Profitable franchise options for mental arithmetic schools in Russia

* The calculations use average data for Russia

300,000 ₽ Starting investment

250000 ₽ Revenue

130000 ₽ Net profit

5-7 months Payback period

The school of mental arithmetic is a popular and stable business. To start, 300 thousand rubles are enough, which will pay off within six months. How to earn 100 thousand rubles per month on accounts?

Business in children's additional education has always been a profitable idea. This technique has existed for a long time, but in Russia such activities for children began to gain popularity only in 2020. But schools of mental arithmetic experienced a real boom in 2016-2017. Today, mental arithmetic is one of the main areas of children's additional education.

This business is suitable for both experienced and novice entrepreneurs. No special skills or education required. But without one thing you can’t open your own business, it’s without starting capital. The minimum investment amount is 300 thousand rubles. This type of business brings not only income, but also benefits to people. The demand for services is growing every month, so an entrepreneur has every chance to recoup the initial investment in a few months.

Relevance and features of business

According to statistics, today 8.6 million students in schools and kindergartens in Russia attend one or more additional education clubs. The demand for such services is growing every year. The education market is developing dynamically and is ready to accept new participants. In many cities, there is not much competition in this niche.

Mental arithmetic is a technique for the harmonious development of a child with the help of special exercises on ancient abacus (abacus) and the practice of quick mental calculation. The most important thing for parents is to develop in their children independence, responsibility, attentiveness, confidence, memory, speed of thinking and curiosity. These qualities are developed by the methodology. Therefore, parents willingly send their children to mental arithmetic schools.

Even during a crisis, the private children's education segment feels quite confident. Most parents believe that they cannot save on children, and therefore do not plan to stop spending on their development and education. The business idea will be especially relevant for medium and large cities. Because the average bill for such a service is from 3.5 to 7 thousand rubles, depending on the region. In small towns, you will have to lower the price tag to attract customers.

But before you open a business from scratch, you need to weigh the pros and cons, evaluate the competition and the demand for the service in your city.

Development of the SmartyKids partner network in Russia and the CIS

The first SmartyKids centers appeared in 2020 in Novosibirsk. Having tested the experience of doing business in this niche at its own locations, the company developed a model for developing a network through franchising and launched the opening of children's centers in new cities. In 2020, branded centers number more than 20,000 students around the world, and the network’s geography has expanded to 11 countries.

You can find the SmartyKids children's center in almost all major cities of Russia and the CIS, which indicates the demand for the franchise. During its operation, the existing franchise has expanded to 350 branded centers.

If at the start the company offered partners a franchise of mental arithmetic, now the SmartyKids brand represents children's centers where classes are held in various areas.

The company's methodological department has developed its own method of mental arithmetic and introduced speed reading and calligraphy courses for children. Each stage of network development corresponds to educational trends and market needs. Thus, the company successfully creates new products for children's centers that meet the needs of parents and are interesting to every child.

We study competitors and consumer demand

Let's start our research by counting the number of your competitors in the city. Where to get information from? The services 2GIS, Yandex.Maps, Google Maps, etc. will help. You can go to the website of large companies that are developing a network of franchises and check if they have a representative office in your city. This will give you an idea of ​​the level of competition and the location of the schools.

To study consumer demand, you can go to city forums, check on Yandex.Statistics the number of requests for “school of mental arithmetic ... (your city).” Another option is to request area statistics from the passport office. As a last resort, you can use the Roskomstat website and find the information yourself. If competition in your city is low and there is demand for services, you can move on.

Requirements for franchisees

To develop a federal network of children's centers, the company pays great attention to the willingness of entrepreneurs to become part of the team.

The successful opening of a franchise business is always based on the parties’ compliance with certain obligations. This approach guarantees the provision of services at every SmartyKids center, in any city in the country and even beyond its borders, at the highest level. These requirements apply to all key aspects of opening and running a business.

Readiness to open a legal entity

All network centers are enterprises in the form of LLC or individual entrepreneur. So that each new partner can navigate this issue, the necessary information is provided, including legal information, on the competent conduct of business and opening a company.

Requirements for room design

SmartyKids children's centers are designed in accordance with the company's corporate style.

Franchise Content Kit Includes::

1. Guideline
2. Material layouts
3. Repair instructions and tips
4. Recommendations for furnishing and equipment of the room

A standard classroom is equipped with a workstation for the teacher, a teacher's abacus, a blackboard, desks and chairs for students, as well as a laptop with Internet access; if necessary, a screen or projector is placed in the office for demonstrating electronic materials. All premises of the centers are designed taking into account ergonomic parameters.

