Tutoring franchises are among the cheaper ways into franchising: Kumon lists a total investment of $101,630–$233,780 with just a $2,000 franchise fee, and Mathnasium lists $127,316–$165,846. Childcare and early-education franchises like Goddard and Kiddie Academy are a different, bigger business with buildings and licensing, and they don't publish costs on their main pages.
If you'd rather earn from education without opening a center at all, a handful of course platforms pay affiliates well, and we cover those at the end.
Live table: education franchises
These rows come from education franchise listings in the PartnersWatch directory, using what each brand publishes on its own franchise page. Costs change every year with the new Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), so check before you plan.
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiddie Academy | Franchisee | On request | Royalty |
| Huntington Learning Center | Franchisee | On request | — |
| The Goddard School | Franchisee | On request | — |
| Mathnasium | Franchisee | Total investment $127,316 to $165,846 | — |
| Kumon | Franchisee | $101,630 to $233,780 total; $2,000 initial franchise fee plus $2,000 materials fee; at least $100,000 liquid capital | — |
Tutoring vs childcare: two different businesses
They share a category label, but they're not the same purchase.
Tutoring and learning centers (Kumon, Mathnasium, Huntington) run in a small retail unit, serve school-age kids after school and on weekends, and depend on enrollment and retention. Staff are often part-time tutors. The investment is moderate, and you can open in a strip mall.
Childcare and early education (Goddard, Kiddie Academy) run all day, need a purpose-built or heavily adapted building, and come with state licensing, staff ratios and inspections. Revenue per site is much higher, and so is the capital and the operational weight.
Decide which one you actually want to run before you compare brand names.
Tutoring franchise costs compared
| Brand | Focus | Total investment | Franchise fee | Requirements on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumon | Self-paced math and reading | $101,630–$233,780 | $2,000, plus $2,000 materials fee | Bachelor's degree; US citizenship or Green Card; at least $100,000 liquid |
| Mathnasium | Math-only tutoring | $127,316–$165,846 | Not on the listing | Financial qualification reviewed by the franchise team |
| Huntington Learning Center | K-12 tutoring and test prep | Not on the listing | Not on the listing | Not on the listing |
Kumon franchise cost
Kumon's franchise fee is famously low at $2,000, plus a $2,000 materials fee. Don't let that set your expectations for the total: the full investment is $101,630–$233,780, and you need at least $100,000 in liquid capital. The bigger filters are the non-financial ones. Kumon asks for a bachelor's degree and US citizenship or a Green Card. It also lists up to $40,000 in incentives for new owners, ongoing training and business plan help. Kumon franchises are available in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The method is self-paced worksheets, so the center runs more like a structured study hall than one-to-one tutoring. That keeps staffing lighter, but it means your success depends on parents buying into the method for the long haul.
Mathnasium franchise
Mathnasium is math-only, with 1,200+ locations and a total investment of $127,316–$165,846, which is a tighter range than Kumon's. It positions itself as a lower-cost education franchise and accepts candidates from both teaching and business backgrounds. The franchise team reviews your finances as part of qualification.
A math-only focus is a real strategic choice. It's easier to explain to parents and to staff, but you can't upsell reading or test prep the way a broader center can.
Huntington Learning Center franchise
Huntington franchises tutoring and test-prep centers for K-12 students in the US. Its franchise site covers costs, earnings potential and available markets, but our listing doesn't record figures, so you'll need to request information or join one of its development webinars. Test prep can carry higher prices per student than general tutoring, which is worth asking about when you compare.
Childcare and early-education franchises
Goddard School franchise
Goddard reports more than 665 schools and says mature schools average 84% occupancy. It's one of the few brands in our directory that points directly to its Item 19 financial performance data, publishing average EBITDA figures in its disclosure document. That's a good sign for transparency, and it means you can test your plan against real numbers. There are separate paths for first-time owners, multi-unit investors and veterans.
Kiddie Academy franchise
Kiddie Academy says no education experience is required, though minimum financial qualifications apply. It provides training, support and guidance on available markets. Like Goddard, it doesn't publish investment figures on the main page, so ask for the FDD early.
