Franchise Deep Dive: Primrose Schools' Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

Primrose Schools is a national system of accredited private preschools offering early education and child care. The brand works with parents to give children a strong foundation for learning and life. For more than 40 years, Primrose has been a leader in combining nurturing care with proven learning programs.

1. What Is the Brand Overview for Primrose Schools?

About the Brand

Primrose Schools was founded in 1982 in Marietta, Georgia, by Paul and Marcy Erwin. The brand started with a focus on creating a balanced approach to early education and care. Today, it is led by a professional management team at Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, based in Atlanta.

Mission: To forge a path that leads to a brighter future for all children.

Vision: To deliver the best and most trusted early education and care for children and families across America.

Unique Selling Points (USPs)

Accredited preschool model that ensures high educational standards.
Proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum blending academics, social skills and character development.
Strong emphasis on belonging and inclusivity in every classroom.
Integration of character education into daily lessons through the Primrose Friends classroom puppets, which teach positive values

2. What Are the Franchise Opportunity Details?

Why Franchise With Primrose Schools?

Opportunity to join an established education brand with over 40 years of experience.
Proven business model built for long-term success in the early education sector.
Comprehensive training and ongoing corporate support for franchise owners.
Expert guidance with real estate selection, school construction and facility development.
Marketing strategies designed to drive enrollment and community awareness.

Available Territories

Primrose continues to expand across the United States in suburban, urban and mixed-use areas. Contact Primose for more information.

Investment Overview

Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Primrose Schools franchise ranges from $742,900 to $8,595,000, depending on build out. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down for a real estate development program as follows:

Type of Expenditure	Min	Max
Initial Fee	$50,000	$80,000
Real Estate Fee Deposit	$25,000	$25,000
Balance of Real Estate Fee	$30,000	$45,000
Other Real Estate & Development Costs	$5,231,760	$7,040,000
Utility Security Deposits	$10,000	$30,000
School Equipment & Supplies	$313,000	$383,000
Insurance	$5,000	$20,000
Initial Training Fee	$35,000	$35,000
Marketing, Advertising & Grand Opening	$40,000	$105,000
Transportation Vehicle	$900	$50,000
Licenses	$4,000	$7,000
Miscellaneous	$10,000	$45,000
Financing Cost	$258,000	$310,000
Additional Funds (3 Months)	$180,000	$420,000

Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee for a new Primrose school is $80,000. Existing franchisees who open another location pay $70,000. If an existing facility is purchased from another franchisee, the fee is 60% of the current initial fee. Through the VetFran program, qualifying veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces pay a reduced fee of $50,000 for their first school.

Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, Primrose Schools franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty	7% of Gross Revenues/month
Brand Fund Fee	3% of Gross Revenues/month

ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 499 Primrose locations operating for the entirety of FY 2024 reported the following gross revenues:

Quartile	Average	Median	Highest	Lowest
Top 25% (125)	$3,812,543	$3,636,827	$6,684,671	$3,132,537
Second 25% (125)	$2,873,761	$2,860,887	$3,130,058	$2,653,188
Third 25% (125)	$2,429,591	$2,413,208	$2,651,838	$2,176,452
Bottom 25% (124)	$1,799,885	$1,835,475	$2,164,758	$617,913
Total (499)	$2,728,570	$2,653,188	$6,684,671	$617,913

3. What Franchisee Support Does Primrose Schools Provide?

Training Programs

Primrose offers extensive training for franchisees and school directors. Training covers curriculum, staffing, operations and parent engagement. Ongoing professional development is also available to ensure staff and owners remain current with best practices in early childhood education.

Operational Support

The company supports franchisees with site selection, real estate planning and school design. Marketing strategies, enrollment programs and business consulting are provided to help owners operate efficiently and grow their schools.

Technology and Tools

Primrose provides technology resources such as the Balanced Learning curriculum platform, parent communication systems and business management tools that allow franchisees to track performance and streamline operations.

4. What Are the Franchise Requirements for Primrose Schools?

Liquid Assets: $750,000
Net Worth: $1,500,000

Primrose does not require prior experience in education, but franchisees should have strong leadership, management and communication skills. Candidates should also be committed to being engaged in their schools and building relationships within their communities.

Operational Commitments

Operating a Primrose school is a full-time responsibility. Semi-absentee ownership is not generally available. Franchisees may hire a school director to manage day-to-day operations, but owners are expected to remain closely involved in oversight and decision-making.

Funding Assistance

Primrose works with a network of preferred lenders who understand the brand’s business model and can provide financing options for qualified candidates.

5. Are There Franchisee Success Stories?

“I know at the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of the month, we're having a greater impact on children and families.”

- Shelley and Sheldon Connell, Primrose Franchise Owners since 2015

“We spent 6 months doing due diligence, looking at 50 different small businesses across 20 different industries — dry cleaning, fast food, commercial printing. We wanted more balance, more family time, more control over our children’s education.”

- Tom Chow, Primrose Franchise Owner since 2004

6. What Is the Market Potential for Early Childhood Education and Child Care?

The U.S. child care market was worth about $65 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to nearly $110 billion by 2033. That growth works out to a little over 6% per year. The main reasons for this increase are more parents going back to in-person jobs, better learning tools being used in child care, and government funding to support working and single mothers.

Additionally, the early childhood education market is projected to grow from $11.73 billion in 2025 to $33.12 billion by 2034, making the opportunity even more attractive for franchisees.

Competitor Analysis

Primrose competes with brands such as The Goddard School, Kiddie Academy and Lightbridge Academy, as well as independent Montessori schools. What sets Primrose apart is its long history, its accredited Balanced Learning curriculum and the trust it has earned from parents nationwide.

7. What Is the Application Process for Primrose Schools Franchisees?

Say Hello: Prospective franchisees connect with the Primrose Schools Franchise Development team and schedule a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) meeting.
Study the FDD: Candidates review and discuss the Franchise Disclosure Document with Primrose Schools and meet the development team.
Get To Know Each Other: Candidates interview current Primrose Franchise Owners about their experience, consult with outside financial sources and advisors, submit confidential evaluation and personal finance statements, and complete background and credit checks
Receive a Gold Star: Primrose Schools provides final approval, candidates review franchise documents, and the franchise agreement is signed.
Pick Your Location: New owners begin site selection with the Primrose Schools real estate team.
Build, Train, Ring the Bell: Owners complete 119 hours of e-learning and classroom training, 24 hours of on-the-job training, six months of pre-opening support, and receive ongoing support from the Primrose Support Center.

To get the process started, fill out and submit the online inquiry form on the Primrose Schools franchise website.

Want to learn more about franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise? Be sure to visit our Power Rankings to read more on brands making moves.

Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.

Disclaimer: This content is for information only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained on this site constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer to buy or sell any franchises, securities, or other financial instruments in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the franchise and/or securities laws of such jurisdiction.

All content in this article is information of a general nature and does not address the detailed circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Nothing in the article constitutes professional and/or financial advice, nor does any information in the email constitute a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. You alone assume the sole responsibility of evaluating the merits and risks associated with the use of any information or other content in this article before making any decisions based on such information or other content.

Primrose Schools Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2026