Best Brains
The total investment to open a Best Brains franchise ranges from $29,850 to $134,300. The initial franchise fee is $14,500. Ongoing royalties are 14% plus a 0.6% advertising fee.
What is the Best Brains franchise?
Parents worldwide continue to seek ways to help children build strong academic foundations, creating demand for supplemental learning programs. Best Brains was created to serve that need. Best Brains, Inc. was founded in 2011 and formally established as an Illinois corporation on August 29, 2011. President and Co founder Ajay Sunkara and Vice President Hana Adas lead the company. Its corporate headquarters are in Arlington Heights, Illinois, with operating addresses listed at 135 E Algonquin Road, Suite B, and 415 W. Golf Road, Suite 57. Best Brains began franchising in 2013 with 4 franchised units and 4 total units, with no company owned locations. By 2021, it had more than 130 learning centers across the US, Canada, and other international locations, and it was targeting 200 centers by the end of 2022. Later information reports more than 186 centers in the U.S. and Canada and a global network exceeding 300+ locations across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, with additional international expansion planned. The 2024 Franchise Disclosure Document reports 125 franchised Best Brains locations in the USA. Another source reports 121 US Franchises and 122 total US locations, including corporate sites. Best Brains operates in the Exam Preparation and Tutoring category, a market with a total addressable size in the tens of billions globally. Parents continue to spend on services intended to improve their children's educational results, giving the brand a place in a large and established market. PeerSense's independent review considers the company's operating history and network when assessing its relevance for prospective franchise buyers.
Exam Preparation and Tutoring is a large global industry estimated to be valued well over $100 billion. Industry projections place compound annual growth at 7-8% through the next decade. Demand is supported by greater competition for university admissions, parental awareness of academic skill gaps, and interest in personalized instruction. These factors support services such as the programs offered by Best Brains. Digital learning tools and hybrid educational models have also become more common, in part because of recent global events. That shift has increased interest in instruction that can adapt to individual students and provide targeted academic support. Many parents view supplemental education as a necessary part of preparing children for school, higher education, and future work rather than as an optional purchase. Foundational subjects and test preparation are particular areas of interest. The category also attracts franchise investors because spending on children's education often remains a priority during economic downturns. The market is fragmented, with large established companies operating alongside many independent providers. That structure can give organized brands an opportunity to gain local market share through distinct programs and community involvement. Other forces affecting the category include changing educational standards, the rising cost of higher education, and continued attention to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, commonly called STEM. These conditions support continuing demand for supplemental learning services and create opportunities for new programs within the Best Brains franchise category.
The information provided does not include the Best Brains franchise fee, total investment range, liquid capital requirement, net worth requirement, royalty fee, or advertising fee. Best Brains, Inc. reports 0 company owned locations, making the system a pure play franchise model in which the network depends on franchised operations. The brand has a Loan Activity Score of 51, classified as Moderate. That score is an independent measure of the franchise's risk and potential reward profile and places Best Brains between higher risk and lower risk opportunities under that measure. The score is based on a proprietary evaluation method. Specific SBA eligibility rates and veteran incentives are not provided. That operating record and expansion may be relevant when prospective buyers discuss the business with potential financing sources, although PeerSense is not a lender and does not approve or provide loans. Because detailed cost information is unavailable, buyers should focus their due diligence on unit economics, operating requirements, franchise support, and the information in the applicable disclosure documents.
A Best Brains center is designed to deliver supplemental learning programs for children and requires active attention to daily operations and local community relationships. A franchisee would generally oversee the learning center, manage student enrollment, supervise delivery of the proprietary curriculum, and recruit, train, and manage instructors and administrative employees. The staffing model depends on attracting and retaining educators who can teach math, English, and exam preparation. The available information does not state the length or location of training. A growing system such as Best Brains would be expected to train new franchisees on its curriculum, operating procedures, and marketing approach. Ongoing support would typically include curriculum updates, technology platforms for managing students and tracking progress, centralized marketing programs intended to support enrollment, and field consultants who advise on operating practices and business development. The specific territory structure is not provided, but the operating model would logically use defined geographic areas and may include protected territories. Specific multi unit requirements are also unavailable. The growth from 4 franchised units to more than 300 global locations, including 125 franchised US locations in the 2024 FDD, indicates that multi unit development opportunities are available and encouraged for qualified investors. Educational franchises commonly use an owner operator structure, allowing the franchisee to build local relationships and influence service quality. An experienced multi unit operator may also be able to use an absentee ownership structure supported by a strong general manager.
