Start a Kumon Franchise in 2025

Company Overview

About Kumon

Industry	Children's Businesses
Related Categories	Tutoring, Miscellaneous Children's Businesses, Children's Education/Enrichment
Founded	1954
Leadership	Mino Tanabe, CEO
Corporate Address	301 Route 17 N., #1250 Rutherford, NJ 07070
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1958 (67 years)
# of employees at HQ	379
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises worldwide.
# of Units	25,418 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Kumon franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$2,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$73,783 - $165,920
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$150,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$70,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	$10,000 toward build-out/grand-opening costs
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	$36-$40.50/student/mo.
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	5 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	169 hours
Classroom Training	64 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	2-3
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	No

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Kumon landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Kumon ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

Ranked #1 in Tutoring in 2024

Best of the Best

Ranked #10 in 2025

Franchise 500

Ranked #10 in 2024

Top Global Franchises

Ranked #1 in 2024

Top Franchises for Less Than $100,000

Starting in Japan in 1954, Kumon Math & Reading Centers was a father's educational gift to his young son. Toru Kumon came up with quick, daily assignments for his son, Takeshi, to help him grasp new concepts. By sixth grade, Takeshi could solve calculus problems. Impressed by his son's progress, other parents took note and grew interested in Toru's technique. In 1958, Kumon Math & Reading Centers established itself as a franchising organization, expanding overseas in 1974.

The Kumon Math & Reading Centers learning technique focuses on specialized, example-based worksheets. In just around 30 minutes per subject, a student can complete their daily assignments. They'll work at a Kumon Math & Reading Centers location twice per week, and do the rest at home. As an instructor-owner, you'll oversee students' progress, set up parent meetings, and encourage students to do their best.

Why You May Want to Start a Kumon Math & Reading Centers Franchise?

A Kumon Math & Reading Centers franchise is more than a tutoring club. Kumon Math & Reading Centers lets you contribute positively to your community while also operating a business.

Kumon Math & Reading Centers continues to grow, which is in part due to the help you'll receive from the brand manager and field consultant. Between training, conferences, and the trusted Kumon Math & Reading Centers name, you can efficiently grow your business, making all the connections you need.

Kumon Math & Reading Centers is huge overseas, with over 24,000 franchised locations, but it is also a major player in the United States, boasting more than 1,500 locations nationwide.

Most importantly, you could start a Kumon Math & Reading Centers franchise to make the lives of students better. You may be offering parents a solution to help their children do the best they can, as well as helping kids build their confidence. One of the major rewards of operating a tutoring franchise is having students come up to you after a test with a smile to say that they aced it.

What Might Make a Kumon Math & Reading Centers Franchise a Good Choice?

Kumon Math & Reading Centers has been highly ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 for decades on end. This ranking is based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

Kumon Math & Reading Centers is also a Top Global Franchise according to Entrepreneur, as it has ranked highly in the category for many years.

To be part of the Kumon Math & Reading Centers team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include royalty fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

How to Open a Kumon Math & Reading Centers Franchise

If you're interested in opening a Kumon Math & Reading Centers franchise, the process may begin differently than that of other companies. Kumon Math & Reading Centers will have you register for a webinar. During the webinar, you'll learn more about running a Kumon Math & Reading Centers franchise and your role as an instructor and franchisee.

This could be a great time to speak to existing franchisees and ask questions directed to the Kumon Math & Reading Centers team. If your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand’s requirements, you may qualify to open a Kumon Math & Reading Centers franchise, and you can get started with an initial investment.

The virtual instructor training will go through the curriculum, placement tests, parent meetings, and potential locations for your franchise. Finally, you'll sign your franchise agreement and be able to put the Kumon Math & Reading Centers logo up on your storefront!

More from Kumon

What is Kumon?

Kumon is the after-school learning center where kids can start as young as three and stay through completion of the program at calculus and Shakespeare. Kumon kids stand out because they not only master math and reading, they develop skills for success such as focus, confidence and grit.

When you open a Kumon Center, you aren’t tutoring kids through a short-term struggle, you are following a unique and proven method of learning that instills self-learning and develops top-notch students ready for lifelong success. Here’s what makes Kumon different:

Make a Smart Business Decision

We cover up to $37,100 in start-up costs.
Our franchise fee is only $2,000.
For two decades, we’ve been ranked as Entrepreneur magazine’s #1 education franchise, earning us the “Best of the Best” ranking.

We’re here to support you from your very first request for information, offering a system of success supported by training, materials and marketing to drive your business.

What We Look For in Franchise Candidates

All applicants need a bachelor’s degree and either U.S. citizenship or a green card, in addition to meeting the liquidity requirements of $70,000 and net worth requirements of $150,000.

Beyond that, we look for people who will make a full-time commitment to their business and who have a desire to develop relationships with families in their community and to see kids succeed, not just in math and reading, but in life.

If you value academic excellence, find satisfaction in helping kids long term, and enjoy being part of a community, you’ll find everything you’re looking for when you open a Kumon Center.

Kumon Franchisees Find Support and Success

“There’s a true value in the Kumon Method and I witnessed that first-hand with all three of my children. By instilling strong study habits and improving focus in students at an early age, they will be able to flourish and succeed in their academic careers.” - Haneesha Desai, West Covina, CA

“When I took the leap of faith to make a career change, it was a no-brainer for me to go with the program that gave my own kids such an academic advantage. I wanted to help other kids within my community.” – Henry W., Chamblee, Ga.

“I distinctly remember watching my niece go through the Kumon Math and Reading Program, and seeing that it not only made an improvement on her academics but also instilled a sense of routine, allowing her to become a self-starter with her work. She was able to grasp concepts independently and knew what she needed to do to succeed. I look forward to making that same impact on children in my local community.” - Greg Derick, Dallas, TX

Facts and Figures

Liquid Capital Required: $70,000
Net Worth Required: $150,000
Investment: $67,428 – $145,640
Subsidies Offered: up to $37,100 + additional $10K Veterans incentive

In addition to the above, candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree and either U.S. citizenship or a green card.

From Free Furniture to Discounts and More, This Franchise Gives Owners the Right Start

Disclaimer

The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.

Updated: December 12th, 2022

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