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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of The Mad Science Group vs Odyssey Art Centers including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $74,050 - $110,459 | $28,700 - $56,200 |
Franchise Fee | $25,000 | $24,000 |
Royalty Fee | 8% | 6% |
Advertising Fee | - | - |
Year Founded | 1985 | 1974 |
Year Franchised | 1995 | 1995 |
Term Of Agreement | 25 years | 10 years |
Term Of Agreement | 25 years | 10 years |
Renewal Fee | - | - |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/Yes | No/No |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/No |
Equipment | No/Yes | No/No |
Inventory | No/No | No/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | - |
Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations | Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Purchasing cooperatives |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Regional advertising | - |
Operations |
Franchise can be run from home. 5% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 3 - 30
Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (95% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Franchise can be run from home. 0% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | - | - |
Canada Expansion | No | No |
International Expansion | Yes | No |
As children, brothers Ariel and Ron Shlien loved to create crazy science experiments. As adults, they realized that kids like fun, cool science. So in 1985 they started Mad Science by hosting 'edu-taining' birthday parties featuring scienctific demonstrations.
Franchising began in 1995, with initial franchises in Florida and Toronto, and now has franchises worldwide offering educational demonstrations to preschools, in-class and afterschool programs, community centers and scout programs. The company also provides entertainment for birthday parties, special events, camps and more.
The first Odyssey Art Center was founded in 1974 by Linda Perlmutter. After quitting her job as a teacher to stay home with her newborn son, Perlmutter started teaching small groups of children in the basement studio of her home. Today, her art education franchise combines history, poetry, literature, science, music, math and current events with art.