Childrens Lighthouse vs Kiddie Academy Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Childrens Lighthouse vs Kiddie Academy including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees
  Childrens Lighthouse Kiddie Academy
Investment 440600 - 630000 345000 - 5605000
Franchise Fee 0 0
Royalty Fee 7% 7%
Advertising Fee 2%
Year Founded 1997 1981
Year Franchised 1999 1992
Term Of Agreement
Term Of Agreement
Renewal Fee


Business Experience Requirements
  Childrens Lighthouse Kiddie Academy
Experience Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills (qualifications important but not required) People and management skills

Financing Options
  Childrens Lighthouse Kiddie Academy
 
Franchise Fees No No
Start-up Costs No No
Equipment No No
Inventory No No
Receivables No No
Payroll No No

Training & Support
  Childrens Lighthouse Kiddie Academy
Training 4 weeks: 2 weeks of training at the Children's Lighthouse home office, one week of in-school training with seasoned Children's Lighthouse franchise owners and one week of post-opening training in your school. Classroom Training: 80 hours Additional Training: Online training
Support Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising Ad slicks, Regional advertising, Website, Web Advertising
Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 25 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
  Childrens Lighthouse Kiddie Academy
US Expansion Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion
International Expansion Canada, Eastern Europe, Mexico, Western Europe,

Start-Up Costs and Fees Mobile
Investment
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy
Franchise Fee
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy
Royalty Fee
Childrens Lighthouse 7%
Kiddie Academy 7%
Advertising Fee
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy 2%
Year Founded
Childrens Lighthouse 1997
Kiddie Academy 1981
Year Franchised
Childrens Lighthouse 1999
Kiddie Academy 1992
Term Of Agreement
Childrens Lighthouse 15 years
Kiddie Academy 15 years
Renewal Fee
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy Varies


Business Experience Requirements
Experience
Childrens Lighthouse Industry experience General business experience Marketing skills (qualifications important but not required)
Kiddie Academy People and management skills

Financing Options
 
Franchise Fees
Childrens Lighthouse No
Kiddie Academy No
Start-up Costs
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy
Equipment
Childrens Lighthouse}
Kiddie Academy
Inventory
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy
Receivables
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy
Payroll
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy

Training & Support
Training
Childrens Lighthouse 4 weeks: 2 weeks of training at the Children's Lighthouse home office, one week of in-school training with seasoned Children's Lighthouse franchise owners and one week of post-opening training in your school.
Kiddie Academy Classroom Training: 80 hours Additional Training: Online training
Support
Childrens Lighthouse Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Kiddie Academy Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing
Childrens Lighthouse Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising
Kiddie Academy Ad slicks, Regional advertising, Website, Web Advertising
Operations
Childrens Lighthouse Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 25 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)
Kiddie Academy 15% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 20 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

Expansion Plans
US Expansion
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy Nationwide, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Canada Expansion
Childrens Lighthouse
Kiddie Academy
International Expansion
Childrens Lighthouse Canada, Eastern Europe, Mexico, Western Europe,
Kiddie Academy