Challenge Island vs Idea Lab Kids Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Challenge Island vs Idea Lab Kids including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Challenge Island Franchise
Idea Lab Kids Franchise
Investment $48,300 - $62,950$60,200 - $281,000
Franchise Fee $39,900$35,500
Royalty Fee 6%11%-9%
Advertising Fee 2%1%
Year Founded 20031990
Year Franchised 20122016
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Challenge Island Franchise
Idea Lab Kids Franchise
Experience -Skills and abilities that we look for in a successful Idea Lab Kids® business owner. Are you genuinely interested in S.T.E.A.M? Do you understand the role S.T.E.A.M plays in today’s economy and society? Are you active in your community and hungry to make a positive impact in young minds? Are you self-directed, self-motivated and able to juggle through multiple priorities? Do you have a strong desire to learn, grow and have fun in the process?

Financing Options

 
Challenge Island Franchise
Idea Lab Kids Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/Yes-/Yes
Start-up Costs -/Yes-/Yes
Equipment -/--/Yes
Inventory -/--/Yes
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support

 
Challenge Island Franchise
Idea Lab Kids Franchise
Training

3 days of classroom and hands-on training. Some of the key aspects of the training is provided by the Founder of Challenge Island, Sharon Estroff. Once you return to your market and are ready for business, Challenge Island will have a support person come to your market for one-full day and provide on-site training and assistance. On-The-Job Training: 8 hours Classroom Training: 24 hours

On-The-Job Training: 50 hours Classroom Training: 30 hours
Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations -Our franchisee business partners will have the option of taking an active role in the business as the full-time General Manager or choose to hire a full-time Program Coordinator and serve as a consultant. Physical location is not required until 12-18 months in order to allow sufficient ramp up.

Expansion Plans

 
Challenge Island Franchise
Idea Lab Kids Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

About Challenge Island

Challenge Island Founder and Creator, Sharon Duke Estroff M.A.T. is an award-winning educator with over two decades of teaching experience in Atlanta public and private schools. She is the author of the popular parenting book Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah? (Random House) and a feature parenting and education writer for numerous national publications including Woman's Day, Good Housekeeping, Parents Magazine, and Huffington Post. Sharon created Challenge Island while on maternity leave with her fourth child. Maxed out on late-night reruns of a popular, realityTV show, she began wondering if the same basic principals (minus the voting and island part) could become a means of motivating her students to take on complex higher level thinking tasks. She poured everything she'd learned about children into developing this idea, incorporating cutting edge research and educational thought. By the time her daughter graduated from 3 am feedings, Challenge Island was ready for primetime. It's been growing by leaps and bounds ever since. Now over a decade later, thousands of children have experienced the magic and benefits of Challenge Island, as Sharon continues to develop fresh curriculum and content for this popular enrichment program.
 *It's a proven model - truly a home-based business;
*Requires only a modest investment;
*Has NO national competition;
*Quick ROI on your low-cost franchise;
*Can be operated as a part/full time business;
*Has high profit margins;
*Has low fixed overhead;
*It's easy to operate;
*It can be easily taught to anyone;
*The classes, camps and birthday parties are affordable by nearly any family;
*Parents view the classes, camps, and birthday parties as educational and therefore feel that the fees are well spent.
*Year-round income with camps during school vacations and birthday parties anytime.
*Thrive in any economy by providing affordable classes to parents who put education first on their list of expenditures.

Veteran Incentives  10% off franchise fee

"Entrepreneur
#345 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#151 in Franchise 500 for 2021.

About Idea Lab Kids

Idea Lab Kids is an enrichment center dedicated to providing the most innovative S.T.E.A.M education in the form of afterschool camps, classes and birthday parties.
Our unique business model allows for two revenue generating sources:
Onsite- Mobile camps and classes
Offsite- Physical Facility offering in house afterschool camps and weekend birthday parties
Note- Physical location is not required until 12-18 months in order to allow sufficient ramp up.

Idea Lab Kids engages K-8 students in supplemental Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.A.M) education - giving them real academic advantage in school in addition to the skills and motivation they need to prepare them for 21st century jobs.

IDEA Lab Kids is a unique kids franchise opportunity that allows our franchisee business partners to build a financially viable business by providing multiple revenue streams. We are seeking to partner with driven professionals and investors who have a passion for building a profitable business while also making a positive impact in their community by providing S.T.E.A.M Education.

A background in childcare or education and a passion to educate kids is desirable to succeed as an IDEA Lab Kids franchisee.  In the children's franchise industry, franchise owners today come from diverse backgrounds and have a common goal of making a difference in early childhood education and achieving financial success.
 
 Our franchisee business partners will have the option of taking an active role in the business as the full-time General Manager or choose to hire a full-time Program Coordinator and serve as a consultant.
Veteran Incentives  5% off franchise fee
#316 in Franchise 500 for 2021.   Not in Franchise 500 for 2020.