Franchise Anonymous 45+46: Premium milkshakes or kids sports enrichment?

Change is coming! In the next little while, I’ll be switching up the format of Franchise Anonymous. I’d love to hear from you.

What would like to see here? What questions are holding you back?  

Just hit reply and let me know. 

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Happy Sunday, folks. 

As a franchise consultant, I hear pitches from hundreds of different franchise concepts every year. 

I’m taking the most interesting ones, and telling you: 

• What sets them apart

• One potential weakness

• Who the ideal buyer is

My promise: you’ll learn something about franchising every time. 

Today’s mystery franchises: premium milkshakes and kids sports enrichment.

The business: Premium milkshakes + chocolate

This isn’t your average dessert concept with a frozen yogurt wall and a dozen stale toppings. It’s an old-school chocolate shop turned boutique milkshake bar—part nostalgia, part indulgence, with a simple model that runs more like retail than fast food.

What they do differently

• They keep it simple. No full kitchen, no fryer, no cook line. Just housemade vanilla ice cream, 14 classic shakes, and some chocolates. Some team members can make a shake in under 30 seconds. That means shorter training, less back-of-house chaos, and a more consistent customer experience.

• Retail-first food concept. This isn’t a café trying to be a restaurant. It’s more like an upscale treat shop. Corporate gifting, seasonal promos, and chocolate sales all boost average ticket without adding much operational burden.

• Backed by a real team. This isn’t a solo founder with a dream and a logo. It’s run by a team with deep franchise experience (via FranWorth) and a chocolate pedigree dating back to 1914. You’re not just buying a menu—you’re plugging into a proven system.

• 🚩Potential weakness: Not for foodservice skeptics. Yes, it’s “food-service-light,” but it’s still seven days a week, 12PM–10PM. You’re managing teen staff, sticky counters, and high weekend foot traffic. If that sounds exhausting, this probably isn’t your jam.

The takeaway:

This is a fit for someone who loves community engagement, doesn’t mind being the face of a local hangout, and wants a food business that feels more fun than fast. You’ll need strong leadership skills—but you don’t need to be a chef. Just ready to serve sugar and smiles.

Interested? Let’s talk milkshakes.

(2nd deal is below!)

The business: Kids sports enrichment

Traditional youth sports require weekend commitments, equipment, and often way-too-serious parents yelling from the sidelines. This brand skips all that. It’s a mobile, non-competitive program that brings 20+ sports directly to schools and daycares.

What they do differently

• New sport every week. Instead of locking kids into soccer or tee-ball for a whole season, this program rotates through a different sport each week. That keeps kids interested, gives parents variety, and exposes kids to new skills early.

• Home-based, school-partnered. No fields to rent. No gear to store. Franchisees partner with schools and youth organizations and run sessions on-site. It’s asset-light, scalable, and built on long-term institutional relationships.

• High recurring revenue. Programs are sold to schools and daycares who budget annually. Once you’re in, you’re typically rebooked year after year. That recurring model is rare in child-focused businesses.

• 🚩Potential weakness: Hustle required to build B2B relationships. This is a sales-forward model. If you’re not comfortable walking into a preschool and pitching your program—or hiring someone who can—it may be tough to get started.

The takeaway:

If you want a business that’s low-cost, high-impact, and feels meaningful, this one’s worth a look. It’s ideal for community-minded operators with sales chops and a heart for kids. You won’t need a facility or a coaching background—just the drive to grow and a system that keeps kids moving.

Interested? Let’s talk kids’ enrichment.

If these aren’t doing it for you, I work with hundreds of other brands. Get in touch and we can find something that scratches the itch.

Thanks for reading!

Connor

Ready for the next step? Here are 3 ways I can help you: