5 Kids Franchise Opportunities That Keep Kids Fit

Posted on October 08, 2008 by Ginger Watford

Between diet and lifestyle changes in the last 50 years, America has become a very unhealthy and overweight place. When people and public services address this subject, they generally mention that roughly one-third of Americans are obese, and that obesity is one of the deadliest killers in the United States. What they sometimes fail to mention is that an estimated 16% of children are obese, some 70% of those kids will grow up and remain obese and one in 15 children are so bad-off today that they need medical intervention such as gastric bypass to recover from their condition.

Though it may initially seem unrelated, this has had an interesting effect on the business world. In much the same way that America’s weight problem (and sudden societal awareness of it) has prompted fast food restaurants to begin offering healthier alternatives to standard menu items; the nation’s new health consciousness has changed the way we look at kids, even in the franchise business world. Our newest concern is child fitness. If you have a knack for working with kids and a passion for healthy living, then there are business opportunities perfect for you, and here are just a few of them.

Fitwize 4 Kids
The first of its kind, Fitwize 4 Kids is essentially a kids’ gym, offering circuit training that addresses the specific bodily needs of a child age 6 ½ to 15 in a quick 45-minute set of workouts that is both effective and fun. But their work with kids doesn’t stop at cardiovascular exercise, resistance training, and agility training; they focus as well on nutrition. Hoping in all things to make a lasting impact not only on the body, but on the mind, this business’ ultimate goal is boosting each child’s sense of worth as a person. As far as the business is concerned, overhead is relatively low because the designs are so compact that every possible inch of space is used, and professional relationships tend to last for many years, making cash flow solid.

Pro Martial Arts
Though it’s not solely targeted at serving kids, they tend to make up a majority of the clientele in a martial arts studio. This franchise opportunity is the perfect chance to tap a $19bil industry without operating a traditional weight-lifting and aerobics gym just like everyone else. There’s no harm in not having any previous experience in teaching Grandmaster Samane Karate or running a studio, because the franchisor can and will teach you everything you need to know. Design and layout, marketing, operations, recruiting teachers, and website development are all included in the franchise packet, so all a franchisee has to bring to the table is a passion for martial arts, a drive to succeed in business, and the genuine desire to see people grow in physical fitness and confidence.

Kinderdance
In their own words, they are the "original developmental dance, motor skills, gymnastics, music, and fitness program blended with academics and specifically designed for boys and girls ages 2 to 12." What that looks like varies greatly from one franchise to the next. With four different business design options (bronze, silver, gold, and gold plus), franchisees with this home based business have many choices in regard to how their businesses will run. Each different business plan entails a different number of weekly classes to be taught, and depending on the desires of the franchisee, those can be taught either by the franchisee himself or by a hired teacher. Startup costs are very low, as are overhead costs, because there is no studio space to lease.

Monkey Joe’s
The undisputed key to getting kids to exercise is finding a way to make exercise fun, and no one does it better than Monkey Joe’s. Designed to be children’s activity centers, these franchises provide kids with a great way to get away from the TV, videogames, and movies that have so flooded their lives; be playful and physically active for a spell and let out some of that boundless childhood energy. And as children safely play on a full array of indoor, inflatable bounce equipment, with a trained and child-loving staff supervising the children, mom and dad get some time to relax in the designated parent space, watching some TV, surfing the web, or just sleeping. It’s a great opportunity for the whole family and an even greater one for a talented franchisee with a heart for kids.

Skyhawks Sports Camp
If you see sports camp as an opportunity to teach children life lessons and develop character, then you are right in line with the purpose of Skyhawks Sports Camp. With 29 years in the business of teaching athletics around the country in a summer camp setting, this business has developed some of the best methods, one of which is franchising. Franchisees work from home and spend most of their year marketing and publicizing their camp to bring in more clients when summer rolls around. The franchisor provides every work at home franchisee with the tools necessary to get up and running and stay in operation, including initial sales training, technical support for web-based software, accounting, marketing, and much more.

For the entrepreneur interested in helping kids achieve a good level of fitness and a greater sense of personal value, there are no better business opportunities than these kids’ health franchises. Weight and poor health are major issues in our society, but if the next generation is taught how to live healthier lives now, the trends may change when they grow up.