Making the Grade

Making the Grade

Investing in an educational franchise is a great way to be in business for yourself—and make a difference.

by Jerry Rieder

Certified Franchise Consultant

Interested in playing a role in the shaping of young lives? Starting a children’s education franchise can give you that opportunity. A children’s education franchise requires a commitment to helping young kids learn and develop as they grow. Aside from investing in a franchise, you’re also investing in kids’ lives. From teaching kids the fundamentals of reading, writing, and math to helping them learn about computers and technology to providing a place for children to exercise and play sports, a children’s franchise in education offers many possibilities.

The children’s education franchise sector has annual revenues totaling more than $30 billion and includes approximately 45,000 companies. Since the industry covers so many subjects, it’s fragmented with the 50 largest companies representing approximately 30 percent of the total revenue of the industry. The potential for growth in this business segment is significant.

If you are considering starting a children’s education franchise, it’s important to note that some states may require franchise owners to have specific certifications or licenses to operate one. Look into governmental regulations that could affect your business before investing in any franchise opportunity. Looking for a place to start? The following are high-demand categories within the children’s education franchise sector and good business models within each area.

Preschool/Childcare

Finding high-quality childcare is one of the most important—and stressful tasks for parents. With the rise of two-income families, these services are in-demand and show no signs of slowing. There are offerings that provide much more than just care—they enrich and teach children and offer enrichment activities to keep children engaged. There are traditional centers like the Lightbridge Academy which prides itself on customer service. There are non-traditional educational franchises like Montessori Kids Universe which offers an authentic Montessori curriculum combined with the schedule, flexible enrollment options, and the rolling admissions of a child-care center.

Tutoring

In-home tutoring services offer franchisees low start-up costs and overhead. With brands like Tutor Doctor, you can run the business out of your home without a dedicated location (and related overhead cost) in order to get started. Many brands offer tutoring programs for children from kindergarten to college level, adult education, and senior citizens curricula, incorporating an understanding of all learning types. Tutoring at home often offers many advantages over traditional learning centers, as tutors are working one-on-one with their students, it is also a convenient service for busy parents.

Enrichment/STEAM Education

Today, enrichment options are much broader and address younger children with educational programs that focus on science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), and sometimes the arts (STEAM). These programs aim to teach, but they also help children embrace education early on and think of learning as fun. Brands like Stemtree franchise offer self-paced and customized programs. Stemtree does not provide a traditional classroom education program. Instead, it provides one-on-one instruction and activities for each child.

Jerry Rieder, CFC, has been a franchise consultant since 2012. He became part of the FranServe Training and Development Team in 2013 and has helped a large number of consultants become successful. His compassion and desire to see others achieve drives him to share his techniques and best practices with new and experienced consultants alike. He serves as a trainer, a mentor, and also as a facilitator for FranServe’s Power Teams. His prior 25+ years of management experience with Fortune 500 Companies provides the foundation for aiding others to achieve their goals. Contact Jerry at jerry@franserve.com