CHILDRENS LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS

Item 7 in the 2024 FDD lays out the initial investment range of $1,074,580 to $1,467,050, covering real estate, build-out, equipment, and opening costs for schools serving kids from six weeks to 12 years via Development Equity or Build-to-Suit programs. The $85,000 franchise fee gets you trademarks, proprietary curriculums blending academics, character-building, and social-emotional learning, plus training and site selection help. Ongoing fees include a 7% royalty (discounted to 3.5% for the first six months), 0.5% brand fund (capping at 2%), and a $49 monthly software fee—reasonable for the sector but adding up on high-volume operations. Item 19 shines here: average gross revenue of $1,941,556 and median $1,906,407 across franchised units signal robust top-line potential, especially with enrollment-driven models in growing suburbs.

System health looks steady, not explosive—67 locations in 2022 grew to 69 in 2023 (+3%), with only 2 terminations and 2 transfers, pointing to low churn. Franchisees project 24 new units, backed by 32 SBA loans averaging $2,446,566, showing lenders' confidence in financing these $1M+ builds. For buyers eyeing early childhood education, the numbers suggest profitability if you nail enrollment in family-dense areas, but the high entry barrier demands strong real estate savvy and parental marketing to hit those revenue medians.