Franopolis

    Lightbridge Academy

    Lightbridge Franchise Company, LLC · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Researching Lightbridge Academy franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.

    Reviewed sources
    Franchising since
    2011
    Source: franchise.org
    Headquarters
    Iselin, NJ United States
    Source: franchise.org

    Lightbridge Academy franchise operates premium early childhood education centers focused on providing high-quality childcare and developmental programs for infa

    Headline figures

    Lightbridge Academy quick facts

    Is Lightbridge Academy a franchise?
    Yes. Lightbridge Academy offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 68 franchised and 24 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 66).
    How much does it cost to open a Lightbridge Academy franchise?
    The Lightbridge Academy Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $834,868–$2,609,735 for single leased center total including leasehold improvements (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 25); $5,801,350–$8,122,575 for single purchased center total (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 26); $834,868–$1,409,735 for single leased center total (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 25). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What is the Lightbridge Academy initial franchise fee?
    The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $50,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 14). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
    What ongoing fees does Lightbridge Academy charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 4% · percentage of Gross Revenues (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 17). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 2% · percentage of Gross Revenues (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 17). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does Lightbridge Academy disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The Lightbridge Academy FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 63). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many Lightbridge Academy locations are there?
    The FDD reports 92 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 66). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is Lightbridge Academy a good franchise to buy?
    Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 includes financial performance figures; check which locations and period they cover; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    What the disclosures show

    1. 1The 2026 FDD (Item 7) estimates opening costs separately by format: $834,868 – $2,609,735 (Single leased Center total including leasehold improvements); $5,801,350 – $8,122,575 (Single purchased Center total); $834,868 – $1,409,735 (Single leased Center total); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 reports revenue and EBITDA and costs for 62 mixed locations.
    3. 3Outlets grew by 11 in 2025, to 92 (SYSTEMWIDE, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).

    From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.

    Compare outlet trendsPut Item 20 counts side by side with up to 3 other brands.

    Lightbridge Academy head-to-head

    Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    Lightbridge AcademyVSBuilding Kidz
    Compare head-to-head
    Lightbridge AcademyVSIvybrook Academy
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    Lightbridge AcademyVSMontessori Kids Universe
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    Lightbridge AcademyVSThe Learning Experience
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    Costs · Items 5–7

    What does it cost to open?

    Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.

    Startup Investment — Item 7

    Range across 3 single-unit formats

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Formats disclosed in Item 7 (5)

    Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose; multi-unit packages are listed but not included in the headline range.

    • Single leased Center total including leasehold improvementsPDF p. 25$834,868 – $2,609,735
    • Single leased CenterPDF p. 25$834,868 – $1,409,735
    • Single purchased CenterPDF p. 26$5,801,350 – $8,122,575
    • Up to five leased CentersMulti-unitPDF p. 29$859,868
    • Up to five purchased CentersMulti-unitPDF p. 29$5,826,350

    Standard single-unit franchise fee

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 14
    Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.

    Ongoing Fees — Item 6

    Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.

    Royalty FeeMain ongoing fee

    35 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.

    Financial Performance — Item 19

    What results are disclosed—and for which locations?

    Two separate populations, not a revenue-and-profit comparison. Revenue is not owner income.

    Franchised and company-owned locations

    Revenue, EBITDA and costs · 62 locations

    Who is counted
    the System’s franchised and Company Owned Centers that were open with students attending at least eighteen (18) months as of January 1, 2025 (“Mature Centers”)
    Period
    2025 calendar year
    Excluded
    twenty-seven (27) Centers that were not open with students attending for at least eighteen (18) months as of January 1, 2025, and three (3) Centers that had temporary lapses in operation during 2025, due to transfer and structural damage to the Center
    Method
    The information presented in this Item 19 is collected from franchisees and Company Owned Centers. We have not audited the data.

    Locations counted: not stated in the reviewed record

    Revenue and EBITDA

    Period
    2025 calendar year

    These groups are never combined.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    SYSTEMWIDE, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of year end of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 66

    Net +19 outlets, 2023–2025

    0732023812024922025+8+11

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2025 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.

    Questions to investigate

    Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.

    For the franchisor

    • Which line items in the 2026 Item 7 estimate ($834,868 – $8,122,575) vary most by market, and why?

    • Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?

    • Which locations are included in the Item 19 figures, and which were excluded?

    • Reported units went from 81 to 92 in 2025. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?

    • Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?

    For current and former owners

    • How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?

    • How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?

    • How do your results compare with the Item 19 figures, and what explains the difference?

    • What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?

    For your advisors

    • Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.

    • Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.

    Sources & vintage history

    Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.

    Citations (2026 FDD)

    1. [1]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 14
    2. [2]Item 19 — Franchised and company-owned (62 locations) — revenue and EBITDA and costs · PDF p. 63
    3. [3]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 63
    4. [4]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 66

    "PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page. Source document: FDD

    Territory & operations

    168 addresses in Franopolis's imported location list. Coverage may differ from Item 20 outlet counts.

    These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.

    Legal & agreement

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Initial term

    Franchisor financial statements

    No verified franchisor financial statement figures have been reviewed yet.

    SBA-backed loans to franchisees

    Loading…

    Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.

    Related research

    Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    Building KidzIvybrook AcademyMontessori Kids UniverseThe Learning ExperienceTierra EncantadaWillowbrae Academy

    Head-to-head comparisons

    Lightbridge Academy vs Building KidzLightbridge Academy vs Ivybrook AcademyLightbridge Academy vs Montessori Kids UniverseLightbridge Academy vs The Learning ExperienceLightbridge Academy vs Tierra EncantadaLightbridge Academy vs Willowbrae Academy
    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Owner participation

    Territory language

    Litigation disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Agreement term

    Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.

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