The Goddard School^®

Children's Services • Year: 2025

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What Is The Goddard School?

The Goddard School is a franchise in the Children's Services category offering franchised schools that provide preschool programs and childcare. The operational model is brick-and-mortar, licensed Schools-typically about 10,500 to 12,500 square feet and ordinarily open weekdays (e.g., 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) with on-site full-time directors and trained staff. It serves individual consumers, primarily families (including those where parents work outside the home), and the core service bundle is academically endorsed, age-tiered preschool programs and care for children from approximately 6 weeks to 10 years of age.

The Goddard School Franchise: Pros and Cons

With 642 outlets-well above typical for children's services (top 5%)-the franchise offers strong scale, brand recognition and referral flow; however, the estimated minimum startup of $753,750 and high franchisor fees (Item 7 minimum $205,000 plus a $135,000 initial fee) mean materially higher upfront capital requirements.

Pros

642 total outlets is well above what's typical for Children's Services (top 5%), giving you scale-brand recognition, referral flow, and an established support network you can plug into immediately.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero government penalties, and zero franchisor-initiated enforcement actions-all well below typical for Children's Services (bottom 5%)-indicates a clean legal and regulatory record to reduce legal distraction and compliance risk.

A franchisee Right of First Refusal is included (uncommon-only ~5.5% of Children's Services franchises offer this), giving you priority to acquire adjacent or nearby opportunities as they become available.

Cons

The estimated minimum startup is $753,750, well above typical for ALL franchises (top 10%), so you'll need materially more upfront capital and likely larger financing than most peers.

The franchisor-level fees are high: Item 7 fee minimum $205,000 and an initial franchise fee of $135,000, both well above typical for Children's Services (top 5%), meaning the cost to secure the franchise rights is significantly higher than competitors.

There are 0 company-owned units, well below typical for Children's Services (bottom 5%), which limits the franchisor's ability to test new ideas and maintain firsthand operational experience to support franchisees.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

The Goddard School reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

43/100

NORMAL

The Goddard School grants non-exclusive development rights within defined Development Areas based on market density, includes a right of first refusal on approved sites, and makes territorial rights contingent on meeting performance quotas; the franchisor retains rights to operate/license other units and sell via alternative distribution channels such as e‑commerce.

Training & Support

56/100

NORMAL

The Goddard School provides a robust 92-hour training curriculum designed to prepare two managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and living expenses, and on-site support incurs an additional cost.

Franchisee Stability

Excellent

The Goddard School earns an Excellent Stability Score. Three-year turnover of 0.33% is well below the typical Children's Services franchise (around 4%). Out of 6 total exits across the three reported years, non-renewals and ceased operations were tied as the largest categories with 3 each, alongside no terminations and no franchisor buybacks, and the system had about 627 franchised outlets in the most recent year.

The equal split between non-renewals and closures suggests a mix of contract-maturity decisions and location-level economics, where operators chose to close underperforming sites rather than being removed by the franchisor. This pattern leans away from enforcement as the primary driver and toward local market or lease issues worth probing. For prospective franchisees, this is among the strongest retention profiles in franchising.

Unit Growth Analysis

This franchise is growing but decelerating: units rose from 575 (2022) to 642 (2025), a net +67 units (+11.7% cumulative), with YoY growth of ~4.0% (2022–23), ~4.8% (2023–24) and 2.4% (2024–25). For investors this indicates generally healthy expansion (including +15 net units in the most recent year) but the drop from 4.8% to 2.4% is a notable slowdown that warrants checking for pipeline, market saturation, or operational constraints before assuming continued robust growth.

How Much Does It Cost to Open a The Goddard School Franchise?

Opening a The Goddard School franchise requires a total initial investment of $753,750 to $1,363,000, according to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. This range covers the franchise fee, real estate, equipment, training, and initial working capital needed to launch and operate through the early months.

Minimum Investment

$753,750

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$1,363,000

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$205,000

Real Estate$20,000

Equipment & Assets$444,000

Reserves$100,000

Training$0

Other$0

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$212,000

Real Estate$50,000

Equipment & Assets$603,000

Reserves$275,000

Training$0

Other$223,000

Investment Analysis

This investment analysis is coming soon. Have ideas for other analyses you'd like us to add? Get in touch.

The initial investment amounts shown are estimates only. Actual costs may vary based on location size, business model, and multi-unit ownership arrangements. We recommend reviewing the full Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.

How Much Do The Goddard School Franchise Owners Make?

The Goddard School franchise locations reported average gross sales of $2,417,129 and median gross sales of $2,267,646 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$2,417,129

Median Gross Sales:

$2,267,646

High Gross Sales:

$6,411,013

Low Gross Sales:

$574,494

Sample Size:

596

Percent Attaining Average:

41.7%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: All reported schools in 2024 were franchisee-owned, with mature franchised locations averaging gross revenue of 2,417,129 and positive average EBITDA, indicating franchised units are the primary source of performance data rather than any corporate-owned comparators.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial variability in unit performance in 2024, with highest gross revenue of 6,411,013 and lowest of 574,494, and only about 41.7% of mature schools meeting or exceeding the average gross revenue, showing a wide dispersion around the mean.

Data Scope and Limitations: The figures are unaudited and based on franchisee-supplied reports for 596 mature schools; while comprehensive for franchised locations, the report excludes a few schools with insufficient data and therefore may not represent every outlet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Goddard School a good franchise to own?

Whether The Goddard School is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2025 FDD: The Goddard School operates 642 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 56/100. Financial performance data is disclosed in Item 19. Prospective franchisees should review the full Franchise Disclosure Document and consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decision.

Is a The Goddard School franchise worth the investment?

The value of a The Goddard School franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $753,750 to $1,363,000. The Goddard School disclosed average gross sales of $2,417,129 in 2025. The system reported 1 terminated units in 2025. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

What is the failure rate of The Goddard School franchises?

In the 2025 FDD, The Goddard School reported 1 terminated franchises and 0 non-renewals out of 642 total locations. Franchise closures can result from many factors including market conditions, operator decisions, lease expirations, and franchisor enforcement actions. The FDD's Item 20 provides the most detailed unit turnover data.

How long does it take to break even with a The Goddard School franchise?

Break-even timelines for The Goddard School franchises are not disclosed in the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. Break-even periods vary significantly based on initial investment level, local market conditions, operating costs, and revenue ramp-up speed. Prospective franchisees should build a pro forma financial model using Item 7 cost estimates and, where available, Item 19 financial performance data from the FDD.

Is The Goddard School a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2025 FDD, The Goddard School operates 642 franchised locations and 0 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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