Franchise opportunities compared

    Early Care & Learning Center vs Montessori Kids Universe

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $690,000

    2023 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    Montessori Kids Universe

    $883,658 – $1,900,258

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $55,000

    2023 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Montessori Kids Universe

    Not available

    Royalty · Item 6

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $6.00

    2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Montessori Kids Universe

    7%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    Before you compare

    • Early Care & Learning Center figures come from its 2023 FDD and Montessori Kids Universe figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • Montessori Kids Universe discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Montessori Kids Universe has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $690,000
    Total estimated initial investment
    2023 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    Montessori Kids Universe

    $883,658 – $1,900,258
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $55,000
    2023 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    Montessori Kids Universe

    Not available
    No single standard fee identified
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $6.00
    Royalty fee
    2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Montessori Kids Universe

    7%
    Royalty rate
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $2.00
    Advertising fund contribution
    2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    Montessori Kids Universe

    $1,000
    Digital marketing monthly minimum before 75% capacity
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    3
    Outlets at end of 2022
    2023 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44

    Montessori Kids Universe

    25
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    +0
    Calculated: 3 at end of 2020 → 3 at end of 2022

    Montessori Kids Universe

    +6
    Calculated: 19 at end of 2023 → 25 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Montessori Kids Universe

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Montessori Kids Universe

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Montessori Kids Universe

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    ECEarly Care & Learning Center

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Montessori Kids Universe
    Franchised (16 locations) — other measures and revenue — Franchised Montessori Kids Universe locations open for all of calendar year 2023
    16 locations
    other Sample size
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 43
    Franchised (16 locations) — other measures and revenue — Franchised Montessori Kids Universe locations open for all of calendar year 2024
    16 locations
    other Sample size
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 44
    Franchised (18 locations) — revenue and other measures
    $3,295,801
    other Highest Gross Revenue, 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 45

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Early Care & Learning Center vs Montessori Kids Universe: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Early Care & Learning Center or Montessori Kids Universe?
    Early Care & Learning Center: $690,000 (2023 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16); Montessori Kids Universe: $883,658 – $1,900,258 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Early Care & Learning Center. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Early Care & Learning Center and Montessori Kids Universe royalties compare?
    Early Care & Learning Center: $6.00 (2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12); Montessori Kids Universe: 7% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 13). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Early Care & Learning Center or Montessori Kids Universe?
    Early Care & Learning Center: 3 (2023 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44); Montessori Kids Universe: 25 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 47). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Early Care & Learning Center and Montessori Kids Universe disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Early Care & Learning Center makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Montessori Kids Universe has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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