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Entrepreneur: Start & Grow Your Business

Stretch-N-Grow Int'l. Inc.

On-site children's fitness program

Background

Founded: 1992 Franchising since: 1993
Upon finding out that she was pregnant, fitness enthusiast Jill Manly began directing her attention to infant and early childhood fitness. Through her research, Manly discovered a lack of fitness in young children and decided to do something about it. In 1992, after developing a curriculum for her classes, Manly started Stretch-n-Grow in Galveston, Texas.

Each Stretch-n-Grow class is about 45 minutes long, with 30 minutes of exercise and 15 minutes of discussion. Classes are taught at child-care and recreation centers, elementary schools, YMCA and YWCA centers, Mothers' Day Out programs and Head Start facilities. Instructors also provide classes for after-school programs, birthday parties and sports camps.

The company began franchising in 1993 and has locations in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, and Hong Kong, as well as the United States.

P.O. Box 7599
Seminole, Florida 33775
Phone:
(800)348-0166/ (727)596-7614


Franchisor is a privately-held company with 4 employee(s); 4 employee(s) in franchise department.

Franchise Growth
Year U.S. Franchises Canadian Franchises Foreign Franchises Company Owned
2009 266 6 49 0
2008 257 6 96 0
2007 234 6 52 0
2006 206 6 52 0
2005 191 7 51 0

Where Seeking Franchisees
In the U.S. Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North carolina, North dakota, New hampshire, New jersey, New mexico, Nevada, New york, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode island, South carolina, South dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West virginia, Wyoming
Worldwide

Exclusive territories available.
Territory size: 100,000 population, 50 child care centers

Costs and Fees

Total investment: $23.7K
Franchise fee: $22.6K
Ongoing royalty fee: $150/mo.
Term of agreement: Term of agreement not renewable


Type of Financing Available
In-House Third Party
Franchise Fee No Yes
Startup Costs No Yes
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Accounts Receivable No No
Payroll No No

Qualifications
Cash liquidity requirement: $20K-25K
Business Experience:
  • Must have desire to work with children

Operations
  • Franchise can be run from home
  • 5% of all franchisees own more than one unit
  • Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1
  • Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Training and Support

Training
  • Available at headquarters: 3 days
  • At Dallas location : 3 days

Ongoing Support
  • Newsletter
  • Meetings
  • Toll-free phone line
  • Internet

Marketing Support
  • National media

Other marketing support
  • Trade ads

Rankings

Franchise 500® rank:
#202 (2009); #221 (2008); #217 (2007); #437 (2006); #239 (2005);

Low-Cost Franchises:
#40 (2009); #44 (2008); #51 (2007); #65 (2005);

Top Home Based Franchises:
#46 (2009); #51 (2008); #59 (2007); #66 (2005);

America's Top Global Franchises:
#156 (2009); #146 (2008); #145 (2007); #151 (2005);