The Actor's Garage vs MakerKids Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
The Actor's Garage Franchise
MakerKids Franchise
Investment $30,500 - $32,000$152,750 - $399,000
Franchise Fee $24,000$30,000
Royalty Fee 9%8%
Advertising Fee -3%
Year Founded 20042013
Year Franchised 20042018
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
The Actor's Garage 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

 
The Actor's Garage 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

 
The Actor's Garage 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 --

Expansion Plans

 
The Actor's Garage Franchise
MakerKids Franchise
US Expansion -Yes
Canada Expansion NoYes
International Expansion NoYes

Company Overviews

About The Actor's Garage

If you are looking to be in a position to build a child's dream of seeing themselves on the big or little screen, and simultaneously helping them build their self-esteem, look no further! The Actor’s Garage, an after school and weekend program, gives you the opportunity to help a child understand that it is their individuality, in itself, that is their greatest gift. You will have the chance to see shy children come out of their shells, and children who were once fearful to speak in public, embrace it! You may even spot the next budding Julia Roberts or George Clooney in the making! Not a professional actor? Not to worry, the most important ingredient in our business is our teachers' natural ability to connect with and to want to inspire children. We have found some of our greatest teachers have never even thought of becoming actors. 
Whether a child is interested in acting or not, this is the place for them. In addition to teaching acting techniques for TV, film and commercials, the children will learn valuable life skills such as: *Problem solving *Self-esteem *Public speaking *Team work *Positive self image *Resilience And more!! In addition to low, low, start-up costs and overhead, great training, and awesome support, one of our major assets is a lesson plan proven by thousands of children since 2004 - and they keep coming back!

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.