Building a National Brand: Kids United’s Journey with Zen Planner

Kids United: Developing Life Skills Through Soccer 

Kids United is a youth development organization dedicated to building both soccer skills and life skills in children from as young as 18 months old. Founded by Alex, a former IT professional with a passion for empowering the next generation, Kids United has rapidly expanded from a single location to 22 across the country. Their mission is to instill critical soft skills like teamwork, discipline, and resilience in children, using soccer as the vehicle for this development. 

The Challenge 

Overcoming Operational and Educational Hurdles 

Educating the Community

In the early days, Kids United faced significant challenges in educating parents and the community about their unique approach. Unlike traditional sports programs, Kids United emphasizes soft skills development alongside athletic training. As Alex, the CEO, noted: 

“It takes time to educate the customer. In the beginning, nobody understood what we were talking about. It was all about developing life skills through soccer.” 

Managing Multi-Location Operations

As Kids United expanded, managing operations across multiple locations became increasingly complex. They needed a centralized, efficient system to handle everything from scheduling and membership management to payment processing and reporting. 

“Zen Planner made everything seamless as we scaled from one location to 22,” said Mike, the COO. “It’s our CRM, our scheduler, our payment processor, and it gives us limitless reports.” 

Supporting Franchisees

Ensuring consistency in training, operations, and customer experience across franchises was another major challenge. Kids United needed a solution that could grow with them and support their expanding network of franchisees. 

The Solution 

Zen Planner: The Backbone of Kids United’s Operations 

Comprehensive Member Management

Zen Planner served as Kids United’s CRM, scheduler, and payment processor, all in one. This all-in-one solution allowed Kids United to manage memberships efficiently and keep track of every child’s progress across multiple locations. 

Robust Reporting Capabilities

One of the standout features for Kids United was Zen Planner’s reporting capabilities. As Mike highlighted: 

“We pull reports a dozen times a day to track everything from conversion rates to lead sources. It allows us to be surgical with our business decisions and helps us optimize our operations.” 

Headquarters Database & Template Management

Zen Planner’s headquarters database allowed Kids United to manage updates across all locations seamlessly. Alex emphasized the importance of this feature: 

“The latest Zen Planner features, like the headquarters database and pushing down templates, have been a game-changer. We no longer have to update each location manually—it’s all done with one click.” 

Franchise Support

Zen Planner’s tools also played a critical role in supporting Kids United’s franchisees, ensuring they received the guidance and support needed to succeed. 

The Results 

Scaling with Confidence: Kids United’s Growth Story 

Rapid Expansion

Since adopting Zen Planner, Kids United has grown from a single location to 22 in just a few years, with plans to reach 200 locations within the next two years. Zen Planner’s scalability has been key to managing this rapid growth. 

Operational Efficiency

Zen Planner’s centralized management system has streamlined operations, allowing Kids United to focus on their core mission. This efficiency has been critical in maintaining consistency and quality across all locations. 

Data-Driven Decision Making

The robust reporting capabilities of Zen Planner have empowered Kids United to make informed, data-driven decisions, optimizing their operations and marketing strategies. 

“Zen Planner allows us to be surgical with the business and see which direction to take it,” said Mike. “It’s a good way for us to track metrics and performance, especially with franchisees.” 

Franchise Success

Zen Planner has provided unparalleled support to Kids United’s franchisees, ensuring each new location operates smoothly and adheres to the high standards set by the brand. 

“We’re here for the franchisees. That’s the name of the game,” Mike stated. 

A Partnership for Growth: Kids United and Zen Planner 

Kids United’s journey from a single location to a national franchise is a testament to the power of vision, passion, and the right tools. With Zen Planner by their side, Kids United has not only scaled their operations but has also stayed true to their mission of developing life skills in children through soccer. As they continue to grow, Zen Planner will remain a crucial part of their strategy, helping them reach new heights and impact even more lives.  

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Discover how Zen Planner can help you manage memberships, automate tasks, and grow with confidence. Learn more about Zen Planner today!