Helping Kids Soar: How This Franchisee Found Purpose and Growth with USA Ninja Challenge

For Chad Kneller, leaving behind a 12-year military career to pursue entrepreneurship was a deeply personal decision. After experiencing the challenges of being away from his family — especially during a life-threatening medical emergency with his young son — Kneller knew he wanted to build a life where he could prioritize his faith, family and personal freedom. Partnering with fellow veteran Sam Robins, Kneller found the perfect fit in USA Ninja Challenge, a franchise that combines fitness, fun and personal growth for kids.

Together, Kneller and Robins have created a thriving business in Conroe, Texas, where they inspire children to build confidence, develop physical skills and embrace challenges through obstacle-based fitness programs. Beyond running a business, Kneller sees USA Ninja Challenge as a way to give back to the community and make a meaningful difference in the lives of local families. With ambitious plans for growth and a strong commitment to their mission, Kneller and Robins are creating an experience that brings families together and leaves a lasting impact.

1851 Franchise spoke to Kneller about his franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Chad Kneller: I was in the military for 12 years and moved around a lot. Then my wife and I decided we wanted to become entrepreneurs because I started missing a lot of events and things for my kids. I was in Afghanistan, 1,700 miles from home, and my two-year-old got really, really sick. The military gave me a hard time getting home. My son needed life-saving surgery, and we almost lost him. At that point, I was done. I didn’t want to be that far from home ever again.

In 2014, I got out of the military and decided to become a full-time entrepreneur. I started doing all kinds of different things: I wrote a book, joined a couple of network marketing companies that were really successful and even started managing some downtown Nashville Airbnbs.

Sam Robins, a buddy of mine I met at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, was a big influence. We ended up moving to Texas after visiting Sam and his wife, Lori. We loved the area and decided to move a mile down the road from them. One morning at the gym, Sam suggested starting a franchise together. I was on board because I had the time and love all things business. We started working with a broker to explore different options.

As we were going through the process, I came across USA Ninja Challenge. My son had been attending a USA Ninja Challenge for two years, and Sam’s two younger boys had also started going there. We decided to look into USA Ninja Challenge more deeply, especially after discovering that the location we attended was for sale. That became our top choice. We got to know the owners and explored other options, but ultimately decided to move forward with USA Ninja Challenge. About a year ago, we finalized our decision. After some back and forth, we officially took over the Woodlands location on September 1, 2024. It’s been about five months now, and we’re having a lot of fun.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Kneller: I love what I call “micro business,” which would be those with three to five employees. I’ve always liked network marketing because there’s no brick-and-mortar aspect. I like that flexibility, being able to move without being tied down.

When I went into franchising, I knew I didn’t want to be stuck with the “old ball and chain” where I’d have to be there all the time. I like to scale things. One of the things I love about franchising is being able to have a partner. Even if we both needed to be present, I could be there Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while Sam could take Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, or whatever schedule works.

I also like that USA Ninja Challenge has a model where you can be an absentee owner. Sam and I both decided to get in there, apply our military background in leadership and team development, and train five really solid people. The idea was that once we had a strong team in place, we could step back and potentially buy another USA Ninja Challenge or even a different type of franchise.

The franchise model is appealing because of the support from the franchisor. They provide a blueprint, which was incredibly helpful for Sam and me since we’d never run a traditional business before. Having that structure made the process much more approachable.

We also leaned on other team members, like Roman [Madrid] in Katy, Texas, who runs a great gym and is ranked number three in the entire franchise system. He was a great resource for us as we got started. So far, we’ve been able to combine what we know from the military with what we’re learning from the franchise system, and it’s been a really good fit.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Kneller: My youngest son is 14, and his dream is to be on the American Ninja Warrior show. I thought, well, he could just come to the gym whenever he wants, and Sam felt the same way.

As former military guys in our 50s, we’re more focused on health and wellness than ever. I love health and wellness, I love leadership, and this franchise really encompasses everything that’s important to Sam and me — our health, our children and our family.

For us, it’s exciting to go in and support our kids. Now my son can go to the gym four or five times a week if he wants, and he’s improved so much, so quickly, since we took over. That part of it has been incredibly exciting. 

It also keeps me young, being around all the kids and having the chance to play a small role in their lives at this moldable stage. It’s rewarding to be a positive influence on them and their parents. So far, we’ve got about 200 families and over 220 kids in our program. We’re excited to double that, maybe even triple it.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Kneller: Our goal is to reach at least 300 to 350 kids by the end of this year and then grow by at least another 100 next year. That’s our initial goal. We’d like to be at 250 by the end of next month. Right now, we’re at 221 individual kids, and we have about 10 to 12 kids who come twice a week, which puts us at roughly 230 enrollments. By the end of the year, we’re aiming for 300 enrollments. The big goal is to double where we are right now by the end of next year. 

1851: What is one thing about your story you want us to know?

Kneller: Just that anybody can do anything. I was listening to a quote this morning, and it basically said, “From testimonials and personal experience, we have enough information to conclude that it’s possible to design and live an extraordinary life.”

For me, designing and living an extraordinary life means freedom — especially time freedom. We homeschool our kids, and I love that I can take vacations when others can’t and build a schedule that aligns with my priorities. For me, that alignment is God first, then my wife, my kids, and business after that.

Being able to schedule my life this way gives me plenty of time to do what we need to do — pay the bills, make money and everything else — without sacrificing the things that matter most. You don’t have to live a life where you dread Mondays and live for Fridays. You can enjoy every single day equally if you design your life intentionally.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Kneller: I would say it’s okay to be a copycat — as long as you copy the right cat. When becoming a franchise owner, find a franchise that’s successful where people are truly winning. You can learn a lot about that by reviewing the franchise documents.

Get around other owners and hear their stories. Join some Zoom calls, and don’t just listen to the highlight reel of all the good things — ask about what was frustrating for them, what the learning curve was like and what advice they’d give to their former self before joining. That insight will set you up for success.

It’s really not hard if you have a great service. USA Ninja Challenge, for example, offers an amazing service. It’s just about raising awareness. Once people know about it, they’re going to come, get excited and have fun. At the end of the day, it’s just a matter of deciding how much growth you want and how fast you want it.

About USA Ninja Challenge: 

USA Ninja Challenge is the leading kid’s Ninja franchise, offering an exciting obstacle-based fitness experience for children across the United States. Since its founding over a decade ago, USA Ninja Challenge has grown into a trusted brand nearing 40 gyms and more in development. The franchise combines fun and fitness by teaching kids agility, balance, and problem-solving through a series of structured obstacle courses. Partnered with the USA Pentathlon Multisport Olympic Team, USA Ninja Challenge is raising awareness for Ninja's Olympic debut in 2028. With low initial investment, high margins, and rapid ROI, USA Ninja Challenge offers franchisees the opportunity to build profitable businesses while making a lasting impact on children's physical fitness and confidence. For more information on USA Ninja Challenge or to learn about franchise opportunities, visit www.usaninjachallenge.com.