Proper seating at a desk, sufficient lighting, comfortable classrooms - all this is important for the health of students and is always the focus of the company.

The franchise materials contain everything necessary for the exterior and interior design of the center.

Requirements for room parameters

SmartyKids partners receive recommendations for finding the most suitable option for placing a children's center. Particular attention in this matter is paid to location and compliance with mandatory requirements for the premises.

• Rooms on the 1st floor of buildings with an area of ​​at least 50 sq.m. are suitable for classes.
• A bathroom and windows are required.
• The center must meet SanPiN standards and fire safety requirements.
• Lack of proximity to establishments such as bars, clubs, etc.

Teacher training

Classes at SmartyKids children's development centers are taught only by teachers who have undergone special training from the company's methodological department.

After completing the training, each teacher receives a certificate confirming the possibility of his teaching activities in the center.

Employee training is mandatory and includes training in the methods and nuances of teaching the course to children, examination and certification of teachers. The entire preparation process takes place remotely.

For regular training and professional development of teachers, additional training is provided by international experts. The methodological mentor of SmartyKids and one of the presenters of the author's training for teachers of the network is David Liao (founder of the world association of mental arithmetic SAMA Global).

At David Liao's training

What kind of premises do you need for a school?

It is advisable to open your own school in the city center or a large microdistrict - this is where your target audience lives, families with small children. Mental arithmetic schools educate children aged 5 to 14 years. In addition, the infrastructure in the area must be improved. It should be ensured that the facade of the building with the school sign is clearly visible from the street.

Requirements for the school premises:

• area about 30 sq.m. According to the standards, the area of ​​the room should be 2.5 sq.m. per student
• windows, natural light, all communications
• the ability to divide the space into separate rooms: two or three classrooms, a reception area, a bathroom. node If desired, you can equip a staff room and a waiting room.

If you plan to further develop the school and add other services, it is better to foresee this at the stage of choosing premises. Additional courses will require increased space. The rental price for premises of 30 and 40 sq.m. the difference is small, but these 10 sq.m. can bring you significantly more profit in the future.

UCMAS Franchise

The approximate investment volume for this franchise ranges from 500 thousand to 2 million rubles. With further cooperation, it is necessary to pay royalties in the form of ten percent of profits. It is possible to train staff for an additional fee, but its amount depends on the specific region in which the partner plans to do business.

Let's look at the advantages of the UCMAS franchise. The partner is provided with a detailed training plan, as well as all the necessary methodological support. Documentation for working with clients is provided. Teachers are trained to all standards. During cooperation, effective marketing support is used. Periodically, branch employees undergo advanced training. Partner support is provided on social networks. Consultations are provided on the selection of experienced teachers. Representatives of the parent company help in organizing the educational process.

Let's study the premises requirements for opening a development center. To work under the UCMAS franchise, you need a premises with an area of ​​eighty to one hundred square meters (there should be two to three offices). In this case, the branch should not be located above the second floor of the building if it does not have an elevator.

Don't forget about benefits

The state supports the field of additional education. There are various benefits and subsidies that may apply to the creation of a private institution and the rental of premises, the use of premises that belong to the municipality.

For example, in some regions there are special programs for preferential rental of municipal premises for representatives of the private sector of preschool education or social entrepreneurship. Therefore, be sure to check all the options for government support for your business in your region.

School staff

You won't need many employees. 2 mental account teachers, an administrator and a cleaner will be enough.

You do not need any license to teach mental arithmetic. But it is desirable that teachers have certificates of completion of relevant courses. This is important for parents who bring their children to school.

For your school of mental arithmetic to be successful, the level of professionalism of teachers must be very high. Therefore, it is important to provide employees with professional training. Free video lessons and manuals available on the Internet will not work. So there are two options: either look for teachers with experience, lure employees from competitors; or study in person.

Where to study as a mental arithmetic teacher? In special courses, distance learning from experts, through network companies. But it is important to keep in mind that there are quite a lot of methods and programs for mental arithmetic. And teachers must take courses according to the program that is expected to work with children. Study materials will be purchased accordingly.

Franchise "Pythagoras"

The first appeared in 2014. Today, franchising of this company is actively developing in various cities of Russia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Georgia. To start a business under this franchise, you need to invest about three hundred thousand rubles - this figure can be called the market average. Payback may take about six months. The partner must pay a royalty of five percent of the profit, which is a relatively small figure compared to other franchises. Estimated earnings of the franchisee: approximately eighty thousand rubles per month.

