Kiddie Academy franchise
Kiddie Academy runs year-round early education and child care centers for children from six weeks to 12 years old, using its own curriculum. Centers are large, licensed facilities. At the end of 2025 there were 364 Kiddie Academy locations in the US, 363 franchised and 1 company-owned.
- Cost to open
- $590K–$1.01M
- Franchise fee
- $150,000
- Royalty
- 7%
- Locations, 2025
- 364+58 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchisor based in
- Abingdon, Maryland
- Agreement length
- 15 or more years
- Financing
- Introductions to lenders
From Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Kiddie Academy franchise costs
Opening one Kiddie Academy in a leased building costs an estimated $590,000 to $1,010,000. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
| Buying land and building the academy | $4,935,000 to $8,530,000 |
|---|
Source: Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 30
Kiddie Academy franchise fee
The franchise fee is $150,000, paid in installments from signing to loan funding. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 17
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 7% of gross revenues, paid weekly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 2% of gross sales |
Source: Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 22
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Kiddie Academy publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports 2025 results for franchised academies open at least 12 months. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 68
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 326 (+21) | 1 | 2 |
| 2024 | 344 (+18) | 1 | 4 |
| 2025 | 363 (+19) | 1 | 4 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC, 2026 filing, page 88
How Kiddie Academy compares
Of the 4 daycare franchises on this site, Kiddie Academy is the cheapest to open and the smallest by number of locations.
| Measure | Kiddie Academy | Typical daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $590K | $905K |
| Royalty | 7% | 7% |
| Closed or left per year | 1% | 0.4% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +19% | +17.2% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 4 of 4 |
Typical is the median across the 4 brands in daycare franchises.
Other daycare franchises
Kiddie Academy franchise questions
Does Kiddie Academy help with financing?
Not directly. Kiddie Academy points buyers to outside lenders it works with, but the loan is between you and the lender.
How long is a Kiddie Academy franchise agreement?
The initial term is 15 or more years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Kiddie Academy growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 68 franchised locations opened and 10 closed or left, a net change of +19%. About 1% of locations closed or left each year. That is above the 0.4% typical for daycare franchises.
How does Kiddie Academy compare with other daycare franchises?
Of the 4 daycare franchises here, Kiddie Academy is the cheapest to open (low end $590K against a $905K median) and the smallest by number of locations. Its 7% royalty is in line with the 7% median.
Does Kiddie Academy say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports 2025 results for franchised academies open at least 12 months. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Kiddie Academy based?
Kiddie Academy Domestic Franchising, LLC is based in Abingdon, Maryland.