From franchisor to franchisee: how one entrepreneur used industry experience to own The Little Gym

In April 2025, Tony Hickombottom and his wife, Kendele, launched The Little Gym franchise in Naperville, Illinois, introducing the development-focused children’s fitness brand — part of youth enrichment platform Unleashed Brands — to the market for the first time. For Tony, it was the fulfillment of a dream that began long before he ever entered the franchising world. Tony had wanted to become a franchisee since he was a child.

Growing up, he attended school with kids whose families owned a McDonald’s, and he also had relatives who owned several franchises. At the time, he didn’t fully understand franchising, but seeing it up close sparked something in him. While figuring out his career path, Tony went to graduate school at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Coincidentally, the Jimmy John’s sandwich chain was headquartered in Champaign, and with encouragement from one of his professors, he connected with the company. That introduction eventually led to several years working closely with the president and CEO. After his time at Jimmy John’s and a later move to Atlanta, Tony found himself back in franchising, this time with Kids ‘R’ Kids, an early childhood education and childcare center franchise.

Speaking with BLACK ENTERPRISE, he said, “What’s interesting is that, despite my early fascination with franchising, neither opportunity was something I deliberately pursued. In many ways, my career took me into the industry rather than the other way around. But looking back, it almost feels like the universe kept pulling me toward franchising, eventually bringing me full circle to becoming a franchisee myself.” The couple first discovered The Little Gym in Atlanta as parents, enrolling their two children and seeing firsthand how much it supported their physical, cognitive, and social development, beyond simply burning off energy.

When they later moved back to the Chicago area, they realized there wasn’t anything like it nearby. Tony saw an opportunity to make his childhood dream of owning a franchise a reality with an established brand like The Little Gym, bringing the 50-year-old company to his hometown for the first time. The move also aligned with the couple’s combined background in the children’s space: Kendele previously managed marketing partnerships at Boys & Girls Clubs of America and now leads a nonprofit that supports first-generation, low-income college students through mentoring technology.

As new franchise owners, the Hickombottoms brought a unique perspective to the business, especially with Tony’s years on the franchisor side. As he explained, “I understand how challenging it can be to balance the needs and expectations of many different stakeholders, particularly franchisees. I’ve been in rooms where decisions about the direction of a brand are discussed and ultimately made, so I have a good understanding of how and why those decisions happen, recognizing, of course, that every franchise system operates differently.” Tony also knows that one of a franchisor’s most important jobs is to support franchisees and help set them up for success.

“Over the years, I had the opportunity to observe a wide range of franchisees, some incredibly successful and others who struggled. I observed the characteristics, habits, and approaches that often separated the two.” While he admits the experience is different when you’re the one running the business, he has worked to apply everything he learned on the franchisor side — including what he saw in franchisee performance — to his own path as an owner. The Hickombottoms’ first year as franchise owners was exciting, rewarding, eye-opening, and, like many first-time business ventures, more challenging than expected.

On one hand, Tony was finally living out a dream he had carried since childhood. On the other, he was learning just how much work it takes to build and operate a business, even within an established franchise system. “One of our biggest challenges was building brand awareness.

We were the first The Little Gym location in our immediate market, and while the brand has been around for 50 years, many families in our area weren’t familiar with it. We quickly realized that we needed to spend considerable time not only introducing ourselves to the community but also educating families on what The Little Gym is, what we offer, and how we’re different.” Marketing remains an ongoing effort, so they stay active in the community by participating in local events, hosting activities at their gym, partnering with organizations, and advertising through neighborhood and homeowners’ associations. Their hard work is paying off, and Tony says their biggest success has been the community they’ve built.

“We have some wonderful families who have embraced us, supported us, and made this journey incredibly rewarding. Seeing kids come through our doors each week, watching their progress and getting to know their families has been one of the most fulfilling parts of ownership.” With experience on both sides of franchising, Tony encourages anyone considering the path to go for it — but to do so with open eyes. He advises people to do their research, learn about the brand, speak with current franchisees, and truly understand both the financial and operational sides of the business.

He also stresses the importance of not only speaking with the most successful owners, but also learning from those who have faced challenges. “I also think it’s incredibly important to be honest with yourself about the role you want to play in the business. Do you want to be actively involved in the day-to-day operations, or are you looking for something that can eventually run with less of your involvement?

How much time are you realistically willing and able to commit? Finding a business you’re passionate about is important, but finding one that fits your lifestyle and the life you want to have is just as critical.” And above all, Tony says it’s important to enjoy the process. “There will always be another challenge to work through, and some things will be completely beyond your control.

You can prepare as much as possible, but there are certain things you simply won’t fully understand until you’re in the owner’s seat. You must be willing to adapt and learn, finding some enjoyment in the process. And don’t forget to celebrate the wins along the way, big and small.

Often, those are the moments that keep you going when things get tough.” RELATED CONTENT: Can’t Make It To The Gym? Get Fit With These Black-Owned Wellness Apps