Montessori Kids Universe franchise unit economics
Montessori Kids Universe franchisees run licensed Montessori preschools for infants, toddlers and preschool children, charging monthly tuition and ancillary fees.
Montessori Kids Universe franchise at a glance
Item 19 reports gross revenue and EBIT percentages for the franchised schools open a full calendar year in each of 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Montessori Kids Universe franchisees averaged $1,624,447 of sales in 2025, with a median of $1,503,632, according to Item 19 of Montessori Kids Universe’s 2026 FDD, issued 24 April 2026. The 18 in that group are 72%* of Montessori Kids Universe’s 25 franchised schools. Fees paid to Montessori Kids Universe come to about 8.11%* of sales.
- A Montessori Kids Universe franchise costs $883,658 to $1,844,008 to open, according to Item 7 of the 2026 FDD.
- Montessori Kids Universe charges a royalty of 7% of Gross Revenues, a technology fee of $500 a month and a teacher training fee of $1,000 a month paid to its affiliate.
- A Montessori Kids Universe franchisee must spend at least $1,000 a month on digital marketing until enrollment reaches 75% of licensed capacity, then at least $500 a month.
- Montessori Kids Universe reports an average EBIT of 20% for the same 18 schools in 2025, with a range of 12% to 32%.
- Montessori Kids Universe had 25 franchised schools and no company-owned schools at the end of 2025, up from 16 at the start of 2023.
These figures come from Montessori Kids Universe's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, as the brand reported them, and were read by Averan Advisors. The 8.11% applies the 7% royalty to the $1,624,447 average, adds $18,000 a year of technology and teacher training fees paid to the franchisor and its affiliate, and divides by $1,624,447. Software and digital marketing paid to vendors are not included.
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Talk to Averan → Averan Montessori Kids Universe Conversion Package →- The 18 schools open all of 2025 averaged $1,624,447 of gross revenue. The median was $1,503,632. The highest school reported $3,295,801 and the lowest $515,873; the highest is 6.39 times the lowest.*
- Average EBIT for the same 18 schools was 20% in 2025, with a range of 12% to 32%. The median EBIT was 18% in each of 2023, 2024 and 2025. The lowest EBIT rose from 9% in 2023 to 12% in 2024 and 2025.
- Average gross revenue went from $1,387,538 in 2023 to $1,624,447 in 2025. That is a rise of 17.1%.* Each year’s figure covers the schools open that whole year: 16 in 2023, 16 in 2024 and 18 in 2025.
- Three lines of Item 7 make up $645,000 to $1,400,000 of the cost to open.* Build-out and leasehold improvements, the playground, and classroom furniture and Montessori materials are 73.0% of the low estimate and 75.9% of the high estimate.*
- Franchised schools went from 16 at the start of 2023 to 25 at the end of 2025. Item 20 reports 13 openings and 4 terminations over the three years*, with no non-renewals, reacquisitions or other closures. It lists 22 signed agreements for schools not yet open.
Gross revenue
How much does a Montessori Kids Universe franchise make?
| Measure | 2023, 16 schools | 2024, 16 schools | 2025, 18 schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | $2,073,976 | $2,035,829 | $3,295,801 |
| Average | $1,387,538 | $1,302,020 | $1,624,447 |
| Median | $1,169,172 | $1,426,332 | $1,503,632 |
| Lowest | $333,951 | $769,976 | $515,873 |
Source: Item 19, Tables I, III and V, 2026 FDD. Each year covers the franchised schools open for all of that calendar year. Item 19 states that three franchisees terminated in 2024 are not included in the 2024 figures.
The 18 franchised schools open all of 2025 averaged $1,624,447 of gross revenue. The median was $1,503,632, the highest $3,295,801 and the lowest $515,873. Item 19 states that 44.0% of the 18 schools reached or exceeded the average.
Gross revenue comes from monthly tuition and ancillary fees. Item 19 gives average full-time monthly tuition of $1,400 to $1,600 in Texas, $1,800 to $3,000 in Virginia and $2,600 to $3,200 in the Northeast. Item 6 defines Gross Revenues to include tuition, early morning and after-school activities, lunches and extra-curricular activities.
