Start a Ivybrook Academy Franchise in 2025

2025 Franchise 500 Rank: #428 Ranked #337 last year

Initial investment: $461K - $798K

Units as of 2024: 38 111.1% over 3 years

Founded in 2007, Ivybrook Academy began offering franchises in 2016. If you are enthusiastic about education and believe that early childhood education can make a big difference in the quality of a child's life, you may want to consider opening an Ivybrook Academy franchise.

Prior teachers who are highly motivated may be a good fit for Ivybrook Academy. If you are compassionate and helpful, Ivybrook Academy may be your opportunity to provide a program that will serve the community and help to raise children to be lifelong learners.

Since beginning to offer franchises, Ivybrook Academy has opened over one dozen franchise locations and is looking to expand its reach even further.

Why You May Want To Start an Ivybrook Academy Franchise

To be part of the Ivybrook Academy team, you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. In addition, you should prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include advertising, royalty, and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

Ivybrook Academy has relationships with third-party financial lenders. These sources may be able to offer franchisees resources to cover the costs of the franchise fee, startup, initial payrolls, and even the inventory and the equipment needed to open an Ivybrook Academy.

What Might Make an Ivybrook Academy Franchise a Good Choice?

Ivybrook Academy may provide ongoing operational and marketing support. If franchisees need help in developing their franchisee internet platform, the service may be there. Everything may be covered, from selecting a site for the Ivybrook Academy to purchasing co-ops or negotiating leases. The curriculum is often provided, as well.

Ivybrook Academy can even assist franchisees with setting up meetings and conventions. When the time comes to market your Ivybrook Academy franchise, you will be assisted in website development, establishing a loyalty program and application, partaking in co-op advertising, and using social and national media.

A typical franchise agreement runs for 15 years. Franchisees may be allowed to renew their agreement if they meet the Ivybrook Academy requirements.

Opening an Ivybrook Academy franchise may offer a more predictable outcome than investing in a completely new brand that could struggle to thrive in an already crowded and competitive industry.

How To Open an Ivybrook Academy Franchise

Franchisee participation is part of the Ivybrook Academy franchise agreement: all franchisees must be managers or principals. Being a silent or absent ownership is not permitted because it is contrary to the Ivybrook Academy plan. The average franchisee will take over one year to be able to open a new Ivybrook Academy. This time is counted from the point the franchise agreement is signed until the new Ivybrook Academy opens.

Typically, franchisees receive a great deal of support from the Ivybrook Academy brand throughout the franchising process. In addition to pre-opening training, franchisees receive support through brand awareness, marketing, research, and construction. They also may receive hands-on training and continued support after their Ivybrook Academy franchise location has opened. The formal franchisee training program consists of dozens of hours of on-the-job and classroom training.

Company Overview

About Ivybrook Academy

Industry	Children's Businesses
Related Categories	Childcare, Tutoring, Children's Education/Enrichment
Founded	2007
Parent Company	Ivybrook Franchising LLC
Leadership	Drew McWilliams, CEO
Corporate Address	9801 Suzanne Ct. Weddington, NC 28173
Social	Facebook, LinkedIn

Business Overview

Franchising Since	2016 (9 years)
# of employees at HQ	13
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises in the following US states: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming
# of Units	38 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Ivybrook Academy franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$50,000
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$461,400 - $798,000
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$1,000,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$150,000
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	6%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	1%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	15 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Ivybrook Academy has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

Classroom Training	80 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	6-10
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes