Franchising Is for Babies
While owning and running your own business is certainly not child's play, if you enjoy working with tots, then there's an entire family of great franchise options waiting for you. From tutoring businesses to children's fitness centers, our list of the best franchises catering to youngsters (and their parents) has it all.

Check out the 10 children-related franchises that scored the highest in our AllBusiness AllStar franchise rankings.
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1. Sylvan Learning
Sylvan Learning spends heavily on advertising and has very strong brand recognition. The company recently redistricted its territories to make more territories available for franchisees. Sylvan provides franchisees with a variety of assistance programs, and will finance up to 50 percent of the purchase price for qualified buyers of company-owned units.

Check out the full Sylvan Learning franchise profile.

2. Kumon North America
The company is a leader in the kids' tutoring industry, a very hot category. This is a fairly low-cost franchise to start, making it attractive to potential entrepreneurs in today's economy. And with school district budgets being slashed, there will be more need for outside tutoring services like Kumon to take up the slack.

Check out the full Kumon franchise profile.

3. Gymboree Play & Music
Gymboree Play & Music Centers offer play programs, art classes, and music classes for young children. The brand name is well known among parents, and tie-ins with the popular TLC show "Jon & Kate Plus Eight" have also boosted the brand among consumers. The company is also aggressively expanding internationally.

Check out the full Gymboree franchise profile.

4. The Little Gym International
Kids' fitness is hot right now, and The Little Gym is successfully capitalizing on this trend. Despite a tough economy, this company has demonstrated strong growth, more than doubling its number of units since 2005. In business since 1976, the company got its business system down pat before it began franchising.

Check out the full The Little Gym franchise profile.

5. Primrose Schools
Primrose is an established brand in early education and has been around since 1982. The company has entered into an equity partnership with Roark Capital Group, which will give it the financial foundation it needs.

Check out the full Primrose Schools franchise profile.

6. My Gym Fitness Center
In business for more than 25 years and franchising since 1995, this children's fitness franchise has demonstrated steady unit growth both inside and outside the U.S. If the stand-alone facility is too expensive, would-be franchisees can opt for the lower-cost My Gym Mobile, which travels to schools and day-care centers and can be run from home.

Check out the full My Gym franchise profile.

7. Once Upon a Child
Resale shops are hot right now, and Once Upon a Child caters to parents on a budget who wish to outfit their children in stylish clothing without breaking the bank. The retail shop has a strong parent company behind it, Winmark Corporation, which also owns Plato's Closet and Play It Again Sports.

Check out the full Once Upon a Child franchise profile.

8. Club Z! In-Home Tutoring
Club Z! In-Home Tutoring Services has created its own niche within the hot children's tutoring category by offering on-site tutoring services and being one of the few franchises in its category that can be run from home. Investment costs are relatively low, and the franchise has grown to a respectable size.

Check out the full Club Z! franchise profile.

9. i9 Sports
Founded in 2003, i9 Sports has grown quickly and successfully at the hands of its highly involved founder. The youth sports league franchise was recently named small business of the year in its hometown of Brandon, Florida, and topped the 2008 Franchisee Satisfaction Awards by Franchise Business Review.

Check out the full i9 Sports franchise profile.

10. Tutoring Club
In business since 1991, Tutoring Club has shown steady growth over the years. The company provides tutoring for elementary- through high school-age children on school campuses. Because all tutoring takes place at schools, there are no night or weekend hours, and a franchise can be run with as few as two employees.

Check out the full Tutoring Club franchise profile.