Success Tutoring vs GradePower Learning: Comparing Two International Tutoring Franchise Brands

GradePower Learning and Success Tutoring are both tutoring franchise brands that crossed a border to reach their current markets. GradePower is the United States name of Oxford Learning Centres Inc., the London, Ontario, company founded in 1984 that operates Canada's largest home-grown tutoring network. Success Tutoring was founded in Sydney, Australia, in 2017, launched in Texas, and has announced a 2026 launch in Canada.

That makes this a useful comparison for two kinds of buyers: a US buyer weighing a Canadian-owned brand against an Australian-owned one, and a Canadian buyer who has seen GradePower listings and wants to understand how it relates to Oxford Learning. This guide covers model, student offer, franchise support, published fees, footprint and fit, with every GradePower figure attributed to its source.

At a glance

• GradePower Learning: the US brand of Oxford Learning Centres Inc., founded in London, Ontario, in 1984 by Dr. Nick Whitehead. Programs from preschool reading through elementary, high school and SAT and ACT prep, built on what the company calls a cognitive approach to learning. Franchising in the US since the early 2010s, according to company press releases and directory listings.
• Success Tutoring: founded in Sydney in 2017 by Michael Black; franchising since around 2020. K-12 English and math in retail-style learning centers under a membership model. US launch in Dallas, Texas, with a plan of 80 units across Texas in five years; Canada launch planned for 2026 with a goal of 120 units by 2029.
• Footprint: GradePower's US network is small. Franzy, citing the 2023 FDD, lists 21 US franchised units; a franchise.com listing shows 15; TopFranchise reported 28 US locations in 2018. The parent's Canadian network under the Oxford Learning name is cited at more than 140 locations. Success Tutoring reported 35 Australian centers in 2023 with 80 more scheduled, and territories sold in more than 100 Australian locations.
• Fees: GradePower's initial franchise fee is reported at US$40,000, with a total investment of US$125,540 to US$226,410 according to a franchise.com listing citing the 2025 FDD. Success Tutoring's figures are on its investment schedule page.

Two tutoring franchise business models

GradePower Learning runs the Oxford Learning model under a US name. Students are assessed and placed in a program, then attend sessions at the center in small groups with an instructor. The company's positioning is that it "goes beyond tutoring" by teaching cognitive skills, study habits and confidence rather than only drilling content. A 2015 company press release described programs ranging from preschool reading to proprietary SAT and ACT prep. Revenue comes from program tuition across a wide age range.

The parent company is financially mature. In 2020, Diversified Royalty Corp. acquired Oxford Learning's trademarks for C$44 million and licensed them back for 99 years in exchange for a royalty on pooled gross sales, according to the law firms on the transaction. For a buyer, that signals a stable system; it also means the brand's economics are watched closely by a public royalty company.

Success Tutoring is also center-based, but it is built around membership. Families join and attend weekly sessions in a retail-style center where tutors deliver K-12 English and math. The center earns recurring revenue rather than selling tuition in blocks. Centers have opened with 45, 55, 60 and 70+ members signed before opening day, according to Success Tutoring news posts, because the franchisor runs a pre-launch marketing campaign.

GradePower offers a broad, proven program under a US brand that is still relatively small. Success Tutoring offers a focused product designed to open with a membership base already in place.

What students get

GradePower students get the Oxford Learning program: a cognitive assessment, placement, and small-group instruction that runs from early reading through high school subjects and college admissions test prep. A Colorado franchisee's chamber of commerce listing described plans for ACT and SAT prep and an early readers program, which mirrors the Canadian parent's Little Readers program for ages 3 to 6. For a family that wants a single provider from preschool to college entrance, this is a comprehensive offer backed by four decades of curriculum development.

Success Tutoring students get live tutoring in English and math from kindergarten through Grade 12 in a center designed to be welcoming. The values, Motivate, Uplift, Inspire, and the mascot Lucky the Kangaroo are part of how centers engage younger members, while the program continues through to senior exam preparation. Membership means consistent weekly attendance. Success Tutoring also published the Australian National Learning Insights Report 2024, which informs the learning resources used across its centers.

Both cover K-12. GradePower extends into preschool and test prep; Success Tutoring concentrates on the two subjects that most affect school results.