Average revenue was lower in 2024 than in 2023 and higher in 2025. It went from $1,387,538 in 2023 to $1,302,020 in 2024 and $1,624,447 in 2025, a rise of 17.1% over the two years.* The schools in each year’s group are not the same: 18 schools were open all of 2025 against 16 in each earlier year.
Item 19 does not state how the figures were collected or whether they were audited. It states that written substantiation is available to prospective franchisees on reasonable request.
EBIT
EBIT as a percentage of revenue, 2023 to 2025
| Measure | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | 28% | 32% | 32% |
| Average | 19% | 20.1% | 20% |
| Median | 18% | 18% | 18% |
| Lowest | 9% | 12% | 12% |
Source: Item 19, Tables II, IV and VI, 2026 FDD. The 2023 table counts schools out of 14, while the text above it describes 16 schools. Table VI labels its average row “Average Gross Revenue” though the figure is an EBIT percentage.
Average EBIT for the 18 schools open all of 2025 was 20% of revenue. Applied to the $1,624,447 average revenue, that is about $324,889 a year.* The average EBIT percentage and the average revenue are separate averages, so this is an approximation of earnings at an average school.
The median EBIT was 18% in all three years. The lowest rose from 9% in 2023 to 12% in 2024 and 2025, and the highest went from 28% to 32%.
Item 19 defines the profit figure as earnings before interest and taxes. It gives EBIT as a percentage, with no dollar amounts and no breakdown of wages, rent or other costs.
Highest and lowest
Highest and lowest schools, 2023 to 2025
| Year | Highest | Years open | Lowest | Years open | Share at or above average | Share at or above median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $2,073,976 | 1.5 | $333,951 | 4.7 | 81.0% | 36.0% |
| 2024 | $2,035,829 | 2.5 | $769,976 | 5.6 | 58.0% | 47.3% |
| 2025 | $3,295,801 | 1.9 | $515,873 | 1.2 | 44.0% | 49.5% |
Source: Item 19, Tables I, III and V, 2026 FDD. Some printed shares do not agree with the text: one school of 16 is 6.25%* where Table I prints 7.0%, and Table V prints 94.4% for the lowest 2025 figure where the text says all 18 schools, 100%, reached it. In 2023 the table shows 81.0% of schools at or above the average of $1,387,538 and 36.0% at or above the lower median of $1,169,172.
Item 19 does not split schools into quartiles or bands. For each year it prints the highest, lowest, average and median revenue and EBIT percentage, with the share of schools that reached each figure.
The highest school in 2025 reported $3,295,801 after 1.9 years in operation. Item 19 states that it has a licensed capacity of more than 100 students and that new enrollments have averaged 8 to 10 children a month since it opened.
The lowest school in 2025 reported $515,873 after 1.2 years in operation. Item 19 gives no EBIT figure for any named school, so the highest and lowest EBIT percentages cannot be tied to the highest and lowest revenue figures.
Item 7 states that a school needs at least 6,000 square feet, with licensed capacity for 100 to 160 children. The investment estimate covers equipment for three classrooms; Item 7 states that further classrooms are typically paid for from school revenue as enrollment grows.
Brand charges
Brand charges
| Charge | Rate in Items 6 and 11 | A year at the average * |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 7% of Gross Revenues | $113,711 |
| Technology fee | $500 a month | $6,000 |
| MKUTI teacher training fee, paid to the franchisor’s affiliate | $1,000 a month | $12,000 |
| Paid to the brand | 7% plus $1,500 a month | $131,711 (8.11%) |
| ProCare management software | $129 a month | $1,548 |
| Approved CRM system | $179 a month | $2,148 |
| Montessori Compass record-keeping software | $20 a classroom and $.50 a student a month; Item 7 shows $250 to $750 a month | $3,000 to $9,000 |
| Digital marketing, paid to the ad platform | At least $1,000 a month until enrollment reaches 75% of capacity, then at least $500 | $6,000 to $12,000 |
| Total, including software and digital marketing paid to vendors | 7% plus $2,558 to $3,558 a month | $144,407 to $156,407 (8.89% to 9.63%) |
Source: Items 6, 7 and 11, 2026 FDD. Annual amounts and the totals are Averan calculations, marked *. The low total assumes a school past 75% of capacity and the low Item 7 software estimate; the high total assumes a school below 75% and the high estimate. The franchisor has no system-wide marketing fund.
