1851 Franchise’s Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises of 2026: The Bunny Hive

• Brand: The Bunny Hive
• Number of Units: 32
• Initial Investment Range: $143,410 - $398,050
• ROI Potential: $217,620 (average gross revenue, FY 2024)
• Units Sold Last Year: 13

The Bunny Hive has officially earned a place on 1851 Franchise’s 2026 Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises list — a recognition that highlights brands shaping the future of franchising through innovation, momentum and strong demand. As interest from franchisees continues to climb, The Bunny Hive is entering a pivotal phase of expansion.

“The Bunny Hive’s momentum is coming from a universal need for community. Families today are actively seeking a village (a ‘Hive’) especially during the early parenting years, and our studios provide a consistent, beautiful, in-person experience that supports both little ones and the grownups who care for them,” said Brittany Schmid, co-founder and CEO of The Bunny Hive. 

History and Origin Story

The Bunny Hive began as a heartfelt idea between two best friends. Schmid and co-founder Katy Doar were navigating new motherhood in separate cities. Both struggled to find spaces that felt welcoming, beautiful and genuinely community-oriented for both parents and children.

Their vision was to create a place designed for togetherness, where grownups and little ones could feel equally comfortable and connected. In 2019, that dream became a reality with the opening of the first Bunny Hive studio in the Atlanta area. Today, The Bunny Hive has grown into a welcoming space where families across the country come together to learn, play and connect. 

“The Bunny Hive stands out because it is a people-first franchise in every sense — from the families we serve to the franchisees who own and operate our studios,” Schmid said. “Our owners are highly engaged in their communities, and the model rewards that engagement through a membership-driven business with strong retention and recurring revenue.”

Why the Franchise Stands Out

With membership-based revenue, lean operations and high retention, The Bunny Hive combines emotional connection with smart business fundamentals. Each studio offers thoughtfully curated classes — from art and baby massage to culinary exploration and sensory play — that foster meaningful relationships between caregivers and children while creating recurring engagement.

From an economic standpoint, the model is designed to be manageable and efficient, with modest footprints, lean staffing and multiple revenue streams that allow owners to grow intentionally. Schmid noted that the franchise is intentionally transparent about the path to profitability and continues to refine systems, pricing and programming to help franchisees get there faster.

“What resonates most with buyers is the level of support and partnership. We work closely with our franchisees to provide curriculum, marketing, technology and ongoing operational guidance, but we also listen and evolve based on what’s working at the studio level,” Schmid said. “Many of our best ideas come directly from franchisee collaboration, which creates a strong sense of alignment and shared ownership in the brand’s success.”

System Growth and 2026 Momentum

In the past year, The Bunny Hive has scaled rapidly, awarding 13 new units and expanding into key markets across the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. This growth reflects both consumer demand and the strength of its franchise operators.

“We’re excited to continue investing in studio optimization — supporting owners as they stabilize, refine their teams and improve margins — while also creating pathways for experienced franchisees to grow into multi-unit ownership,” Schmid said. 

Why Now Is the Moment for Franchisees

For franchisees, The Bunny Hive offers the rare opportunity to combine purpose and profitability in a proven business model. Parents and caregivers continue to seek authentic community experiences, creating growing demand for the brand’s offerings in both suburban and urban markets.

“The next phase is about helping great franchisees become even stronger operators,” Schmid said. “We’re equally focused on strengthening the infrastructure behind the brand.”

This will include clearer performance benchmarks, more robust training and leadership development, and systems that allow owners to spend less time troubleshooting and more time building relationships in their communities.

Looking Ahead

The Bunny Hive is entering an important phase of internal growth. Over the past year, the team has focused on strengthening established studios, refining operations and identifying key factors that help locations reach profitability more quickly. With proven operators and a more mature support structure in place, the brand is positioned for thoughtful, scalable expansion.

“What excites us most is the combination of impact and opportunity,” said Schmid. “As we grow, we’re not just adding locations — we’re empowering thoughtful, mission-aligned owners to build profitable businesses that genuinely support families during one of the most formative stages of life. That balance of purpose, performance, and partnership is what we believe will define the next chapter of The Bunny Hive.” 

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the month for 1851 Franchise's full Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises series to explore the other innovative brands making waves in the industry.