Kumon Franchise vs Success Tutoring Franchise: An Owner's Comparison (2026)

This guide is for people who have typed "Kumon franchise" into a search bar and are now weighing up which tutoring franchise to buy. It is not a guide for parents choosing a programme for their child; we cover that in our parent-facing comparison of Success Tutoring and Kumon. Here the question is different: what would you actually own, what would you do every day, and what does each franchisor ask of you?

In one line: Kumon offers a long-established, instructor-run worksheet method with a low franchise fee, while Success Tutoring offers a membership-based, retail-style learning centre run by a franchise partner who leads a team of tutors. Both are legitimate tutoring franchise models; they suit different owners.

The Kumon franchise at a glance

Kumon is one of the best-known names in education franchising, and it has earned that position over several decades.

• History and method. The Kumon Method was created in Japan in 1958 by Toru Kumon, a maths teacher who wrote worksheets for his son. Students work through short, sequenced worksheets in maths and reading, progressing by mastery rather than by school year.
• Global footprint. Kumon Group's official company profile reported about 3.55 million subject enrolments (roughly 1.31 million in Japan and 2.23 million elsewhere) and operations in 62 countries and regions, as of September 2024.
• The owner's role. In most countries Kumon franchisees are called Instructors. The Instructor personally runs the centre, assesses students, sets their worksheet level and supervises classes; the method and worksheets come from Kumon.
• Requirements in the US. Kumon North America's franchise FAQ lists a bachelor's degree, proficiency in maths and reading, a net worth of $150,000 and liquid capital of $70,000 (2025). It also states that no teaching experience is required.
• Requirements elsewhere. Kumon UK's franchising pages ask for a degree or equivalent, a maths and English proficiency test, a full driving licence and child safeguarding checks, and describe the role as a full-time commitment (2025). Kumon Australia and New Zealand's 2026 recruitment brochure also asks for a bachelor's degree in any discipline.

The Success Tutoring franchise at a glance

• History. Success Tutoring was founded in Sydney in 2017 by Michael Black, who started the business at 17 from a spare bedroom in his parents' home in Western Sydney (Forbes Australia; Inside Small Business). It has franchised since around 2020.
• Model. Families join as members, not casual bookings. Trained tutors deliver a K–12 English and Mathematics programme in physical, retail-style learning centres run by franchise partners.
• Footprint. Reported milestones include 35 centres across Australia with a launch schedule for 80 more (Franchise Executives, 2023) and territories sold in more than 100 Australian locations (Inside Small Business). Announced international markets are New Zealand, the United States (launched in Texas), Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom and India.
• The owner's role. Franchise partners run the business and lead a tutoring team; they do not need to be teachers. Many come from corporate, engineering, finance and small-business backgrounds.
• Support. A turnkey system packaged as the "Success Kit", with site selection, leasing and fit-out support, tutor recruitment and training, curriculum, and ongoing marketing. Franchise partners deal directly with head office leadership.

Side-by-side comparison

Running the business day to day

A day as a Kumon Instructor

The Kumon model puts the Instructor at the centre of everything. Students typically attend the centre twice a week and complete worksheets at home on the other days. During class time the Instructor and assistants mark work, watch how each student is coping and decide when to move them forward or repeat material. Outside class hours the Instructor handles enrolments, parent conversations, staffing and local marketing. Kumon's US materials describe an owner-operated business with no outside employment allowed, and Kumon UK describes the role as full-time. If you enjoy instruction and want a method that has been refined for more than 60 years, that personal involvement is the attraction.

A day as a Success Tutoring franchise partner

A Success Tutoring centre runs on a timetable of tutoring sessions led by a team of trained tutors. The franchise partner's work looks more like running a small retail or service business: recruiting and coaching tutors, keeping members engaged, talking with parents, tracking progress across the centre and growing the member base in the local community. Head office supplies the curriculum, training and marketing system, and centres sign members before they open. Centres have reported opening with 45, 55, 60 and 70+ members on day one thanks to launch pre-marketing.

The practical difference: Kumon asks you to be the educator; Success Tutoring asks you to build and lead the team that educates.

How the Kumon franchise differs by country

Kumon is not one franchise contract worldwide. Each region is run by a local Kumon company, and the terms, costs and legal protections follow local rules.

