Mathnasium vs Kiddie Academy franchise USA 2026: is the $463K investment gap worth it?
Mathnasium is 4.6× cheaper to get into — $127K vs $590K (about $463K less). Mathnasium runs the bigger network at 1043 vs 363 outlets. Kiddie Academy takes less off the top (7% royalty vs 10%).
01 What actually matters
Numbers that separate them on a 5-year horizon — not the franchise-development pitch.
Mathnasium has 2.9× more outlets than Kiddie Academy (1043 vs 363) — more brand recognition and supplier scale, but also denser intra-brand competition in saturated markets.
Mathnasium charges 10% royalty on revenue — recurring, uncapped, and deducted before your own margin is calculated. Factor it into every pro-forma.
Mathnasium is expanding fastest here — 45 outlets per year since founding in 2003. High-velocity brands signal momentum but also mean new territory for individual franchisees gets handed out quickly; lock in your preferred area early.
02 The numbers, visualised
Primary format per brand, from FDD Item 7. A brand's smaller express or non-traditional formats can cost materially less.
Initial investment (FDD Item 7)
Total initial investment, low end of each brand's FDD Item 7 range for its primary format. Several US brands also run smaller express, non-traditional or conversion formats at materially lower investment — check the brand page for the full Item 7 table.
Network scale — total outlets
Total US outlets from FDD Item 20. Bigger networks mean more brand recognition and supplier scale; smaller ones mean less intra-brand competition in your trade area.
Customer ratings
Which brand's outlets are rated higher by customers, aggregated across locations. Exact star rating and review volume are in Brand Health.
Direction only — the underlying rating & review count are Pro data.
03 Side-by-side
Straight from each brand’s FDD. Green badge marks the more favourable value for a typical first-time operator.
| Metric | Mathnasium | Kiddie Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Initial investment (Item 7) | $127K ↓ Lower | $590K |
| Royalty (Item 6) | 10% | 7% ↓ Lower |
| Gross margin | — | — |
| Min space (sq ft) | 1200 ↓ Smaller | 10000 |
| Total US outlets (Item 20) | 1043 ↑ Bigger | 363 |
| Franchise fee (Item 5) | $49K ↓ Lower | $150K |
| Additional funds | — | — |
Not sure if Mathnasium or Kiddie Academy actually fits *you*?
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04 Explore these brands in depth
Same data plus the full FDD breakdown, fee load, contract fairness and SBA lending picture — free on every brand page.
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05 Frequently asked
Wrapped in FAQPage JSON-LD for SERP rich-result eligibility.
What is the cheapest Education & Training franchise in the US?
The lowest-investment option here is Mathnasium starting from $127K. Remember this is the LOW end of the brand's FDD Item 7 initial-investment range — Item 7's high end is the number to plan against, and it sits before the working capital you burn until the unit turns over.
Is Mathnasium or Kiddie Academy better for first-time franchisees?
For a first-time franchisee, capital preservation matters more than brand prestige. Mathnasium has the lower entry capex here, which caps downside if the location underperforms. That said, first-time operators should also weigh how much hand-holding the brand provides in site selection, training, and SOP enforcement — not just the sticker price.
What are the hidden costs in Education & Training franchises?
FDD Item 7 is the honest list, and it runs well past the headline number: initial franchise fee (Item 5), leasehold improvements and build-out, equipment and signage, opening inventory, insurance, training travel, grand-opening advertising, and three months of additional funds. On top of that sit the recurring Item 6 fees — royalty, national ad fund, technology, and often a local-marketing minimum. FRANticc separates the one-time spend from the recurring load on every brand page so you see the real exposure.
How many Education & Training franchise brands are available in the US?
FRANticc's database lists 2 brands matching this comparison with verified investment data, store counts, and format details. Several more are covered across our full directory. Every figure is traced to the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document.