The company’s official website provides approximate financial calculations that allow you to understand exactly how and how much a partner will earn. The transparency of such conditions cannot but rejoice. According to franchise information, one student attends nine hours a month. In total, forty-eight students are usually trained at the center - these are twelve groups of four people. One hour of classes at this school costs 450 rubles. It turns out that for the month the total profit will be 194 thousand 400 thousand rubles. Next, various costs are subtracted (in this example they amount to 116 thousand rubles) and it turns out that the partner himself under this scheme will earn 78 thousand 400 thousand rubles in one month. Of course, in reality the figures may differ significantly, but, apparently, these are the figures for branches opened in cities with a population of over a million.

Naturally, there are a large number of advantages that an entrepreneur receives in this case. In particular, after signing a franchise agreement, he is provided with all the necessary assistance in opening and designing a training center. Professional consulting support is also provided. In terms of time, the process of opening a business takes about one month, which is quite long for such a business. To cooperate under this franchise, a premises with an area of ​​sixteen to fifty “squares” is required. In this case, the office area should be approximately ten square meters. To work under the Pythagoras franchise, two teachers are enough.

Mental arithmetic school services

At the start, it is advisable to focus on the main activity - learning mental arithmetic. But for a successful business it is necessary to develop and expand the range of services.

For example, you can offer individual lessons for children. Many parents prefer that their child be dealt with individually. For such classes, it is better to allocate a separate small room or a specific class time.

It is also beneficial to open other additional education clubs. This could be tutoring in mathematics, preparation for the Unified State Exam, foreign language courses, speed reading, preparing preschoolers for 1st grade, etc.

How the training works

The course includes 12 levels. 1-2 lessons per week. Abacus abacus is used in lessons. They look like a Russian abacus, but the number of beads is smaller and they are held horizontally.

In the first lessons, the student becomes familiar with the method of counting on the abacus. It is as follows:

1. Each column of beads corresponds to a certain digit of numbers.

The first is units, the second is tens, the third is hundreds, and so on.

1. The top row is a number that is a multiple of 5.

If the beads in the top row are located above the column of ones, it is 5, if above the column of tens, it is 50, etc.

1. To subtract, you need to lower the beads; to add, you need to raise them.

Let's try to dial the number 8. To do this, raise 1 bead of the top row above the units and 3 beads in the same column. It turns out that 5+3=8. When all the beads are at the bottom, the counts are 0.

We act in the same way with hundreds, thousands.

We dial the number 103. We raise 1 bead in the hundreds row, we get 100 and 3 in the ones row. As a result, the number 103 is shown.

The transition to larger discharges occurs gradually. After automating the work of hands and eyes, cards are used. They show the arrangement of beads for popular combinations. The child remembers what the number on the abacus looks like.

Dials the number automatically.

Another aspect of using mental mathematics in practice is the posture of the body and fingers in classes:

• The child sits with a straight back.
• The index finger moves the beads down, the thumb moves the beads up. Automation methods are used to practice hand movements. This is clamping a pencil in the palm so that only two fingers remain free, or different types of finger gymnastics.
• After six months, the student will use both hands to work on the abacus.

The menard program includes addition, subtraction, division and multiplication. First on the abacus, then in the mind.

After 1–1.5 years of training with a specialist, the child learns to solve examples with five-digit numbers in his head, using numbers freely.

Along with mathematical skills, a child in a specialized center acquires other knowledge. Learns to draw, sing, dance. In a playful way, he solves puzzles and logical problems, and develops physically. Therefore, it is impossible to treat the course of mental mathematics as a highly specialized area. The purpose of the classes is the comprehensive development of the individual.

How much money do you need to open?

The minimum amount you will need to start is 300 thousand rubles. This money will be used to rent, furnish the premises, purchase educational kits and launch an advertising campaign.

It is also worth planning the monthly costs of running the school. They amount, on average, to 120 thousand rubles and consist of:

• Rent for premises - from 20 to 40 thousand rubles (depending on the region, in Moscow - St. Petersburg it is an order of magnitude higher)
• Payroll fund – 80 thousand rubles
• Other: taxes, utility bills, etc. – 20 thousand rubles.

These are approximate amounts. And for more accurate calculations, it is better to draw up your own business plan. This way you can assess the income and expenses of the project in the conditions of your region.

Reviews from parents

The progressive method of teaching quick counting has caused a flurry of opinions from parents. They are not always positive. Analysis of the experience of mothers and fathers helps to create an objective picture on the problematic issue: should I take my baby to Menard or not? We hope you will make the right decision after reading some of them.

