Michael Reyes spent years climbing the corporate ladder at a major insurance company, overseeing a territory that generated millions in annual revenue. Despite the recognition, he felt he had reached a ceiling.
“I knew my ability to grow was going to be stifled, and I had more to offer,” Reyes said. “There was too much politics. I learned a lot, built great relationships, and had success, but it was time to make the leap. I was confident in my ability.”
That became even clearer in 2022 when he took a corporate leadership role. “That experience showed me my comfort zone was running, owning, and growing my own businesses,” he said. “It was the best move to leave corporate and dive back into entrepreneurship.”
Having spent 15 of his 20 years as a 1099 contractor, Reyes said he was “wired to be an owner.” He had already built a real estate portfolio and co-owned multiple Orangetheory Fitness locations, so ownership wasn’t new — but KidStrong offered a fresh opportunity.
KidStrong is a science-based youth enrichment franchise focused on helping children build confidence, strength, and character. For Reyes, it represented a chance to build a business that combined strong unit economics with meaningful community impact.
Reyes’s time as an Orangetheory franchisee gave him perspective on how great systems operate. “Being an Orangetheory franchisee for the last 10 years gave me perspective on how strong systems work,” he said. “It also let me compare both brands and share best practices with other operators. The franchisor–franchisee relationship is critical. Both Orangetheory and KidStrong provide tremendous support — and if you’re aligned and scaling successfully, they reward you with more opportunities.”
He also stressed the importance of financial discipline. “The four-wall unit economics are strong, but only if you follow the operating system,” Reyes said.
When it came time to choose his next move, Reyes went beyond surface-level research. “You can look at FDDs all day long, but I go deeper,” he said. “Franchisor calls are helpful, but they’re high-level. You’ve got to know your numbers and talk to the right people.”
Reyes spoke with operators across the entire spectrum of the KidStrong franchise system. “I wanted to understand why some were winning and others were still climbing. That’s the only way to connect the dots,” he said.
He focused on fundamentals: profitability, break-even timelines, and performance in the field. “Anybody can sell licenses,” he said. “The real question is, how many centers are thriving and how quickly can they ramp?”
Another key factor was territory selection. “Site selection and strong demographics are critical,” Reyes said. “You want to be where families live, where kids are, and where there’s a long runway for growth.”
He also warns new franchisees not to overlook lease alignment. “If your franchise renewal and lease don’t line up, you could face a tough decision.”
And patience is essential. “Too many people think the day you open is the day you’re profitable,” he said. “It takes time. Plan properly, know your numbers, and execute consistently.”
Reyes believes his background in enterprise sales gave him a clear advantage in franchising. “Our sales process is consultative because the product is powerful,” he said. “When parents see how our programming supports their child’s development, there isn’t much ‘selling.’ We’re showing families an experience that delivers results.”
Before KidStrong, he had already led large teams. “In insurance, I hired and developed thousands of 1099 associates and leaders,” Reyes said. “That taught me one of the biggest lessons in franchising — hiring the right people can make or break you.”
Those skills, paired with KidStrong’s playbook, allowed him to build momentum quickly. “If you follow the playbook and then add your strengths — in my case, sales and leadership — you’ll scale faster,” he said.
“I left a lucrative career in sales for KidStrong,” Reyes said. “I was on a strong track, but it was eating me up inside. Once I made the decision, there was no looking back.”
His mindset was simple: ownership couldn’t be a side project. “I’m either all in or all out. Once I bought into the vision Matt and Megin Sharp created, I committed fully,” he said.
That commitment fueled rapid growth. In a short time, Reyes scaled from one center to 12, with plans for up to 30. He attributes the expansion to starting from the ground up. “I immersed myself — sold memberships, cleaned floors, followed SOPs, hired. Then I replicated it through managers,” he said.
He also follows what he calls the “I, We, They” model of leadership. “I had to do it first. Then we had to do it together. Now they are doing it with success,” Reyes said. “That’s how you build a team that can scale.”
To keep his team accountable, he poses a challenge: “If your name was on the front and it didn’t say KidStrong — it said John Strong — how would you think about the business?”
After scaling quickly, Reyes said a few lessons stood out as critical for any new franchisee. These are the points he emphasizes most when others ask about his journey.
Reyes admits the shift hasn’t been easy, but it has given him more flexibility and fulfillment than corporate life ever did. “My success has always come from work ethic and persistence,” he said. “That’s what drives growth in franchising — not shortcuts, just consistent execution.”
The transition also reshaped his lifestyle. “Working from home, visiting stores, and being present with my family has created flexibility,” Reyes said. “But you carry the business with you everywhere. You have to learn to compartmentalize.”
Despite the risk, Reyes says he has no regrets. “People said I was crazy. But they’re not writing the book of my life. I believe in myself, I believe in my team, and KidStrong gave me the chance to own my future.”
Looking back, Reyes says his journey has been about more than just opening centers. “Our story so far is really about building a community,” he said. “Every family that walks through our doors becomes part of something bigger. We’re helping kids win at life, but we’re also creating a place where parents connect, coaches grow, and communities thrive.”
For Reyes, that’s the real value behind his platform. “It’s not only about unit economics or scaling locations. It’s about impact,” he said. “The more centers we open, the more lives we touch — and that’s the measure of success that matters most to me.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong/info.