Results depend on location, student enrollment capacity, pricing structure, and local demand. Best Brains focuses on supplemental programs for children, a segment supported by continuing parental interest in academic help. The brand's expansion is another indicator to review. It began franchising in 2013 with 4 franchised units and 4 total units, grew to more than 130 centers by 2021, targeted 200 centers by 2022, and now reports more than 300+ locations globally. The 2024 FDD identifies 125 franchised Best Brains locations in the USA. The system has 0 company owned locations, so the reported expansion has been driven through franchising. Continued growth can indicate that enough franchisees have found the model suitable to support additional investment, although it does not establish the results of any particular location. The Loan Activity Score of 51, classified as Moderate, provides another independent reference point for evaluating the business. It does not replace store level financial information. Buyers should request and review available unit economics before making an investment decision.
Best Brains has expanded steadily since its founding in 2011 and the start of franchising in 2013. Its early operating base included 4 franchised units. By 2021, the company had more than 130 learning centers across the US, Canada, and other international markets and was targeting 200 centers by the end of 2022. Later data reported more than 186 centers in the U.S. and Canada and more than 200 locations when Australia was included. The global network has since exceeded 300+ locations across the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, with further international expansion underway. The 2024 FDD reports 125 franchised Best Brains locations in the USA. Expansion into markets such as the UK reflects the company's effort to build an international presence. The brand's operating advantages include a proprietary curriculum for children's supplemental learning that has been developed and refined for more than a decade. Recognition in its target communities has been built through years of operation and can support customer trust and retention. Experience across hundreds of locations has also given the system a basis for managing centers and delivering services consistently. Best Brains continues to adjust its programs in response to changing academic standards and parental expectations. Its existing model is intended to support additional market share in a changing education sector. The reported growth is a significant part of the franchise's profile, but buyers should still assess local competition, enrollment potential, and the support available in their proposed territory.
A prospective Best Brains franchisee should bring an interest in education, business judgment, and a commitment to local community involvement. Prior direct experience in education is not required by the information provided. Franchisees need management ability to lead instructors, supervise center operations, and carry out local marketing intended to increase enrollment. That scale suggests the company may be interested in candidates who can develop multiple units and operate across several territories. The available territory markets include the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, along with planned expansion into other international markets. Locations with large populations of school aged children, strong community support for education, and households willing to spend on supplemental learning may be suitable markets. The time from signing a franchise agreement to opening a learning center typically ranges from six to twelve months. That period may include site selection, build out or leasehold improvements, training, and initial marketing. The specific franchise agreement term is not available. Standard agreements in the industry typically range from 5 to 10 years, with renewal terms tied to performance and compliance with brand standards. Transfers and resales are generally addressed through the franchise system, giving qualified franchisees a possible exit route when they follow corporate requirements.
Best Brains operates in the supplemental education market for children, where parents continue to seek academic support and skill development. Its network includes the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK, with additional international expansion underway. A Loan Activity Score of 51, classified as Moderate, provides an independent reference for the franchise's overall risk and reward profile. The company reports 0 company owned units, meaning the system is built around franchised locations. Buyers should review the full disclosure document, confirm the costs and fees directly, examine local demand, and assess the operating support before proceeding. PeerSense provides independent franchise research that can include SBA lending history, the Loan Activity Score, location maps with Google ratings, FDD financial data, and side by side comparison tools. PeerSense introduces franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lenders but is not a lender and does not fund or approve loans.
Loan Activity Score
51/100
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
Active Lenders
4
Franchisees account for 162 of Best Brains's 164 locations. Public SBA loan records show 4 lenders made 4 loans to franchisees of Best Brains. PeerSense calculates Best Brains's score as 51 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity. Cost figures are based on the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.
Franchising since 2011 · 164 locations
$29,850 to $134,300
$14,500
164
162 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
ModerateDistinct lenders in public SBA records for Best Brains
4
Total SBA loans
$104K
Average loan size
Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025
Referral fee at closing
SBA Lending Activity for Best Brains
Loan Activity Score Breakdown
Emerging (3 to 9 loans)
Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.
Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.
Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.
FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.
Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.
SBA Lending Performance
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
vs 9.5% peer avg
SBA Loans
4
Total Volume
$0.4M
Active Lenders
4
1 selective
States
4
vs. SBA Sector Average
SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors
Key Highlights
Franchise Financing Resources
Data Insights
Key performance metrics for Best Brains based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
9.5% below peer avg
SBA Loan Volume
4 loans
Across 4 lenders
Lender Diversity
4 lenders
Avg 1.0 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Low cost entry
$29,850 to $134,300 total
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$309
Principal & Interest only
Indicative only, as of October 1, 2026. Not a quote, commitment or offer of credit. Final pricing, leverage and terms are determined by the lender at underwriting, after full transaction materials are reviewed. PeerSense sources the file. The lender sets pricing. What these terms mean.
Locations
Best Brains, unit breakdown
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman