Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Mathnasium?

Mathnasium is an international chain of learning centers where students go after school to boost their math skills. We are highly specialized; we teach only math. Our program is for students from Pre-K to Pre-Calculus *. Students typically attend once or twice a week, for about an hour. Like in a gym or health club, members pay a monthly fee, and drop in during the month for “workouts” and instruction. Our goal is to significantly increase every child's math skills, understanding of math concepts, and overall school performance, while building confidence and forging a positive attitude toward the subject.

Q: What is the Mathnasium philosophy?

Our view is that children don't hate math. They hate being confused and intimidated by math. With understanding comes passion. And with passion comes growth—a treasure is unlocked. The key to understanding math is Number Sense. Number Sense does not develop by accident. It is the result of a process of encounter and interaction with a specific set of concepts and skills presented in a way that makes sense to the learner.

Q: What is the Mathnasium Method?

The Mathnasium Method is the life's work of Larry Martinek, Mathnasium's Chief Education Officer and a teacher and math teaching consultant for the past 30 years. It's the best there is: a time-tested, personalized program, that employs diagnostics, instruction, worksheets, and manipulatives, to build Number Sense, and with it, confidence, a deep understanding, and lifelong love of mathematics

Q: Who are the executives who lead Mathnasium?

Mathnasium is the collaboration of four leading education and business experts: Peter Markovitz, Founder and President, is also the founder of Futurekids, and served as its president. Under Markovitz' leadership, Futurekids, an education technology company, established a chain of 690 learning centers, and provided instruction at thousands of schools, in more than 72 countries around the world. Mitchell Brown, Chief Operating Officer, has led successful business development teams at startups including the online photo service Ofoto (now a subsidiary of Kodak), and online calendar When.com (acquired by AOL), and large companies including America Online and Price Waterhouse Consulting. Mitch holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, and a Bachelor's degree in Quantitative Economics from U.C. Berkeley. David Ullendorff, Founder and Executive Vice President, award winning developer of children's media (Children's Television Workshop, TNT, A&E, Lifetime, Showtime) moves between a career in film and television and the education industry. As the co-founder of Futurekids, he pioneered the field of computer literacy for children, and was the architect of the field’s first definitive curriculum. A vast undertaking, historic in its breadth and quality, his curriculum has been used to teach millions of children around the world. Larry Martinek, Chief Instructional Officer, has spent his entire career finding a better way to teach math. From inner city public schools to acclaimed magnet schools, to leading private and parochial schools, Larry has served as both a classroom teacher and as a consultant. He has designed curriculum, teaching strategies, and teaching materials. He has trained teachers in the art and science of boosting students' ability to "do" math, thereby increasing their math scores and feelings of self–worth. He is the developer of Mathnasium's educational program, the Mathnasium Method—one of the most comprehensive and innovative curriculums ever produced for teaching math.

Q: What does a student do at Mathnasium?

Mathnasium provides an appealing and welcoming environment where a student receives both instruction and practice. The student works independently of other students following a curriculum adapted precisely and uniquely based on the student's needs. Teachers, who are rigorously trained in our materials and method, provide instruction, guidance and encouragement.

Q: Why do parents enroll their children in Mathnasium?

Mathnasium is effective, affordable, and highly specialized. We get results. This has been proven repeatedly in independent studies. Parents receive periodic reports detailing their child's progress. Students enjoy their workouts. Most importantly, they acquire Number Sense—the ability to think mathematically. We focus on building a solid foundation of skills , which maximizes each student's success, in school, in the SAT, and beyond. There is a wonderful side-benefit from this process: students' boosted self–confidence.

Q: What do parents pay to enroll their children in Mathnasium?

Tuition in the US typically includes a one-time $100 registration and testing fee plus about $175 to $225 per month enrolled, for a 6-12 month commitment. Parents then bring their children to the center when convenient, typically twice a week, for about an hour.

Q: What is a Mathnasium franchise?

A Mathnasium franchise enables you to own your own Mathnasium Learning Center in your community to help children in grades 2 to 12 boost their math skills. We teach you the business and grant you a license to use the Mathnasium name and Mathnasium Business System. We require you to implement the Mathnasium Business System according to our standard of excellence. The System includes:

1. An Education System – so you know what to teach and how to teach.
2. A Marketing System – to help you attract students to your center.
3. A Financial System – for collecting fees, paying bills, financial reports etc.
4. An Operations System – for daily management and administration.

Q: How are Mathnasium center operators supported?