The royalty is 7% of Gross Revenues, paid monthly. Item 6 states that Gross Revenues are not reduced by vacation credits given to families but can be reduced by $500 a month. At the $1,624,447 average the royalty is $113,711 a year.*
The fixed monthly charges come to $30,696 to $42,696 a year.* They cover the technology fee, the teacher training fee paid to MKU Training Institute, three software systems and required digital marketing. Item 11 states that the technology fee pays for the school’s website and search engine optimization.
With the royalty, the charges paid to the franchisor and its affiliate are $131,711 a year at the 2025 average, or 8.11% of revenue. Software and digital marketing paid to vendors add $12,696 to $24,696.* There is no minimum royalty. The digital marketing spend has a minimum of $1,000 a month until enrollment reaches 75% of licensed capacity.
Other fees apply on events. A successor franchise costs $20,000. A transfer costs 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee. Additional training and additional operations assistance are $500 a day plus expenses, and the franchisor may raise the operations assistance fee to $3,000 a day. A training extension is $500 each time.
Cost to open
Cost to open
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Architect or space planner | $10,000 | $50,000 |
| Build-out and leasehold improvements | $400,000 | $900,000 |
| Playground design, surfacing, equipment and fencing | $95,000 | $150,000 |
| Furniture, fixtures, decor and Montessori materials for 3 classrooms | $150,000 | $350,000 |
| Rent and security deposit | $25,000 | $35,000 |
| Lease guarantee fee, optional | $0 | $30,000 |
| Additional funds and working capital | $100,000 | $200,000 |
| All other lines * | $28,658 | $54,008 |
| Total | $883,658 | $1,844,008 |
Source: Item 7, 2026 FDD. The last row, marked *, is an Averan sum of the remaining lines: office furniture, signage, computers, camera system, teacher training, uniforms, pre-opening marketing, software, utility deposits, insurance, payroll service, legal and accounting, and permits. Both printed totals equal the sum of their lines.
Item 7 estimates $883,658 to $1,844,008 to open one school. Of that, $76,000 to $106,000 is paid to the franchisor or its affiliates: the $75,000 initial franchise fee, the first $1,000 teacher training payment and, if used, a lease guarantee fee of up to $30,000.
Build-out, the playground and classroom materials make up $645,000 to $1,400,000.* That is 73.0% of the low estimate and 75.9% of the high estimate.* Item 7 states that a landlord may contribute tenant improvement money as part of the lease negotiation.
The estimate assumes a leased building. Item 7 states that buying or building the premises would raise the cost significantly. The franchisor may, at its sole discretion, guarantee one year of rent to the landlord for a one-time fee of $20,000 to $30,000.
Item 11 estimates 12 to 24 months from signing to opening. The school must open within 24 months, and within 12 months of signing the franchisee must begin the NAEYC accreditation process.
Locations
Locations, 2023 to 2025
| Year | Start | Opened | Terminated | Non-renewed | Reacquired | Ceased, other | End | Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| 2024 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| 2025 | 19 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 0 |
| 2023 to 2025 | 16 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
Source: Item 20, Tables 1 to 3, 2026 FDD. The three-year total row is an Averan sum, marked *. The franchisor reports no company-owned schools in any of the three years.
Franchised schools went from 16 at the start of 2023 to 25 at the end of 2025. In 2024 three schools opened and three were terminated, two in Texas and one in Virginia, so the count stayed at 19. In 2025 seven opened and one in Texas was terminated.
Item 20 lists 22 signed franchise agreements for schools not yet open at the end of 2025. It projects 17 franchised openings and 1 company-owned opening, in Florida, in the next year.
