KidStrong has spent the past several years proving that its premium, two-floor centers can generate strong unit economics in major metro areas. Now, the science-based youth enrichment franchise, which serves kids ages crawling through 11, is preparing for its next phase of growth by expanding where those economics can work.
The company has introduced what it calls a hybrid model, a smaller-format center that combines one full-sized training floor with a second, scaled-down programming space. The design reduces the investment required to open a location while allowing KidStrong to pursue markets and real estate opportunities that previously did not make sense under the brand’s traditional footprint.
Rather than stripping down its core offering, KidStrong designed this hybrid model to uphold the brand's premium standard and operational versatility. The main objective was to adapt the full-scale experience into a more compact space without losing the programming options that define the original concept.
Josh Patrick, KidStrong’s Chief Development Officer, said the idea goes back to 2023. That year, the brand opened five one-floor locations, including one company-operated center, and then stopped to study what was working before moving ahead.
“We had really good success with it, so much so that a lot of our franchise partners wanted to do it,” Patrick said. “One of the challenges we found with the single-floor model is that it limits how much camp programming and birthday parties you can do because you either have to run classes or camp — you can’t do both. We wanted to solve that problem.”
Rather than abandoning the idea, the company spent the next two years refining it. The result is a hybrid layout that preserves separate programming space while reducing the overall footprint from roughly 3,200-4,000 square feet to 2,500-3,000 square feet. Sliding glass walls allow the second floor to function independently for BabyStrong, camps and birthday parties or open into one larger training space when needed.
The hybrid model also lowers the cost to get into the system. According to Patrick, a traditional two-floor center typically requires an investment of about $450,000 to $600,000, compared with roughly $315,000 to $415,000 for the hybrid format. While the smaller footprint limits overall capacity, it also reduces operating and labor costs.
The larger opportunity extends beyond the lower price point. KidStrong worked with its real estate analytics partner to build a separate site-selection model for the hybrid format, identifying communities with enough target families to support one or two centers without the density needed for multiple traditional locations.
Patrick said markets such as Cheyenne, Wyoming; Billings, Montana; Bismarck, North Dakota; and parts of northwest Arkansas and Louisiana could be a fit for the hybrid model. KidStrong still plans to use the two-floor format in larger metro areas, while the smaller model gives the brand more flexibility in fast-growing communities and urban infill locations where the original footprint may not work.
“If you open a two-floor center in one of these smaller markets, the risk you run is that you have a floor that’s not being utilized and that’s why we’ve historically been reluctant to develop these markets,” Patrick said. “Nobody wants to look at their business and see square footage sitting empty. With the hybrid model, if you hit full capacity, you’re making a strong return and that may signal that we can open another one in that market.”
Existing KidStrong franchise owners have shown the most interest so far. Many see the hybrid model as a way to add locations in nearby territories or smaller markets while continuing to build a larger multi-unit business.
Central Pennsylvania franchise owner Justin Griffey plans to develop five KidStrong centers and sees scale as a way to broaden the brand’s impact. “Five centers in five years. For us, reaching five centers would mean growing an organization,” he said. “I’m excited to translate some of those skills and processes into this business. The idea of building five well-rounded centers is exciting, but even more meaningful is how many kids and families we’ll be able to impact along the way.”
For multi-unit franchise owner Manuel Torres, the ability to grow depends on having systems that can support an expanding operation. “The systems matter,” he said. “Once you have the right people and the right systems, you’re really building an organization, not just opening another location.”
The hybrid model gives operators another format to work with as they build those organizations. It may also make KidStrong more accessible to first-time franchise owners who were interested in the brand but did not live in a market KidStrong was targeting for its 2-Floor model expansion.
KidStrong did not develop the hybrid format as a replacement for its flagship model or as a pared-down version of the brand. The challenge was to preserve the programming flexibility and premium member experience of a traditional center within a smaller footprint.
The second, scaled-down floor allows franchise owners to run BabyStrong, camps and other specialized programming while classes continue on the main floor. When larger classes require more room, the sliding glass walls can open the two spaces into a single training area.
"Going into 2026, we said, 'How can we solve this?' That's when we started looking at whether we could build a model with one normal-sized floor and a second, smaller floor with specialized equipment where we could run different programming," Patrick said. "That lets us get into smaller, fast-growing markets and urban infill locations where it's harder to find space."
The hybrid model lowers the upfront investment and gives KidStrong more markets to consider. It also offers existing franchise owners another way to grow while opening the door to candidates who could not make the traditional format work for them.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong.
