From a 30-Mile Radius to Global Leverage: How Soccer Shots Buffalo Scaled Without Breaking the Bank
Sagan
INTRODUCTION
Mark runs Soccer Shots in Buffalo, New York. Twenty-six part-time coaches. Hundreds of kids. And the constant challenge every small business owner knows: how do you scale without drowning in payroll?
For years, Mark's hiring strategy was simple. Post a job. Hope someone good applies within driving distance. Settle for whoever shows up.
Then he hired Gustavo, a media and marketing director from Venezuela, through Sagan Passport. The cost? 75% less than a local hire with the same experience.
That one decision didn't just fill a role. It changed how Mark thinks about building his business.
THE PROBLEM
LOCAL HIRING WAS KILLING HIS MARGIN
Mark's director of coaching was doing everything: hiring coaches, running training sessions, handling evaluations, putting out fires. His operations director was buried in logistics. Both were stretched so thin that strategic work kept getting pushed to "next quarter."
When Mark looked at hiring a marketing director locally, the numbers didn't work. Someone with real experience would cost $60,000 to $80,000. For a youth sports franchise, that's a massive bet.
"The equivalent starting pay here would've been at least 15 to 20K more," Mark said. "I wouldn't have been able to afford someone with his experience locally."
So Mark did what most small business owners do: he kept doing the marketing himself. Late nights. Weekends. The work that never felt urgent but always mattered.
THE SHIFT
THINKING BEYOND THE 30-MILE RADIUS
Mark's advisor Jon asked him a simple question during a planning session: "What if you only did magical things?"
Not the admin work. Not the social media posting. Not the scheduling. Just the high-value work that only Mark could do: building relationships, improving training programs, thinking strategically about growth.
That question led Mark to Sagan Passport. Within weeks, he hired Gustavo.
"I honestly didn't think this was possible," Mark admitted. "But Gustavo's been a game changer for us."
Gustavo took over Soccer Shots' media and marketing. He learned the brand voice, adapted to the business quickly, and started showing up in leadership meetings with ideas. Not as a contractor checking boxes, but as a real team member thinking about the business.
"He's been great, very adaptable," Mark said. "It's only been a month, but he's already learning the language we use and the intricacies of our operations."
The results
FREED UP CAPACITY, UNLOCKED GROWTH
With Gustavo handling marketing, Mark's local team could finally focus on what they do best.
His director of coaching stopped scrambling to fill coaching shifts and started improving training standards. His operations director got out of the weeds and into strategic planning. Mark himself had time to think about acquiring new territories and launching innovative programs.
The financial impact was immediate. By spending $15,000 to $20,000 less on the marketing role, Mark could reinvest that capital into growth initiatives. But the bigger win was mental space.
"Now, I can't stop thinking about what else I can outsource globally," Mark said. "Honestly, I've been up at night jotting down ideas. It's addicting in a good way."
Soccer Shots Buffalo went from reactive to strategic. From Mark doing everything to Mark doing the things that actually move the needle.
THE LESSON
COST SAVINGS ARE JUST THE START
Mark's story isn't just about saving money on payroll. It's about breaking free from the local hiring trap that keeps small businesses stuck.
When you can only hire within a 30-mile radius, you're limited by whoever happens to live nearby and is looking for work. When you hire globally, you're choosing from the best talent available, period.
"Global hiring is more than just cost savings," Mark said. "It's about expanding what's possible."
Today, Soccer Shots Buffalo operates more efficiently. The local team focuses on high-impact work. Gustavo handles marketing and branding. And Mark finally has the capacity to think about what's next instead of just surviving what's now.
"It's not just about saving money," Mark emphasized. "It's about elevating the whole team."
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