My son has poorly developed attention and memory. It was hoped that mental mathematics would help eliminate this defect. Signed up for classes before first grade. We decided to prepare for the educational process in a regular school in advance.

We've been going for two months, but I don't see any significant changes. Yes, my son began to understand numbers better and do some math, but it’s simply impossible to make him sit down. Attention is not focused for more than a couple of minutes. This is very upsetting. It seems to me that the lessons at Menard do neither good nor harm. It's just a fun pastime, exercise for the mind. I decided to study with my son at home, on my own. True, literature is very difficult. There are manuals on the Internet, but everything is in a foreign language: English, Japanese... I’ll download a math app on my smartphone and try to achieve the result. This will be much more efficient and cheaper than paying for development in the center.

Olga, mother of first-grader Vadim.

I take raising a child very seriously. Before sending my daughter to mental mathematics, I studied different methods of brain development. For example, Marilyn Zdenek’s book about the synchronization of the hemispheres. I came to the conclusion that the method of quick counting and the use of mental arithmetic improves the intellect and makes the child comprehensively developed. We had speech problems, so the improvement in motor skills was an added benefit. We gave it and don’t regret it.

We continue our studies at home. For example, my wife and I are trying to get our hemispheres to work synchronously. We do something with both hands, count mentally, organize competitions to see who is faster. Sonya often turns out to be the first, and we haven’t even had time to think about it. It seems to me that my daughter has become more sociable, cheerful, and efficient. She made friends in the class; she is not an excellent student, but her progress is noticeable.

He is less upset by failures and thinks like an adult. He believes that all problems can be solved, and there is no time to worry. This is the result of increased self-esteem and independence.

We are satisfied and recommend it to everyone. Do not slow down the child’s development, help him adapt to the new, constantly changing world, and it is better to forget the old methods.

Andrey, father of eight-year-old Sonya.

We've been taking our son for three months now and he really likes it. It’s too early to talk about global results, but we don’t see any downsides either. The price is not exorbitant, the center is near the house. Makar is good at completing all the teacher’s tasks both at home and in class, and he is praised. The effectiveness has been verified by personal experience. We went to the center to develop memory, attention, and perseverance for school. I think we can do it.

Alina, Moscow.

Almost the whole world approves of the menard technique, but we are worse. Our children also need to develop intellectually. And for this all methods are good. We were invited to the first free introductory lesson in the development program on mental arithmetic. They introduced me to the abacus, explained how the center works, and promised positive results after a couple of months of training. We decided to sign up, let's go. My daughter likes it and runs to class with pleasure. He doesn’t get tired, although the workload in a regular school is sufficient. She even rests there. The brain does not work hard, everything is in the form of a game.

Ekaterina, Novosibirsk.

It seems to me that mental mathematics is a simple business project. Very publicized and shrouded in many secrets. There are no textbooks for free sale, prices are high.

I don’t want to think so, but they are simply making money off of us and our children. I’m not going to send my child to Menards and I don’t recommend it to others. Pure deception.

Pavel, Orenburg.

Studying for at least a year at the center of mental mathematics is the right step for modern parents. If you didn’t get the result, it means that non-professionals were working with the children. Check diplomas, certificates, read forums about a specific center, study working techniques so as not to get into trouble.

My daughter has been going to classes for a year now, and the results make me happy. We'll definitely be ready for school. She became attentive, diligent, adds three-digit numbers without counting, and solves simple problems. We like.

Tatyana, mother of six-year-old Rita, Moscow.

We have a lot of mental arithmetic schools in Kazakhstan. This, in my opinion, is good. Parents and children have a choice of where to go to study and how much to pay. Everyone's price is different. In Japan, such courses are included in the compulsory school curriculum, and rightly so. It wouldn’t hurt for children to study with a professional teacher for a couple of hours a week, develop logic, and communicate in a close team, after all.

My son goes to mentality lessons with great pleasure, there is progress. We graduated from second grade without C grades. He, of course, was not a complete failure, but now there are no problems in mathematics, problems and examples can be cracked like nuts.

Svetlana, Astana.

Mental mathematics is a newfangled trend. Parents, like zombies, run around with their children and don’t know how to raise a genius, paying 30-50 thousand.

One thing they don’t understand is that this knowledge, even in the future, can only be useful when calculating the amount of a check in a store. What kind of attention and independence are we talking about? All these skills can be developed at home for free. Pumping out money, nothing more. It’s better to turn off tablets and TVs and read books with your child, talk, teach them how to assemble puzzles, and send them for a walk outside with friends. Their intelligence will definitely not suffer from this, and their health will be stronger.

