Tutoring Franchise vs. Starting Your Own
What five years costs on each path, counting every cost we can source on both sides. Change the revenue to see how royalties grow with your sales.
Preview: figures awaiting verification
Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.
At a glance
| Franchise (3 brands) | Independent | |
|---|---|---|
| Franchise fee | $19,750 – $49,000Pending verificationSourcesClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Mathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Huntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands. | $0 |
| Initial investment | $40,975 – $340,632Pending verificationSourcesClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Mathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Huntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands. | $70 – $119*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — LLC forms and fees (Form LLC-1)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California DOJ — Applicant Fingerprint Processing Fees (fee sheet dated August 17, 2012, subject to change)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 2 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded. |
| Ongoing royalties | 6% – 10% of revenuePending verificationSourcesClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Mathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Huntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands. | None |
| Operating costs (5 years) | $10,301Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — cost of insurance for education consultants(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Zoom — plans and pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026TutorBird — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths. | $10,301 |
| Brand, training, and support | Included | You build your own |
| 5-year total cost | $80,760 – $491,243 | $10,371 – $10,420* |
Franchise fee
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $19,750 – $49,000Pending verificationSourcesClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Mathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Huntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Range across 3 franchise brands.
- Independent
- $0
Initial investment
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $40,975 – $340,632Pending verificationSourcesClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Mathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Huntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7 estimated initial investment (includes the franchise fee), across 3 brands.
- Independent
- $70 – $119*Pending verificationSourcesCalifornia Secretary of State — LLC forms and fees (Form LLC-1)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California DOJ — Applicant Fingerprint Processing Fees (fee sheet dated August 17, 2012, subject to change)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 2 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
Ongoing royalties
- Franchise (3 brands)
- 6% – 10% of revenuePending verificationSourcesClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Mathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Huntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Percent of gross revenue, across 3 brands.
- Independent
- None
Operating costs (5 years)
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $10,301Pending verificationSourcesInsureon — cost of insurance for education consultants(opens in a new tab)Tier 2 · Industry report · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — Limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Zoom — plans and pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026TutorBird — pricing(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Five years of the operating costs we have sourced so far (insurance, software, fees), charged to both paths.
- Independent
- $10,301
Brand, training, and support
- Franchise (3 brands)
- Included
- Independent
- You build your own
5-year total cost
- Franchise (3 brands)
- $80,760 – $491,243
- Independent
- $10,371 – $10,420*
5-year totals assume $24,960–$46,800 in yearly revenue (our forecast presets at full volume), the same sourced operating costs (insurance, software, fees) on both paths, and both the lean and professional independent plans. Franchise investment figures come from each brand's disclosure (FDD Item 7) and already include the franchise fee. * Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
What franchisees report taking in
From each brand's own disclosure (FDD Item 19), copied exactly. These are gross sales before royalties and costs, not profit, and not a promise of what you will earn.
Club Z! In-Home & Online Tutoring
Item 19 gives no revenue figures: it reports 2025 private-student counts per franchisee (grouped by hours the owner works) and the hourly rates franchisees pay tutors and charge clients.
- Average number of private students, 2025, franchisees working 35+ hours a week (166 of 319 franchises; a count, not revenue)52Pending verificationSourceClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table One. 70 of 166 (42%) reached this average. Not revenue or profit. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees and not audited. Some outlets have reached these figures; your results may differ.
- Median number of private students, 2025, same 166 full-time franchisees (a count, not revenue)47Pending verificationSourceClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table One. Not revenue or profit. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees and not audited. Some outlets have reached these figures; your results may differ.
- Average hourly rate clients paid for high-school tutoring (319 franchises, rates posted as of March 2025)$57Pending verificationSourceClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table Six; per hour, not yearly. The FDD says these rates were posted in its software as of March 2025. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees and not audited. Some outlets have reached these figures; your results may differ.
- Average hourly pay to high-school-level tutors (319 franchises, rates posted as of March 2025)$25Pending verificationSourceClub Z! 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Table Five; per hour. This is a cost to the franchisee, not income. FDD Item 19, as reported by franchisees and not audited. Some outlets have reached these figures; your results may differ.
Mathnasium (learning center)
Item 19 reports 2025 average and median gross receipts by quartile for 914 U.S. centers open at least 12 months, and also lists average and median expenses for those centers.