Our goal is to help you to launch your center speedily, comfortably and confidently. You'll receive thorough initial training to prepare you to open your center. Then, on an ongoing basis, we'll be available to answer questions, and if you have a problem, we'll try to help you solve it. We have a comprehensive ongoing support program. Examples of support functions include conventions; individual and group telephone conferences; email Q and A; in person consultation and meetings as necessary; updated education, marketing and operations materials.

Q: What is the initial franchise fee?

Franchisees in the US pay $19,500 at signing. To receive more detailed information about the low cost of starting a Mathnasium franchise click here.

Q: What is the royalty?

Franchisees pay $325 per month plus 11% of revenues.

Q: Do I get an exclusive territory?

Yes. We try to space centers so they are not close enough to compete with one another; and not too far apart so a competitor can provide greater drive-time convenience to customers by slipping in between.

Q: What is the typical profile of a Mathnasium franchisee?

Our candidates believe in the power of education to change lives. For some candidates, math was not their favorite subject in school. For many it was. Some once considered teaching math, but were concerned with the level of compensation or feared being undermined within a hierarchical, bureaucratic school environment. Others struggled with math in school and have heightened sensitivity to the need to help children who are struggling. All our franchisees care deeply about helping children reach their potential; and see business as a vehicle for realizing their financial goals. They are enthusiastic, highly motivated, persistent and achievement-oriented.

Q: What will it cost me to open my first Mathnasium Center?

As with any new business there is a start-up cost which includes setting up a center, an initial marketing campaign, and other one-time expenses. This will vary by geographic area but is estimated to cost $53,600 or more. This includes working capital. The chart below provides an estimate of the initial investment to open one new Mathnasium Center. All costs, except for the initial franchise fee, are estimates. For more detailed information regarding Mathnasium's low startup costs, click here!

CATEGORY OF INVESTMENT
INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE	$19,500
EXPENSES WHILE TRAINING	$300 to $2,000
RENT (AND SECURITY DEPOSIT, IF REQUIRED) (See Note 1)	$1,500 to $7,000
FURNITURE, SIGNS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES (See Note 2)	$7,000 to $12,500
LIABILITY INSURANCE (See Note 3)	$500 to $1,200
BUSINESS LICENSE, NAME REGISTRATION	$100 to $1,000
PHONE AND UTILITIES (See Note 4)	$200 to $500
VIDEO SURVEILLANCE & RELATED EQUIPMENT	$1,000 to $5,000
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM	$500
EARLY STAGE ADVERTISING	$11,000 to $14,000
ADDITIONAL FUNDS (4 months) (see note 5)	$12,000 to $16,800
TOTAL	$53,600 to $80,000

NOTES

[1] The estimate is for the first month's rent. Rent will vary according to location and whether the landlord requires a security deposit. You may not use your home or other residential property as your Center.

[2] The estimate includes initial lease payments for computers, peripherals and other office equipment of $500 to $1,000, for which financing is generally available. The total purchase price of computers is estimated at under $4,000.

[3] The figure given is the current annual rate if you obtain liability insurance based on an assumed Center enrollment of 100 students. See Items 6 and 8 for more information. We recommend, but do not require, that you also obtain other types of insurance coverage for your Centers, such as property and casualty coverage, although we currently require only liability coverage. We estimate that the annual cost of property and casualty coverage would range from $1,000 to $2,500. You may also have an obligation under state law to obtain workers compensation or other forms of insurance.

[4] You must have a separate business phone line and answering machine used exclusively for your Mathnasium Center, and a broadband Internet connection.

[5] This is an estimate of the additional funds you will need during the initial period of operation, which we define as 4 months from the opening of the Center. The estimate does not include payroll costs for any employees (most of our franchisees do not hire assistants during the first three months). It also does not include any compensation that you elect to pay to yourself, nor any royalties that you would pay us. These estimates have been made based on the business and operations experience of the officers of Mathnasium described in Item 2, but we cannot guarantee that you will not have additional expenses starting the business. Your costs will depend on many factors, such as: how closely you follow our methods and procedures; your management skill, experience and business acumen; local economic and environmental conditions; the local market for our services; the prevailing wage rate; competition; and, the enrollment level reached during the initial 4 month period.

[6] These are estimates only. You should review these figures carefully with a business advisor before making any decision to purchase the franchise.

Q: What are the ongoing expenses of running a Mathnasium center?