KidStrong Franchising, LLC
SPONSORED
By reducing the footprint without sacrificing the member experience, the hybrid format gives the kids’ fitness franchise more flexibility in where — and with whom — it can grow.
KidStrong has spent the past several years proving that its premium, two-floor centers can generate strong unit economics in major metro areas. Now, the science-based youth enrichment franchise, which serves kids ages crawling through 11, is preparing for its next phase of growth by expanding where those economics can work.
The company has introduced what it calls a hybrid model, a smaller-format center that combines one full-sized training floor with a second, scaled-down programming space. The design reduces the investment required to open a location while allowing KidStrong to pursue markets and real estate opportunities that previously did not make sense under the brand’s traditional footprint.
Rather than stripping down its core offering, KidStrong designed this hybrid model to uphold the brand's premium standard and operational versatility. The main objective was to adapt the full-scale experience into a more compact space without losing the programming options that define the original concept.
Josh Patrick, KidStrong’s Chief Development Officer, said the idea goes back to 2023. That year, the brand opened five one-floor locations, including one company-operated center, and then stopped to study what was working before moving ahead.
“We had really good success with it, so much so that a lot of our franchise partners wanted to do it,” Patrick said. “One of the challenges we found with the single-floor model is that it limits how much camp programming and birthday parties you can do because you either have to run classes or camp — you can’t do both. We wanted to solve that problem.”
Rather than abandoning the idea, the company spent the next two years refining it. The result is a hybrid layout that preserves separate programming space while reducing the overall footprint from roughly 3,200-4,000 square feet to 2,500-3,000 square feet. Sliding glass walls allow the second floor to function independently for BabyStrong, camps and birthday parties or open into one larger training space when needed.
The hybrid model also lowers the cost to get into the system. According to Patrick, a traditional two-floor center typically requires an investment of about $450,000 to $600,000, compared with roughly $315,000 to $415,000 for the hybrid format. While the smaller footprint limits overall capacity, it also reduces operating and labor costs.
The larger opportunity extends beyond the lower price point. KidStrong worked with its real estate analytics partner to build a separate site-selection model for the hybrid format, identifying communities with enough target families to support one or two centers without the density needed for multiple traditional locations.
Patrick said markets such as Cheyenne, Wyoming; Billings, Montana; Bismarck, North Dakota; and parts of northwest Arkansas and Louisiana could be a fit for the hybrid model. KidStrong still plans to use the two-floor format in larger metro areas, while the smaller model gives the brand more flexibility in fast-growing communities and urban infill locations where the original footprint may not work.
“If you open a two-floor center in one of these smaller markets, the risk you run is that you have a floor that’s not being utilized and that’s why we’ve historically been reluctant to develop these markets,” Patrick said. “Nobody wants to look at their business and see square footage sitting empty. With the hybrid model, if you hit full capacity, you’re making a strong return and that may signal that we can open another one in that market.”
Existing KidStrong franchise owners have shown the most interest so far. Many see the hybrid model as a way to add locations in nearby territories or smaller markets while continuing to build a larger multi-unit business.
Central Pennsylvania franchise owner Justin Griffey plans to develop five KidStrong centers and sees scale as a way to broaden the brand’s impact. “Five centers in five years. For us, reaching five centers would mean growing an organization,” he said. “I’m excited to translate some of those skills and processes into this business. The idea of building five well-rounded centers is exciting, but even more meaningful is how many kids and families we’ll be able to impact along the way.”
For multi-unit franchise owner Manuel Torres, the ability to grow depends on having systems that can support an expanding operation. “The systems matter,” he said. “Once you have the right people and the right systems, you’re really building an organization, not just opening another location.”
The hybrid model gives operators another format to work with as they build those organizations. It may also make KidStrong more accessible to first-time franchise owners who were interested in the brand but did not live in a market KidStrong was targeting for its 2-Floor model expansion.
KidStrong did not develop the hybrid format as a replacement for its flagship model or as a pared-down version of the brand. The challenge was to preserve the programming flexibility and premium member experience of a traditional center within a smaller footprint.
The second, scaled-down floor allows franchise owners to run BabyStrong, camps and other specialized programming while classes continue on the main floor. When larger classes require more room, the sliding glass walls can open the two spaces into a single training area.
"Going into 2026, we said, 'How can we solve this?' That's when we started looking at whether we could build a model with one normal-sized floor and a second, smaller floor with specialized equipment where we could run different programming," Patrick said. "That lets us get into smaller, fast-growing markets and urban infill locations where it's harder to find space."
The hybrid model lowers the upfront investment and gives KidStrong more markets to consider. It also offers existing franchise owners another way to grow while opening the door to candidates who could not make the traditional format work for them.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong.
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