The Little Gym franchise
The Little Gym runs children's enrichment centers with classes in gymnastics, dance, karate and sports skills for kids from four months to 12 years, plus camps and birthday parties. It is part of Unleashed Brands. At the end of 2025 there were 256 The Little Gym locations in the US, 255 franchised and 1 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $420K–$723K
- Franchise fee
- $59,500
- Royalty
- 8%
- Locations, 2025
- 256+82 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchising since
- 1992
- Franchisor based in
- Bedford, Texas
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- No exclusive territory
- Financing
- Introductions to lenders
From TLGI, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a The Little Gym franchise costs
Opening one gym under a two-unit minimum development agreement costs an estimated $420,324 to $722,773. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: TLGI, LLC, 2026 filing, page 25
The Little Gym franchise fee
The franchise fee is $59,500, for one gym (less per gym under a multi-gym agreement). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: TLGI, LLC, 2026 filing, page 14
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 8% of gross sales or $2,500 a month, whichever is greater, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Currently 1% of gross sales to the national advertising fund (up to 2.5%). |
Source: TLGI, LLC, 2026 filing, page 16
Sales and earnings
Shares figures The Little Gym publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it gives fiscal 2025 gross sales, costs and EBITDA for franchised gyms by quartile. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: TLGI, LLC, 2026 filing, page 63
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 185 (+12) | 1 | 7 |
| 2024 | 218 (+33) | 1 | 7 |
| 2025 | 255 (+37) | 1 | 6 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: TLGI, LLC, 2026 filing, page 70
How The Little Gym compares
Of the 7 sports franchises on this site, The Little Gym is the 5th cheapest to open and the 3rd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | The Little Gym | Typical sports |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $420K | $402K |
| Royalty | 8% | 7% |
| Closed or left per year | 3.5% | 1.6% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +47.4% | +42.1% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 6 of 7 |
Typical is the median across the 7 brands in sports franchises.
Other sports franchises
The Little Gym franchise questions
Does The Little Gym help with financing?
Not directly. The Little Gym points buyers to outside lenders it works with, but the loan is between you and the lender.
Do The Little Gym franchisees get a protected territory?
No. The Little Gym grants the right to run one location but no exclusive area, so another The Little Gym can open nearby.
How long is a The Little Gym franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is The Little Gym growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 100 franchised locations opened and 20 closed or left, a net change of +47.4%. About 3.5% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 1.6% typical for sports franchises.
How does The Little Gym compare with other sports franchises?
Of the 7 sports franchises here, The Little Gym is the 5th cheapest to open (low end $420K against a $402K median) and the 3rd largest by number of locations. Its 8% royalty is above the 7% median.
Does The Little Gym say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it gives fiscal 2025 gross sales, costs and EBITDA for franchised gyms by quartile. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is The Little Gym based?
TLGI, LLC is based in Bedford, Texas and the brand has sold franchises since 1992.