000)
Always ask. Worst case? They say no.
Strategy 6: Volunteer Hours = Fee Reductions
Many gyms offer:Work X hours at competitions/events = $Y fee reduction
Example:Work 20 hours at competitions = $500 off gym fees
How this works:
Concessions stand
Registration desk
Runner for judges
Setup/teardown
Your time = money savings.
What to Ask BEFORE Joining a Team
Get EVERYTHING in writing before you commit.
Financial Questions:
What is the TOTAL cost for the season? (Don't accept "it varies")
What's included in gym fees?
What's NOT included? (uniforms, travel, competitions, choreography)
How many competitions? (Each one costs $300-$600)
Where are competitions? (In-state vs national travel = cost difference)
What are "optional" expenses? (Spoiler: they're not optional)
Do you offer payment plans? (With or without fees?)
Are there sibling discounts?
What happens if we can't afford Nationals? (Is participation mandatory?)
What's the refund policy if we have to quit mid-season?
Logistics Questions:
How many practices per week?
How long is the season?
What's the competition schedule? (Get dates NOW)
Is private tumbling required or recommended?
What's the time commitment for parents? (Volunteering, travel, events)
If the gym can't/won't answer these questions clearly: RED FLAG.
Is It Worth It? (Real Parent Perspectives)
The "Yes, Worth It" Camp
What they value:
Life skills (discipline, teamwork, work ethic)
Physical fitness and strength
Confidence and performance skills
Lifelong friendships
College scholarship potential (rare but real)
Social and emotional development
Quote:"We spend $15,000/year. But my daughter has learned more about commitment, resilience, and teamwork than anything else could teach her. We budget for it like college savings."
The "It's Complicated" Camp
What they struggle with:
Financial stress and burden
Time commitment (practices, travel, competitions)
Pressure on the kid (and family)
Sustainability (can we afford 5+ years of this?)
Quote:"I love what it's done for my daughter. I hate what it's done to our finances. We're making it work but it's HARD."
The "We Had to Quit" Camp
Why they left:
Financially unsustainable
Too much time away from family
Daughter burned out
Injury ended season
Quote:"We made it 2 seasons. The cost kept increasing. We couldn't keep up. It broke my heart but we had to walk away."
Making the Decision: Can You Afford It?
Financial Reality Check
Annual cost: $8,500-$36,000 (average $19,550)
Can you:
Afford $1,600/month in cheer expenses?
Handle surprise $2,000-$5,000 Nationals costs?
Sustain this for 3-7 years?
Still save for college, retirement, emergencies?
If the answer is no: That's OKAY.
Options:
Start with recreational cheer (1/4 the cost)
Do one season and reassess
Pursue other sports with lower costs
Wait until financial situation improves
Questions to Ask Yourself:
Can we afford this without going into debt?
Will this impact our other financial goals? (College savings, retirement, emergency fund)
Does our daughter understand the financial commitment we're making?
Do we have a funding strategy beyond our income? (Fundraising, sponsorships)
Can we sustain this for multiple years?
Be honest. Your financial health matters too.
Bottom Line (No Sugar-Coating)
Competitive cheerleading is one of the most expensive youth sports in America.
Average cost: $19,550/year
That's more than:
Most college tuition at community colleges
A decent used car payment
Many family vacations
Average American family's annual entertainment budget
Is it worth it? Only you can answer that.
But GO IN WITH EYES OPEN:
Know the FULL cost upfront
Have a funding strategy (not just "we'll figure it out")
Set financial boundaries (what's our max?)
Communicate with your daughter about costs
Don't go into debt for cheer
And if you DO commit:
Use every funding strategy available:
Team fundraisers
FundraisHER campaigns
Local sponsorships
Payment plans
Volunteer hours
Your daughter's athletic dreams matter. So does your financial security.
Find the balance that works for YOUR family.
Need help funding your cheer season?Create a FundraisHER Athlete Hub and start your campaign today.
