smART Explorers vs MakerKids Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of smART Explorers vs MakerKids including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
smART Explorers Franchise
MakerKids Franchise
Investment $27,500$152,750 - $399,000
Franchise Fee $19,500$30,000
Royalty Fee 7%8%
Advertising Fee -3%
Year Founded 20062013
Year Franchised 20072018
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
smART Explorers Franchise
MakerKids Franchise
Experience -- Passion for working with kids - Thirst for knowledge - Glass half full mindset (60% optimist, 40% realist) - An Excellent Credit History - Leadership Skills - A Desire to Succeed - A Desire to Make A Difference - No past bankruptcies - No past criminal record - Willing to get out there and make sales - Persistence - Desire to listen, share and be compliant - Being happy is more important to you than being right - Customer-oriented Wait, I don’t know how to teach STEM! - Don’t worry. If you don’t have a teaching background, you can still excel as a MakerKids franchisee. In fact, the backgrounds of our ideal franchisees vary greatly – from engineers and accountants to teachers and homemakers, and everything in between. MakerKids franchise training was designed to level the playing field. We teach you all that you need to know about running a business that deals with STEM instruction.

Financing Options

 
smART Explorers Franchise
MakerKids Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/No-/-
Start-up Costs No/No-/-
Equipment No/No-/-
Inventory No/No-/-
Receivables No/No-/-
Payroll No/No-/-

Training & Support

 
smART Explorers Franchise
MakerKids Franchise
Training -- Five (5) days Training in Toronto, Canada - Five (5) days On-Site Training - Education/Curriculum: MakerKids® Lesson Plans Options for additional training*: - Internal Training with support and guidance from MK Training Team via Teleconferences, GoTo Meeting and Webinars - Additional Training available at MK HQ in Toronto, Canada - Additional On-Site Training available *Please inquire about additional training.
Support -- Advertising and Marketing: Initial supply of Presentation materials and Templates. - Usage of proprietary Operations Manual - Use of MakerKids® Name, Logo and Trademarks - Annual training and workshop - MakerKids new releases and new concepts
Marketing -- Use of MakerKids® Name, Logo and Trademarks - Presentation Material & Templates
Operations * Franchise can be run from home

* Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

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Expansion Plans

 
smART Explorers Franchise
MakerKids Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion -Yes
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

About smART Explorers

NO LONGER FRANCHISING

About MakerKids

MakerKids runs award-winning STEM programs on Coding, Robotics and Minecraft. We use technology as a medium to help build confidence, social skills, change-making abilities and a positive relationship with technology. Kids have started businesses, won prizes from NASA, been published in magazines, and had positive mental health outcomes. MakerKids was named the #1 franchise concept in the NextGen in Franchising Competition at the International Franchise Association Conference from over 400 entrants.
 To describe the franchise in one word: transformative 
- Target Market: Ages 6-13, including Special Needs students 
- Location-based + mobile business/satellite locations: owner to operate multiple satellite locations e.g. at schools 
- Camps, After-School Programs and Parties 
- MakerKids® teaches STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) topics: Coding, Robotics and Minecraft 
- Education/Curriculum: Proprietary Lesson Plans 
- Advertising/Marketing: Presentation Material & Templates 
- Online Parent Registration

We have been featured by Forbes, Wired, and more. Your dream career awaits. Help empower the makers of tomorrow. Inquire today.