If you’re researching your next career move and considering stepping into the education sector, you have a lot of options. We at FBR tend to be big fans of franchise opportunities because we know what a difference a proven model and a strong support system make. You plug into an existing brand, get training and support, lean on fellow franchisees, and, hopefully, thrive! Yet even if you’re sold on the education franchise route, there are still so many brands to consider. We’ll explore Mathnasium Learning Centers and what sets this brand apart from its competitors. Since they’ve been surveying their franchisees for several years with FBR, we have a lot of data on which to draw from. We’ll take a look at why Mathnasium could be an excellent option for someone considering a move into the education franchise sector.
A Focused, Defensible Niche
In addition to strong brand recognition, Mathnasium’s name also lends itself to clear interpretation. There’s no mistaking it; they do math! Unlike many other tutoring franchises, Mathnasium has a singular focus. Because Mathnasium has a singular focus, it tends to attract a specific kind of owner. Owners typically have a heart for math and teaching, having been in that field or simply understanding the importance and longevity of it, and they see the brand’s narrow lane as a feature, not a limitation. Take multi-unit franchisee Derek Pipkorn from the Milwaukee area as an example. Derek taught middle school math for years and even considered getting his PhD before his pivot to Mathnasium. As he puts it, he’d always been “a math kid,” so when he decided to leave the classroom for entrepreneurship, Mathnasium was the only franchise he considered. He never compared it against other brands, because it was the only math-only learning center out there.
Jana Frank, a franchisee in Chicago, also came to the brand from K-8 education. She taught math for grades 4-8 in the Chicago suburbs and was drawn to Mathnasium because of its educational integrity and its focus on the individual student.
An education background isn’t a requirement, but a common thread found in many Mathnasium franchisees is an affinity for math and helping young people gain confidence. When you attract franchisees with those types of passions, you can build a name with the kind of reputation and positive association that Mathnasium has for assisting young people with their education.
A Proven, Ready-to-Use Curriculum
A major quality that separates Mathnasium from its competitors is the Mathnasium Method™. When a person buys a Mathnasium franchise, they step into the built-and-refined IP that works for all kids and all skill levels. So even if a prospective franchisee doesn’t have an education background like Derek or Jana, they can feel confident when they step into the business.
In addition to being a tried-and-true method, the Mathnasium Method™ is unique and cannot be duplicated. Prospective franchisees can rest easy that the product they could offer with Mathnasium is one competitors can’t touch. No one else is doing what Mathnasium is doing.
A Business Model Built Around Retention
Recurring revenue is something worth considering when investing in a franchise. While many tutoring franchises run off of an “as needed” schedule, Mathnasium is different. Families pay a flat monthly membership fee rather than a pay-per-session model, and the results speak for themselves. Rather than having slim times or slow months, Mathnasium franchisees have consistent revenue they can count on.
Obviously, the membership structure only works if families keep showing up. This is where the personalization of the Mathnasium Method™ does its job. Since each student starts with a diagnostic assessment and then gets a plan built around their specific gaps, students improve in both their grades and their attitudes towards math. These strong results make renewal an easy call rather than a hard sell. That combination has helped franchisees, including Carli Sonntag and Angie Yuan, reach break-even within their first year.
A Strong Community of Franchisees
There is a common saying in the franchise world: “go into business for yourself but not by yourself.” While this saying applies directly to the training and support you get from a franchisor, it also applies to the franchisee community. This aspect is often undervalued, but shouldn’t be. The ability to call a fellow franchisee and ask for advice is priceless. Time and time again, we at FBR encounter Mathnasium franchisees who speak about this benefit. Not just in the full franchisee satisfaction report, but in one-on-one conversations like the one we had with multi-unit Mathnasium owner Becky McDaniels. Owning a business is challenging, and having a community of folks who have been where you are can mean the difference between struggling and thriving.
We at FBR think this kind of quality in a franchise brand is so important that we made an awards list about it! Every year, we name the Top Franchises for Culture and Mathnasium is consistently on it.
More about the Mathnasium Franchise Opportunity
Mathnasium is a highly sought-after franchise brand. Each year, they survey their franchisees to collect data about how franchisees view the larger system. They also share their report so that anyone can see their franchisee feedback. If you’re thinking about investing in a franchise, check out some of their data:
- 91% of franchisees agree that they enjoy operating this business.
- 85% of franchisees agree that their fellow franchisees are supportive of the brand.
- 84% of franchisees agree they enjoy being a part of this organization.
Mathnasium also appears on many of our lists. From the data we collect, we put together our “Top” franchises by category. These are the lists Mathnasium made just this past year:
- Top 200 Franchises
- Top Franchises for Culture
- Most Innovative Franchises
- Top Franchises for Women
- Recession-Resistant Franchises
- Top Franchise for Veterans
