Success Tutoring vs Supera: Brain Training Franchise or Tutoring Franchise?

The Supera franchise occupies an unusual place in education franchising. Founded in Brazil in 2006, Supera markets itself as ginástica para o cérebro, a "gym for the brain", combining the Japanese soroban abacus with logic games, group activities and cognitive exercises for children and adults alike. Success Tutoring is a tutoring franchise founded in Sydney in 2017 that teaches K–12 English and Mathematics in retail-style learning centres on a membership model.

Both brands sell a weekly habit of learning in a physical centre, and both are franchised. But they serve different needs, and increasingly different age groups. This guide compares them on business model, students, franchise support, investment and footprint, using Supera's public statements, Brazilian business press and franchise directories for every figure about Supera.

At a glance

• Founded: Supera in 2006 in São José dos Campos, São Paulo state, by engineer Antônio Carlos Perpétuo, who developed the method after using the abacus to help his son concentrate at school (Portal do Franchising). Success Tutoring in 2017 in Western Sydney by Michael Black (Forbes Australia).
• Model: Supera runs cognitive-stimulation courses for all ages using the abacus, educational games, group dynamics and "neurobics" exercises. Success Tutoring runs curriculum-based K–12 English and Maths tutoring.
• Students: Supera's founder told Times Brasil in July 2026 that people over 60 now make up around 80 per cent of the network's students. Success Tutoring serves school-age children.
• Scale: More than 250 units across all Brazilian states, revenue of about R$187 million and around 280,000 students served to date (Times Brasil, 2026). Success Tutoring reported 35 Australian centres with a launch schedule for 80 more in 2023 (Franchise Executives).
• Investment: Exame reported a starting investment of about R$159,000 in 2026, according to the company. Success Tutoring's structure is on its investment schedule.

Brain training and tutoring: two different products

Supera's product is cognitive training rather than school tutoring. Its method draws on ideas of neuroplasticity and metacognition. The abacus is the central tool, used to build attention, concentration and fine motor coordination. Alongside it are the brand's Abrindo Horizontes workbooks, logic and educational games, group dynamics, neurobics (exercises designed to push people out of their routine, such as doing familiar actions in unfamiliar ways) and the Supera Online platform, according to the network's own description published by Portal do Franchising.

For children, Supera positions the course as support for school performance and concentration. For adults and seniors, it positions it as a way to keep the mind active, and that second market has become the larger one. In a July 2026 interview with Times Brasil, the founder said people aged over 60 represent around 80 per cent of students, and that Brazil's ageing population is a key driver of his projected 30 to 35 per cent revenue growth. Brazilian press has also reported a University of São Paulo randomised controlled trial of the method with 207 healthy older adults followed over 18 months, which the network has used in its marketing.

Success Tutoring's product is curriculum-based tutoring in the two subjects that drive school results: English and Mathematics, from kindergarten to Year 12. Families join as members, attend a local centre each week and follow a programme developed by head office. The outcome parents buy is progress at school, not general cognitive fitness.

That distinction is the heart of the comparison. A Supera unit competes for the time and budget of families and seniors looking for mental wellbeing and concentration. A Success Tutoring centre competes for the after-school budget of parents focused on their children's grades.

What students get

Supera students attend weekly group classes in which they work through abacus levels, games and exercises with an instructor, supported by the workbooks and the online platform. Because the format is not tied to a school curriculum, the same unit can run classes for children, adults and older adults. Supera deserves real credit for spotting the senior cognitive health market early and building a recognised national brand around it.

Success Tutoring students attend a bright, open centre where trained tutors deliver a structured K–12 English and Maths curriculum. The culture is part of the product: the mascot Lucky the Kangaroo, the values Motivate, Uplift, Inspire, and an environment designed to make children want to come back. The approach is set out on our learning resources page.

What franchise partners get

Supera

Supera franchisees receive the method, the teaching materials, the brand and training. Portal do Franchising has reported the launch of a corporate university for the network, and earlier reports described a microfranchise format designed for smaller cities. Supera's longevity, nationwide presence and press coverage give franchisees a recognised name in Brazil. Business press in 2026 also reported that the company tripled its marketing spend after the USP study was published.

