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One of the best parts about buying a franchise is the support you get along with your investment. You get the freedom to be your own boss and build your own business, but you’re never truly alone!
Over the past 30 years, The Little Gym has developed robust training and support systems for our franchisees. Whether at our annual “reunion” convention or on an average workday, our team is here to give you tips, tools, and resources to help you grow and succeed. Here’s why you can trust The Little Gym to support you on your franchising journey.
Trust our experience
First and foremost, our experience speaks for itself. The Little Gym was founded in 1976, giving us over 40 years of experience in the child fitness industry. Over those 40 years, we’ve served millions of families, taught thousands of classes, and created hundreds of unique lesson plans. This long-standing experience has helped us craft our culture while figuring out what works and what doesn’t. We’ve done the hard work of learning the business, so you don’t have to!
On top of that, we’ve been franchising The Little Gym for 30 years. When our team made the decision to extend our business to independent owners in 1992, we had already laid the foundation for a successful brand. Our passionate, innovative, and driven franchise owners were able to take our proven model and replicate it not only nationally, but internationally! We now proudly operate 400 locations around the globe, including a presence on all six continents.
It’s clear from our tenure in the industry and our tremendous franchise expansion that The Little Gym gives business owners the tools to succeed. Every new franchise owner benefits by accessing our unique Three-Dimensional Learning approach, our proprietary lesson plans, and curriculum and the latest technologies in child fitness. And, we’re constantly investing in these areas to remain at the forefront of the industry—so you do, too.
Immediate training
Our 40 years of business and 30 years of franchising have culminated in a training and support program that franchisees love. Once you sign our FDD and begin the process of opening your gym, you’ll learn everything you need to about our business model.
Our pre-launch training program includes an eight-day training session at The Little Gym’s training facility. This is when you’ll learn the ins and outs of how classes and activities at our gyms are run. Then, you’ll apply those skills in a week-long internship in a fully operational gym.
Once your gym is open, you’ll retain access to online training tools. These will be instrumental in brushing up on your own skills as well as training new instructors. All of this is supplemented by occasional hands-on training sessions hosted in your region.
Pre-launch consulting
With your training complete, it will be time to set up the details of your business. For first-time entrepreneurs, this process can seem intimidating. However, The Little Gym team is there every step of the way to ensure a grand opening!
Our business consultants will work with you on numerous aspects of the business. The pre-opening team is instrumental in helping you select a site for your gym, set up a financial plan, begin marketing and make an operational plan. We also offer business consulting to help your gym prepare for growth and field consulting to guide you with best practices once your gym opens.
Ongoing support
The support doesn’t stop when your gym opens to the public. In fact, it’s just beginning! The Little Gym prides itself on our robust suite of support offered to every franchisee.
Marketing: The Little Gym has a portfolio of turnkey solutions we’ve created for gym owners to use in their marketing efforts. These solutions run the gamut, from social media marketing to emails and direct mail to PR efforts. Franchisees can access these marketing materials to aid in their local advertising efforts. We support those efforts on a national level with our own promotions and advertising to bolster the brand name.
Finance: The Little Gym’s finance department is available to help before and after you launch your gym. Our consultants help with business and financial planning and can provide you with analytical tools to help you monitor your success.
HR: No The Little Gym would run without a dedicated team of staff and instructors. We provide a number of tools and resources to help new owners hire the right employees. These include detailed job descriptions, interview guides, and applicant tracking systems.
IT: Our IT department assists owners with the technology they need to run their businesses every day. We provide a proprietary point-of-sale system and customer relationship management system in addition to customizable local gym websites. These tools are crucial for making customer interactions seamless and for running reports on business growth.
These tools and resources allow owners to focus on what they do best—being the boots on the ground in their communities, helping children play, grow and excel.
Join our network of success
At The Little Gym, we believe in setting our owners up for the best chance at success. When our franchisees succeed, so do we! We’re committed to providing ongoing training and support to make The Little Gym a thriving business and an integral part of every community.
If you’re ready to learn more about our innovative franchise opportunity, fill out our online form. We can’t wait to help you begin your journey with The Little Gym!
