Franchisee bringing coding business to Springfield

Code Ninjas, a franchise system that teaches children how to code through video game development, is planning a launch next month in the Queen City.

JLH Legacy Holdings LLC, a Kansas City-based franchisee of Pearland, Texas-based Code Ninjas, is scheduled to open a Springfield location on Sept. 24 at 3202 W. Republic Road, Ste. 100, according to a news release. Code Ninjas will be a tenant at a recently constructed building from Ozarks Investment Properties LLC; Jump Mania LLC also relocated to the property.

At the Code Ninjas franchise in Springfield, children ages 7-14 can learn computer coding by building video games. The center will operate a weeknight drop-in program, camps and weekend events.

Operated by Jason Hansen and Joe Layne, JLH Legacy Holdings plans to open eight Code Ninjas locations in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska, according to the release.

“I taught myself how to code when I was already done with school,” Layne said in the release. “If I had access to this kind of training and knew other kids were interested in it too, I imagine I would have gotten into coding and starting my own business sooner. Jason and I want to give every child an opportunity to learn to code, become a problem solver and change the world.”

Franchisees are estimated to pay $118,640 to $387,270 to open a Code Ninjas location, according to the company’s website. The initial franchise fee is $29,000 and royalties are 6% of net sales.

JLH Legacy Holdings’ lease terms were not included in the release. An SVN/Rankin Co. listing for the West Republic building points to an annual lease rate of $14.50 per square foot.