KidStrong Franchise Expansion: Growth Opportunities in Wisconsin

KidStrong , the science-based child development franchise helping kids grow stronger and more confident, has identified Wisconsin as a key growth market as it prepares to expand on its current presence in Sun Prairie. While this creates a strong baseline for KidStrong in the market, Wisconsin is still largely untapped, and there is plenty of potential for franchise owners to develop across the state, bringing a much-needed resource to families in the area.

“KidStrong is in a unique position in Wisconsin,” said Josh Patrick , senior vice president of franchise development. “We have one location already up and running in the state, and brand awareness is growing. However, there’s still remarkable whitespace, and franchise owners who invest early have a long runway and an opportunity to achieve significant growth over time.”

Wisconsin is a high-potential, early-stage market with strong family communities. The population is steadily growing across the state, with a clear emphasis on major metros like Madison, which has seen over 5% growth since the 2020 census.

Market analysis and growth

Household incomes and population growth in key corridors throughout the state align with the KidStrong model, and the concentration of family communities in Madison, Milwaukee and the Fox Valley will support long-term demand for KidStrong’s family-friendly model.

“Wisconsin has the fundamentals, including the widely recognized wholesome, community-oriented Midwestern family,” Patrick said. “Our customer base is there, meaning demand exists, but market analysis has shown that there is limited penetration from competitor models in the state.”

Major metros are also home to young professionals and growing families with moderate incomes. That creates a population base that either needs a resource like KidStrong now or is likely to in the coming years and can afford it.

Expansion plans and opportunities

Currently, KidStrong is targeting growth in Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton and Kenosha with plans to develop multiple new locations across the state, each of which brings up to 15 job opportunities to the community.

Because KidStrong is still in its early stages in Wisconsin, new franchise owners have flexibility in their development and can truly take advantage of a long-term play.

“With one location established, the KidStrong name is gaining awareness, but there is still growth potential in prime markets,” Patrick said. “New owners can tap into scalability across the state with the opportunity to build powerful multi-unit portfolios that span multiple major metros.”

As franchise owners grow, they benefit from a membership-based, community-focused model that keeps families coming back week after week and creates stable, predictable revenue opportunities.

Wisconsin’s steady population growth and limited competition give franchise owners a chance to enter the market early. Securing territory now allows them to grow in major metros as demand continues to build.