Hot Ground Gym is a kids' fitness franchise founded in 2013 in Northbrook, Illinois, by military veterans Doug Gialds and Sam Simpson. The company is headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, and began franchising in 2023.
The brand was created to address a need for structured, engaging, and impactful fitness programs for children that go beyond physical activity. Hot Ground Gym specializes in obstacle-based fitness programs that focus on building physical strength, mental toughness, and strong character.
Its offerings include after-school classes, holiday camps, birthday parties, and team-building activities. All programs are led by instructors with backgrounds in the military or emergency services, ensuring a unique and disciplined approach.
The franchise differentiates itself through a curriculum built on five pillars of confidence: discipline, obstacle course fitness, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership. This structured approach helps children develop not just fitness, but also resilience, communication skills, and responsibility.
Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.
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Below are some of
Hot Ground Gym
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Hot Ground Gym provides a robust and multi-tiered training system to prepare franchisees and their staff for operating a successful location. The training is structured to cover the essentials before opening and includes ongoing support. Here are the key programs:
Hot Ground Gym grants franchisees a "Protected Territory" as defined in their Franchise Agreement, which varies based on location demographics and population. Typically, territories in metropolitan areas are smaller than those in suburban or rural settings.
As long as the franchisee is not in default, the franchisor will not authorize another Hot Ground Gym location within that designated area. However, the protection has key limitations.
The franchisor and its affiliates retain rights to market and sell products, including proprietary items, within the franchisee’s territory through various channels. They may also solicit and accept customers from the franchisee's territory for other services not exclusively tied to the gym's core offerings, and franchisees are not compensated for such activity.
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Hot Ground Gym is a unique fitness program designed for kids, promoting physical activity, teamwork, and life skills in a fun setting.
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Big Blue Swim School provides swim lessons for children. Franchisees are provided with comprehensive training, marketing support, and tools to operate a successful swim school.
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Ninja Trix offers ninja warrior-style obstacle courses and training programs for children, focusing on physical development, confidence building, and having fun through fitness.
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Ninja Nation provides obstacle course training and open gym sessions designed to improve strength, agility, and confidence for individuals of all ages and skill levels.
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