Franchise Deep Dive: Primrose Schools' Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

Franchise Opportunity Deep Dive: Primrose Schools combines more than four decades of early education experience with a proven franchise model.

NUMBER OF LOCATIONS: 500+

REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $742,900 - $8,595,000

REPORTED ROI (Item 19): $2,728,570 (average gross revenue 2024)

Primrose Schools is a national system of accredited private preschools offering early education and child care. The brand works with parents to give children a strong foundation for learning and life. For more than 40 years, Primrose has been a leader in combining nurturing care with proven learning programs.

Primrose Schools was founded in 1982 in Marietta, Georgia, by Paul and Marcy Erwin. The brand started with a focus on creating a balanced approach to early education and care. Today, it is led by a professional management team at Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, based in Atlanta.

Mission: To forge a path that leads to a brighter future for all children.

Vision: To deliver the best and most trusted early education and care for children and families across America.

• Accredited preschool model that ensures high educational standards.

• Proprietary Balanced Learning curriculum blending academics, social skills and character development.

• Strong emphasis on belonging and inclusivity in every classroom.

• Integration of character education into daily lessons through the Primrose Friends classroom puppets, which teach positive values

• Opportunity to join an established education brand with over 40 years of experience.

• Proven business model built for long-term success in the early education sector.

• Comprehensive training and ongoing corporate support for franchise owners.

• Expert guidance with real estate selection, school construction and facility development.

• Marketing strategies designed to drive enrollment and community awareness.

Primrose continues to expand across the United States in suburban, urban and mixed-use areas. Contact Primose for more information.

Initial Costs: The estimated initial investment required to begin operation of a Primrose Schools franchise ranges from $742,900 to $8,595,000, depending on build out. The 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) breaks these costs down for a real estate development program as follows:

Initial Franchise Fee: The initial franchise fee for a new Primrose school is $80,000. Existing franchisees who open another location pay $70,000. If an existing facility is purchased from another franchisee, the fee is 60% of the current initial fee. Through the VetFran program, qualifying veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces pay a reduced fee of $50,000 for their first school.

Ongoing Fees: According to the 2025 FDD, Primrose Schools franchisees are responsible for the following ongoing payments and fees:

ROI Potential: According to the 2025 FDD, the 499 Primrose locations operating for the entirety of FY 2024 reported the following gross revenues:

Primrose offers extensive training for franchisees and school directors. Training covers curriculum, staffing, operations and parent engagement. Ongoing professional development is also available to ensure staff and owners remain current with best practices in early childhood education.

The company supports franchisees with site selection, real estate planning and school design. Marketing strategies, enrollment programs and business consulting are provided to help owners operate efficiently and grow their schools.

Primrose provides technology resources such as the Balanced Learning curriculum platform, parent communication systems and business management tools that allow franchisees to track performance and streamline operations.

• Liquid Assets: $750,000

• Net Worth: $1,500,000

Primrose does not require prior experience in education, but franchisees should have strong leadership, management and communication skills. Candidates should also be committed to being engaged in their schools and building relationships within their communities.

Operating a Primrose school is a full-time responsibility. Semi-absentee ownership is not generally available. Franchisees may hire a school director to manage day-to-day operations, but owners are expected to remain closely involved in oversight and decision-making.

Primrose works with a network of preferred lenders who understand the brand’s business model and can provide financing options for qualified candidates.

“I know at the end of the day, at the end of the week, at the end of the month, we're having a greater impact on children and families.”

• Shelley and Sheldon Connell, Primrose Franchise Owners since 2015

“We spent 6 months doing due diligence, looking at 50 different small businesses across 20 different industries — dry cleaning, fast food, commercial printing. We wanted more balance, more family time, more control over our children’s education.”

• Tom Chow, Primrose Franchise Owner since 2004

The U.S. child care market was worth about $65 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to nearly $110 billion by 2033. That growth works out to a little over 6% per year. The main reasons for this increase are more parents going back to in-person jobs, better learning tools being used in child care, and government funding to support working and single mothers.

Additionally, the early childhood education market is projected to grow from $11.73 billion in 2025 to $33.12 billion by 2034, making the opportunity even more attractive for franchisees.

Primrose competes with brands such as The Goddard School, Kiddie Academy and Lightbridge Academy, as well as independent Montessori schools. What sets Primrose apart is its long history, its accredited Balanced Learning curriculum and the trust it has earned from parents nationwide.

1. Say Hello: Prospective franchisees connect with the Primrose Schools Franchise Development team and schedule a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) meeting.

2. Study the FDD: Candidates review and discuss the Franchise Disclosure Document with Primrose Schools and meet the development team.

3. Get To Know Each Other: Candidates interview current Primrose Franchise Owners about their experience, consult with outside financial sources and advisors, submit confidential evaluation and personal finance statements, and complete background and credit checks

4. Receive a Gold Star: Primrose Schools provides final approval, candidates review franchise documents, and the franchise agreement is signed.

5. Pick Your Location: New owners begin site selection with the Primrose Schools real estate team.

6. Build, Train, Ring the Bell: Owners complete 119 hours of e-learning and classroom training, 24 hours of on-the-job training, six months of pre-opening support, and receive ongoing support from the Primrose Support Center.

To get the process started, fill out and submit the online inquiry form on the Primrose Schools franchise website.

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