Hapik opens its fun climbing centres to franchising

Hapik is entering a new phase of development: the Grenoble-based fun climbing brand is now recruiting franchisees. Ten years after opening its first centre in Grenoble, it has 38 locations across four countries, including 19 in France. For prospective franchisees, the launch comes with initial guidance on the format, investment required and target catchment area.

A network of 38 centres moves into franchising

The launch of Hapik’s franchise offering was reported by Bref Eco on 28 September 2026, then covered in an article published by L’Express Franchise on 29 September. The announcement concerns a family leisure concept offering climbing activities for children aged four and over.

The network already has an international presence. Its 38 centres are spread across France, with 19 locations, the UK, with ten, the US, with five, and Germany, with four. France therefore accounts for half of the network reported at the time of the franchise launch.

The move to recruit franchise operators comes ten years after the concept was established. However, the published information does not include a rollout timetable or targets. Hapik has announced neither a target number of franchise openings nor a list of priority towns and cities. The recruitment announcement should therefore be distinguished from any potential local projects, details of which have not yet been provided.

A 400 m² format, with costs to be clarified for each property

The model presented to prospective franchisees is based on a centre of around 400 m². Hapik also specifies a catchment area of 350,000 people: projects should therefore be assessed against the wider customer catchment, rather than just the population of the town or city where the centre would be located.

The brand quotes a total investment of approximately €550,000. This excludes any lease-entry premium or the cost of acquiring an existing business. The minimum personal capital contribution required is €100,000.

These details matter when assessing the budget. The €550,000 figure is the brand’s benchmark for the proposed model, but should not be understood as covering every possible property arrangement. Applicants will need to check the costs specific to their proposed premises and how these fit into the centre’s financing.

Likewise, the minimum personal contribution and total investment are two different figures. The former indicates the level of applicants’ own funds required by the brand; the latter estimates the overall project budget, subject to the stated exclusions. On their own, they are not enough to establish a complete financing plan.

Performance figures that warrant careful scrutiny

Once a centre reaches established trading levels, Hapik quotes turnover of more than €500,000 excluding VAT and an operating profit of over €190,000. The latter figure is stated before remuneration for the franchisee operating the centre.

These figures are supplied by the brand and are not guaranteed results for every future centre. The qualification regarding remuneration deserves particular attention: the stated operating profit cannot be treated directly as the franchisee’s personal income.

When assessing the opportunity, prospective franchisees should ask what assumptions underpin these figures, which centres are used as benchmarks and how long a centre is expected to take to reach established trading levels. The available information does not provide these details. Clarifying them will help applicants compare the proposed model with the circumstances of a specific local project.

Potential locations, but no confirmed destinations

In France, Hapik has a presence in the Île-de-France region around Paris, including Clichy, Issy-les-Moulineaux, Nanterre, Chambourcy, Carré Sénart, Sainte-Geneviève-des-Bois and Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. The network also operates in several major cities, including Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Rennes, Caen, Orléans and Lyon.

The L’Express Franchise article notes that Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes and Montpellier had no Hapik centre at the time of publication. These urban areas are mentioned in relation to the catchment-area requirement, but they are not a list of locations confirmed by the brand.

Key takeaway: before applying, assess whether the customer catchment and premises fit the stated format, then seek clarification on the full budget and profitability assumptions. The move into franchising has been announced; the conditions for each individual location still need to be examined.