Parents are often willing to spend a lot on their kids, which creates various children’s franchise opportunities. Some areas to consider are early childhood education, tutoring, and fitness. If you like this line of work, established franchises can provide a safer investment than doing it solo. First, take a closer look at the industry to assess the competition. We can also point you in the direction of companies looking for franchisees. And if you decide working with children isn’t for you, there are plenty of other franchise opportunities to explore.

Download our Business Model Overview Sheet to learn more about franchising with DetailXPerts.

Overview of the Industry

The International Franchise Association (IFA) say children’s educational programs are the largest sector in the industry. Reports show demand for online tutoring has surged at a CAGR of 6.9% per year since 2019, making $1.8 billion over five years. Moreover, revenue will expand by 3.6% in 2024 alone.

Children’s fitness programs can also help you build a successful business. Research says that the global kids’ gym franchise service market will grow rapidly in 2024, and demand is set to continue through 2032. Parents want to invest in their children’s well-being. More so when they worry about kids spending too much time sitting and using technology instead of exercising. Furthermore, a rise in childhood obesity is creating demand for programs prioritizing health and fitness for kids.

Target Market

The target market often overlaps between sectors within kids’ franchise opportunities. Here’s a snapshot of who might sign up for your services:

• Parents who have disposable income to spend on additional children’s educational and fitness services outside of school.
• Educational institutes that need partnerships for after-school programs.
• Libraries and community centers may want to offer tutoring or fitness sessions.
• Businesses offering children’s services as part of employee benefits to support working parents.

If you’re curious about exploring different markets, look at automotive franchises. Within this industry, there are multiple career paths. For example, car wash franchise opportunities, an auto repair franchise, or even an oil change franchise.

Advantages and Disadvantages of a Children’s Franchise

So, are kids’ franchise opportunities the answer to owning a thriving business? Look at the pros and cons to get a better idea:

Advantages

• According to Child Stats, there are 46 million children ages 0-11 in the United States. And the parents investing in their children’s education and health create demand for services.
• Parents are likely to trust well-known franchises with a proven track record.
• Child-related services often remain in demand even during economic downturns. For example, during the global COVID-19 pandemic, there was a surge in demand for online tutoring.
• Child swimming lessons franchises teach kids a crucial life skill.
• Location doesn’t matter if you’re an online tutor with a work from home franchise.
• Build strong relationships with parents and communities.

Disadvantages

• High startup cost (it can run into millions) when you partner with the bigger brands.
• You must adhere to health and safety standards, which can be costly and time-consuming.
• It can be tricky to find qualified staff who are good with children and meet your high standards.
• It is a competitive industry, making it harder to attract and retain customers.
• You need endless patience and excellent management skills to run a children’s business.
• Working with kids can also mean dealing with their emotions and behavioral problems, so you must handle sensitive situations with care.

You’ll come across different pros and cons when researching which industries are most likely to franchise. However, reputable businesses should offer their franchisees ongoing support to ensure their success. After all, it is in their best interest if you do well.

Different Children’s Franchise Opportunities and Cost

Here’s a list of some of the top-performing franchises in the industry, including investment costs. Also, many of them offer international franchise opportunities.

• Kumon is a children’s educational franchise that helps kids improve their mathematics skills. You don’t need a background in education to seize this opportunity, but you do need a bachelor’s degree. It has centers in over 50 countries, making it one of the largest educational franchises globally. It is not one of the absentee owner franchises. The initial investment is $74,000 to $166,000.
• Mathnasium is another math tutoring franchise to check out. It has over 1,000 learning centers in the US and abroad, and the franchise is considering international expansion. If you can see yourself making numbers fun for kids, this could be your calling. The initial investment is $113,000 to $150,000.
• The Goddard School can offer you a career change in preschool education. As a franchisee, you need to work onsite at your school location. Finding suitable real estate can raise investment costs considerably, so bear this in mind. The initial investment is $880,000 to $7.6 million.
• Goldfish Swim School helps you dive into a child-related franchise that offers swimming lessons to kids aged 4 months to 12 years. You’ll be part of a thriving business that teaches 10 million lessons annually across 34 states and provinces. Not only is it an opportunity to own a profitable business, but you’ll also be teaching kids a life-saving skill. The initial investment is $1.7 million to $3.7 million.
• Kiddie Academy is an educational childcare franchise with over 330 academies in 39 states. Like many other franchises in this sector, you don’t need a background in childcare, but you must be passionate about creating a fun learning environment. The initial investment is from $370,000 to $6.8 million.
• Skyhawks & SuperTots Sports Academy is an option if you prefer cartwheels to math. This Skyhawks franchise provides a fun sports experience for 4-12-year-olds. You can also explore the SuperTots programs for kids ages 18 months to 5 years old. The initial investment is $30,000 to $90,000.

Note that if you purchase a children’s center instead of leasing it, your initial output will be higher. Some costs run into millions depending on the franchise. If these franchises are too expensive, take a look at low cost franchise opportunities. Also, if you’re eligible, check out franchise opportunities for veterans for discounts on franchise fees.

Expand Your Service Offerings

You can maximize kids’ franchise opportunities to ensure you stand out from the competition. Here are some ways to raise your business profile and boost revenue:

• Expand into online tutoring to reach more students, including those who prefer learning from home or live far away.
• Offer educational camps during summer vacations or holidays. These camps can be a fun way for kids to learn new things and keep engaged outside the regular school year.
• Partner with local schools to offer after-school programs. This is often convenient for parents who need additional childcare. Also, it gives young people extra opportunities to learn.
• If you own a children’s sports franchise, create activities that parents and kids can do together, such as family sports days. This can build a sense of community and get families more involved in sports.

Conclusion

To sum up, children’s franchise opportunities tap into the booming educational and fitness markets for kids. If you love working with children, you could build a successful business that enhances their learning experiences and well-being. However, you must meet parents’ high expectations of the programs you run. Moreover, keeping children engaged and entertained, especially in a learning environment, can be hard work.

If you’re unsure about this career path, it doesn’t mean franchising is out of the question. There are hundreds of business opportunities in growing industries to consider. For instance, DetailXPerts offers a scalable cleaning business with lower initial investment costs than many educational or swimming franchises. Our mobile business model means you don’t have to buy or lease real estate unless you want to add an auto detail shop to your portfolio.

Download our Business Model Overview Sheet to learn more about franchising with DetailXPerts.