ITEMS 5–7 · 2026 FDD
How much is a Kids United franchise?
Per Kids United's 2026 FDD, the initial franchise fee is $55,000 (Item 5) and the total initial investment runs $220K–$464K (Item 7); once open, you pay an ongoing royalty of 6.5% of gross sales (Item 6).
$55,000
one-time, to buy in
6.5%
of gross sales, ongoing
$220K–$464K
franchisor's own estimate
| Cost line | Kids United | Sector median |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee ITEM 5 | $55,000 | $50,000 |
| Ongoing royalty ITEM 6 | 6.5% | 7.5% |
| Total initial investment ITEM 7 | $220K–$464K | $179K–$388K |
MEDIANS: LATEST FDD FILINGS (≤24 MONTHS OLD) OF 37 EDUCATION & CHILDREN SYSTEMS · FULL EDUCATION & CHILDREN BENCHMARK →
The buy-in is the smaller number. The larger one is the drag: 6.5% of every sale leaves before rent, labor, or your salary — so breakeven depends on volume you cannot know from the FDD; use the Item 19 figures as a starting point, not a promise.
To open (Item 7)
$220K–$464K
all-in investment range
Franchise fee (Item 5)
$55,000
upfront, one-time
Royalty (Item 6)
6.5%
of sales, ongoing
Starts at a placeholder of $500K — a round figure for the sector, not from Kids United’s filings. Set your own figure and check it against this brand's Item 19 and what owners tell you.
Royalty you'd pay / yr
$33K
6.5% of sales, before profit
Over a 10-yr term
$325K
royalties alone, excl. ad fund
This estimate is computed by software from the brand's public filings and any inputs you enter. No CPA prepared it for you and no assurance is provided on it. Actual results will differ, and the differences may be material.
This is not profit. It covers what the FDD fixes: what you put in, and the royalty you owe on sales. Your take-home depends on labor, rent, supplies, and the months to breakeven, none of which the FDD fixes for your unit (some Item 19s include cost data — read it).
Build a real pro-forma for Kids United with a buyer-paid CPAKids United cost questions, answered from the filing
How much is a Kids United franchise?
Per Kids United's 2026 FDD, opening a franchise requires an initial franchise fee of $55,000 (Item 5) and a total initial investment of $220K–$464K (Item 7). Item 7 is the franchisor's own estimate — treat the low end as a floor, not a budget.
What royalty does Kids United charge?
Kids United charges an ongoing royalty of 6.5% of gross sales, per Item 6 of its 2026 FDD. The median across 37 education & children systems tracked here is 7.5%.
Does Kids United tell you what franchisees earn?
Partly — Kids United makes a financial performance representation in Item 19 of its 2026 FDD. Unit revenue is not owner profit: subtract royalties, ad fund, rent, labor, and debt service.
The Kids United validation checklist
questions built from this brand's own filings · read them all on the profile
Want this as a checklist you can take to the calls?
I'll email you the printable version, and tell you if Kids United’s numbers move — a new filing, a rising exit rate, a distress signal. Unsubscribe in one click.
A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing Kids United’s numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.