Franopolis

    The Goddard School

    Franchise research report · reviewed 2026 disclosure data

    Researching The Goddard School franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.

    Reviewed sources

    The Goddard School franchise specializes in early childhood education, providing premium daycare and preschool services with a play-based learning curriculum fo

    Headline figures

    The Goddard School quick facts

    Is The Goddard School a franchise?
    Yes. The Goddard School offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2025, it reported 665 franchised and 0 company-owned outlets (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 140).
    How much does it cost to open a The Goddard School franchise?
    The The Goddard School Franchise Disclosure Document reports separate estimated initial investments by format: $5,493,500–$8,908,000 for purchase land and build facility total low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 1); $1,736,500–$5,032,000 for lease existing building needing improvements total low (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 1); $8,908,000 for purchase land and build facility total high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 1); $5,032,000 for lease existing building needing improvements total high (2026 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 1). These formats are not combined. Each is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
    What is the The Goddard School initial franchise fee?
    The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $135,000 (2026 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 22). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
    What ongoing fees does The Goddard School charge?
    The disclosed ongoing royalty is 7% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 29). The brand or advertising fund contribution is 4% (2026 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 30). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
    Does The Goddard School disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Yes. The The Goddard School FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation (2026 FDD, Item 19, PDF p. 102). Figures apply only to the locations and period each one covers. Details
    How many The Goddard School locations are there?
    The FDD reports 665 outlets at the end of 2025 (2026 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 140). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
    Is The Goddard School 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: $5,493,500 – $8,908,000 (Purchase land and build facility total low); $1,736,500 – $5,032,000 (Lease existing building needing improvements total low); $8,908,000 (Purchase land and build facility total high); $5,032,000 (Lease existing building needing improvements total high); several initial fee options apply.
    2. 2Item 19 reports other measures and revenue and EBITDA for 620 Franchisee-owned locations.
    3. 3Outlets grew by 23 in 2025, to 665 (United States, 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.

    The Goddard School head-to-head

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

    The Goddard SchoolVSKiddie Academy Educational Child Care
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    The Goddard SchoolVSPrimrose Schools
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    The Goddard SchoolVSThe Learning Experience
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    The Goddard SchoolVSKAKiddie Academy
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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 4 single-unit formats

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Formats disclosed in Item 7 (4)

    Each format has its own total. The total depends on the format you choose.

    • Lease existing building needing improvements total lowPDF p. 1$1,736,500 – $5,032,000
    • Lease existing building needing improvements total highPDF p. 1$5,032,000
    • Purchase land and build facility total lowPDF p. 1$5,493,500 – $8,908,000
    • Purchase land and build facility total highPDF p. 1$8,908,000

    Standard single-unit franchise fee

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 22
    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

    20 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?

    One reported population. Revenue is not owner income.

    620 locations

    Revenue, EBITDA and other measures · 620 locations

    Who is counted
    Franchisee-owned Goddard Schools operating as of 12/31/2025; Mature Schools open >18 months (620 reported) or New Schools open <=18 months (37)
    Excluded
    Eight of 628 mature schools had insufficient data; one mature school that closed during 2025 excluded. New school class includes all 37 operating schools; none closed during 2025.
    Method
    Unaudited operating reports supplied under the Franchise Agreement; uniform reporting system. Gross Revenue accrual basis; EBITDA cash basis.

    Outlet Changes — Item 20

    How has the outlet count changed?

    United States, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of Fiscal years 2023-2025 of each year.

    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 140

    Net +38 outlets, 2023–2025

    0627202364220246652025+15+23

    Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; 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 ($1,736,500 – $8,908,000) 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 642 to 665 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. 22
    2. [2]Item 19 — Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record · PDF p. 102; PDF p. 104
    3. [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 140

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

    Territory & operations

    No territory or operating requirements have been reviewed yet.

    733 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

    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, overlapping investment range, Item 20 outlet count and search interest. This is not a ranking or recommendation.

    Kiddie Academy Educational Child CarePrimrose SchoolsThe Learning ExperienceKAKiddie AcademyJovieLightbridge Academy

    Head-to-head comparisons

    The Goddard School vs Kiddie Academy Educational Child CareThe Goddard School vs Primrose SchoolsThe Goddard School vs The Learning ExperienceThe Goddard School vs Kiddie AcademyThe Goddard School vs JovieThe Goddard School vs Lightbridge Academy
    Compare reviewed facts

    At a glance

    Business history

    Not reviewed

    Owner participation

    Not reviewed

    Territory language

    Not reviewed

    Litigation disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Bankruptcy disclosure

    Not reviewed

    Agreement term

    Not reviewed

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

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