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The Goddard School

Preschool/educational childcare
Investment
$952,500
Initial Franchise Fee
$135,000
Units
675
Growth Rate
+10.3%

Overview

Industry
Children's Businesses
Founded
1983
Franchising Since
1988
Parent Company
Sycamore Partners
Leadership
Darin Harris, CEO
# of Employees at HQ
198

Units and Growth Chart

About The Goddard School

Since its founding in 1983 and subsequent franchising in 1988, The Goddard School has become a leader in childcare as one of the largest franchised preschool systems. The Goddard School is franchised by Goddard Systems and has hundreds of schools and serves tens of thousands of students. 

The company offers year-round programs for children aged six weeks to six years, including afterschool enrichment and summer programs. The Goddard School’s exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning is backed by expert knowledge and data-driven insights, encouraging children to explore their curiosities and interests as they discover the joy of learning.

The Goddard School's teachers collaborate with parents to help nurture children into becoming respectful, confident, and joyful learners. Additionally, they provide parents with daily activity reports and schedule regular conferences throughout the year to discuss children's progress and behavior. The Goddard School preschool franchises are recognized and trusted by parents and educators. 

Why May You Want to Start a The Goddard School Franchise

If you're a passionate business professional looking for a career change, opening a The Goddard School franchise may be a viable option for you. You'll also have the chance to positively impact children's lives while investing in your own.

You don’t need a background in childcare or education to become a franchisee. Each Goddard School is licensed as a childcare facility and staffed by professionals trained in early childhood education and development. Every school must have either an on-site owner or an on-site operator to provide day-to-day leadership. Supporting them is an education director, who oversees daily school operations and ensures the highest standards of care and learning are maintained.

Regardless of your role, The Goddard School will provide franchisees with ongoing support in real estate, site development, operations, I.T., marketing, advertising, quality assurance, and training.

What Might Make a The Goddard School Franchise a Good Choice?

The Goddard School has been ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 many times in the past two decades. This ranking is 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.

The company's standing in the education and childcare sector is huge. The demand for childcare continues to increase as more households have two working adults. Unique lessons including yoga, robotics, and sign language may give your childcare program an even greater advantage in your local market.

The Goddard School’s education program, Wonder of Learning, features a cutting-edge curriculum developed by a diversely skilled group of educators, researchers, physicians, and early childhood experts, as well as built-in assessment of academic and social-emotional progress and family communication via a proprietary app. The curriculum focuses on building age-appropriate academic, social, and emotional skills through curiosity, collaboration, investigation, and discovery.

How to Start a The Goddard School Franchise

To open a The Goddard School franchise, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment that will include a franchise fee and other startup costs. Ongoing fees include royalty fees, marketing funds, or any other capital you'll need to cover startup costs.

You should consider your location. Competition is healthy and may be beneficial to your franchise, but too much can harm business. Think of where you are in relation to school districts, your area's demographics, and whether there is a demand for childcare and afterschool programming. 

Investment Details

Initial Franchise Fee
$135,000
Initial Investment
$952,500 - $8,568,000
Net Worth Requirement
Cash Requirement
$300,000
Royalty Fee
7%
Ad Royalty Fee
4%
Technology Fee
0
Term of Agreement
15 years
Is Franchise Term Renewable?
Yes
Financing
Third Party
Veterans Incentive
$20,000 off franchise fee

Available Territories

Franchising opportunities available in the following regions

United States

Training & Support Programs

Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you succeed

Training

On the Job Training
Ongoing, as needed
Classroom Training
92 hours

Ongoing Support

Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Lease Negotiation
Field Operations
Site Selection
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform

Marketing Support

Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations & Requirements

Key operational details and requirements for running this franchise

Is absentee ownership allowed?
No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit?
No
Can this franchise be run part time?
No
# of employees required to run
25
Are exclusive territories available?
Yes

Ranking History

The Goddard School performance in the Franchise rankings over recent years

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where The Goddard School 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