KidStrong Franchising, LLC
SPONSORED
After years with a major insurance company, Reyes left corporate sales to pursue entrepreneurship, building a fast-growing portfolio of KidStrong centers across multiple markets.
Michael Reyes spent years climbing the corporate ladder at a major insurance company, overseeing a territory that generated millions in annual revenue. Despite the recognition, he felt he had reached a ceiling.
“I knew my ability to grow was going to be stifled, and I had more to offer,” Reyes said. “There was too much politics. I learned a lot, built great relationships, and had success, but it was time to make the leap. I was confident in my ability.”
That became even clearer in 2022 when he took a corporate leadership role. “That experience showed me my comfort zone was running, owning, and growing my own businesses,” he said. “It was the best move to leave corporate and dive back into entrepreneurship.”
Having spent 15 of his 20 years as a 1099 contractor, Reyes said he was “wired to be an owner.” He had already built a real estate portfolio and co-owned multiple Orangetheory Fitness locations, so ownership wasn’t new — but KidStrong offered a fresh opportunity.
KidStrong is a science-based youth enrichment franchise focused on helping children build confidence, strength, and character. For Reyes, it represented a chance to build a business that combined strong unit economics with meaningful community impact.
Reyes’s time as an Orangetheory franchisee gave him perspective on how great systems operate. “Being an Orangetheory franchisee for the last 10 years gave me perspective on how strong systems work,” he said. “It also let me compare both brands and share best practices with other operators. The franchisor–franchisee relationship is critical. Both Orangetheory and KidStrong provide tremendous support — and if you’re aligned and scaling successfully, they reward you with more opportunities.”
He also stressed the importance of financial discipline. “The four-wall unit economics are strong, but only if you follow the operating system,” Reyes said.
When it came time to choose his next move, Reyes went beyond surface-level research. “You can look at FDDs all day long, but I go deeper,” he said. “Franchisor calls are helpful, but they’re high-level. You’ve got to know your numbers and talk to the right people.”
Reyes spoke with operators across the entire spectrum of the KidStrong franchise system. “I wanted to understand why some were winning and others were still climbing. That’s the only way to connect the dots,” he said.
He focused on fundamentals: profitability, break-even timelines, and performance in the field. “Anybody can sell licenses,” he said. “The real question is, how many centers are thriving and how quickly can they ramp?”
Another key factor was territory selection. “Site selection and strong demographics are critical,” Reyes said. “You want to be where families live, where kids are, and where there’s a long runway for growth.”
He also warns new franchisees not to overlook lease alignment. “If your franchise renewal and lease don’t line up, you could face a tough decision.”
And patience is essential. “Too many people think the day you open is the day you’re profitable,” he said. “It takes time. Plan properly, know your numbers, and execute consistently.”
Reyes believes his background in enterprise sales gave him a clear advantage in franchising. “Our sales process is consultative because the product is powerful,” he said. “When parents see how our programming supports their child’s development, there isn’t much ‘selling.’ We’re showing families an experience that delivers results.”
Before KidStrong, he had already led large teams. “In insurance, I hired and developed thousands of 1099 associates and leaders,” Reyes said. “That taught me one of the biggest lessons in franchising — hiring the right people can make or break you.”
Those skills, paired with KidStrong’s playbook, allowed him to build momentum quickly. “If you follow the playbook and then add your strengths — in my case, sales and leadership — you’ll scale faster,” he said.
“I left a lucrative career in sales for KidStrong,” Reyes said. “I was on a strong track, but it was eating me up inside. Once I made the decision, there was no looking back.”
His mindset was simple: ownership couldn’t be a side project. “I’m either all in or all out. Once I bought into the vision Matt and Megin Sharp created, I committed fully,” he said.
That commitment fueled rapid growth. In a short time, Reyes scaled from one center to 12, with plans for up to 30. He attributes the expansion to starting from the ground up. “I immersed myself — sold memberships, cleaned floors, followed SOPs, hired. Then I replicated it through managers,” he said.
He also follows what he calls the “I, We, They” model of leadership. “I had to do it first. Then we had to do it together. Now they are doing it with success,” Reyes said. “That’s how you build a team that can scale.”
To keep his team accountable, he poses a challenge: “If your name was on the front and it didn’t say KidStrong — it said John Strong — how would you think about the business?”
After scaling quickly, Reyes said a few lessons stood out as critical for any new franchisee. These are the points he emphasizes most when others ask about his journey.
Reyes admits the shift hasn’t been easy, but it has given him more flexibility and fulfillment than corporate life ever did. “My success has always come from work ethic and persistence,” he said. “That’s what drives growth in franchising — not shortcuts, just consistent execution.”
The transition also reshaped his lifestyle. “Working from home, visiting stores, and being present with my family has created flexibility,” Reyes said. “But you carry the business with you everywhere. You have to learn to compartmentalize.”
Despite the risk, Reyes says he has no regrets. “People said I was crazy. But they’re not writing the book of my life. I believe in myself, I believe in my team, and KidStrong gave me the chance to own my future.”
Looking back, Reyes says his journey has been about more than just opening centers. “Our story so far is really about building a community,” he said. “Every family that walks through our doors becomes part of something bigger. We’re helping kids win at life, but we’re also creating a place where parents connect, coaches grow, and communities thrive.”
For Reyes, that’s the real value behind his platform. “It’s not only about unit economics or scaling locations. It’s about impact,” he said. “The more centers we open, the more lives we touch — and that’s the measure of success that matters most to me.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong/info.
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