Success on the Spectrum: Franchise Deep Dive

In 2015, SOS became the first autism treatment franchise on the market, providing a variety of therapy services to children with developmental delays.

Franchise overview

Success On The Spectrum (SOS) is the first autism treatment franchise on the market. SOS provides a variety of therapy services to children with developmental delays, including applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech therapy and occupational therapy. The franchisor, SOS Franchising, provides each location’s owner with training and quality monitoring.

SOS was founded in 2015 by Nichole Daher, the mother of an autistic child. Frustrated with the lack of available autism treatment options, she set out on a mission to provide more accessible care. Within six months of opening in Houston, the first SOS location maxed out its enrollment and had to start putting clients on a waiting list. The center expanded to accommodate the high demand, but it quickly filled up as well. Even a second center, twice the size of the first, couldn’t handle the influx of new clients; it was at capacity after just nine months.

Today, there are 37 SOS centers in the U.S., including 35 franchised locations and two corporate.

Business model

Key elements of SOS’s business model include:

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy Focus

• Core Service: ABA therapy, the primary service offered by SOS centers, is a widely recognized and effective intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

• Specialized Instruction: SOS centers provide specialized, one-on-one instruction tailored to the individual needs of each child. The focus goes beyond simply teaching specific skills — SOS's goal is to help children learn more effectively.

• Sensory-Friendly Environment: SOS centers are designed to be sensory-friendly, accommodating the unique needs of children with developmental delays.

Additional Services

• Speech Therapy: SOS centers offer speech therapy to improve verbal, nonverbal and social communication skills in children with ASD.

• Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy services help children become more independent and engage in various activities of daily living.

• Social Skills Group Classes: These classes focus on promoting social connections and friendship skills, crucial for children with ASD.

Revenue Streams

• Tuition Fees: Families pay tuition to enroll their children in SOS centers. The average monthly tuition ranges from $9,000 to $10,000 per child.

• Insurance Reimbursements: Health insurance companies typically cover ABA therapy for children diagnosed with ASD. SOS centers bill these insurance companies for services provided, generating revenue through reimbursements.

• School Contracts: Schools may contract with SOS centers to provide specialized educational environments for children who struggle in traditional special-needs classrooms. Schools pay SOS centers directly for these services.

Franchisee Role

• CEO Responsibilities: Franchisees, referred to as CEOs, are actively involved in daily operations. They oversee staff hiring, performance reviews, payroll and local marketing efforts.

• Training and Support: SOS provides comprehensive training and ongoing support to franchisees, including assistance with setting up the center, hiring staff and marketing strategies.

Success On The Spectrum does not publicly disclose information about the financial performance of its franchises.

Investment costs

According to the SOS Franchising website, the estimated initial investment ranges from $313,500 to $851,300. This includes the following costs:

• Franchise Fee: $39,500

• Monthly Royalty Fees (6 months): $11,700

• Local Advertising Fees (6 months): $500

• Licencing: $900 - $2,500

• Leasehold Improvements: $0 - $175,000

• Rent (6 months): $42,000 - $90,000

• Utilities (6 months): $6,000 - $9,000

• Signage: $2,000 - $15,000

• Technology: $8,000 - $20,000

• Software (6 months): $5,500 - $8,000

• Furniture: $5,000 - $30,000

• Office Supplies: $4,000 - $6,000

• Grand Opening: $1,000 - $3,000

• Payroll (6 months): $180,000

• Uniforms: $1,000

• Insurance (6 months): $4,200

• Just In Case: $30,000

The franchise fee is $39,500.

Key team members

• Nichole Daher - Founder and CEO

• Joe Souza - Director of Franchise Development

• Kendra Kitchen - Director of Training and Support

• Maria Alejandra Sanchez - Director of Support

• Daisy De Leon - Director of Training and Support

• Sabiha Afreen - Director of Quality Control

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