Contents
Key takeaways
Educational franchises: a sector with a bright future ahead
Social legacies: investing in what matters
Education franchise opportunities: which company is right for me?
1. GoStudent
2. Kumon
3. Eye Level Learning
4. Mathnasium
5. Kidslingo
6. Drama Kids
Education that makes a difference today and tomorrow
The art and science of securing growth within entrepreneurship is often viewed from a core perspective of no risk, no reward. Most business owners simply accept that chasing the creative and financial rewards of launching their own startups comes with the potential for considerable losses.
Many people prefer to take safer routes towards stable profits, such as through consulting. While these careers can provide a sense of security, they can lack the excitement and evolution that comes with shaping your own venture.
With the decision seeming to lie between the rollercoaster or the roundabout, the golden combination of a dynamic, rapidly evolving industry that offers creative control is a rare find in the business sphere.
This is where franchises stand out from the crowd. The chance to skip the challenges of a new business setup while still being your own boss, combined with a higher success rate compared to establishing a new brand, makes them appealing to many professionals.
Education franchises can provide a fantastic way to balance the desire for innovation and fulfilment with a secure ROI. This article explores how the education sector could prove to be an A+ choice for entrepreneurs in search of the best of both worlds, together with 6 of the top companies to kickstart a brand new business journey in learning.
Key takeaways
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Private tuition is a growing sector both globally and within the UK
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High demand for alternative education solutions is driving rapid growth and innovation within the sector
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Some education franchises champion the integration of tech and AI within their teaching systems, focusing on future industry needs for skills in artificial intelligence
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Investing in the private tutoring sector can provide both financial and social benefits
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Previous education sector experience is not needed to run a successful tuition franchise
Educational franchises: a sector with a bright future ahead
The K-12 online tutoring market in the UK is expected to expand by 9.35 billion GBP between 2025–2029. With a 16.8% CAGR, strong growth prospects are forecast for tutoring franchises targeting digital delivery.
Giant leaps in technological advancements are one of the main driving forces behind education franchise growth.
According to the GoStudent Education Report 2025, only 30% of pupils have access to AI technology in UK classrooms. Many students express concern that standard school curriculums cannot provide them with all the tools and skills needed for a tech-first professional world, leading them to seek new ways to build knowledge outside their usual timetable.
Increased interest and research into the impact of early childhood education is an additional factor propelling demand for alternatives to traditional schooling systems. Homeschooling trends sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic have also continued to gain traction, resulting in more parents seeking private tutoring support for their children.
Private tuition helps to fill the gaps, opening up opportunities for students to study core subjects in depth (in addition to many other disciplines not offered as part of the national syllabus) within highly personalised and optimised learning environments.
Social legacies: investing in what matters
Many franchises rely on the pull of being your own boss without the admin stress of running your own business, freeing up space for creative thinking and optimisation.
While this is appealing to many entrepreneurs, opting to become a franchisee within the education sector can provide an additional layer of satisfaction: the social impact of shaping young minds for the next generation, ensuring that they have the skills not simply to manage their careers, but to thrive, innovate and drive progress in their chosen fields.
The chance to apply knowledge earned in the classroom within a business context can be an exciting opportunity for those already working in schools and academies, giving them freedom to develop and execute marketing campaigns that allow their local community to access to new learning experiences.
Although education franchises may be an excellent fit for teachers and former educators, prior knowledge of the sector is not required in order to run a successful venture.
Experience in operations, finance and people management mark the key skills needed for impactful growth, allowing individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds to pivot into the education industry with ready-to-share value, bringing diverse perspectives from their own unique business backgrounds.
Education franchise opportunities: which company is right for me?
1. GoStudent: thriving business and tech-based quality learning
One of Europe’s fastest-growing education brands, GoStudent has supported over 10 million families on their learning journeys since its launch in 2016.
An established market leader, the GoStudent private tutoring franchise is built on unique methods developed to teach science, maths and English, together with many additional subjects. GoStudent leverages AI to optimise the educational process, preparing students to suceed in a world in which artificial intelligence is primed to form the foundation of professional work.