The franchisee receives a protected territory of a 3-mile radius or a population of 75,000, whichever is less. Item 12 states that the territory is not exclusive: the franchisor and other franchisees may advertise in it and enroll students from it, with no compensation to the franchisee. The franchise term is 15 years from opening, with one successor term of 15 years.
Questions we get asked
Questions owners ask
How much does it cost to open a Montessori Kids Universe franchise?
The 2026 FDD estimates $883,658 to $1,844,008 for one school. The largest lines are build-out and leasehold improvements at $400,000 to $900,000, classroom furniture and Montessori materials at $150,000 to $350,000, and the playground at $95,000 to $150,000. The initial franchise fee is $75,000.
What fees does a Montessori Kids Universe franchisee pay?
A royalty of 7% of Gross Revenues, a $500 monthly technology fee, a $1,000 monthly teacher training fee to the franchisor’s affiliate, and software fees. The franchisee must also spend at least $1,000 a month on digital marketing until enrollment reaches 75% of licensed capacity, then at least $500. At the 2025 average revenue the royalty, technology fee and teacher training fee come to 8.11% of revenue on Averan’s calculation.* There is no marketing fund.
How much does a Montessori Kids Universe school make?
Item 19 reports that the 18 franchised schools open all of 2025 averaged $1,624,447 of gross revenue, with a median of $1,503,632. The highest reported $3,295,801 and the lowest $515,873. Average EBIT was 20% of revenue, with a range of 12% to 32%.
How many Montessori Kids Universe schools are there?
Item 20 reports 25 franchised schools at the end of 2025 and no company-owned schools. It also lists 22 signed agreements for schools not yet open.
How long does it take to open a Montessori Kids Universe school?
Item 11 estimates 12 to 24 months from signing the franchise agreement to opening. The franchisor names finding a location, permits, zoning, licensing and fit-out as factors that affect timing. The school must open within 24 months.
What territory does a Montessori Kids Universe franchisee get?
A protected territory of a 3-mile radius around the school or a population of 75,000, whichever is less. The franchisor will not open or license another school inside it. The territory is not exclusive: other schools and the franchisor may advertise in it and enroll children from it.
Questions worth putting to Montessori Kids Universe
These are questions the filing leaves open. An owner or a buyer can put them to the franchisor directly.
- Is the revenue in Item 19 gross sales or collected revenue, and how many locations sit below the average?
- Which factors does Montessori Kids Universe see in its highest-selling locations, such as territory, years open and staffing?
- How long does a new location take to reach the average you publish, and what does the build-up look like month by month?
- At what level of sales do the minimum charges stop applying and the percentage take over?
- How many Montessori Kids Universe locations closed, were sold, or changed hands last year, and why?
Run your own numbers.
The Franchise Numbers Check runs the same checks on your own numbers. It scores where you stand and compares you with Item 19 of your brand’s FDD. It works out what one location earns and spends, and builds a 13-week cash forecast. It also checks whether you are ready to open another one. It is free and it runs in your browser.
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Questions owners ask next
The figures above raise these, and each one is answered on its own page.
- At what level of sales does a minimum fee stop costing me more than the percentage?It works out the sales level where a minimum fee stops applying.
- How much cash do I fund before a new location covers its own costs?It builds a 13-week forecast for the months before break-even.
- What does this location earn on the money I put into it?It works out the payback period and cash-on-cash return for one unit.
- How much of Item 19 can I rely on?It explains what an Item 19 financial performance representation tells you and what it leaves out.
Where these figures come from
Every figure here comes from Montessori School Franchising LLC’s 2026 FDD and is unaudited by us. We are unaffiliated with the brand. Calculations of our own are labeled where they appear. The figures describe past performance at other businesses and are not a projection of yours. This page is an educational summary. It is not an offer to sell a franchise, and it is not financial, legal or tax advice. Montessori Kids Universe is a trademark of its owner. How Averan reads a Franchise Disclosure Document.
These figures come from the brand's disclosure. They are not a forecast, an offer to sell a franchise or advice. Source: Montessori School Franchising LLC, 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document, issued 24 April 2026.