Franchise 500 2023
2023 Franchise 500 Rank
#96Ranked #118 last year
See the Full List
Initial investment
$370K - $6.8M
Units as of 2023
312 Increase 18.6% over 3 years

You aren't kidding around with the Kiddie Academy when you enroll your child in a program that strives to be as trustworthy as this! Kiddie Academy is a year-round child care center that operates out of a specialized system. It provides academic and social enrichment for children between 6 weeks and 12 years of age.

Going back to its 1981 beginnings, George and Pauline Miller opened Kiddie Academy Child Care Learning Centers in an attempt to provide education-based child care. Clearly, the idea hit it off with the community, allowing the Millers to begin franchising the concept in 1992. Now, hundreds of locations have opened all throughout the United States. Kiddie Academy is a place where children are nurtured in a positive environment that can help kids feel the support they need while still in early development.

Driven by a desire to prepare children for school and life in general, Kiddie Academy continues to look for entrepreneurs who share their passion for serving the educational needs of children and their families. As a franchisee, you won't just operate a business—you'll have the opportunity to impact young lives in your community as they journey into the future.

Why You May Want to Start a Kiddie Academy Franchise

Owning a Kiddie Academy franchise may allow for your schedule to operate on a regular Monday through Friday schedule. This may leave you time to spend with your own family and deal with personal priorities. Even with a more balanced home and work life, you will likely have the chance to help families achieve their personal and professional goals as a franchisee.

While it's exciting to research and explore unique daycare names, Kiddie Academy is a highly esteemed and established brand. Besides, opening a Kiddie Academy franchise may give you great pride in being part of a nationally recognized leader in the educational child care industry.

What Might Make Kiddie Academy Franchise a Good Choice?

A Kiddie Academy franchise may be a good opportunity for you to consider if playing a positive role in a child's growth and education matters to you.

Many times in the past two decades, Kiddie Academy has appeared on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

How to Open a Kiddie Academy Franchise

Kiddie Academy has made it a point to keep its startup process simple and fast. To get started, submit an inquiry form. As you consider the possibility of opening a Kiddie Academy franchise, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research the brand and your local area to see if a Kiddie Academy franchise would do well in your community. If there are multiple other child care centers in your area, you may want to reconsider opening a Kiddie Academy franchise in that location.

If your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand’s requirements, you may qualify to open a Kiddie Academy franchise. You can get started with an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup fees. You should also be prepared for ongoing fees, including advertising fees and royalty fees. You may want to speak with an attorney or financial planner in order to make sure you are financially stable enough to open a Kiddie Academy franchise.

Don't kid around; give your community the possibility to enroll with Kiddie Academy.

Find Your Perfect Franchise

Company Overview

About Kiddie Academy

Industry Children's Businesses
Related Categories Childcare,Miscellaneous Children's Businesses,Children's Education/Enrichment
Founded 1981
Parent Company Essential Brands Inc.
Leadership Joshua Frick, President
Corporate Address 3415 Box Hill Corporate Center Dr.
Abingdon, MD 21009
Social Facebook,Twitter,LinkedIn,Instagram,YouTube,Pinterest
Sponsored Content

More from Kiddie Academy

About Us

As the leader in child care education, Kiddie Academy has been in business for over 40 years and is based in Abingdon, MD. With over 305 locations currently, we’re planning to open 30-40 Academies every year through our strategic growth initiative.

For our families and children, we are guided by the “Life Essentials,” philosophy that focuses on elements fundamental to a child’s growth-character education, STEM-infused technology and health and fitness experiences.

Year after year, Kiddie Academy shows up in various rankings as one of the Best Franchises to own; Ranked on Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 for 20 years in a row, 2022 Franchise Innovation Winner by Franchise Update Media and constantly in the Top 100 Franchises to own on Franchise Gator.

“Why You May Want to Start a Kiddie Academy Franchise.”

An Investment in a Kiddie Academy franchise is an investment in yourself. As a Franchisee, you’ll enjoy a level or work-life harmony that people spend their entire careers seeking. And you’ll be an important part of a nationally respected leader in educational child care- providing a vital resource for families in your community.

Childcare continues to be “one of the top 5 franchise industries to watch.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the number of households with two working parents has nearly doubled since the 1970s. As this trend of two working parents continues, the need for high-quality, education-based childcare has grown tremendously.

Educational child care is a $57 billion industry and is forecasted to reach $62.1 billion in the next five years. With Kiddie Academy as an industry leader with proven success over the last 40 years, they are strategically positioned to continue growing exponentially with the industry.

“What Makes Kiddie Academy a Good Franchise Choice.”

  • Brand Strength- Nationally recognized and respected
  • Financial Strength- Legacy of delivering solid returns on investments for Franchisees
  • Culture- We strive to provide a flexible, independent, supportive and fulfilling work-life harmony

Steps to Ownership with Kiddie Academy

对许多人来说,开放业务的过程be an intimidating one. That’s why Kiddie Academy has made the franchising process as simple as possible.

