Ryan Roberts moved from Philadelphia to Orange County two years ago, ready to build something of his own. After 20 years leading sales teams, he wanted to find a business that aligned with his values as a parent.
“Prior to the move, I was working for a small boutique outsourced firm that provided human resources consulting. I was their first sales rep they hired and I built their sales function and sales team from scratch,” he said. “It really gave me a taste of entrepreneurship, being on the leadership team. It really gave me an interest in becoming an entrepreneur myself.”
His search led him to KidStrong, a science-based kids training program focused on developing confidence, character and cognitive skills alongside physical strength.
Once in California, Roberts joined an entrepreneur organization in Orange County and began exploring franchise ownership. Child development quickly rose to the top of his list, largely because of his own son.
“At that time, my own son had just turned three and, very similar to the founders of KidStrong’s story, he was a little shy and timid on the playground with things like climbing, physical activity and even social skills,” Roberts said.
KidStrong happened to have a location about 25 minutes away. So, he decided to try it out for himself. Roberts’ wife, a board-certified pediatrician and practicing neonatologist, has seen the impact early development can have on children’s futures. KidStrong stood out for its whole-child approach.
“They’re working on cognitive development, character development, teamwork and real-life skills as a combination with that physical development,” Roberts said. “I knew from that first class that this is what I wanted to do.”
Two months into the program, Roberts saw visible changes in his son’s confidence. That sealed the decision.
Roberts believes KidStrong stands apart from traditional youth sports and extracurriculars because the goal isn’t to master a single activity.
“The goal is not to get good at KidStrong,” he said. “It’s to develop these skills, whether it’s physical development, confidence, how to publicly speak in front of people, how to shake someone’s hand and introduce yourself.”
While sports like swimming or soccer focus primarily on skill development in that specific discipline, KidStrong trains children in transferable life skills such as public speaking, teamwork and resilience, which follow them into school, sports and beyond.
“Those early years are so influential in a child’s brain development,” Roberts said.
Roberts currently operates one KidStrong location, with a second opening in May. As an area developer, he will open at least two more locations over the next two years, with a long-term goal of five in Southern California.
Market planning across Orange County requires precision. Each community has its own traffic patterns, school systems and demographic nuances.
“Southern California is a high-traffic area. So you have to take everything into account, from what else is surrounding the location that you're looking at,” Roberts said. “How easily accessible is it at the times when classes are going on? Is it in a super high-traffic area where parents are going to get frustrated and stuck in traffic? How many surrounding schools are there?”
The operational model also dictates real estate decisions. KidStrong requires approximately 4,000 to 4,200 square feet of open space to accommodate its two training floors, proprietary equipment, and lobby space.
Unlike traditional tutoring centers that may function in segmented office layouts, KidStrong needs an open, unobstructed environment to create the right experience for kids.
Roberts credits much of his early traction to his already being embedded in the community he serves. Existing relationships with local schools, PTAs and business contacts have helped him build awareness and credibility as he grows KidStrong’s presence in Orange County. For area developers, he sees that kind of local connection as a practical advantage, especially during the pre-sale stage.
“It is super beneficial and really important if you live in the area where you’re opening,” he said. “One of the reasons I’ve been able to hit the ground running is that I already had a connection to the community.”
As he expands his footprint across Orange County, Roberts’ strategy is to choose high-potential family corridors, secure functional open-concept real estate and stay top of mind in the community.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong.
KidStrong Franchising, LLC
SPONSORED
After relocating from the East Coast, Ryan Roberts turned his passion for child development into a growing KidStrong footprint serving families throughout Southern California.
Ryan Roberts moved from Philadelphia to Orange County two years ago, ready to build something of his own. After 20 years leading sales teams, he wanted to find a business that aligned with his values as a parent.
“Prior to the move, I was working for a small boutique outsourced firm that provided human resources consulting. I was their first sales rep they hired and I built their sales function and sales team from scratch,” he said. “It really gave me a taste of entrepreneurship, being on the leadership team. It really gave me an interest in becoming an entrepreneur myself.”
His search led him to KidStrong, a science-based kids training program focused on developing confidence, character and cognitive skills alongside physical strength.
Once in California, Roberts joined an entrepreneur organization in Orange County and began exploring franchise ownership. Child development quickly rose to the top of his list, largely because of his own son.
“At that time, my own son had just turned three and, very similar to the founders of KidStrong’s story, he was a little shy and timid on the playground with things like climbing, physical activity and even social skills,” Roberts said.
KidStrong happened to have a location about 25 minutes away. So, he decided to try it out for himself. Roberts’ wife, a board-certified pediatrician and practicing neonatologist, has seen the impact early development can have on children’s futures. KidStrong stood out for its whole-child approach.
“They’re working on cognitive development, character development, teamwork and real-life skills as a combination with that physical development,” Roberts said. “I knew from that first class that this is what I wanted to do.”
Two months into the program, Roberts saw visible changes in his son’s confidence. That sealed the decision.
Roberts believes KidStrong stands apart from traditional youth sports and extracurriculars because the goal isn’t to master a single activity.
“The goal is not to get good at KidStrong,” he said. “It’s to develop these skills, whether it’s physical development, confidence, how to publicly speak in front of people, how to shake someone’s hand and introduce yourself.”
While sports like swimming or soccer focus primarily on skill development in that specific discipline, KidStrong trains children in transferable life skills such as public speaking, teamwork and resilience, which follow them into school, sports and beyond.
“Those early years are so influential in a child’s brain development,” Roberts said.
Roberts currently operates one KidStrong location, with a second opening in May. As an area developer, he will open at least two more locations over the next two years, with a long-term goal of five in Southern California.
Market planning across Orange County requires precision. Each community has its own traffic patterns, school systems and demographic nuances.
“Southern California is a high-traffic area. So you have to take everything into account, from what else is surrounding the location that you're looking at,” Roberts said. “How easily accessible is it at the times when classes are going on? Is it in a super high-traffic area where parents are going to get frustrated and stuck in traffic? How many surrounding schools are there?”
The operational model also dictates real estate decisions. KidStrong requires approximately 4,000 to 4,200 square feet of open space to accommodate its two training floors, proprietary equipment, and lobby space.
Unlike traditional tutoring centers that may function in segmented office layouts, KidStrong needs an open, unobstructed environment to create the right experience for kids.
Roberts credits much of his early traction to his already being embedded in the community he serves. Existing relationships with local schools, PTAs and business contacts have helped him build awareness and credibility as he grows KidStrong’s presence in Orange County. For area developers, he sees that kind of local connection as a practical advantage, especially during the pre-sale stage.
“It is super beneficial and really important if you live in the area where you’re opening,” he said. “One of the reasons I’ve been able to hit the ground running is that I already had a connection to the community.”
As he expands his footprint across Orange County, Roberts’ strategy is to choose high-potential family corridors, secure functional open-concept real estate and stay top of mind in the community.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/kidstrong.
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