1851

Perhaps it’s no surprise that education franchise brands remained strong in 2020. As parents grapple with a new normal of working from home while simultaneously assisting children with online learning, the need for extra little educational assistance has never been greater.&nbsp;&nbsp;That need is likely to linger even after children return to the classroom. According to a <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/public-and-social-sector/our-insights/covid-19-and-learning-loss-disparities-grow-and-students-need-help?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-do-education-franchises-look-for-in-a-market-2716525" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">widely cited study</a> from consulting group McKinsey &amp; Company, COVID-19 distance education created learning gaps in math as high as nine months for some children, but often greater for minority students who were twice as likely to not have video access to teachers during at-home learning sessions.While there is a strong and pervasive need for supplemental education, the question for education franchisees is how to identify the best geographical regions for growth.<h4>Population Density, Commuter Friendliness and Similar Demographics</h4>Education brands consider several factors when seeking to expand.&nbsp;For instance, New Jersey-based early education and child care center <a href="https://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-do-education-franchises-look-for-in-a-market-2716525" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy*</a>®&nbsp;has more than 120 centers either open, under construction or in development in markets across the U.S. and plans to expand to 150 centers by 2026.While the brand already has established a stronghold on the East Coast, it’s expanding its presence in places like Florida, Tennessee and Texas, as well as Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.&nbsp;When creating a growth strategy, the brand’s development team looks at factors such as population density, commuter friendliness and the number of families with working parents with similar profiles to the ones they currently serve.Ultimately, brands like Lightbridge Academy® seek to make it as easy as possible for the greatest number of families to access their locations.&nbsp;<h4>Not All Education Franchises Are Alike</h4><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-wolford-37b7915/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-do-education-franchises-look-for-in-a-market-2716525" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Susan Wolford</a>, a member of the Lightbridge Board of Directors who has 40 years experience as an investment banker, including 22 years advising education companies, says it’s important to remember that education franchises come in many forms, from early childhood education to coding camps to tutoring programs. That means the markets they want to enter may not be the same, either.Ultimately, it comes down to matching the demographics of the market with who you are trying to reach.“Matching your segment with a geographic area where the target market lives is probably the most critical thing,” she said. “Matching up the socio-economic level is also critical. If you're a high-end provider, you need to be in an area that can afford to pay. On the other hand, if you are providing services that are value-driven, you probably want to be in neighborhoods that reflect that.”&nbsp;<h4>The Ability to Scale, But With On-the-Ground Knowledge</h4><a href="https://thelearningexperience.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-do-education-franchises-look-for-in-a-market-2716525" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Learning Experience</a> is a nearly 300-unit-strong education franchise with locations across the U.S. and U.K. <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-ewing-819431b/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=what-do-education-franchises-look-for-in-a-market-2716525" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Anne Ewing</a>, the brand’s senior vice president of center development, believes the performance of those existing centers provides a good starting point for finding your next market.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The performance of our current portfolio of centers enables us to target key areas with similar demographics and psychographics to determine new areas of exploration,” she said.Ewings said that the company also has established relationships with developers, who understand their brand and can help prove opportunities for growth.&nbsp;Additionally, the brand's market research includes purchasing analytic information from third parties. But ultimately, it comes down to on-the-ground intelligence about a place, including local franchisee’s knowledge and experience, and looking at the competition. “If the revenue and cost stream meet our financial model metrics, we move forward,” she said.

What Do Education Franchises Look For in a Market?

1851 Franchise

Before they begin expanding, brands should first look to their successful markets for clues as to where to go next. 

what-do-education-franchises-look-for-in-a-market

Fresh Coat

Fresh Coat West Greensboro - Fresh Coat Cares - Red Cross

Fresh Coat Cares Partners With the Red Cross to Refresh Community Conference Space

fresh-coat-cares-partners-with-the-red-cross-to-refresh-community-conference-space

Voodoo Brewing Co.

What’s in the 2025 FDD? A Closer Look for Voodoo Brewing Co. Franchise Buyers

whats-in-the-2025-fdd-a-closer-look-for-voodoo-brewing-co-franchise-buyers

United Water Restoration Group

Master Marketer, Community Builder: How Rodney Washington Turned Local Visibility Into Success

Master Marketer, Community Builder: How Rodney Washington Turned Local Visibility Into Franchise Success

master-marketer-community-builder-how-rodney-washington-turned-local-visibility-into-franchise-success

Preservan

How to Read the Preservan 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document

how-to-read-the-preservan-2025-franchise-disclosure-document

Woodhouse Spas

Why Woodhouse Spas Is in a Class of Its Own: Comparing the Franchise Opportunity Across the Wellness Industry

why-woodhouse-spas-is-in-a-class-of-its-own-comparing-the-franchise-opportunity-across-the-wellness-industry

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

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sold to Roark Capital in $1 Billion Deal to Fuel Global Expansion

daves-hot-chicken-sold-to-roark-capital-in-1-billion-deal-to-fuel-global-expansion

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Franchises — How To Build Webinars

how-franchisors-can-build-effective-webinars-to-reach-prospective-franchisees

The Ultimate Guide To Selling Franchises: How To Budget Properly

how-franchises-can-budget-their-finances-properly

The Top 20 Handyman Franchises To Invest in for 2025

top-handyman-franchises-to-invest-in

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How to Position Your Value Proposition — Point of Differentiation

how-to-position-your-value-proposition-with-a-point-of-differentiation

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

What Do Education Franchises Look For in a Market?

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS