One River School^®

Entertainment & Recreation • Year: 2025

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What Is One River School?

One River School is an arts-based franchise offering art education programs and classes. The franchise operates through brick-and-mortar school locations. It primarily serves individual consumers - including kids, tweens, teens and adults - and delivers a core service bundle built around its proprietary "Art Shuffle" curriculum and related programs such as "Art Focus" and the "Digital Shuffle" digital design program.

One River School Franchise: Pros and Cons

A major strength is that the brand reports zero outlet terminations and a spotless legal record, well below Entertainment & Recreation norms, but a key risk is the required spouse non-compete, an uncommon clause imposed by only about 10.3% of peers that can complicate family ownership transfers.

Pros

Zero outlet terminations is well below typical for Entertainment & Recreation (bottom 5%), indicating franchisees have largely been able to sustain operations.

A clean legal and regulatory record - zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisee-initiated judgments or settlements, zero government penalties, and zero franchisor enforcement actions - is well below typical for the sector (bottom 5%), which translates to minimal legal friction for operators.

Manager-required equity is 0% (well below typical for Entertainment & Recreation), giving you flexibility to structure manager ownership and compensation without a franchisor-mandated stake.

Cons

One outlet non-renewal is above typical for Entertainment & Recreation (top 10%), which indicates at least one operator chose not to continue under the current franchise terms.

A spouse non-compete is required - an uncommon clause (only about 10.3% of peers impose this) - adding a legal restriction that can complicate family arrangements or future transfers of control.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

One River School reported no material legal proceedings,

Territory Protection

51/100

Good

One River School grants a protected, site-specific exclusive area mapped in Exhibit 6, tailored by market density (typically about 1 mile urban or 10 miles suburban). The franchisor retains rights to develop nearby units, operate alternative distribution channels including e-commerce, and may revoke exclusivity for material breaches.

Training & Support

43/100

NORMAL

One River School provides a focused 56-hour training curriculum designed to prepare three managerial staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch assistance to support operational readiness; franchisees are responsible for travel and lodging expenses, and on-site support incurs additional fees.

How Much Does It Cost to Open an One River School Franchise?

Opening an One River School franchise requires a total initial investment of $179,500 to $568,100, 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

$179,500

Franchise Fee

Real Estate

Equipment & Assets

Reserves

Training

Other

Maximum Investment

$568,100

Minimum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$45,000

Real Estate$56,500

Equipment & Assets$37,000

Reserves$10,000

Training$2,000

Other$29,000

Maximum Investment Breakdown

Franchise Fee$45,000

Real Estate$319,600

Equipment & Assets$61,500

Reserves$96,000

Training$3,000

Other$43,000

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 One River School Franchise Owners Make?

One River School franchise locations reported average gross sales of $614,919 and median gross sales of $616,481 in 2025, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

$614,919

Median Gross Sales:

$616,481

High Gross Sales:

$707,785

Low Gross Sales:

$520,491

Sample Size:

Percent Attaining Average:

67.0%

Audit Status:

Unaudited

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: In 2024 representative affiliate-owned schools materially outperformed franchised schools on average gross sales and operating income (affiliate average sales 812,709 vs franchised 614,919; affiliate operating income 203,208 vs franchised 3,966), though the affiliate sample is larger (11 vs 3).

Performance Variability Analysis: Franchised schools show moderate sales dispersion (high 707,785; low 520,491) with median slightly above the mean, while operating income is highly variable and includes negative results, indicating outcomes vary substantially across the three units.

Data Scope and Limitations: The franchised dataset is very small (n=3), the affiliate sample is regionally concentrated, COGS is not provided, and the Item 19 data are not represented as audited financial statements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is One River School a good franchise to own?

Whether One River School is a good franchise depends on your goals, experience, and local market. Key factors from the 2025 FDD: One River School operates 15 locations, received a legal risk score of 100/100, a training and support score of 43/100. 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 an One River School franchise worth the investment?

The value of an One River School franchise investment depends on factors such as location, operator experience, and market demand. The initial investment ranges from $179,500 to $568,100. One River School disclosed average gross sales of $614,919 in 2025. Franchise investments carry inherent risk, and prospective buyers should conduct thorough due diligence before committing capital.

What is the failure rate of One River School franchises?

In the 2025 FDD, One River School reported 0 terminated franchises and 1 non-renewals out of 15 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 an One River School franchise?

Break-even timelines for One River 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 One River School a franchise or a corporate-owned business?

As of the 2025 FDD, One River School operates 3 franchised locations and 12 company-owned locations. Franchise opportunities are available through the franchisor's disclosure process.

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