Tumbles Franchise

Tumbles has a franchise history that predates its current owner. The April 24, 2026 FDD traces earlier franchising to J.W. Tumbles Licensing Corporation, which offered franchises from 1993 to June 2007. JWT Kids subsequently offered and supported franchises until the brand passed to Kidville JWT at the end of 2008. Cambridge Franchise Enterprises acquired the brand in October 2014, and the current franchisor, Tumbles LLC, acquired substantially all of Cambridge’s assets in December 2015.

Tumbles LLC was organized in Delaware in October 2014 and began offering franchises in June 2016. Manish Vakil has served as its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer since October 2014. The current concept combines a children’s fitness gym with STEAM—science, technology, engineering, art and math—programming. Franchisees typically introduce the STEAM program after their first six months of operation. Some locations add the optional Tumble Zone enclosed soft-play area and obstacle course for children over four.

The 2026 FDD estimates $242,500–$426,500 to open a single facility without Tumble Zone, or $373,500–$618,000 with the playground. Standard facilities are approximately 2,700–3,200 square feet; the larger playground format is approximately 4,000–5,000 square feet. Both formats carry a $54,000 initial franchise fee. A separate access fee is $15,000 without Tumble Zone or $20,000 with it and covers specified site and design services plus website and operations-system setup. Buildout estimates assume a leased vanilla-shell space, and the working-capital allowance excludes owner compensation and financing costs.

Before opening, Tumbles reviews proposed sites, provides equipment-layout design services and consults on equipment and inventory specifications. Owners receive access to the Brand Standards Manual and must purchase the initial equipment and inventory from Tumbles or approved suppliers. The owner is responsible for finding a site, negotiating the lease, obtaining permits, selecting contractors and making hiring decisions. Tumbles provides at least two days of grand-opening support, including staff training, subject to applicable travel restrictions. The typical development period is six to twelve months.

Initial training combines self-study, live online sessions and practical instruction. Subjects include pre-opening planning, customer service, gym classes, STEAM philosophy and curriculum, staff preparation, marketing, systems, safety, class management and birthday-party delivery. The Item 11 table lists 12 self-study hours, 12 online hours and 57 practical hours; the practical total includes facility review and soft-opening support, so those opening-support hours are not additional to the total. The five-day off-site practical portion is held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, or Fairfax, Virginia, with opening sessions at the franchisee’s facility. Live virtual instruction may substitute when travel or attendance prevents in-person training.

The Principal Executive and facility Director must attend, with up to two people included at no attendance fee. The franchisee pays travel, living expenses and employee wages. Course length and content may vary with attendee experience. Tumbles states that initial training must be completed at least eight weeks before opening, while its training table also includes soft-opening activities; confirm the sequence of core training and opening support when scheduling the launch.

After opening, Tumbles provides administrative and operating procedures to the extent it determines and offers requested operational advice subject to staff availability. In-person or virtual consulting may cost $100 per hour or $400 per day plus expenses. A new Director must complete training, currently priced at $300 per person per day. Additional training may be required in the future. Regional or national meetings, when held, require attendance by the owner or an approved representative and may carry a $1,000-per-person fee plus travel and living expenses.

Tumbles maintains the brand website and administers a brand fund supported by a contribution of 1% of monthly gross sales. Franchisees must also spend the greater of $1,500 or 3% of monthly gross sales on local marketing, separate from the brand fund and grand-opening budget. Advertising materials require approval, and brand-fund spending is not guaranteed to benefit an individual location directly.

Tumbles brings physical activity and STEAM learning together in one children’s business, with programs for different ages and opportunities for parents and children to participate together. The choice between a standard facility and an expanded indoor-playground format lets qualified buyers evaluate different space and investment requirements. The model may suit someone who enjoys developing relationships with families, leading a teaching team and delivering consistent classes and events.

Owners must devote substantial time and attention to the business. The designated Principal Executive must own at least 10% and complete training, but a trained hired Director may supervise the facility without holding equity. This provides an option for management support while preserving the owner’s responsibility for the business. A buyer should evaluate the format, local family market, staffing plan and seasonal enrollment patterns together when considering a Tumbles franchise.

Read our guide to Tumbles Franchise: Children’s Fitness, STEAM and Ownership.