Other than the royalty, expenses typically include: renting a modest, but presentable, retail or other space in your community (approx. 850 to 1,000 sq. feet); ongoing advertising and promotion; instructors as enrollment grows (paid hourly during teaching times); and a range of miscellaneous expenses, including phone, office supplies, and the like. Click here to take the next step and learn more about operating a Mathnasium Learning Center.

Q: How much money will I make as a Mathnasium franchisee?

As with any business, it depends largely on your own effort. Particularly important is the quality of service you provide; whether you promote the center moderately or aggressively; and so on. You should make your own calculations. These should include conservative scenarios in addition to more aggressive targets. In simple terms, the amount you "make" in any given month is the difference between how much revenue you would receive from all the parents of enrolled students, minus your expenses which includes the royalty you pay Mathnasium Center Licensing. Expenses vary from area to area. To determine revenue only in any particular month of your plan, a simple approach would be:
[Monthly fee per student] X [Net Average monthly rate of growth in enrollment] X [Number of months since opening]

Q: Do I have to teach children myself?

Our goal is to make you comfortable with overseeing all aspects of running the center – including working with children. Your plan will include hiring an Instructor when you have a base of students, but you should be willing to invest your time and energy in all functions of the center, including teaching. Any business operates better if you are "hands –on". If you choose not to teach you will need to hire a Lead Instructor to be at the center during teaching hours. This will increase your expenses, but may be appropriate under certain circumstances. For example, if you are building a chain of Mathnasium centers you may not have time to teach.

Q: What are Mathnasium's Mission and Values?

Our Mission ...
... is to teach children math in a way that makes sense to them.
We believe that children deserve ...
... a learning experience which is effective and engaging and encouraging.
We believe parents deserve ...
...monetary value, meaningful updates and measurable results.
We value...
... programming – that helps kids get results
... places – that are nice to learn and work in
... pupils – who give our lives challenge and meaning
... parents – who pay us their hard-earned money
... people – who share their talent by working with us
... profitable operations – which enable us to grow

Q: What are the typical hours of operation?

The hours may vary, depending on your location. Most are open for instruction from 3p.m. to 7p.m. at least 4 weekdays.

Q: What type of advertising support can I expect?

Mathnasium maintains a full line of ready-to-use marketing materials, including formats for flyers, display ads, direct mail pieces, and brochures.

Q: What type of training is provided by Mathnasium?

You will attend Mathnasium's one-week training program in Los Angeles which includes both classroom and interactive training. Our comprehensive program will cover step-by-step use of the operations manual and all the areas important to your success as a franchise owner. The cost of this initial training is included in your franchise fee. You will be responsible only for your own lodging and travel expenses. Surfing and beach-boardwalk rollerblading lessons are also available, at additional cost.

Q: Can I open my own chain of Mathnasium Learning Centers?

Yes. Talk to us about opening two or more franchises on a development schedule. For example, if you want to open five centers, you could open one now and reserve four additional territories to open the remaining centers over a two year period. The initial fee is reduced from $19,500 to $15,500 for second and successive franchises. In our example above, the total initial fee for opening 5 centers is $81,500.

Q: I live outside the US or Canada. I want to bring Mathnasium to my country. Are Master Licenses available?

Yes! Please refer to our Country Franchise Opportunity pages.

Q: What advantages does Mathnasium offer that other franchisors might not?

Most of our franchisees tell us that an important factor for them in choosing Mathnasium is the nature of the work. They want a personal opportunity as well as a financial opportunity. They want to enjoy what they do. They want to look forward to going to work every day. Additionally, our franchisees want to own a business that makes a real difference. They work better when they are passionate about what they do. They find fundamental problems with other education franchisors, including one or more of the following: high initial fees, exorbitant royalties, huge investment costs, unfair territories, complicated business models and multiple subjects instead of a focused approach. These flaws diminish results for the children, and diminish the value to their parents. Mathnasium has the independent research that shows superior results from our method (other franchisors remarkably do not conduct such research), and we deliver these results every day. Mathnasium franchisees also tell us they care about who they are joining. They like being part of a franchisor/franchisee community of accomplished and caring individuals.

Q: I want to find out if I might qualify to become a Mathnasium franchisee. I'd also like more information, including a copy of the franchise contract to review. What do I do?

The first step is to Request Franchise Information online. To help you make your decision, we'll send you an email with much more information about the Mathnasium franchise, along with a page entitled "Your own Mathnasium Franchise in 5 Steps." Additionally, we'll assign someone from our Franchise Development team to you to answer all of your questions.

* Pre-K to Grade 1 at participating centers