- Average 2025 gross receipts per center (914 franchised U.S. centers open 12+ months; gross sales, not profit)$384,874 a yearPending verificationSourceMathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026355 of 914 (39%) met or exceeded this average. FDD Item 19, Table 1. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 914 U.S. centers open and run by the same franchisee for 12 months or more at December 31, 2025; excludes 129 newer centers and 4 affiliate-owned centers. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross receipts per center (same 914 centers; gross sales, not profit)$326,428 a yearPending verificationSourceMathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 1. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 914 U.S. centers open and run by the same franchisee for 12 months or more at December 31, 2025; excludes 129 newer centers and 4 affiliate-owned centers. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross receipts, top quarter of centers (229 centers; gross sales, not profit)$693,314 a yearPending verificationSourceMathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 1. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 914 U.S. centers open and run by the same franchisee for 12 months or more at December 31, 2025; excludes 129 newer centers and 4 affiliate-owned centers. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross receipts, bottom quarter of centers (229 centers; gross sales, not profit)$176,306 a yearPending verificationSourceMathnasium 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 30, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Table 1. Gross receipts before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 914 U.S. centers open and run by the same franchisee for 12 months or more at December 31, 2025; excludes 129 newer centers and 4 affiliate-owned centers. Some outlets have sold this amount; your results may differ.
Huntington Learning Center
Item 19 reports 2025 gross revenue for the 232 franchised Huntington centers open all year, as an average, median, quartiles and halves.
- Average 2025 gross revenue per center (232 franchised centers open all of 2025; gross sales, not profit)$609,454 a yearPending verificationSourceHuntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 202694 of 232 (41%) were above this average. FDD Item 19, from data franchisees entered in the franchisor's software, not audited. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 232 franchised centers open all of 2025; excludes company-owned centers and 21 franchised centers not open all year. Some outlets have earned this amount; your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross revenue per center (same 232 centers; gross sales, not profit)$533,106 a yearPending verificationSourceHuntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, from data franchisees entered in the franchisor's software, not audited. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 232 franchised centers open all of 2025; excludes company-owned centers and 21 franchised centers not open all year. Some outlets have earned this amount; your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross revenue, top quarter of centers (58 centers; gross sales, not profit)$1,115,433 a yearPending verificationSourceHuntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, from data franchisees entered in the franchisor's software, not audited. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 232 franchised centers open all of 2025; excludes company-owned centers and 21 franchised centers not open all year. Some outlets have earned this amount; your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross revenue, bottom quarter of centers (58 centers; gross sales, not profit)$247,465 a yearPending verificationSourceHuntington Learning Center 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 16, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, from data franchisees entered in the franchisor's software, not audited. Gross revenue before royalties and all expenses — not profit. Covers 232 franchised centers open all of 2025; excludes company-owned centers and 21 franchised centers not open all year. Some outlets have earned this amount; your results may differ.
What a franchise does give you
Franchises cost more, but the fees buy real things. Weigh them honestly.
- Home-based in-home and online model, with no office lease assumed in the FDD
- Initial training for you and up to two more people
- Franchisor call center books appointments and runs live chat for you
- Required scheduling, billing and payroll software is provided
- A protected territory sized by population
- A well-known math-only curriculum and teaching method
- Initial training program
- Centralized digital and local marketing program
- Discounts for veterans and experienced educators
- A long-established tutoring and test-prep brand
- Initial and ongoing training and technology services
- Launch marketing run on your behalf
- Franchisor call center for incoming inquiries
Going independent means
- You keep 100% of what you earn after costs — no royalties.
- You build your own brand, systems, and customer base.
- You need more self-reliance, especially in the first year.
Brand by brand
| Option | Initial investment | Royalties | Marketing fund | Fixed fees | Operating costs | 5-year total | vs. independent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club Z! In-Home & Online Tutoring | $40,975 – $57,425 | $7,488 – $18,720 | $2,496 – $4,680 | $19,500 | $10,301 | $80,760 – $110,626 | +$70,389 – $100,255 |
| Mathnasium (learning center) | $127,316 – $165,846 | $12,480 – $23,400 | $2,496 – $4,680 | $129,960 | $10,301 | $282,553 – $334,187 | +$272,182 – $323,816 |
| Huntington Learning Center | $191,992 – $340,632 | $11,856 – $22,230 | $2,496 – $4,680 | $113,400 | $10,301 | $330,045 – $491,243 | +$319,674 – $480,872 |
| Independent (lean start) | $70* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $10,301 | $10,371 | — |
Low figures pair the low end of each cost with low revenue; high figures pair the high ends. Franchise initial investment is each brand's FDD Item 7 estimate and already includes the franchise fee. Marketing fund and fixed fees show $0 where we have no sourced figure for that brand.
* Excludes independent startup lines we haven't sourced yet.
Costs are only half the picture
A franchise's brand, training, and support can help some owners reach customers faster. Weigh what those are worth to you against the difference above.