Challenge Island vs MUSE Global Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees
 
Challenge Island Franchise
MUSE Global Franchise
Investment $48,300 - $62,950$432,125 - $2,204,325
Franchise Fee $39,900$50,000
Royalty Fee 6%5%
Advertising Fee 2%N/A
Year Founded 20032006
Year Franchised 20122018
Term Of Agreement --
Term Of Agreement --
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements
 
Challenge Island Franchise
MUSE Global Franchise
Experience -Passionate about education and the environment, financially qualified and must meet state guidelines for early childhood. Director and staff must have teaching degrees and certifications.

Financing Options
 
Challenge Island Franchise
MUSE Global Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/Yes-/-
Start-up Costs -/Yes-/-
Equipment -/--/-
Inventory -/--/-
Receivables -/--/-
Payroll -/--/-

Training & Support
 
Challenge Island Franchise
MUSE Global 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

2 weeks of classroom training in California, followed by field training, virtual/video training, and mentoring included to ensure success
Support Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform Mentoring
Marketing Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing -
Operations -Franchisee can be semi-absentee/absentee after doors open, unless they also serve as Director of School. M-F 8:30-3:30 typical school hours.

Expansion Plans
 
Challenge Island Franchise
MUSE Global 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 MUSE Global

Over the past twelve years, Suzy Amis Cameron and James Cameron, with Rebecca Amis, have been mavericks in the education field, innovating two highly successful MUSE School campuses - affectionately referred to as “mother ships”- located in Calabasas, California. These schools meet and exceed all California State accreditations and all national standards while providing unique, developmentally appropriate teaching strategies. Over the years, MUSE has received many requests to expand its concept to other locations, and it is now finally offering like-minded partners the opportunity to be considered for MUSE franchises worldwide. Franchisees must meet all applicable regulations in their own area as well as those extended through MUSE Global.
MUSE provides
• Early Childhood Education (ECE) Program
• Early Childhood Class (ECC): 2.3 - 3.7 years old  (two years and three months to three years and seven months)
• Early Kindergarten (EK): 3.8 - 5 years old (three years and eight months to five years)
• Kindergarten: 5 years old and up
MUSE is not a one-size-fits-all template but a conscious adherent to the studied intellectual property it has developed, which has proved to be successful in offering children a unique educational experience. Some key ways that MUSE schools differ from others include how MUSE students are introduced to beginning literacy, math, and science concepts even in the earliest developmental stages. Students also have weekly enrichment courses led by specialists in world languages, music, art, fitness, movement, outdoor education, environmental sustainability, and its unique Seed-to-Table Program for lifelong nutrition and wellness. Our brand is a market-driven approach designed to be economically self-sustaining and well positioned to offer attractive potential returns for investors and operators.