October 2026
The $40,000 Question: What Kumon’s Incentive Package Actually Covers, What It Doesn’t, and How It Compares
Kumon offers up to $40,000 in first-year incentives including rent subsidy, furniture, signage, and marketing support. Here is what each component covers and what it does not.
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The SBA Lending Landscape: What 115 Loans and a 7% Default Rate Tell You About How Banks Actually Evaluate a Kumon Franchise
Kumon has roughly 115 SBA loans with a 7% default rate. But the missing Item 19 changes how banks underwrite. Here is how lenders evaluate a franchise with no financial performance data.
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The Working Capital Drain: What Negative $35K in Year One Means When the Franchisor Won’t Tell You What Year Two Looks Like
Kumon does not publish financial performance data. Third-party estimates put year-one cash flow at negative $15K to $35K. Here is the month-by-month model and what reserve you actually need.
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The AI Tutoring Question: Whether a $7/Month App Replaces What a $200/Month Kumon Centre Does
Khanmigo costs $7/month. Kumon costs $200. We analyse whether AI tutoring is an existential threat to Kumon's franchise model — or an irrelevant comparison.
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The Five-Year Leash: What the Shortest Agreement Term in Franchising Means for Your Exit, Your ROI, and Your Leverage
Kumon's agreement is 5 years — the shortest franchise on this site. We analyse what that means for payback, renewal leverage, resale value, and your exit plan.
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The 1,705-Name List: How to Run Validation Calls That Surface What Kumon’s Missing Item 19 Cannot Tell You
Kumon publishes no Item 19. Item 20 gives you 1,705 names. Here are the 15 questions that build the financial picture the FDD does not provide.
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The 20% Question: What Kumon’s Franchise Closure Rate Actually Tells You About the Business You’re Buying
Multiple sources cite a ~20% annual closure rate for Kumon franchises. We break down what the number includes, why it's high, and what it means for your decision.
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The Break-Even Headcount: How Many Students Your Kumon Centre Actually Needs Before You Take Home a Dollar
How many students does a Kumon centre need to break even? We build the model from rent, wages, and the $38/student royalty. The math nobody else has published.
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