For childcare, put the most effort into two questions: how long it takes a new school to reach break-even enrollment, and how owners hire and keep qualified teachers. Staff ratios are set by law, so labor shortages hit capacity directly. A school with empty classrooms because it can't hire is losing money on a building it still has to pay for.
Not ready to open a center? Education affiliate programs
If what draws you to education is the audience rather than the building, affiliate programs let you earn from parents, students and lifelong learners with no investment. These are all listed in our directory:
| Program | Partner types | Terms | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursera | Affiliate | Baseline 15%–45% on eligible purchases, plus performance bonuses | One-time |
| Domestika | Affiliate | 40% of first-time purchases, 20% on recurring purchases, US$2 per referred sign-up without purchase | Revenue share |
| Skillshare | Affiliate | 20% commission, up to $34 per new customer | One-time |
| Babbel | Affiliate | Up to €75 per Babbel App subscription; €80 per Babbel Live subscription | Flat fee / bounty |
| edX | Affiliate | Commission on verified certificates and paid-only courses (rate not published) | Revenue share |
| Udemy | Affiliate | Commission on valid purchases (rates not published) | Revenue share |
- Coursera pays a baseline 15%–45% on eligible purchases like courses, professional certificates and Coursera Plus (degrees excluded), plus performance bonuses.
- Domestika pays 40% on first-time purchases of its creative courses, 20% on recurring purchases, and $2 per referred sign-up who doesn't buy, with a 30-day cookie.
- Skillshare pays 20% per new customer, up to $34, with a 30-day cookie and monthly payouts.
- Babbel pays a flat amount: up to €75 per app subscription and €80 per Babbel Live subscription.
- edX and Udemy both pay commission through impact.com but don't publish rates. edX offers a 60-day cookie and a dedicated account manager.
A tutoring center owner can run both: the center for local families, and affiliate links in a parent newsletter for the things you don't teach. See our recurring commission guide for how to compare payout models.
How to check an education franchise
- Ask for retention data. How many months does the average student stay? Tutoring revenue is enrollment times retention.
- Visit two centers at 4 p.m. on a weekday. That's peak time. Count the kids.
- Ask how owners find tutors and what they pay them.
- Check the school calendar effect. Summer can be slow for tutoring and busy for childcare. Model both.
- Read Items 7, 19 and 20 of the FDD: investment, financial performance, and openings and closures.
- Get a franchise attorney before signing.
For more on reading franchise paperwork, see the low-cost franchise guide. Comparing other categories? Try home services franchises or fitness franchises, or browse every franchise listing.
PartnersWatch is an independent directory. We list these programs from each brand's own public page and aren't paid by them. Brands can claim, correct or remove their listing at any time. Figures change every year, so confirm them in the current Franchise Disclosure Document or program terms. See how the directory works.
FAQ
How much does a Kumon franchise cost?
Kumon lists a total investment of $101,630 to $233,780. That includes a $2,000 initial franchise fee and a $2,000 materials fee. You need at least $100,000 in liquid capital, a bachelor's degree and US citizenship or a Green Card.
How much does a Mathnasium franchise cost?
Mathnasium lists a total investment of $127,316 to $165,846. The franchise team reviews your financial qualification, and it accepts candidates from teaching and business backgrounds.
What is the cheapest tutoring franchise?
Of the brands with published figures, Kumon has the lowest starting point at $101,630 and the lowest franchise fee at $2,000. Mathnasium starts at $127,316.
Do you need a teaching degree to own a tutoring franchise?
Kumon requires a bachelor's degree, though not specifically in education. Mathnasium accepts people from both teaching and business backgrounds. Kiddie Academy says no education experience is needed for its childcare franchise.
Is a Goddard School franchise profitable?
Goddard says mature schools average 84% occupancy and publishes average EBITDA figures in Item 19 of its Franchise Disclosure Document. Ask for that document and test the numbers against your local market.
How much does a Huntington Learning Center franchise cost?
Huntington's franchise site covers costs and earnings potential, but our listing doesn't record a figure. Request information or attend a development webinar to get the current Franchise Disclosure Document.
Can I make money in education without buying a franchise?
Yes. Affiliate programs from Coursera, Domestika, Skillshare and Babbel pay commissions on courses and subscriptions you refer, with no upfront cost.