Matt And Megin Sharp's KidStrong Sells 80 Licenses As Multi-Unit Owners Fuel Growth
KidStrong says it has opened 21 locations this year and sold more than 80 new licenses, with existing multi-unit franchise owners driving much of its 2026 development pipeline.
KidStrong says multi-unit franchise owners are driving its 2026 development pipeline after more than 80 new licenses were sold.
KidStrong is entering the second half of 2026 with a founder-led growth story that is increasingly being carried by multi-unit franchise owners. The child development franchise, founded in 2015 by Matt and Megin Sharp and later joined by co-founder Wayne Cavanaugh, said in a July 28 feature that it has opened 21 locations through the first half of the year and expects to open about 56 centers by year-end. The same report said the brand has sold more than 80 new licenses, giving franchise-market watchers a current example of how youth enrichment concepts are moving from local parent demand into larger operator portfolios.
The founder story matters because KidStrong began from a specific family problem, not a generic franchise roll-up. The Sharps wanted a program that could help their daughter Ella and other children develop strength and confidence. That origin gives the brand a clear consumer promise: structured coaching for children from roughly one to eleven, combining movement, confidence building and developmental goals. In franchising, that kind of mission can be valuable when owners have to recruit members before a center opens and then keep families engaged through repeat visits.
The current growth signal is the operator mix. KidStrong chief development officer Brian Patrick said much of the growth has come from existing franchise partners acquiring additional territories, alongside new owners entering the system. That pattern is usually stronger than a pipeline built only from first-time franchise buyers. Existing operators already know the staffing model, membership economics, real estate requirements and local marketing cadence. When they add territory, it suggests they see a path to repeatable execution rather than only early enthusiasm for a brand concept.
KidStrong is also changing the way it prepares openings. The report said the brand introduced a four-week awareness campaign before the traditional pre-sale period, with owners building local relationships through schools, youth sports and community organizations. Some centers are beginning digital campaigns with up to 100 members already committed. For a membership-based service franchise, that is an important detail because the opening month is not only a ribbon-cutting moment. It is the first test of whether a local owner can convert community outreach into durable recurring revenue.
The brand says its system is approaching 200 operating locations and delivered 12 percent year-over-year average unit volume growth, marking a third consecutive year of systemwide AUV gains. Those figures do not remove the need for franchisee due diligence, especially around lease obligations, staffing, local competition and actual Item 19 details. But they do show why experienced operators are paying attention. A children-focused franchise can look attractive when it pairs a simple parent-facing promise with measurable local demand and a model that allows multi-unit owners to reuse management infrastructure.
For founders and franchise buyers, KidStrong's July update offers a practical lesson. Origin stories can help a brand stand out, but growth depends on whether the system can turn purpose into operating discipline. If KidStrong keeps opening centers through owners who already understand the model, the company will have a stronger case that its founder-built youth development concept can scale without losing the local trust that made it work in the first place.
