Established
1982
Franchise Units
541
Minimum Investment
$5,500,000
Franchise Fee
$80,000
Total Investment Range
$8,500,000
Home Based
No
Description
Primrose Schools is a leading accredited private preschool that provides early education and child care services for infants through kindergarten, after-school programs, and summer camps. Known for its Balanced Learning® curriculum, Primrose blends purposeful play with nurturing guidance to help children grow intellectually, socially, and emotionally.
With a reputation for high-quality education and a strong support model, Primrose Schools offers franchisees a chance to make a lasting impact on their communities while building a rewarding business.
Why Invest in Primrose Schools?
Primrose Schools offers several advantages for entrepreneurs interested in the education and childcare industry:
- More than four decades of operating experience
- Established national brand recognition
- Proprietary Balanced Learning® curriculum
- Recurring tuition-based revenue model
- Multiple programs for different age groups
- Large and growing U.S. franchise network
- Comprehensive real estate and development support
- Marketing and enrollment assistance
- Ongoing operational and educational guidance
- Opportunity to build a community-focused business
Childcare and early education remain essential services for working families, giving Primrose franchise owners access to a business model driven largely by recurring enrollment and tuition revenue.
Background
Primrose Schools began when Paul and Marcy Erwin opened their first school in the Atlanta-area market in 1982. The founders saw an opportunity to create an early education model that combined learning with childcare rather than treating the two as completely separate services.
The business eventually moved toward franchising and national expansion. Primrose's franchising organization dates to 1988, with broader franchise expansion following around the beginning of the 1990s. Over the following decades, the company developed its Balanced Learning® system and expanded into markets throughout the United States.
Today, the organization supports hundreds of independently owned schools and has developed specialized leadership functions covering franchise operations, education, marketing, technology, legal matters and finance. Dr. Amy Jackson currently serves as Chief Franchise Officer, with responsibility for franchise performance, operational excellence and long-term franchise-owner support.
- Established Year: 1982
- First Franchise Unit: Franchising began in 1988
- Founders: Paul and Marcy Erwin
- Franchise Active Units: 570
- Company-Owned Units: 0 reported in the current franchise outlet count
- Industry Category: Early Childhood Education, Preschool & Childcare
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia
- Franchisor: Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC
- Market Presence: United States
- Business Model: Educational childcare and private preschool franchise
- Ownership: Primrose Schools is part of Roark's portfolio of franchise and consumer-service businesses
Support Training
Primrose provides franchise owners with extensive assistance from development through ongoing school operations.
Pre-Opening Support
Franchisees receive guidance with:
- Market and site selection
- Real estate evaluation
- School design and development
- Licensing preparation
- Equipment and classroom setup
- Staffing preparation
- Pre-opening planning
Primrose supports both new construction and qualifying adaptive-reuse projects.
Training & Academic Support
Franchise owners receive structured training covering business operations, school management, leadership and Primrose brand standards.
The company also provides access to its proprietary Balanced Learning® curriculum, educational resources and ongoing guidance designed to maintain consistent teaching standards.
Marketing Support
Primrose assists franchisees with:
- National brand marketing
- Local marketing strategies
- Enrollment campaigns
- Grand-opening promotion
- Digital marketing resources
- Community outreach
- Family acquisition and retention strategies
Ongoing Operational Support
After opening, franchisees continue receiving support related to enrollment, operations, staffing, educational quality, performance management and brand compliance.
Ideal Candidate
Primrose Schools is best suited to financially qualified entrepreneurs who want to operate a substantial, community-focused business.
Previous teaching experience is not necessarily required. Strong candidates may come from business ownership, corporate management, finance, professional services, operations or other leadership backgrounds.
Ideal franchisees should have:
- Strong leadership and management skills
- Financial capability to fund a major development project
- Interest in education and child development
- Ability to manage employees and school leadership
- Strong customer-service skills
- Community networking ability
- Commitment to Primrose operating standards
- Willingness to remain actively involved in the business
Preferred markets typically include growing suburban areas, family-oriented communities, major metropolitan suburbs and locations with strong demand for premium childcare.
Financial Detail
The financial model reflects the scale of a purpose-built educational facility:
| Financial Metric | Detail / Range (USD) |
| Total Initial Investment | $5,500,000 – $8,500,000+ (varies by land purchase vs. lease structure) |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $80,000 |
| Minimum Liquid Capital | $350,000 – $750,000 |
| Minimum Net Worth | $700,000 – $1,000,000+ |
| Royalty Fee | 7% of Gross Revenues |
| National Advertising Fee | 1% – 2% of Gross Revenues |
| Infrastructure & Construction | Covers site prep, ground-up facility builds, playgrounds, security systems, and furniture |
| Working Capital | Recommended $150,000 – $300,000 reserve during ramp-up and initial enrollment. |
| Potential Revenue Streams | Full-time/part-time infant through kindergarten tuition, summer camps, after-school programs, and enrichment activities. |