Skill Samurai franchise
2023 filing · August 15, 2023Growing
Skill Samurai at a glance
An after-school coding and STEM class business for kids, run from a learning center or at schools and other venues. At the end of 2022 there were 6 Skill Samurai locations in the US, all franchised.
The business
- Industry
- Education
- Franchisor
- Skill Samurai, Inc
- The company that sells the franchises
- Franchisor based in
- Miami, Florida
- Typical size
- 1,500–2,400 sq ft
What you pay
- Cost to open
- $144K–$308K
- A brick-and-mortar center
- Franchise fee
- $49,000
- Paid once, when you sign
- Royalty
- 7%
- The greater of 7% of gross sales or $500 a month from month 7, paid monthly
- Brand fund
- 3%
- 3% of gross sales, paid with the royalty
- Agreement length
- 10 years
- Territory
- Limited
- Limited protection
- Franchisor financing
- None offered
Where it is
- US locations, 2022
- 6
- Franchised and company-owned
- Franchised
- 6
- Company-owned
- 0
- Change in 2 years
- +6
- Franchised locations, 2020–2022
- States
- 4
- Most in Texas, California and Tennessee
From Skill Samurai, Inc’s 2023 filing; SBA status from the SBA Franchise Directory, October 28, 2026.
Where it ranks
Skill Samurai among all franchises with the same figure.
| Figure | Skill Samurai | Among all franchises |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, midpointHalfway between the low and high estimate | $225,808 | Costs less than 66% of franchises |
| Franchise feePaid once, when you sign | $49,000 | Higher than 62% of franchises |
| RoyaltyShare of sales paid to the franchisor | 7% | Higher than 70% of brands with a set rate |
| US locationsFranchised and company-owned | 6 | Fewer than 69% of franchises |
How much a Skill Samurai franchise costs
Opening a brick-and-mortar center costs an estimated $143,665 to $307,950. That covers the franchise fee and everything else needed to open, through the first months of working capital.
The biggest costs are leasehold improvements ($20,000 to $100,000) 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 | ||
| Fixtures & Furnishings | $16,000 | $42,000 | |
| Equipment | $20,000 | $30,000 | |
| Rent, Security & Utility Deposits | $2,000 | $10,000 | |
| Store Design Plan | $2,500 | $5,000 | |
| Insurance | $1,100 | $2,000 | |
| Professional Fees | $500 | $3,500 | |
| Software | $165 | $250 | |
| Training Expenses | $2,000 | $3,000 | |
| Permits and other Licenses | $200 | $1,500 | |
| Initial Inventory | $5,000 | $16,000 | |
| Leasehold Improvements | $20,000 | $100,000 | |
| Grand Opening Advertising | $15,000 | $20,000 | |
| Fax/Phone/Internet | $50 | $200 | |
| Office Supplies | $150 | $500 | |
| Additional Funds –3 Months | $10,000 | $25,000 | |
| Total | $143,665 | $307,950 | |
Source: Skill Samurai, Inc, 2023 filing, page 17
Skill Samurai franchise fee
The franchise fee is $49,000. You pay it when you sign the franchise agreement.
Source: Skill Samurai, Inc, 2023 filing, page 11
Royalty and ongoing fees
| Royalty | The greater of 7% of gross sales or $500 a month from month 7, paid monthly. |
|---|---|
| Brand or marketing fund | 3% of gross sales, paid with the royalty. |
| Technology Fee | $200 per month |
| Transfer Fee | $10,000 |
| Local Advertising Requirement | A minimum of $1,000 per month |
The typical franchise royalty is 6% of sales, plus 2% for marketing. See franchise fees and royalties to compare.
Source: Skill Samurai, Inc, 2023 filing, page 13
Other fees as filed, from pages 13–15. The filing lists every fee, including late fees and audit costs.
Sales and earnings
No figures Skill Samurai does not share sales or profit figures for its locations. Talking to current and former franchise owners is the usual way to learn what a location earns.
Source: Skill Samurai, Inc, 2023 filing, page 44
How Skill Samurai compares
Of the 221 education franchises on this site, Skill Samurai is the 129th cheapest to open and the 137th largest by number of locations.
| Figure | Skill Samurai | Typical education brand | Typical franchise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to open, low end | $144K | $120K | $222K |
| Cost to open, high end | $308K | $228K | $477K |
| Franchise fee | $49K | $42K | $40K |
| Royalty | 7% | 7% | 6% |
| Brand fund | 3% | 2% | 2% |
| US locations | 6 | 15 | 21 |
| Shares earnings figures | No | 148 of 221 | 2,147 of 3,352 |
Typical is the median across the 221 brands in education franchises; typical franchise, across every brand here.
Locations opened and closed
| Year | Franchised | Company-owned | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 (+1) | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 (+5) | 0 | – | – |
Closed or left counts terminations, non-renewals, locations bought back by the franchisor and locations that stopped operating.
See which brands grew most in the fastest-growing franchises rankings.
More in the guides: franchise failure rates.
Source: Skill Samurai, Inc, 2023 filing, page 45
Where Skill Samurai locations are
At the end of 2022, Skill Samurai had franchised locations in 4 states. The most are in Texas, California and Tennessee.
- Texas2
- California1
- Tennessee1
- Washington1
| State | Franchised |
|---|---|
| Texas | 2 |
| California | 1 |
| Tennessee | 1 |
| Washington | 1 |
Source: Skill Samurai, Inc, 2023 filing, page 46
Who owns Skill Samurai?
Skill Samurai franchises are sold by Skill Samurai, Inc.
From Skill Samurai, Inc’s 2023 filing.
Lawsuits and bankruptcy
| Lawsuits and regulatory actions | None. The filing says no litigation has to be disclosed. |
|---|---|
| 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: Skill Samurai, Inc, 2023 filing, litigation on page 11, bankruptcy on page 11
Skill Samurai filings
The figures on this page come from Skill Samurai, Inc’s 2023 filing, issued August 15, 2023, on record with the NASAA Electronic Filing Depository.
| Filing | Issued | Registry | On this page |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 filing | August 15, 2023 | NASAA depository | Costs, fees and locations, 2020–2022 |
Each link opens the filing as a PDF. See the newest filings across all brands.
