The Little Gym vs Kinderdance Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of The Little Gym vs Kinderdance including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
The Little Gym Franchise
Kinderdance Franchise
Investment $174,900 - $456,500$18,100 - $46,750
Franchise Fee $39,500 - $59,500$15,000 - $40,000
Royalty Fee 8%6-12%
Advertising Fee 1%3%
Year Founded 19761979
Year Franchised 19921985
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 10 years10 years
Renewal Fee -10% of current fee


Business Experience Requirements
 
The Little Gym Franchise
Kinderdance Franchise
Experience
  • General business experience
  • Marketing skills

  • Seeking energetic individuals who enjoy working with children
    		•

    Financing Options
     
    The Little Gym Franchise
    Kinderdance Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/NoYes/Yes
    Start-up Costs No/YesNo/No
    Equipment No/YesNo/No
    Inventory No/YesNo/No
    Receivables No/NoNo/No
    Payroll No/NoNo/No

    Training & Support
     
    The Little Gym Franchise
    Kinderdance Franchise
    Training On-The-Job Training: 55 hours Classroom Training: 100 hours Additional Training: At existing franchise location Classroom Training: 44 hours Additional Training: Annual continuing education conference
    Support Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet PlatformPurchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform
    Marketing Ad Templates National Media Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
    Operations International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 - 7

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    		 Franchise can be run from home.

    0% of all franchisees own more than one unit

    Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 - 2

    Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

    Expansion Plans
     
    The Little Gym Franchise
    Kinderdance Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion YesYes

    Company Overviews

    About The Little Gym

    After teaching grade school in public schools for years, Robin Wes used his physical education, psychology and motor development degrees to open The Little Gym in 1976. Although it started out focusing on physical education, the program has evolved to focus on children's intellectual and social development as well.
    Today Little Gym offers programs for various age levels, including Parent & Child, Developmental Gymnastics, Karate and Sports Skills Development.
    Franchises also hold birthday parties, summer camps, Creative Crafts Adventures and Parent's Survival Nights.

    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a The Little Gym franchise with a Standard Territory is $223,400 to $456,500. This includes $139,500 to $175,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
    The total investment necessary to begin operation of a The Little Gym franchise with a Medium Market Territory is $174,900 to $392,000. This includes $114,500 to $141,500 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
    If you elect to begin operation of a Multi-Unit Area Development, the additional costs for the estimated initial investment is $133,875 to $148,750 which must be paid to the franchisor.
    Veteran Incentives  50% off franchise fee
    #179 in Franchise 500 for 2020.

    About Kinderdance

    Kinderdance is the original developmental Dance, Motor Skills, Gymnastics, Music and Fitness Programs that combine academic readiness skills specifically designed for children 15 months to 12. When founder Carol Kay Harsell's dance studio tripled in size in a matter of months, she wondered why her preschool dance program enrollment wasn't growing as well. After discussing the matter with CFO Bernard Friedman, Harsell realized the problem was that many young children were in child-care centers and preschools. When Friedman suggested they take their program to where the children were, the concept for Kinderdance International was born. Within 30 days Harsell had 60 children from a local child-care center enrolled; within six months, she was marketing to the entire Phoenix area, offering on-site instruction to more than 30 child-care centers in the area. Franchisees offer Kinderdance's innovative 'education through dance' programs to thousands of children across North America, teaching at YMCAs, churches, public and private school systems, military bases and community centers, in addition to preschools and child-care centers.

    Veteran Incentives  10% off franchise fee

    "Entrepreneur
    #367 in Franchise 500 for 2020.