• United States and Canada. Kumon North America franchises under the US Federal Trade Commission's Franchise Rule, which requires a Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) to be provided at least 14 calendar days before you sign or pay. Read our tutoring franchise guide to the USA for the wider market.
• United Kingdom. The UK has no statutory pre-contract disclosure law for franchising. Kumon UK's franchising page lists £3,000 towards the licence fee (£1,500 per subject for maths and English), an additional £1,500 to £2,000 for marketing over the first 12 months, plus premises costs (2025). See our UK tutoring franchise guide.
• Australia and New Zealand. Kumon Australia and New Zealand's 2026 recruitment brochure reports about 59,000 students across 300 franchises, and says royalties are charged per student. Business Franchise Australia reported an initial franchise fee of about A$5,000 in 2022. Australian franchisors must follow the Franchising Code of Conduct, which includes a disclosure document before signing.
• Japan and Asia. Japan is Kumon's home market and still accounts for a large share of its enrolments, according to Kumon Group. Terms in Asian markets are set locally; ask the regional Kumon office for its disclosure documents.

The constants across countries are the method, the worksheet system and the expectation that the franchisee is a degree-qualified Instructor who runs the centre personally.

Costs and fees: how to compare

Kumon has one of the lowest franchise fees in the sector. Its US franchise materials list a $2,000 initial franchise fee and a $1,000 training agreement deposit, and Kumon North America's buyer FAQ estimates a total initial investment of about $73,000 to $165,000 depending on location (2025). These figures come from Kumon's own published materials, which summarise its FDD; the current FDD is the authoritative source, and figures change from year to year. Third-party directories quote different royalty structures for the US, so confirm Item 6 of the FDD before relying on any of them.

Success Tutoring does not publish fees, royalties or set-up costs in articles. The current structure is on our investment schedule, and you receive the disclosure document required in your country (in the US, the FDD) before anything is signed.

Whichever tutoring franchise you are considering, ask for these in writing:

1. The full estimated initial investment, including premises, fit-out, working capital and marketing, not just the franchise fee.
2. Every ongoing fee: royalties (per student or percentage), marketing levies, technology fees and materials costs.
3. What the fee buys: training, launch support, curriculum, software and field support.
4. Territory terms: size, exclusivity and what happens if another centre opens nearby.
5. Term, renewal, transfer and exit conditions.
6. Contact details for current and former franchisees, so you can ask them directly.

Which suits which owner?

A Kumon franchise may suit you if you hold a degree, enjoy hands-on instruction, want to run the centre personally, value a method with more than six decades of history and a presence in 62 countries and regions, and prefer a low franchise fee.

A Success Tutoring franchise may suit you if you want to own and lead a visible, retail-style centre, prefer to build a team of tutors rather than teach yourself, come from a business, corporate or finance background, like a membership model with a structured K–12 English and Maths programme, and are in or near one of Success Tutoring's announced markets.

Both paths reward owners who care about children's progress and are prepared to work hard in their local community. For broader context, our tutoring franchise guide explains how to evaluate any brand.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Kumon franchise cost?

In the US, Kumon's published materials list a $2,000 initial franchise fee and a total estimated initial investment of about $73,000 to $165,000 (2025). In the UK, Kumon lists £3,000 towards the licence fee plus marketing and premises costs. Always check the latest disclosure document for your country.

Do I need a degree to open a Kumon franchise?

Yes, in the markets we checked. Kumon North America, Kumon UK and Kumon Australia and New Zealand all ask for a bachelor's degree or equivalent, plus proficiency in maths and reading or English.

Can I run a Kumon franchise part-time or semi-absentee?

Kumon's US materials say no outside employment is allowed, and Kumon UK describes the role as full-time. The model expects the Instructor to be present and teaching.

Do I need to be a teacher to run a Success Tutoring franchise?

No. Franchise partners lead a team of trained tutors and receive tutor recruitment and training support. Many come from corporate, engineering, finance and small-business backgrounds.

Is Success Tutoring connected to Kumon?

No, the two are separate companies. Success Tutoring did hire a former CEO of Kumon as its Head of Global Partnerships, which reflects the respect we have for the experience built at Kumon.

Where can I open a Success Tutoring franchise?

Success Tutoring operates in Australia and has announced New Zealand, the United States, Singapore, Canada, the United Kingdom and India as international markets. Enquire to check territories near you.

Kumon has shown for decades what a disciplined, method-led tutoring franchise can achieve. Success Tutoring offers a different business: a member community, a team of tutors and a centre you lead. To see how we support franchise partners, start with why choose Success Tutoring, then read the process from first conversation 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.