How DEA Music & Art Is Setting Up Future Franchisees for Success with Its Build-Out Model

Three corporate locations for New York-based music and visual arts education franchise DEA Music & Art have given the brand time to perfect a build-out model that will lead future franchisees to success.

The goal at DEA Music & Art is to provide an opportunity for children to pursue music and arts education with its educational performing arts programs. Magi Kapllani founded the business with a dream of helping children find passion in the arts, and she decided to make it a franchise in 2019.

With three corporate locations already open in Staten Island, the brand has been able to refine its business model and establish a proven build-out model that opens the doors to a new DEA Music & Art location sooner.

What DEA Music & Art Looks for in a Franchisee

As DEA Music & Art gets its franchise opportunity launched, Kapllani said she is ready for growth, with a goal to open 35–40 locations in the next five years.

To open new locations, however, Kapllani needs to find franchisees who support her mission, work hard and have a passion for teaching children. Kapllani is looking for potential candidates who want to inspire a love for music, art and education with the youth in their communities.

“A franchisee doesn’t necessarily have to be someone with my kind of art or music background, and they don’t have to be a teacher,” said Kapllani. “But a franchisee should be someone who is passionate about what they do.”

Kapllani said the benefit of being the first franchisee with DEA Music & Art would be the attention and support from corporate.

“The first DEA Music & Art franchisee is going to receive 100% of the team’s attention,” she said. “Initial franchise training will last five days in one of the studios. Pre-opening training will provide owners and studio managers insight into the day-to-day operations, how to choose the right curriculums and programs from the DEA Music & Art library, marketing tactics for establishing enrollment and overall financial and studio management best practices.”

Once a franchisee opens a location, DEA Music & Art will provide in-studio and ongoing support.

Building Out a DEA Music & Art Franchise

Kapllani was able to refine DEA Music & Art’s build-out model in the spring of 2021 when a corporate location was moved. The transition was completed in three weeks after receiving the key to the building.

This process is ideal for franchisees because it means a faster time to enrollments and recouping investment costs.

Although the build-out process won’t necessarily always be completed in three weeks, the key is in finding a contractor who can offer franchisees a shorter timeframe with the construction.

“Ten years ago I would have hired a company that cost me less because I didn’t realize that hiring someone who can do the work in a shorter amount of time, even though that cost is higher, would save me in the long run because that’s less time you’re paying rent while waiting on construction to finish,” said Kapllani.

The second studio Kapllani opened took two months to complete, and when she realized she didn’t want to wait that long on the third location, she negotiated with the landlord to get time rent-free before she opened the studio’s doors.

“I knew what I was looking for when I needed to negotiate,” she said. “I would advise potential franchisees to take this same approach when selecting a studio location.”

There’s also the task of choosing a location for a DEA Music & Art franchise. Kapllani said the best places are shopping malls or an area that is heavily trafficked and can have good signage. Demographics also come into play — choosing an area that has a larger population of families is important for increasing enrollment.

“The idea is that simultaneously working on multiple levels of the business helps with the build-out,” she said. “Focusing on these things in a limited timeframe allows franchisees the luxury of focusing on the grand opening.”

Locations for DEA Music & Art franchisees should meet a few requirements, according to Kapllani.

“Franchisees need, at minimum, six classrooms: one larger-sized classroom and other small, instrumental classrooms.”

She said studios also need two to four acoustic pianos, and although it's a hefty investment it is the best way to teach music and piano. Digital pianos are also a good idea for future students who already know how to play the piano.

“In the process of learning, you want to offer the best and most professional way to learn,” she said. “It’s a different outcome and appreciation for the tone, music, sound and element of emotion that the instrument can offer.”

The start-up fees range from $149,433 to $228,133, including the initial franchise fee of $49,000. For more information, visit:https://franchise.deamusicandart.com.