Varvara, Kazan.

We have a very difficult child. My son is 6 years old. Delayed speech and mental development. The local doctor and neurologist advised me to study at home and use the services of development centers. It took us a long time to choose an educational program so that it would be “all inclusive”. We settled on mental arithmetic.

We've been going for six months, we're happy. Igor began to speak better, is less nervous, wants to learn - this is the most important thing. Many told us that this is a sect, there is a psychological impact on children, and on parents too. It doesn't matter to us. We see a positive result.

My son thinks well, although not quickly yet, but correctly. He loves to draw, sits looking at books, and comes up with problems for himself in his head. For us, mental arithmetic became a way out. We'll continue studying when we go to school.

Marina, Ekaterinburg.

How much can you earn on mental arithmetic?

When calculating a school's profit, you need to take into account that business depends on the season. Peak attendance occurs in September and February, with a decline in activity in July. Therefore, profits will be uneven throughout the year.

Also, profit greatly depends on the location of the school, since this determines its attendance.

On average, 4 groups of 5-7 people are trained at school in one day. A small school can teach 50 people. The cost of one monthly subscription is 3-7 thousand rubles (depending on the region). This means that revenue will be 150-350 thousand rubles per month. Individual lessons will cost more and add up to additional income.

In total, the average monthly revenue of the school will be 250 thousand rubles. Then the profit is 130 thousand rubles. With an initial investment of 300 thousand rubles, the business will pay for itself in 5-7 months.

Franchise "Menard"

has been operating since 2008. A year after opening, the company began providing franchises. Now she has more than a hundred franchise schools and one that she owns. The company's branches operate in countries such as Germany, Poland, Cyprus, Lithuania and Russia. This business is based on teaching children aged four to twelve years. The entrance fee, depending on the format of the work, is charged here in the amount of 250 to 400 thousand rubles. The franchisee receives a royalty in the form of ten percent of the profit.

What does the entrepreneur get in this case? First of all, here he is given access to a virtual platform for teaching children, teaching materials and the abacus itself are provided for the successful development of skills (as a rule, these learning tools are also provided in other franchises). In the course of work under this franchise, a system for monitoring study results is used. In the process of doing business, the franchisee uses a proprietary CRM system, which allows you to regulate document flow and all working aspects. Throughout the entire period of cooperation, the support of a personal manager is provided.

There are certain requirements for this franchise. To open, an area of ​​at least eighty square meters is required (it is designed for two classrooms). Based on this, we can conclude that the school opened under this franchise will be quite large in area when compared with other similar institutions.

How to advertise a school

Mental arithmetic has gained such popularity thanks to properly constructed marketing. The main idea behind the promotion was to promise tangible results from training. And many parents willingly sent their children to such schools. Thanks to this, mental arithmetic centers have occupied a significant part of the niche of additional education.

Advertising in this area is the engine of sales. Tell people about yourself, convey to them the benefits of your business, convince them that they need your services. How can I do that?

• Create a website and group on social media. networks. There you can post information about educational materials, the curriculum, teacher portfolios, school opening hours, etc. You can read about how to come up with ideas for posts here.
• Launch advertising in regional media: you can attract groups on social media. networks, newspapers, radio.
• Tell about yourself in schools and kindergartens in your city, post a brochure so that parents receive information.
• You can place advertisements in elevators or in mailboxes.

Franchise Description

Opening your own children's center as a franchise means launching a business according to a ready-made and proven scheme. So that the partner can independently solve all administrative, legal, and marketing tasks, launch advertising, conduct sales and provide services for teaching children and their leisure time, the company provides the franchisee with a set of all necessary materials in electronic form.

During distance business training with practical tasks, the partner receives step-by-step guides to working with these materials and the necessary knowledge to manage his own center.

lesson materials, branded sets of educational materials for children, and a unique online platform with personal accounts and mental arithmetic simulators help in meeting educational standards and providing high-quality services

Every detail of running a business is thought out. For example, to effectively organize sales, a partner will have at his disposal:

1. Pricing and discount guides.
2. Form for creating a group list for a trial lesson.
3. Lists of scripts for communicating with different clients.
4. Presentations, marketing kit, handouts for public speaking.
5. Instructions for handling objections.

The partner's kit includes materials for holding mental arithmetic Olympiads, launching a summer camp, and even organizing children's parties in the center.