Franchise opportunities compared
The Little Gym vs Water Babies
Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.
Initial investment · Item 7
The Little Gym
$420,324 – $722,773
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25Water Babies
$102,650 – $164,217
2026 FDD · Item 7Initial franchise fee · Item 5
The Little Gym
$59,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14Water Babies
$55,000
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 9Royalty · Item 6
The Little Gym
8% or $2,500/mo min
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16Water Babies
10%
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Water Babies discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (The Little Gym: 7, Water Babies: 1). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
The Little Gym
Water BabiesThe Little Gym
Water Babies
The Little Gym
Water Babies
The Little Gym
Water Babies
The Little Gym
Water Babies
System scale & health
The Little GymWater BabiesThe Little Gym
Water Babies
The Little Gym
Water Babies
The Little Gym
Water Babies
The Little Gym
Water Babies
The Little Gym
Water Babies
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
The Little GymWater BabiesItem 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.
The Little Gym vs Water Babies: common questions
- Which costs less to open, The Little Gym or Water Babies?
- The Little Gym: $420,324 – $722,773 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 25); Water Babies: $102,650 – $164,217 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Water Babies. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do The Little Gym and Water Babies royalties compare?
- The Little Gym: 8% or $2,500/mo min (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 16); Water Babies: 10% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 10). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, The Little Gym or Water Babies?
- The Little Gym: 256 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 70); Water Babies: 2 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 49). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do The Little Gym and Water Babies disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- The Little Gym has reviewed Item 19 figures for 7 location groups; Water Babies has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.
Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Keep researching
Full The Little Gym report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Water Babies report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