What franchise partners get

GradePower franchise listings describe training, curriculum, marketing systems and ongoing support from the Oxford Learning head office in London, Ontario. A training-platform case study published by LatitudeLearning describes GradePower's use of an online learning management system for franchisee and staff training. The parent company has reported record system sales in 2025 in its own franchise communications.

Success Tutoring provides a turnkey center system it calls the "Success Kit". The components a buyer should evaluate:

• Launch and pre-marketing support so members are signed before opening.
• Site selection, leasing and fit-out support for the retail-style center.
• Tutor recruitment and tutor training through an online franchise training platform.
• Centrally developed K-12 English and math curriculum and ongoing marketing support.

Success Tutoring describes its franchising as "flat": partners deal directly with head office leadership. Its franchise stories show owners from corporate, engineering, finance and small-business backgrounds. Neither brand requires a teaching qualification.

A point for US buyers: GradePower's small US footprint means less local brand recognition than the Oxford name carries in Canada, so the franchisee does more of the brand-building work. Success Tutoring is in a similar position in Texas, but it pairs that with a pre-launch marketing campaign designed specifically to open a center with members already signed.

Tutoring franchise investment and fees

The public record for GradePower Learning, with sources:

• Initial franchise fee of US$40,000, reported consistently by Franzy, Franchise Grade and franchise.com.
• Total initial investment of US$125,540 to US$226,410 per a franchise.com listing citing 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD. Franzy, citing the 2023 FDD, gives a wider US$103,000 to US$275,000.
• Royalty rates are reported inconsistently across directories, with figures ranging from 7 to 10 percent, so confirm Item 6 of the current FDD before relying on any number.

Success Tutoring does not publish fees in articles. The investment schedule sets out current US and Canadian figures, and the potential earnings page explains how membership revenue builds. Compare total ongoing fees as a share of revenue, not only the initial fee.

Markets and footprint

GradePower Learning is the US face of a Canadian network. Franzy describes its US locations as concentrated in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, with a presence in Florida and Texas. Directory unit counts range from 12 to 28 depending on source and year, so treat the US network as roughly two dozen centers. The parent brand, Oxford Learning, is cited at more than 140 locations across Canada.

Success Tutoring is an international brand entering North America from the other direction. It launched in the US in Dallas, Texas, with a stated plan of 80 units across Texas in five years. It has announced a 2026 launch in Canada with a goal of 120 units by 2029. It also operates or has announced markets in New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and India. See available locations for current territories.

For the Canadian parent brand, read our Success Tutoring vs Oxford Learning comparison. For another Canadian-founded franchise operating in the US, see Success Tutoring vs Tutor Doctor.

Who each option suits

GradePower Learning suits you if:

• You want a broad program from preschool through SAT and ACT prep.
• You value a 40-year curriculum and a financially mature parent company.
• You are in the US Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida or Texas where the brand already has centers.
• You are comfortable building local awareness for a brand that is better known in Canada.

Success Tutoring suits you if:

• You want recurring membership revenue and members signed before opening.
• You want a focused K-12 English and math product that is simpler to staff and explain.
• You want direct access to franchisor leadership and hands-on launch, leasing and fit-out support.
• You want early territory in Texas or Canada as an international brand commits to the market.

Frequently asked questions

Is GradePower Learning the same company as Oxford Learning?

Yes. GradePower Learning is the US brand of Oxford Learning Centres Inc., headquartered in London, Ontario. The method and programs are the same; the name differs outside Canada.

How much does a GradePower Learning franchise cost?

A franchise.com listing citing the 2025 FDD reports a US$40,000 franchise fee and a total investment of US$125,540 to US$226,410. Franzy, citing the 2023 FDD, gives US$103,000 to US$275,000. Confirm against the current FDD.

How many GradePower Learning locations are there?

Directories report between 12 and 28 US locations depending on source and year. The parent brand, Oxford Learning, cites more than 140 Canadian locations.

Where does Success Tutoring operate in North America?

Success Tutoring launched in Dallas, Texas, with a plan of 80 units across Texas in five years, and has announced a 2026 launch in Canada with a goal of 120 units by 2029.

Next steps

If a membership-based tutoring franchise that opens with members already signed fits the business you want to build, start with our Why us overview and then review the process to see how a Success Tutoring application moves from enquiry to opening day.

All third-party trademarks belong to their respective owners. Figures about other franchises are taken from their public websites, disclosure documents or reputable franchise directories at the time of writing and may have changed; verify them directly before making any decision. This article is general information, not financial or legal advice.