How to Finance a Jump! Gymnastics Franchise: Kids Gym Costs
By Marc Cornella
A Jump! Gymnastics franchise loan funds a children’s gymnastics center: a leased space with high ceilings, padded floors and apparatus, a coaching team and the cash to carry the gym while memberships build. The brand is listed on the SBA Franchise Directory, so buyers can consider SBA 7(a) financing alongside equipment and conventional loans.
This article covers what the franchisor publishes about royalties, marketing requirements and the franchise term, what the facility requires, how the brand’s SBA directory note works and how lenders evaluate a new franchise system built on a long-running Austin business.
US Professional Funding is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Jump! Gymnastics; the name is used only to describe the business. Figures from the franchisor’s materials and disclosure document can change, loan programs vary, and every loan is subject to approval. Nothing here is legal, tax or investment advice; review the current Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) and franchise agreement with a franchise attorney and an accountant.
Jump! Gymnastics Franchise Loan at a Glance
- Concept: non-competitive gymnastics classes for young children through age 12, plus camps, Parent’s Day Out, Parent’s Night Out and birthday parties.
- History: operating in Austin, Texas, since 2007; franchised by Jump! Gymnastics Franchising, LLC, based in Austin.
- Royalty: 8% of gross revenues, paid weekly, according to the franchisor’s website.
- Technology fee: $60 per week for business management software.
- Brand marketing fund: 1.5% of gross revenues, which may rise to 2%.
- Local marketing: at least $10,000 for grand opening marketing, then at least $1,000 per month starting in the fourth month.
- Facility: a 3,800 to 4,200 square foot retail space with ceilings of 11.5 feet or higher.
- Term: 10 years, with two 5-year successor options.
- Initial fee and total investment: different pages of the franchisor’s website show different figures, so confirm both in Items 5 and 7 of the current FDD.
- SBA Franchise Directory: listed under code S9036, with a note about the Lease Addendum when real estate secures the loan.
What Is Jump! Gymnastics?
Jump! Gymnastics was founded by Natalie Egan, a former gymnast and coach, and has operated in Austin since 2007. The business grew from one Austin gym into several company locations before launching its franchise program, and protected territories are now offered across Texas, with inquiries invited from nearby states.
The program. Classes follow a proprietary, level-based curriculum with rotating themes, focused on teaching real gymnastics in a supportive, confidence-building setting rather than training competitive athletes. Revenue comes from several streams: recurring class memberships, part-time preschool and Parent’s Day Out programs, summer and school-break camps, Parent’s Night Out events and birthday parties.
Staffing. The franchisor describes a team of 10 to 12 employees, including 4 to 6 coaches and at least one certified trainer.
Why lenders view it the way they do. Recurring memberships and multiple revenue streams are attractive to a lender. On the other side, the franchise system is new, so lenders will lean on the owner’s equity, local market research and management plan. Our article on financing an emerging franchise explains how lenders approach young systems.
Jump! Gymnastics Franchise Costs
Initial franchise fee. The franchisor’s site describes discounts for veterans and for additional units. Because its pages show different fee amounts, rely on Item 5 of the FDD you receive. An SBA 7(a) loan can usually include the fee in the project budget.
Real estate and build-out. The franchisor calls for a 3,800 to 4,200 square foot retail space near a city center or shopping area, with ceilings of 11.5 feet or higher. That ceiling requirement narrows the list of suitable sites and often points to end-cap, big-box or flex space. Build-out typically includes flooring and padding, a viewing area for parents, restrooms, a front desk and lobby, HVAC upgrades and signage.
Equipment. Gymnastics equipment is a major line: spring or padded floors, bars, beams, vaults, tumble tracks, mats, foam pits or blocks, toddler apparatus, plus furniture, sound systems and front-desk technology.
Opening costs and working capital. Training travel, hiring and certifying coaches, insurance, deposits and the $10,000 minimum grand opening marketing spend all come before memberships fill. Item 7 also lists additional funds for the first months.
