The

5

best

Children

franchises of 2026

Complete ranking by Growth & Profitability

The children franchise sector includes education, enrichment, fitness, and activity-based concepts designed for kids and families.

These businesses benefit from recurring demand, strong parent-driven purchasing behavior, and community-based marketing, though investment levels, operating complexity, and scalability vary widely by concept.

Below are the top 5 children franchises in the market today, highlighting the brands that best combine system scale, growth momentum, and efficient operating models.

i9 Sports

8.5
/
10

Youth sports league franchise offering organized programs for children, promoting teamwork and skill development in a fun and inclusive environment.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

264
+
21%
21%
Franchise fee

?

$16,500
Investment

?

$37,000 - $70,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$412,000

+
-2.1%
-2.1%
Operating Profit

?

22.8%

Our score
8.5
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

i9 Sports is a youth sports league franchise offering organized sports programs for children across multiple age groups.

  • Largest system with ~264 franchisees, providing strong national reach
  • Very low average investment (~$53.5K) supports accessibility
  • Exceptional 0.13x payback, one of the best across all franchise categories
  • Steady franchisee growth (~21%) reinforces long-term system strength

KidStrong

7.3
/
10

KidStrong provides comprehensive strength and conditioning programs for children, fostering physical fitness, motor skills development, and confidence-building in a supportive and engaging environment.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

121
+
133%
133%
Franchise fee

?

$45,000
Investment

?

$448,000 - $600,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$716,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.3
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

KidStrong is a children’s fitness franchise focused on developmental strength, confidence, and athletic performance programs.

  • Large system with ~121 franchisees provides meaningful scale
  • Moderate average investment (~$524K) relative to specialized buildouts
  • Strong 0.73x payback supports unit-level returns
  • High franchisee growth (~133%) signals rapid system expansion

Amazing Athletes

7.0
/
10

Amazing Athletes is a youth sports enrichment program franchise that introduces children to a variety of sports and helps them develop essential skills.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

155
+
27%
27%
Franchise fee

?

$49,500
Investment

?

$73,000 - $99,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$106,000

+
83.6%
83.6%
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

Amazing Athletes is a mobile children’s sports franchise delivering multi-sport instruction in schools and community settings.

  • Large system with ~155 franchisees provides strong geographic coverage
  • Low average investment (~$86K) supports scalability
  • Attractive 0.81x payback supports strong unit economics
  • Healthy franchisee growth (~27%) drives steady expansion

N Zone Sports

7.0
/
10

N Zone Sports is a youth-sports franchise offering recreational leagues, clinics, and camps across multiple sports, serving children and families seeking fun-first competition, and known for character-building coaching, convenient neighborhood scheduling, and turnkey systems for operating leagues without owning facilities.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

68
+
62%
62%
Franchise fee

?

$39,750
Investment

?

$54,000 - $87,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$123,000

+
n.a.
n.a.
Operating Profit

?

n.a.

Our score
7.0
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

N Zone Sports is a youth sports franchise offering leagues, camps, and clinics focused on skill development and teamwork.

  • Mid-sized system with ~68 franchisees
  • Low average investment (~$70.5K) supports fast entry
  • Strong 0.57x payback enhances unit profitability
  • Solid franchisee growth (~62%) reflects growing demand

The Little Gym

6.8
/
10

Children's fitness and development franchise providing gymnastics classes, motor skill development, and enrichment programs for children.

KEY FRANCHISE STATS

All you need to know about this franchise

Franchisees

?

218
+
26%
26%
Franchise fee

?

$113,050
Investment

?

$519,000 - $757,000
Revenue (AUV)

?

Undisclosed

$677,000

+
11.3%
11.3%
Operating Profit

?

31.4%

Our score
6.8
/
10

What WE LIKE

Here's the rationale for our score

The Little Gym is a global children’s enrichment franchise offering gymnastics, movement, and skill-development classes.

  • Established system with ~218 franchisees delivers strong brand recognition
  • Higher average investment (~$638K) reflects premium facilities
  • Solid 0.94x payback supports sustainable operations
  • Consistent franchisee growth (~26%) supports continued expansion

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