Robby and Millie Adams are bringing USA Ninja Challenge to Carrollton, Georgia, to give local kids a fun place to stay active. The new gym, opening later this month, will feature obstacle courses that help children build agility, balance and problem-solving skills while enjoying themselves. Their goal is to create a space where families feel welcome and kids can grow in confidence.

Millie’s experience in health and community programs, combined with Robby’s background in business, gave them a strong starting point for opening their first business together. They felt a franchise would give them the guidance and structure they needed, and USA Ninja Challenge stood out for its proven approach, reasonable start-up costs and strong focus on local involvement.

The Adamses are also parents to two young boys, which makes this new chapter even more meaningful. They understand the importance of having safe, positive activities for kids and want their gym to be a place where children of all abilities feel encouraged to try new things and push themselves in a supportive environment.

They also saw a need in Carrollton for more options outside of recreational sports. Bringing a new activity to a small town was important to them, and the early encouragement from neighbors confirmed that the community was ready for something different.

For now, they are concentrating on getting their Carrollton location off to a strong start. They plan to connect with schools, host community events and look for ways to encourage healthy habits among children in the area.

1851 Franchise spoke to Robby and Millie about their franchise journey. Here’s what they had to say: 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?

Millie Adams: I have a background in exercise and health science. I earned my degree from Kennesaw State University, and for the past nearly 15 years, I’ve been working for our nonprofit hospital system here in Carrollton with community outreach programs focused on diabetes prevention and children’s programming to raise awareness about childhood obesity and the importance of exercise and nutrition.

My husband is more business-minded, and we’ve been looking for an opportunity to start a family business. We were originally considering a trampoline park, but he stumbled upon this while researching that idea.

Robby Adams: We’re a small town — a small community — so we don’t have a lot of activity options outside of recreational sports. We wanted to offer something for families and kids, something entertaining. That’s how we found this concept and fell in love with it. I think it fits our area really well, and the community support we’ve received even before opening shows there’s a real demand for it. 

1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Robby: I’ve worked in the corporate business world with computer and software companies. We wanted to build something of our own, which led us to this venture. We explored various options, including a trampoline park and other business ideas — some of which we considered pursuing independently. Ultimately, we chose this path, believing a franchise would offer significant support, a clear roadmap and reduce the need to figure things out as we go. 

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

Robby: My perception going in is very similar to what it is now: in theory, you should get a turnkey business model and plan. However, you pay for it with royalties and monthly expenses. The thought process was whether the turnkey model we’re getting is worth what we’ll be paying over the life of the business versus trying to build and create something on our own.

We felt this franchise was unique because it lacks the name recognition of a large brand like McDonald’s, especially in our local area. So we knew we wouldn’t benefit as much from brand awareness. However, we believe its value lies in the business model, training, class setup and strategies for attracting students, which we find invaluable for future growth. 

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

Millie: Robby had already done the research and was just trying to get me across the finish line. Once I got there and saw what the gym was all about — how it was set up and the kids training — it sealed the deal for me. It aligned with my interests in exercise, healthy living and teaching kids healthy lifestyles.

Among the ninja gyms we looked at, this one had a more supportive model and a detailed process throughout.

Some of the other ones felt more like, “Hey, we’ve opened one gym — now we just want to franchise.” This one seemed like they had made the shift from “we know how to do it” to “now we are focused on teaching you how to do it.” That was a big differentiator between this and the other brands we looked at — how much they had shifted into supporting franchisees versus just running their own and selling proprietary motions.

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

Millie: My passion is helping kids become more fit through this project. You can definitely see the difference in our approaches, but we both want to get our two young boys involved and, hopefully, grow their passion for the sport.

Robby: Ultimately, my vision is to grow our area’s passion for the sport, as we don’t currently have anything like this here. We also want to give back to the community, whether through partnering with local schools for field day or working with local churches. We are a small, tight-knit community, and we want to be there for the local kids.

Given the interest and positive feedback we’ve received from the community, we do have another nearby location we could consider for a secondary gym. However, we don’t want to overextend ourselves at this point. It’s been a long road to get here, and we’re excited to finally be open. Our focus right now is on growing the current location. If that leads to an opportunity to expand, great. If not, we’re content to support our community where we are.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Robby: We’re excited. We’re family-owned. We’re part of the community. We want people to think of us, know us and associate Millie and me with the business when they think of this type of experience in our community.

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

Robby: Do your own research and make sure you have a comfortable budget. Research your area thoroughly. While the franchise offers guidance, don’t expect them to handle everything. You need to be prepared and do the legwork yourself. Use the franchisor as an expert resource for advice and support in areas where you may be less experienced or have questions.

Don’t go in thinking that signing a contract means they’ll do everything for you. Do your homework and feel confident before signing anything.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/usa-ninja-challenge.

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.