While many companies leave franchisees to their own devices during the set-up phase, GoStudent offers 360-degree support to cover all aspects of the business launch process:
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Comprehensive location choice and geo targeting advice, ensuring franchisers can make informed, data-driven decisions based on demand, accessibility, and potential
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Best-fit layout designs to maximise structures for success
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Business plans with detailed go-to-market strategies and training support
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Access to top-tier personalised marketing and content strategies to boost registrations
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Tech-first business model dedicated to continuous evolution
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Entrepreneurs can request free consultations prior to commitment
2. Kumon: traditional education for critical thinking
Founded in 1959 in Osaka, Japan, Kumon is a children's education franchise with a focus on developing maths and English skills. It seeks to develop students' independent thinking abilities, utilising traditional learning resources such as worksheets to encourage a steady rate of academic progress.
While previous experience in education is not a prerequisite to open a Kumon centre, eligible UK franchisees must hold a degree-level qualification (level 6 or above), together with a valid UK driving license.
Kumon offers franchisees benefits such as:
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A flexible business model that allows space to manage your own schedule
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The opportunity to break into a growing market for early childhood learning programs
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In some cases, financial support is available to cover initial set-up costs
3. Eye Level Learning Centre: learning for life
Originally founded in South Korea in 1976, Eye Level Learning specialises in tailored educational products designed to foster life-long learning habits.
Franchisees are expected to demonstrate excellent business and communications accumen, in addition to a strong enthusiam for educational progress. The company provides opportunities to franchisees such as:
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Support in creating targeted strategies for local markets
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Opportunities to take on teaching tasks as well as holding a business role, allowing for personal skillset growth
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Running a franchise business that offers both individual and group classes, allowing for potential target expansion
4. Mathnasium: making numbers fun
While many educational franchises cover a range of subjects, Mathnasium is dedicated purely to mathematics tuition. Founded in 2002 in the USA, it has since expanded to 13 countries, providing individualised curriculum support and exam preparation to a diverse range of students.
In contrast to small-scale maths franchises, Mathnsium offers several learning programs tailored to students' confidence and engagement levels as well their ability. Franchisees have access to advantages such as:
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Single-unit, multi-unit and development agreement opportunities
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Centre-based, online and hybrid models
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An accessible initial minimum investment of £25,000 in liquid capital
5. Kidslingo: language learning from day one
While tuition for tech and STEM subjects is in high demand, language franchises remain popular due to their relevance in an increasingly globalized world.
Founded in 2013, Kidslingo focuses on the UK market, combining play and music with language training. Many parents are keen for their children to gain bilingual and trilingual fluency from a young age, and the company specialises in French and Spanish from birth up to 11 years. Although formal qualifications are not required, franchisees must have a good grasp of these target languages.
Franchisees can benefit from:
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Single and dual language packages
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Flexible payment options
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Wide customer age range allows for multiple areas of program growth across nurseries and primary schools, in addition to online classes
6. Drama Kids: building soft skills through theatre
Drama Kids was originally founded in 1979. Its ethos is to develop students' self-esteem and interpersonal skills, combining excitement alongside quality learning to make communication, public speaking, and teamwork fun and engaging.
Many parents worry that their child lacks confidence when it comes to their studies and making friends. Well established as a creative way to boost both intellectual and emotional awareness, performing arts classes can help to increase childrens' self-belief and group integration.
Theatre franchises can be great for those interested in making a positive social. Advantages of Drama Kids for franchisees include:
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Wide student age range of 4-18 years allows for multiple members of a local community to participate in activities together
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Franchisees are not expected to contribute to the development or delivery of curriulum material, leaving more time to focus on business operations
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Ongoing marketing support and training is available
Education that makes a difference today and tomorrow
The chance to enter an economically resilient industry at the forefront of digital transformation, together with the tools to do meaningful work on a large scale, persuades many enterpreneurs to take up the reins of an education franchise opportunity.
Having a structure gives you space to find your own mission within a connected cause, allowing you to dedicate your time and talents to shaping better futures for generations to come.
