Kiddie Academy (2026 FDD) The Goddard School (2026 FDD) Side-by-Side Comparison
Kiddie Academy vs The Goddard School Franchise Cost (2026)
Which lists a lower Item 7 minimum? Kiddie Academy lists the lower Item 7 minimum estimate at $590,000, compared with $1,003,500 for The Goddard School (a difference of $413,500). Their high estimates are $1,010,000 and $1,503,000, respectively. Actual site costs can differ.
How do Item 6 percentage fees compare? No combined percentage is compared here; each fee is listed as Item 6 states it. Kiddie Academy: royalty 7% of Gross Revenues; brand fund 2% of Gross Revenues. The Goddard School: royalty 7% of Gross Receipts; brand fund 4% of Gross Receipts.
Which provides Item 19 financial disclosures? Both franchisors disclose financial performance representations in Item 19: Kiddie Academy reports Average gross revenue for mature academies: $2,193,815 (2025; 293 mature academies open at least 24 months as of December 31, 2025), while The Goddard School reports Average Gross Revenue (Mature Franchised Schools): $2,507,631 (2025 calendar year; 620 mature franchised schools open over 18 months as of December 31, 2025). The definitions, periods and samples can differ. Sales figures do not represent owner take-home income.
Side-by-side cost & fee comparison
Investment and fee figures use the formats recorded in each linked FDD analysis. Combined percentages, annualized fees and comparable outlet changes are calculations from those records. Fee conditions and samples can differ.
| Disclosure Metric | Kiddie Academy | The Goddard School |
|---|---|---|
| FDD Year & Filing State | 2026 FDD (MN) | 2026 FDD (MN) |
| Category | Children’s Services | Education & Tutoring |
| Item 7 Total Investment | $590,000 – $1,010,000 | $1,003,500 – $1,503,000 |
| Item 5 Franchise Fee | $70,000 – $150,000 | $135,000 |
| Item 6 Royalty | 7% of Gross Revenues | 7% of Gross Receipts |
| Item 6 Brand / Advertising Fund | 2% of Gross Revenues | 4% of Gross Receipts |
| Sales-Based Percentage FeesFixed fees, minimums and sales-subset charges are separate. | Not a single percentage of sales | 11% of sales |
| Recurring Fixed Fees (Annual) | See Item 6 conditions | $8,400/yr |
| Required Liquid Capital | $250,000 | $350,000 |
| Required Net Worth | $750,000 | $500,000 |
| Capital Requirement Source & Conditions | Franchisor website, checked October 29, 2026 Kiddie Academy states these minimums for leasing a facility in most markets; purchasing requires more, and higher-cost markets may require more. | Franchisor website, checked October 30, 2026 The franchisor calls these minimum figures and says liquidity and net-worth requirements vary with location, transaction and asset type. Investors or co-owners may participate. |
| Item 19 Financial Disclosures? | Yes Average gross revenue for mature academies: $2,193,815 (2025; 293 mature academies open at least 24 months as of December 31, 2025) View Kiddie Academy earnings | Yes Average Gross Revenue (Mature Franchised Schools): $2,507,631 (2025 calendar year; 620 mature franchised schools open over 18 months as of December 31, 2025) View The Goddard School earnings |
| Total System Outlets | 364 units | 665 units |
| 3-Year Net Unit Growth | +58 franchised | +67 franchised |
| 3-Year Average Franchise Exit Rate | 1.0% / yr | 0.3% / yr |
| Initial Agreement Term | For a leased Academy, coterminous with its premises lease, with a minimum of 15 years; 25 years if the real estate is purchased. | 15 years |
| FDD Verification Status | Verified FDD Data | Verified FDD Data |
Item 20 outlet histories and comparison limits
In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Kiddie Academy added a net 58 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 1.0%. In Item 20 for 2023–2025, The Goddard School added a net 67 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 0.3%. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.
| System | Year | Start Outlets | Opened | Reported Exits | End Outlets | Franchise Exit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kiddie Academy | 2023 | 305 | +23 | -2 | 326 | 0.7% |
| Kiddie Academy | 2024 | 326 | +22 | -4 | 344 | 1.2% |
| Kiddie Academy | 2025 | 344 | +23 | -4 | 363 | 1.2% |
| The Goddard School | 2023 | 598 | +30 | -1 | 627 | 0.2% |
| The Goddard School | 2024 | 627 | +18 | -3 | 642 | 0.5% |
| The Goddard School | 2025 | 642 | +24 | -1 | 665 | 0.2% |
Detailed brand guides and earnings disclosures
Review our full itemized analysis for each system, including complete Item 7 line-by-line tables and Item 6 fee rules.
- Kiddie Academy Full Cost Breakdown Item 7 line-by-line costs & fee definitions
- Kiddie Academy Item 19 Figures Item 19 financial representations & sample sizes
- The Goddard School Full Cost Breakdown Item 7 line-by-line costs & fee definitions
- The Goddard School Item 19 Figures Item 19 financial representations & sample sizes
Official FDD sources
Franchise costs, fees and outlet records on this comparison page were compiled from the respective brand's official Franchise Disclosure Document filed with state regulators. Capital and net-worth requirements may instead come from the franchisor website when the FDD does not state them; those sources and conditions appear in the table above.
- Kiddie Academy: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-03-27 , filed with MN regulators. View Kiddie Academy filing record.
- The Goddard School: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-04-30 , filed with MN regulators. View The Goddard School filing record.
Frequently Asked Questions: Kiddie Academy vs The Goddard School
- Which lists a lower Item 7 minimum, Kiddie Academy or The Goddard School?
- Kiddie Academy lists the lower Item 7 minimum estimate at $590,000, compared with $1,003,500 for The Goddard School (a difference of $413,500). Their high estimates are $1,010,000 and $1,503,000, respectively. Actual site costs can differ.
- How do Kiddie Academy and The Goddard School Item 6 percentage fees compare?
- No combined percentage is compared here; each fee is listed as Item 6 states it. Kiddie Academy: royalty 7% of Gross Revenues; brand fund 2% of Gross Revenues. The Goddard School: royalty 7% of Gross Receipts; brand fund 4% of Gross Receipts.
- Do Kiddie Academy or The Goddard School provide Item 19 financial disclosures?
- Both franchisors disclose financial performance representations in Item 19: Kiddie Academy reports Average gross revenue for mature academies: $2,193,815 (2025; 293 mature academies open at least 24 months as of December 31, 2025), while The Goddard School reports Average Gross Revenue (Mature Franchised Schools): $2,507,631 (2025 calendar year; 620 mature franchised schools open over 18 months as of December 31, 2025). The definitions, periods and samples can differ. Sales figures do not represent owner take-home income.
- What do the Item 20 outlet records show for Kiddie Academy and The Goddard School?
- In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Kiddie Academy added a net 58 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 1.0%. In Item 20 for 2023–2025, The Goddard School added a net 67 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 0.3%. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.