Total investment. Different pages of the franchisor’s site list different investment ranges, so we do not quote them here. Use Item 7 of the current FDD and check each line:
- Initial franchise fee
- Leasehold improvements, flooring and HVAC
- Gymnastics apparatus, mats and padding
- Furniture, fixtures, signage and sound system
- Computer hardware and software
- Grand opening marketing
- Training, travel, licenses and insurance
- Rent, deposits and additional funds for the initial period
Ongoing Fees and How They Affect Your Jump! Gymnastics Franchise Loan
The franchisor’s website lists an 8% weekly royalty on gross revenues, a $60 weekly technology fee and a 1.5% brand marketing fund contribution that may rise to 2%. Owners must also spend at least $1,000 per month on local marketing starting in the fourth month. Item 6 of the FDD has the full list.
How lenders treat these fees. A lender projects membership and event revenue, subtracts the royalty, marketing fund, technology fee and local marketing, then checks whether what remains covers coach payroll, rent and the loan payment with room to spare. Because the royalty and fund are percentage-based, they scale with revenue, while rent and payroll do not, so the early months are the tightest.
Franchisor Requirements for New Owners
The franchisor says no prior experience in gymnastics coaching or gym operation is necessary. It welcomes teachers, parents, sales and marketing professionals, other professionals and military veterans, and looks for skills in nurturing children, building relationships and managing a business. Net worth and liquidity minimums are not published on its site, so ask for them directly.
Training. The owner and two team members receive five days of initial training at the Austin headquarters, followed by three to five days of on-site support at the new gym. Refresher training and phone, email and chat support follow.
The process. The franchisor describes eight steps: an inquiry, meetings with the development team, review of the FDD, financing and site selection, equipping the center, training, building a coaching team and opening.
Ways to Own a Jump! Gymnastics
A new gym. Most owners will open a new location in a protected territory. Our educational center start-up financing page explains how these loans are typically structured.
Multiple units. The franchisor says owners can start with one location and add more later, with discounts for subsequent units.
Buying an existing gym. As franchised units mature, resales may become available, subject to franchisor approval. A lender can then underwrite actual memberships and cash flow.
Financing Options for a Jump! Gymnastics Franchise
SBA 7(a) loans. An SBA 7(a) loan can fund the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, marketing and working capital together. Our article on SBA loans for educational businesses covers program details for enrichment concepts.
SBA 504 loans. If you buy a building with the required ceiling height, an SBA 504 loan can finance the real estate and long-lived improvements.
Conventional term loans. Buyers with strong liquidity may qualify for a conventional business loan.
Equipment financing. Bars, beams, vaults, tumble tracks and flooring can be financed separately. See our franchise equipment financing and leasing options.
Working capital and lines of credit. Coach payroll before memberships fill, the grand opening spend and seasonal swings between school-year classes and summer camps all call for cash. Learn more about educational center working capital.
Seller financing on resales. A selling owner may carry a note for part of the price. Any seller note is typically subordinate to the senior loan, and SBA program rules may limit how it is structured.
SBA Loans for Jump! Gymnastics Franchisees
SBA lenders check the SBA Franchise Directory before lending to a franchisee. A listing means the brand’s franchise documents have been reviewed for SBA eligibility; it does not approve any borrower.
Jump! Gymnastics’ listing and its note. The brand appears under code S9036 with this note: when the real estate where the franchise business is located will secure the SBA-guaranteed loan, the Lease Addendum terms do not apply and should not be executed. In plain English, a lease addendum protects a lender’s position in a leased space. If you own the building and pledge it as collateral, there is no lease to protect, so that addendum is skipped. Most owners will lease, in which case the addendum normally applies.
Loan size. The SBA 7(a) program maximum is currently $5 million, though program rules can change. A single gym will normally sit far below that.
Application tips. Bring the FDD, a letter of intent or lease, contractor and equipment quotes and monthly projections. Our SBA loan calculator can help with early payment estimates; results are for planning only.
How Lenders Evaluate a Jump! Gymnastics Deal
Personal credit and financial history. Expect a review of credit reports and tax returns, plus personal guarantees from significant owners.
Net worth and liquidity. A lender reviewing a Jump! Gymnastics franchise loan will want a documented equity injection and reserves after closing.
Industry and management experience. Gymnastics experience is not required by the franchisor, but lenders give credit for management, education or youth-program experience and a plan to hire a qualified head coach.
Business plan and projections. Show the number of families with young children nearby, competing programs, membership ramp-up, class capacity, camp and party revenue, coach payroll and seasonality.