Success Tutoring

Success Tutoring provides a turnkey system, the "Success Kit":

• Launch and pre-marketing support: centres sign members before they open, and centres have reported opening with 45, 55, 60 and 70+ members on day one.
• Site selection, leasing support and fit-out support for retail-style premises.
• Tutor recruitment and tutor training on an online franchise training platform.
• A K–12 English and Maths curriculum and learning resources maintained by head office.
• Ongoing marketing support and an international brand.
• A flat structure: franchise partners deal directly with head office leadership.

Franchise partners do not need to be teachers. Many come from corporate, engineering, finance and small-business backgrounds; read their experiences in our franchise stories.

Investment and fees for each tutoring franchise

Supera's exact terms are in its Circular de Oferta de Franquia (COF), the disclosure document required under Brazil's Franchise Law, Law 13,966 of 2019. Public figures vary by date. Exame reported in 2026 that the initial investment starts at about R$159,000, according to the company. Portal do Franchising's listing has quoted investment from about R$135,000. An older Guia Franquias de Sucesso listing gave a range of roughly R$100,000 to R$200,000, a franchise fee of R$29,000 to R$49,000, a royalty of 12 per cent of gross revenue and a 3 per cent advertising fee. Use these as indications only and confirm the current figures in the COF.

Success Tutoring does not publish fees, royalties or set-up costs in articles; figures change and every candidate receives full disclosure before signing. See our investment schedule and potential earnings pages.

Brazilian law gives candidates a clear protection: the franchisor must deliver the COF at least 10 days before you sign any contract or pre-contract, or pay any fee, and failing to do so can allow the franchisee to seek annulment and the return of amounts paid (Law 13,966/2019, article 2). Use that period with a Brazilian franchise lawyer.

Markets and footprint

Supera is a Brazilian network. In 2026 it reported more than 250 units across every Brazilian state (Times Brasil, Central do Varejo). That is lower than the 400-plus units the network reported in 2019 and 2020, when it was listed among Brazil's 50 largest franchises by the Associação Brasileira de Franchising (ABF), and Exame reported in 2026 that the company is working to resume its pace of expansion. Unit counts change and definitions differ, so ask the franchisor for current openings and closures, and speak to existing franchisees.

Success Tutoring is Australian-born and expanding internationally. Reported milestones include 35 Australian centres with 80 more scheduled (Franchise Executives, 2023) and territories sold in more than 100 Australian locations (Inside Small Business). Its announced international markets are New Zealand, the United States, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom and India. Brazil is not among them at the time of writing (October 2026); check available locations or enquire directly.

For more on the Brazilian market, see our tutoring franchise guide to Brazil and the global tutoring franchise guide.

Who each option suits

A Supera franchise may suit you if you want to operate in Brazil, you are drawn to cognitive health and the fast-growing senior market as much as to children's learning, and you like a method that is not tied to the school curriculum and works across age groups.

Success Tutoring may suit you if you want a tutoring franchise focused on school results in English and Maths, you prefer a membership model with pre-launch member sign-ups, you come from a business background rather than education, and you are interested in one of the brand's announced markets. Our why invest in tutoring page explains the market case.

Weighing other abacus and mental arithmetic brands? Compare Success Tutoring vs UCMAS and Success Tutoring vs ALOHA Mind Math, or a large worksheet-based brand in Success Tutoring vs Kumon. All comparisons are in our Success vs the World hub.

Frequently asked questions

Is Supera a tutoring franchise?

Not in the usual sense. Supera is a cognitive stimulation franchise built on the abacus, games and exercises, open to all ages. It can support children's concentration and school performance, but it does not follow the school curriculum the way a tutoring franchise does.

How much does a Supera franchise cost?

Exame reported a starting investment of about R$159,000 in 2026, according to the company, and older directory listings quoted a 12 per cent royalty plus a 3 per cent advertising fee. Confirm current figures in the COF, which must be delivered at least 10 days before signing.

Who are Supera's students?

All ages. Its founder said in July 2026 that people over 60 make up around 80 per cent of students, with children and teenagers using the method for concentration and school performance.

How many Supera units are there?

More than 250 across all Brazilian states, according to 2026 press reports. The network reported over 400 units in 2019 and 2020, so ask about recent openings and closures.

Can I open a Success Tutoring centre in Brazil?

Brazil is not one of Success Tutoring's publicly announced markets at the time of writing. Contact us if you are interested in the brand's international plans.

Supera has built a distinctive business on the idea that the brain needs regular exercise. A tutoring franchise like Success Tutoring builds on a different, equally durable need: parents who want their children to do well in English and Maths. To see how we support franchise partners, start with our why us overview and then read the process.

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.