Mad Science franchise
2025 filing · July 11, 2025Shares sales figures
Mad Science at a glance
A science education business running hands-on after-school programs, camps, workshops and party shows for children in a territory.
The business
- Franchisor
- Mad Science Group Inc
- The company that sells the franchises
- Franchising since
- 1995
- 30 years of selling franchises
What you pay
- Cost to open
- $132K–$192K
- Fee, build-out and opening working capital
- Franchise fee
- $49,000
- Paid once, when you sign
- Royalty
- 8%
- 8% of gross revenues, paid monthly
- Brand fund
- Yes
- 2% of the previous year's gross revenue or $2,000 a year, whichever is more; it can rise to 3%
- Renewal fee
- See terms
- $5,000 per Territory
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Limited
- Limited protection
- Franchisor financing
- None offered
Where it is
- Franchised, 2025
- 58
- As printed in the filing
From Mad Science Group Inc’s 2025 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
Where it ranks
Mad Science among all franchises with the same figure.
| Figure | Mad Science | Among all franchises |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, midpointHalfway between the low and high estimate | $162,145 | Costs less than 75% of franchises |
| Franchise feePaid once, when you sign | $49,000 | Higher than 62% of franchises |
| RoyaltyShare of sales paid to the franchisor | 8% | Higher than 85% of brands with a set rate |
How much a Mad Science franchise costs
Opening one Mad Science costs an estimated $132,331 to $191,959. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
The biggest costs are lease of office/training/party room/warehouse space and leasehold improvements ($33,600 to $56,000) and initial franchise fee ($49,000). Here is every line of the estimate as filed:
| What it pays for | Range | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $49,000 | ||
| Equipment Package | $28,000 | ||
| Lease of Office/Training/Party Room/Warehouse Space and Leasehold Improvements | $33,600 | $56,000 | |
| SchoolHouse Chess Program Fee | $0 | $10,000 | |
| SchoolHouse Chess Program Equipment | $0 | $5,000 | |
| Brixology Program Equipment and Branded Products | $0 | $5,159 | |
| Insurance | $2,000 | $3,500 | |
| Local Advertising | $250 | $1,000 | |
| Office Equipment/Supplies | $3,000 | $6,000 | |
| Technology Access Fee | $681 | $1,500 | |
| Security and Utility Deposits, Business Licenses and other prepaid expenses | $1,000 | $2,500 | |
| Legal and Accounting/Bookkeeping Fees | $1,000 | $3,500 | |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $13,800 | $20,800 | |
| Total | $132,331 | $191,959 | |
Source: Mad Science Group Inc, 2025 filing, page 19
Mad Science franchise fee
The franchise fee is $49,000. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Mad Science Group Inc, 2025 filing, page 11
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 8% of gross revenues, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 2% of the previous year's gross revenue or $2,000 a year, whichever is more; it can rise to 3%. |
| Technology Access Fee | Currently $227-$500 per month (but we can change it) |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 per Territory |
| Renewal Fee | $5,000 per Territory |
| Service Fee for Additional Training | Currently $500 per day. |
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Mad Science Group Inc, 2025 filing, pages 13 and 15
Other fees as filed, from pages 14–16. The filing lists every fee, including late fees and audit costs.
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Mad Science publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Mad Science Group Inc, 2025 filing, page 60
SBA loans to Mad Science franchisees
Lenders approved 39 SBA-backed loans for Mad Science franchisees from 1997 to 2018, $6.66M in all: 38 7(a) loans and 1 504 loan. All 39 have ended: 34 were paid in full and 5 were charged off (12.8%).
A charged-off loan is one written off as uncollectible. See SBA franchise loans for how 7(a) and 504 loans work.
Source: SBA 7(a) and 504 loan data, as of September 30, 2026
How Mad Science compares
Of the 168 entertainment franchises on this site, Mad Science is the 49th cheapest to open.
| Figure | Mad Science | Typical entertainment brand | Typical franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $132K | $286K | $222K |
| Cost to open, high end | $192K | $598K | $477K |
| Franchise fee | $49K | $45K | $40K |
| Royalty | 8% | 6% | 6% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 113 of 168 | 2,147 of 3,352 |
Typical is the median across the 168 brands in entertainment franchises; typical franchise, across every brand here.
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 59 (−11) | 8 | – | – |
| 2024 | 57 (−2) | 9 | 0 | −2 |
| 2025 | 58 (+1) | 12 | +1 | 0 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating. Years end March 31. Each location is a franchise territory; programs run in schools and other venues rather than a storefront.
These figures don't add up as printed: the 2023 counts come to 79, but the filing shows 81. Worth asking the franchisor.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
More in the guides: franchise failure rates.
Source: Mad Science Group Inc, 2025 filing, page 64
Where Mad Science locations are
At the end of 2025, Mad Science had locations in 23 states. The most are in California, New York and Texas.
- California12
- New York6
- Texas6
- Florida5
- New Jersey5
- Arizona3
| State | Franchised | Company-owned | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| New York | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Texas | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Florida | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| New Jersey | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Arizona | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Colorado | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Illinois | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 0 | 3 |
All 23 states
| Virginia | 3 |
|---|---|
| Maryland | 2 |
| Michigan | 2 |
| Minnesota | 2 |
| Ohio | 2 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 |
| Connecticut | 1 |
| Kansas | 1 |
| Maine | 1 |
| Missouri | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 1 |
| Utah | 1 |
| Wisconsin | 1 |
Source: Mad Science Group Inc, 2025 filing, page 65
Who owns Mad Science?
Mad Science franchises are sold by Mad Science Group Inc.
From Mad Science Group Inc’s 2025 filing.
Lawsuits and bankruptcy
| Lawsuits and regulatory actions | Yes. The filing describes past or pending cases involving the franchisor, its affiliates or its executives on pages 10–11. |
|---|---|
| Bankruptcy | None. The filing says no bankruptcy has to be disclosed. |
Franchisors must disclose lawsuits and bankruptcies involving the company, its parents and affiliates, and its executives. Many cases are routine disputes with franchisees over fees or contracts; read the descriptions in the filing and ask current owners about anything that worries you.
Source: Mad Science Group Inc, 2025 filing, litigation on pages 10–11, bankruptcy on page 11
Mad Science filings
The figures on this page come from Mad Science Group Inc’s 2025 filing, issued July 11, 2025, on record with the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
| Filing | Issued | Registry | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 filing | July 11, 2025 | Minnesota | Costs, fees and locations, 2023–2025 |
Each link opens the filing as a PDF. See the newest filings across all brands.
Other entertainment franchises
All entertainment franchises
Mad Science is also on these lists: education franchises.