School of Rock vs Kumon: Which Is the Better Investment?

Side-by-side comparison of investment costs, fees, unit economics, and franchisee satisfaction. Data from FDD disclosures and franchise database — updated 2026.

Education & Children Real Data Not Investment Advice
So

School of Rock

Education & Children
$248K – $514K
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VS
K

Kumon

Education & Children
$67K – $146K
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At a Glance: Key Differences

Data-driven observations based on disclosed figures. Not investment advice — verify current numbers in each franchise's FDD.

Investment Cost
Kumon wins on investment range ($368K less) vs School of Rock.
Fee Burden
Kumon wins on royalty rate (7.0% lower) vs School of Rock.
Unit Count
Kumon wins on total units (25,650 more) vs School of Rock.
Satisfaction
School of Rock wins on franchisee satisfaction vs Kumon.

Investment & Fees

Metric School of Rock Kumon
Min Investment $248K $67K
Max Investment $514K $146K
Franchise Fee $50K $2K
Royalty Rate 7.0% 0.0%
Ad Fund Rate 2.0% 0.0%

Unit Economics

Metric School of Rock Kumon
Avg Unit Revenue $700K $350K
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric School of Rock Kumon
Total Units 350 26,000
Annual Growth 6.0% -0.5%
Failure Rate 3.0% 4.0%

Franchisee Performance

Metric School of Rock Kumon
Franchisee Satisfaction 80/100 67/100

Track Record

Metric School of Rock Kumon
Years in Business 26 66
Years Franchising 17 46

Financial Requirements

Metric School of Rock Kumon
Min Net Worth Required $400K $150K
Liquid Capital Required $150K $70K

Operations

Metric School of Rock Kumon
Avg Employees 12 3
Training Weeks 3 2

Frequently Asked Questions

Is School of Rock or Kumon a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. School of Rock has 350 total units and a 80/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Kumon has 26,000 total units and a 67/100 franchisee satisfaction score. Use our ROI Calculator to model both scenarios.

How much does it cost to open a School of Rock franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a School of Rock franchise requires an initial investment of $248K – $514K. The franchise fee is $50K, with ongoing royalties of 7.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

How much does it cost to open a Kumon franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a Kumon franchise requires an initial investment of $67K – $146K. The franchise fee is $2K, with ongoing royalties of 0.0%. Always request the current FDD for exact figures.

What is the royalty rate for School of Rock vs Kumon?

School of Rock's royalty rate is 7.0%. Kumon's royalty rate is 0.0%. That means Kumon has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — School of Rock or Kumon?

School of Rock has 350 total units. Kumon has 26,000 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is School of Rock or Kumon semi-absentee friendly?

School of Rock is typically run as a owner-operator model. Kumon is typically run as a owner-operator model. If passive income is your goal, semi-absentee models let you hire a manager to run day-to-day operations.

Data sourced from franchise disclosure documents and public records. Investment ranges, royalty rates, and unit counts change — always request current FDD before making investment decisions. Last updated March 2026.

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