New Store Opener Coach - Bedford

About Us · At The Little Gym, we help children build confidence, strength, and lifelong skills through movement, play, and positive reinforcement. We believe that early childhood experiences shape how kids see themselves and the world around them. Our programs are designed to nur ...

Job description

About Us

At The Little Gym, we help children build confidence, strength, and lifelong skills through movement, play, and positive reinforcement. We believe that early childhood experiences shape how kids see themselves and the world around them. Our programs are designed to nurture physical development, social skills, and self-confidence in a fun, safe, and encouraging environment.

Helping each child grow in their own way isn't always easy — but it's exactly what we love.

When you choose The Little Gym as a career, you join a passionate community of leaders, coaches, and operators who care deeply about children, families, and making a meaningful impact.

Together, we're creating confident kids and stronger communities.

The Little Gym is a global franchise organization and a leading provider of movement-based learning and enrichment programs for children ages 4 months to 12 years, with hundreds of locations around the world.

The Opportunity

You are a performance-driven business leader who thrives on measurable results.

This is not a general advisory role — it's about helping new The Little Gym franchisees move from signing to successful launch and early profitability with speed and consistency.

You'll serve as the dedicated launch leader and coach for new franchise owners from pre-opening through their early-stage operations, with a clear goal: set each location up to reach monthly breakeven as quickly and predictably as possible.

You think like an operator and act like an owner — using data, structure, and accountability to drive outcomes that matter.

This role requires someone who can influence performance, coach franchisees through real-world operational challenges, and accelerate key metrics such as enrollment growth, revenue ramp, team readiness, and member experience.

If you're energized by helping new businesses launch strong, build momentum fast, and create lasting impact in their communities, this is the role for you.

Performance Outcomes

Drive each new franchise location to achieve breakeven within six months of opening and establish sustained profitability by the end of year one;
Achieve measurable improvements in franchisee top-line revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction across your assigned portfolio;
Identify underperforming centers early and implement targeted action plans that improve results within 90 days;
Consistently meet or exceed system-wide KPIs tied to franchisee growth, operational compliance, and customer satisfaction;

Serve as the primary driver of accountability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement during each franchisee's initial (two year) launch journey.

Key Responsibilities

Support Franchisee Onboarding:

Lead the initial training and onboarding process for new franchisees, ensuring they have a solid understanding of the franchise system, operational guidelines, and brand standards.

Pre-Opening & Launch Guidance:

Work closely with franchisees to ensure all pre-launch milestones are met, including system setup, vendor setup, goal setting, initial marketing planning, and staffing strategies.

Franchisee Readiness Assessments:
Evaluate each new franchisee's operational and financial readiness prior to launch. Identify gaps early and create targeted action plans to close them before opening.

Milestone-Based Success Plans:
Develop and manage individualized 12-month coaching roadmaps for each franchisee, with defined checkpoints days) tied to breakeven and profitability goals.

Intensive Operational Coaching (Months 1–6): Provide daily to weekly hands-on coaching and support during the critical first three months post-opening.

Focus on operational efficiency, sales generation (lead generation and conversion), cost controls, employee hiring and training, schedule optimization, and strategic decision-making to drive the location to breakeven by the end of month six.

Performance Monitoring & Optimization (Months 6+): Continue close partnership with franchisees beyond month six, analyzing performance metrics (KPIs, P&L statements, sales data, retention, and NPS) to identify areas for optimization, implement corrective actions, and solidify profitability.

Data-Driven Coaching:

Regularly review franchisee performance dashboards and financial statements to diagnose issues, benchmark performance, and drive accountability conversations that improve outcomes.

Cross-Functional Coordination:

Partner with internal teams—including Training, Marketing, Real Estate, and Operations—to ensure franchisees have the tools, resources, and vendor support needed to execute effectively.

Support Franchisee Growth:

Own the growth and profitability of your assigned franchisee portfolio by setting measurable goals in revenue, profitability, and customer satisfaction (NPS).

Provide consistent accountability coaching to ensure franchisees achieve or exceed those targets.

Financial Acumen & Strategy:
Guide franchisees in managing cash flow, setting pricing strategies, and controlling labor to achieve and maintain profitability.

Training & Best Practice Implementation:
Ensure franchisees fully implement proprietary systems, operational standards, and marketing strategies. Conduct regular check-ins and provide additional training as needed.

Accountability & Escalation:
Hold franchisees to clear performance expectations.

When goals are not met, implement structured recovery plans and escalate persistent issues to senior leadership with recommended next steps.

Problem Solving & Risk Mitigation:

Proactively identify potential operational or financial challenges and work with franchisees to develop effective solutions, preventing issues from escalating.

Communication & Relationship Building:

Establish strong, trust-based relationships with new franchisees, acting as their primary point of contact and resource during their crucial initial phase.

Continuous Feedback Loop:

Capture insights from new franchise launches to identify systemic gaps, improve onboarding materials, and inform future training and operational improvements.

Reporting & Documentation:
Maintain detailed records of franchisee progress, challenges, and successes. Provide regular updates and reports to senior management on the performance of new locations.

Qualifications

Education:
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Management, or a related field.

Experience:

Minimum of 1-3 years of experience in business coaching, operations management, or a similar role, with a proven track record of guiding new businesses or startups through their initial launch and growth phases.

Demonstrated ability to influence others and hold them accountability to goals. Experience working with franchisees is highly preferred.

Communication:
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of delivering clear, actionable advice and building strong professional relationships.

Financial Acumen:
Solid understanding of P&L statements, and cash flow management. Ability to teach and guide others on achieving financial targets, especially breakeven.

Operational Excellence:
Deep understanding of small business operations, including sales, marketing, staffing, inventory, and customer service.

Results-Oriented:
Demonstrated ability to drive measurable business outcomes, with a focus on efficiency, profitability, and rapid growth.

Coaching & Mentoring Skills:
Exceptional ability to educate, motivate, and empower business owners, adapting coaching styles to individual needs.

Problem-Solving:
Highly analytical with a proactive approach to identifying and resolving complex business challenges.

Technical Proficiency:

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Excel for financial analysis) and comfortable with CRM systems and other business software.

Perks

Paid bi-weekly
Company Paid Holidays
Flexible Paid Time Off
Paid Parental Leave
Multiple health care insurance plans that cover medical, dental, prescription, vision, and employer HSA contributions
Competitive 401(k) Program with employer matching contributions
Daily dress code of "business casual"
A positive work environment
And much, much more

Company Description

Unleashed Brands was founded to curate and grow a portfolio of the most innovative and profitable brands that help kids learn, play and grow.

Over the last 10 years, the team at Unleashed Brands has built a proven platform and know-how for scaling businesses focused on serving families.

Its mission is to impact the lives of every kid by providing fun, engaging and inspiring experiences that help them become who they are destined to be.

Unleashed Brands has more than 1,300 locations open and in development with plans to open more than 100+ new units annually over the next 5 years.

For more information, please visit . Unleashed Brands is headquartered in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

Unleashed Brands is committed to diversity in its workforce and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by applicable law.

ADA

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (
ADA), Unleashed Brands will provide reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship.

Unleashed Brands is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.