Kumon vs Mathnasium
Franchise Comparison (2026)
2026 FDD Data
Kumon offers the lowest franchise fee in education ($2,000) with per-student royalties that favor high enrollment, but has a 20% annual closure rate. Mathnasium requires $49K franchise fee and 10% royalty but discloses $294K average revenue with 3.8-5.8 year payback.
Kumon and Mathnasium are two of the largest tutoring franchises in America, taking fundamentally different approaches to education. Kumon (founded 1958) uses a self-learning worksheet method covering math and reading, with 1,600+ US locations and a remarkably low $2,000 franchise fee. Mathnasium (founded 2002) focuses exclusively on math with instructor-led sessions. For franchise investors, the key trade-off is Kumon's lower entry cost and per-student royalty model versus Mathnasium's higher investment but disclosed financial performance. This comparison analyzes the FDD data to help you decide.
Quick Comparison
Kumon
$2,000
Mathnasium
$49,000
Kumon
$73K - $165K
Mathnasium
$113K - $150K
Kumon
$36/student/month
Mathnasium
10%
Kumon
1,689
Mathnasium
999
Kumon
N/A
Mathnasium
$293,590
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Kumon | Mathnasium |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Investment | ||
| Franchise Fee | $2,000 | $49,000 |
| Total Investment (Low) | $73,123 | $112,936 |
| Total Investment (High) | $165,360 | $149,616 |
| Net Worth Required | $150,000 | $100,000 |
| Liquid Capital Required | $70,000 | $25,000 |
| Ongoing Fees | ||
| Royalty Rate | 0% | 10% |
| Advertising Fund | 0% | 2% |
| Technology Fee | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| System Size & Growth | ||
| Total Units | 1,689 | 999 |
| Franchised Units | 1,671 | 999 |
| Company-Owned Units | 18 | 0 |
| 3-Year Net Growth | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Financial Performance (Item 19) | ||
| Item 19 Disclosed | No | Yes |
| Average Revenue | N/A | $293,590 |
| Median Revenue | N/A | Not Disclosed |
| Franchise Terms | ||
| Initial Term | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Renewal Term | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Territory Protection | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Requirements | ||
| Owner-Operator Required | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Training Hours | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Years Franchising | 68 years | 24 years |
| Risk Indicators | ||
| Litigation Matters | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
| Termination Rate | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
Key Differences
Kumon franchise fee is $2,000; Mathnasium is $49,000
Kumon charges $36/student/month; Mathnasium charges 10% of revenue
Kumon covers math AND reading; Mathnasium is math-only
Kumon has 1,689 US locations; Mathnasium has 999
Mathnasium discloses $294K average revenue; Kumon does not disclose
Kumon has 20% annual franchisee turnover rate (higher risk)
Investment Fit Analysis
Who Should Consider Kumon
Kumon suits budget-conscious investors comfortable with the self-learning model, who can drive high student enrollment to maximize the per-student royalty structure.
Lowest franchise fee in education ($2,000)
Per-student royalty ($36/month) rewards high enrollment
Covers both math and reading
Up to $38,700 in franchisee incentives
200+ hours of training provided
20% annual closure rate is a risk factor
Who Should Consider Mathnasium
Mathnasium suits investors who want disclosed financial performance data and are comfortable with higher royalties (10%) in exchange for a proven math-focused curriculum.
Item 19 disclosure: $294K average revenue
3.8-5.8 year payback period
Math-only focus (specialized positioning)
Instructor-led learning model
Lower liquid capital requirement ($25K)
10% royalty + 2% ad fund
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Dive Deeper?
Download the complete FDD for each franchise to review all 23 items, exhibits, and financial statements.
Disclaimer
This comparison is provided for informational purposes only. Data has been aggregated from publicly available sources including Franchise Disclosure Documents, industry publications, and franchise analysis websites.
Prospective franchisees should review the complete FDD for each franchise, conduct their own due diligence, and consult with qualified legal and financial advisors before making any investment decisions.