Primrose Schools franchise
Primrose Schools are private preschools offering accredited early education and care for infants through pre-K, plus after-school care and a summer program. Schools are big, purpose-built facilities, which is why building one can take three to four years. At the end of 2025 there were 557 Primrose Schools locations in the US, all franchised.
- Cost to open
- $5.02M–$7.96M
- Franchise fee
- $80,000
- Royalty
- 7%
- Locations, 2025
- 557+74 in 3 yrs
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Company snapshot
- Franchisor based in
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Time to open
- 36 to 48 months for a new build
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Protected territory
- Financing
- None offered
From Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC’s 2026 filing.
How much a Primrose Schools franchise costs
Opening a new, ground-up Primrose school costs an estimated $5,016,600 to $7,960,300. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
Source: Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, 2026 filing, page 42
Primrose Schools franchise fee
The franchise fee is $80,000, for a new franchisee's new school ($70,000 for existing franchisees, $50,000 for a veteran's first school). You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, 2026 filing, page 30
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | 7% of gross revenues, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | Currently 2% of gross revenues to the brand fund (up to 3%). |
Source: Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, 2026 filing, page 35
Sales and earnings
Shares figures Primrose Schools publishes sales or earnings figures for its locations: it reports calendar 2025 results for schools open throughout the year. The full tables, with notes on which locations are counted, are in its filing.
Source: Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, 2026 filing, page 84
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 505 (+22) | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 525 (+20) | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | 557 (+32) | 0 | 4 |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
Source: Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, 2026 filing, page 97
How Primrose Schools compares
Of the 4 daycare franchises on this site, Primrose Schools is the most expensive to open and the 2nd largest by number of locations.
| Measure | Primrose Schools | Typical daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $5.02M | $905K |
| Royalty | 7% | 7% |
| Closed or left per year | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Change in franchised locations, 3 yrs | +15.3% | +17.2% |
| Shares earnings figures | Yes | 4 of 4 |
Typical is the median across the 4 brands in daycare franchises.
Other daycare franchises
Primrose Schools franchise questions
How long does it take to open a Primrose Schools?
36 to 48 months for a new build, according to Primrose Schools's 2026 filing. Finding a site, permits and build-out are what usually stretch it.
Does Primrose Schools help with financing?
No. Primrose Schools does not offer financing or guarantee loans or leases, so buyers arrange their own, usually a bank or SBA loan.
Do Primrose Schools franchisees get a protected territory?
Yes. Primrose Schools assigns a protected territory where it won't open or license another location while you meet the agreement's terms.
How long is a Primrose Schools franchise agreement?
The initial term is 10 years. Renewal is usually possible if you're in good standing, often for a fee and a remodel.
Is Primrose Schools growing or shrinking?
Over the last 3 years 80 franchised locations opened and 6 closed or left, a net change of +15.3%. About 0.4% of locations closed or left each year. That is in line with the 0.4% typical for daycare franchises.
How does Primrose Schools compare with other daycare franchises?
Of the 4 daycare franchises here, Primrose Schools is the most expensive to open (low end $5.02M against a $905K median) and the 2nd largest by number of locations. Its 7% royalty is in line with the 7% median.
Does Primrose Schools say how much franchisees make?
Yes: it reports calendar 2025 results for schools open throughout the year. Your results can differ; the filing explains which locations are counted.
Where is Primrose Schools based?
Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC is based in Atlanta, Georgia.