The Little Gym 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
TL

The Little Gym

Education & Children
$180K – $390K
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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 ($244K less) vs The Little Gym.
Fee Burden
Kumon wins on royalty rate (8.0% lower) vs The Little Gym.
Unit Count
Kumon wins on total units (25,700 more) vs The Little Gym.
Satisfaction
The Little Gym wins on franchisee satisfaction vs Kumon.

Investment & Fees

Metric The Little Gym Kumon
Min Investment $180K $67K
Max Investment $390K $146K
Franchise Fee $49K $2K
Royalty Rate 8.0% 0.0%
Ad Fund Rate N/A 0.0%

Unit Economics

Metric The Little Gym Kumon
Avg Unit Revenue $300K $350K
Avg Profit Margin N/A N/A

Scale & Growth

Metric The Little Gym Kumon
Total Units 300 26,000
Annual Growth 10.0% -0.5%
Failure Rate N/A 4.0%

Franchisee Performance

Metric The Little Gym Kumon
Franchisee Satisfaction 75/100 67/100

Track Record

Metric The Little Gym Kumon
Years in Business N/A 66
Years Franchising N/A 46

Financial Requirements

Metric The Little Gym Kumon
Min Net Worth Required N/A $150K
Liquid Capital Required N/A $70K

Operations

Metric The Little Gym Kumon
Avg Employees N/A 3
Training Weeks N/A 2

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Little Gym or Kumon a better franchise investment?

The answer depends on your goals, budget, and market. The Little Gym has 300 total units and a 75/100 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 The Little Gym franchise?

Based on data in our database, opening a The Little Gym franchise requires an initial investment of $180K – $390K. The franchise fee is $49K, with ongoing royalties of 8.0%. 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 The Little Gym vs Kumon?

The Little Gym's royalty rate is 8.0%. Kumon's royalty rate is 0.0%. That means Kumon has the lower ongoing royalty burden.

Which has more locations — The Little Gym or Kumon?

The Little Gym has 300 total units. Kumon has 26,000 total units. A larger system can mean more brand recognition, but also more territorial competition.

Is The Little Gym or Kumon semi-absentee friendly?

The Little Gym 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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