1851

Each year, Forbes magazine researches thousands of franchises across segments to update their <a href="https://www.forbes.com/best-worst-franchises-to-buy/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=school-of-rock-makes-forbess-best-franchises-to-buy-list-2706988#20acf7362699" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">list of the 60 best and worst franchises to buy</a>. This year saw the introduction of a new brand to the list, <a href="https://franchising.schoolofrock.com/?utm_source=1851-franchising&amp%3Butm_medium=1851-fran-article&amp%3Butm_campaign=1851-franchising&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=school-of-rock-makes-forbess-best-franchises-to-buy-list-2706988" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">School of Rock</a>, which made an impressive debut as the number-two ranked franchise in the Medium Investment category.

According to Anthony Padulo, Chief Development Officer at <a href="https://1851franchise.com/schoolofrock" target="_blank">School of Rock</a>, the brand&rsquo;s inclusion on the list came as a pleasant surprise to the corporate office.

&ldquo;This wasn&rsquo;t really something that was on our radar,&rdquo; Padulo admits. &ldquo;It just so happens that many of the things Forbes looks for are the very same things we&rsquo;ve been focused on for the sake of the business and our owners.&rdquo;

Forbes&rsquo;s method for ranking franchises is based on five key metrics: system sustainability, system demand, value for investment, franchisor support and franchisor stability. To build a comprehensive picture of each of those metrics, Forbes works with franchise industry research firm FRANdata to look at four years of data for each brand, including year-on-year sales growth, store closures and openings, surveys of franchisee satisfaction and a close reading of each brand&rsquo;s franchise disclosure document.

All of that data is rated independently and then combined into an overall rating for each brand. Brands are then separated into three categories: High Investment (more than $500,00), Medium Investment ($150,00&ndash;$500,000) and Low Investment (less than $150,000).

School of Rock&rsquo;s number-two ranking in the Medium Investment category is more than just positive acknowledgment of the brand&rsquo;s success, Padulo says; it also provides actionable benefits for the franchise and its many owners.

&ldquo;This is a really strong new form of validation for us,&rdquo; Padulo said. &ldquo;Forbes is a universally respected authority in the industry, and, as new owner candidates vet our brand, that validation is going to go a long way. But, more importantly, the ranking also increases the value of each and every School of Rock business across the country. Lenders, realtors, vendors and suppliers all see these lists, too, so our owners have added leverage when seeking a loan or a new location for a school.&rdquo;

Still, Padulo says the School of Rock corporate team has no plans to refocus their efforts to ensure the brand&rsquo;s inclusion on the list in the future. Instead, they are taking this year&rsquo;s ranking as further evidence that they&rsquo;re already on the right track.

&ldquo;Our hope is that we&rsquo;ll continue to be recognized on the list each year moving forward,&rdquo; Padulo said, &ldquo;but we see this as validation that we&rsquo;ve been doing all the right things already. This doesn&rsquo;t inspire us to change strategy.&rdquo;

That strategy is defined largely by a focus on the franchisee, Padulo says. By focusing on the success of its owners, School of Rock ensures the strength of its system at large.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve always been a very franchisee-centric business,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The idea is to make the business as profitable and easy to run for our owners as possible, which in turn will promote growth system-wide.&rdquo;

School of Rock&rsquo;s inclusion on Forbes&rsquo;s &ldquo;Best Franchisees to Buy&rdquo; list is a strong indicator that that strategy is working, and Padulo says that validation couldn&rsquo;t come from a more credible source.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been in this business for 38 years, and Forbes has long been a prestigious and trustworthy voice in our industry,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;To be not only included in this list but also ranked at number two, that&rsquo;s a fantastic acknowledgment of all the work we&rsquo;ve put in to make School of Rock one of the best franchise opportunities available &mdash; the best for anyone passionate about music and education.&rdquo;

School of Rock Makes Forbes’s "Best Franchises to Buy” List

1851 Franchise

The music-education brand is ranked at number 2 in its investment level.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

school-of-rock-makes-forbess-best-franchises-to-buy-list

Lawn Doctor

Design with photo of John Perry and Lawn Doctor logo

How a 20-Year Industry Veteran Tripled His Sales With a Lawn Doctor Franchise

lawn-doctor-franchise-success-story-john-perry

Fitness Premier

The Secret to Fitness Franchise Success? It's Not Just the Workouts

fitness-premier-franchise-marketing-support

Fresh Coat

Photo of Fresh Coat vehicle with ladders on top

The Rise of Home Improvement Franchises: Why Now Is the Time to Invest

why-invest-home-improvement-franchise-fresh-coat

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam inspector in red polo and khaki pants, walking by branded vehicle

Real Estate Today: Behind the Drywall: The Truth About Home Inspections

purpose-of-home-inspection

Dog Training Elite

Dog Training Elite Franchise - DTE - National Service Dog Month - 1851 Franchise

Celebrating Service Dogs: Why Proper Training Changes Lives — And How Dog Training Elite Is Leading the Way

dog-training-elite-national-service-dog-month

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Friendly’s Parent Company Acquired by Multi-Unit Franchisee as More Owners Take the Lead in Brand Acquisitions 

friendlys-parent-company-acquired-by-multi-unit-franchisee-as-more-owners-take-the-lead-in-brand-acquisitions

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

School of Rock Makes Forbes’s "Best Franchises to Buy” List

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS