KidStrong Franchisee Commits to 46 Units

KidStrong franchise owner Michael Reyes has signed an area development agreement bringing his total commitment to 46 units, one of the largest in the brand's system. Through his company NextGen Holdings, Reyes currently operates 17 centers across six states with four more under construction. He started four years ago after leaving a career in enterprise sales.

From Operator to Company Builder

Reyes says the jump to 46 units reflects a playbook that has already proven out across New York, New England and North Carolina rather than a leap of faith. As NextGen has scaled, his own role has shifted from running individual centers to building the leadership bench, regional managers and hiring systems that let the company run without him in every room.

Why Franchisors Chase Operators Like This

KidStrong's chief development officer says Reyes represents the kind of multi-unit partner the brand is prioritizing as it scales nationally: disciplined, standards-driven and willing to invest in people rather than just chase unit count. For a children's development franchise where consistency of the in-center experience drives retention, a proven operator who can replicate quality across new markets is worth more than raw square footage.

The Development Math Behind the Deal

A single operator holding 46 units concentrates both opportunity and risk. Reyes credits KidStrong's Franchise Advisory Council with shaping his site-selection discipline, prioritizing trade areas that support efficient hiring and brand awareness over simply grabbing available territory. For KidStrong, one operator executing at this scale reduces the franchisor's own development lift while still requiring tight oversight of quality across every new center.