  • Getting Acquainted-give us a call, send us an email and fill out our Preliminary Questionnaire.
  • Discovering our approach-We’ll review your application and get you kicked off with our in-depth discovery process and connect you with our support teams
  • Visiting our HQ-Come see us in Abindgon, Maryland and tour our corporate owned Academy and meet with members of our leadership team
  • Preparing to Launch-training and support, optimal site selection, secure financing and build/train your Academy team
  • Time to celebrate!-We’ll alert the press, you’ll cut the ribbon and we’ll all celebrate with your community!

Kiddie Academy offers numerous training and support options to help you at every step of this new journey including:

  • Site Selection Support-The ideal space is waiting. We’ll help you find it
  • Financing-We’ll help you find the lending solution that’s right for you
  • Construction-We take the burden out of building your Academy
  • Initial Support-Setting you up for confidence from day one and beyond
  • Marketing-Localized support with the power of a national brand

Support after Opening-Ongoing advice from our experts


Business Overview

Franchising Since 1992(31 years)
# of employees at HQ 120
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchisees in the following US states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming

# of Units 312(as of 2023)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Kiddie Academy franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$145,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$370,000 - $6,770,000
Net Worth Requirement Information Circle
$750,000
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$250,000
Veteran Incentives Information Circle
$25,000 off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Information Circle
7%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
2%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
15 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing Kiddie Academy has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

Classroom Training 105 hours
Ongoing Support
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
#运行所需的员工 25
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
Yes
<\/iframe>

About Us<\/b><\/p>\r\n

As the leader in child care education, Kiddie Academy has been in business for over 40 years and is based in Abingdon, MD. With over 305 locations currently, we\u2019re planning to open 30-40 Academies every year through our strategic growth initiative.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

For our families and children, we are guided by the \u201cLife Essentials,\u201d philosophy that focuses on elements fundamental to a child\u2019s growth-character education, STEM-infused technology and health and fitness experiences.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Year after year, Kiddie Academy shows up in various rankings as one of the Best Franchises to own; Ranked on Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 for 20 years in a row, 2022 Franchise Innovation Winner by Franchise Update Media and constantly in the Top 100 Franchises to own on Franchise Gator.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cWhy You May Want to Start a Kiddie Academy Franchise.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n

An Investment in a Kiddie Academy franchise is an investment in yourself. As a Franchisee, you\u2019ll enjoy a level or work-life harmony that people spend their entire careers seeking. And you\u2019ll be an important part of a nationally respected leader in educational child care- providing a vital resource for families in your community. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Childcare continues to be \u201cone of the top 5 franchise industries to watch.\u201d The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the number of households with two working parents has nearly doubled since the 1970s. As this trend of two working parents continues, the need for high-quality, education-based childcare has grown tremendously. <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Educational child care is a $57 billion industry and is forecasted to reach $62.1 billion in the next five years. With Kiddie Academy as an industry leader with proven success over the last 40 years, they are strategically positioned to continue growing exponentially with the industry.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

\u201cWhat Makes Kiddie Academy a Good Franchise Choice.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n\t
  • Brand Strength- Nationally recognized and respected<\/li>\r\n\t
  • Financial Strength- Legacy of delivering solid returns on investments for Franchisees<\/li>\r\n\t
  • Culture- We strive to provide a flexible, independent, supportive and fulfilling work-life harmony<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n

    Steps to Ownership with Kiddie Academy<\/b><\/p>\r\n\r\n

    For many, the process of opening up a business can be an intimidating one. That\u2019s why Kiddie Academy has made the franchising process as simple as possible.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

      \r\n\t
    • Getting Acquainted-<\/b> give us a call, send us an email and fill out our Preliminary Questionnaire.<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Discovering our approach-<\/b> We\u2019ll review your application and get you kicked off with our in-depth discovery process and connect you with our support teams<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Visiting our HQ-<\/b> Come see us in Abindgon, Maryland and tour our corporate owned Academy and meet with members of our leadership team<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Preparing to Launch-<\/b> training and support, optimal site selection, secure financing and build\/train your Academy team<\/li>\r\n\t
    • Time to celebrate!-<\/b> We\u2019ll alert the press, you\u2019ll cut the ribbon and we\u2019ll all celebrate with your community!<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n

      Kiddie Academy offers numerous training and support options to help you at every step of this new journey including:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

        \r\n\t
      • Site Selection Support-<\/b> The ideal space is waiting. We\u2019ll help you find it<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Financing-<\/b> We\u2019ll help you find the lending solution that\u2019s right for you<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Construction-<\/b> We take the burden out of building your Academy<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Initial Support- <\/b>Setting you up for confidence from day one and beyond<\/li>\r\n\t
      • Marketing-<\/b> Localized support with the power of a national brand<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n

        Support after Opening-<\/b> Ongoing advice from our experts<\/p>\r\n
        \r\n ","description":"","pressReleases":false,"active":true,"locations":{"states":[],"provinces":[]}},"advertisingLocations":{"states":[],"provinces":[]}},"recaptchaPortalId":"react-portal-recaptcha-1"}">

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Kiddie Academy landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Kiddie Academy ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022