The FDD and franchise agreement. Lenders read Items 5, 6, 7, 17 and 21, Item 10 for any franchisor financing and Item 20 for unit counts. Item 19 shows whether the FDD includes financial performance representations. The franchisor says it does not provide direct financing but may refer owners to financing sources case by case.
Site and lease. Lenders check that the lease term covers the loan term, that the ceiling height and parking work and that the landlord allows the use.
Facility and Equipment Deep Dive
The ceiling requirement and padded flooring make this a more specialized build than a typical retail tenant. Confirm early that the HVAC can handle an active, high-ceiling space and that the floor can support apparatus anchoring. Gymnastics equipment holds value and can serve as collateral, but it also needs regular inspection and replacement of mats and padding, so build a capital reserve into your plan.
Multi-Unit Growth and Development Agreements
Owners who want more than one gym should ask about multi-unit discounts and development schedules. Lenders will look at the first gym’s membership levels before financing the next. Our article on multi-unit franchise financing explains how that works.
Real-World Scenarios
A former teacher opening a first gym. A teacher with no gymnastics background opens a gym with an SBA 7(a) loan and hires an experienced head coach.
A veteran using the veteran discount. A veteran combines the franchisor’s veteran discount with an SBA 7(a) loan and a working capital line for the first summer camp season.
An owner buying the building. A buyer purchases a high-ceiling flex building with an SBA 504 loan, so the Lease Addendum in the directory note does not apply.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing a lease before confirming ceiling height and HVAC
- Underestimating the fixed local marketing commitment
- Projecting full memberships in the first months
- Ignoring seasonal swings between classes and camps
- Leaving no reserve for coach payroll during the ramp-up
For more pitfalls, read the loan mistakes education and enrichment owners make.
Next Steps to Finance Your Jump! Gymnastics Franchise
Step 1: Request the current FDD. Focus on Items 5, 6, 7, 10, 17, 19, 20 and 21.
Step 2: Confirm requirements and territory. Ask about net worth and liquidity minimums and available territories.
Step 3: Find a qualifying site. Look for 3,800 to 4,200 square feet with ceilings of 11.5 feet or higher.
Step 4: Price the build. Get contractor and equipment quotes and compare them with Item 7.
Step 5: Build projections. Model memberships, camps, parties, payroll, the 8% royalty, marketing and debt service.
Step 6: Talk with a financing specialist. Compare SBA 7(a), 504, equipment and conventional options before signing a lease.
Step 7: Close and open. Coordinate closing with training, construction and hiring.
Jump! Gymnastics Franchise Loan FAQs
How much does it cost to open a Jump! Gymnastics?
The franchisor’s pages show different investment ranges, so rely on Item 7 of the current FDD.
What royalty does Jump! Gymnastics charge?
The franchisor’s website lists an 8% weekly royalty on gross revenues, plus a $60 weekly technology fee and a 1.5% marketing fund contribution that may rise to 2%.
Do I need gymnastics experience?
No. The franchisor says no prior gymnastics coaching or gym operation experience is necessary.
Can I get an SBA loan for a Jump! Gymnastics?
Yes, if you qualify. The brand is listed under code S9036, so SBA lenders can consider a Jump! Gymnastics franchise loan application.
Does Jump! Gymnastics offer financing?
The franchisor says it does not provide direct financing but may refer owners to financing sources case by case.
How long is the franchise term?
The initial term is 10 years, with two 5-year successor options.
Can I finance gymnastics equipment separately?
Yes. Apparatus, flooring and mats can be financed through equipment loans or leases.
Are there discounts for veterans?
Yes. The franchisor offers discounts for veterans and for additional units; confirm terms in the FDD.
Where are territories available?
The franchisor says protected territories are available across Texas and invites inquiries from nearby states.
Final Thoughts
Jump! Gymnastics pairs a long-running Austin gym with a new franchise program built on memberships, camps and events. Buyers who secure the right high-ceiling site, plan for marketing and payroll during the ramp-up and keep solid reserves give lenders a clear path to approval.
US Professional Funding helps franchise buyers and owners finance startups, equipment and working capital. Learn more about our franchise financing solutions and educational services financing.
