Safari Kid Franchise FDD, Costs & Fees (2025)

Safari Kid is an early childhood education franchise offering preschool and after-school programs that blend academic learning with creative and physical activities.

Founded in 2005 by Shahdokth “Shy” Mudakavi in Newark, California, Safari Kid has grown into a global leader in early childhood education. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, the franchise began offering franchising opportunities in 2011, welcoming entrepreneurs who are passionate about fostering young minds.

Safari Kid offers a wide range of educational programs for children aged 0 to 12, including infant care, toddler and preschool education, after-school enrichment, and summer camps.

The franchise’s curriculum is built on cutting-edge research in brain development, ensuring that each child receives a holistic education. By focusing on cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and language development, Safari Kid delivers a well-rounded learning experience that promotes both confidence and academic growth.

A key factor that differentiates Safari Kid from other early education franchises is its commitment to innovation. Its proprietary curriculum is continually updated to reflect the latest educational research, and it embraces diverse teaching methodologies to meet the individual needs of students.

Initial investment

Here's what you would need to invest if you were to start this franchise. These costs are provided by the franchisor in the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Type of Expenditure Amount
Franchise Fee $70,000
Pre-Opening Services Fee $30,000
Materials Fee $900 to $4,500
Training Program Travel Expenses $3,900 – $9,500
Leased Real Estate $7,500 – $45,000
Equipment $5,000 - $10,000
Furniture $5,000 – $80,000
Build Out of Learning Center $200,000 - $900,000
Business Permits & Licenses $200 - $6,000
Liability Insurance (for 6 months) $1,000 - $2,000
Signage $5,000 - $10,000
Initial Advertising $15,000
Print, Design, Marketing $2,600 – $9,000
Security System $1,000 – $10,000
Accounting & Legal Expenses $2,000 - $7,000
Additional Funds $27,500 - $65,000
TOTAL $376,600 to $1,273,000
Type of Expenditure Amount
Franchise Fee $70,000
Pre-Opening Services Fee $30,000
Materials Fee $900 to $4,500
Training Program Travel Expenses $3,900 – $9,500
Leased Real Estate $7,500 – $45,000
Equipment $5,000 - $10,000
Furniture $5,000 – $80,000
Build Out of Learning Center $200,000 - $900,000
Business Permits & Licenses $200 - $6,000
Liability Insurance (for 6 months) $1,000 - $2,000
Signage $5,000 - $10,000
Initial Advertising $15,000
Print, Design, Marketing $2,600 – $9,000
Security System $1,000 – $10,000
Accounting & Legal Expenses $2,000 - $7,000
Additional Funds $27,500 - $65,000
TOTAL $376,600 to $1,273,000

Franchise Disclosure Document

Number of units

Training

Safari Kid provides a comprehensive training program to ensure franchisees are equipped to successfully operate their learning center. The franchisor offers the following key programs:

  1. Initial Training Program: Safari Kid offers training for both the franchisee and one other designated person. This program covers essential aspects of operating a Safari Kid center, including curriculum implementation, classroom management, and administrative processes.
  2. Pre-Opening Assistance: The franchisor provides support in site selection, zoning, and licensing to help franchisees prepare their centers for launch. This guidance ensures that all legal and operational requirements are met prior to opening.
  3. Ongoing Training and Support: After the center opens, Safari Kid continues to offer advisory services, updates to training materials, and periodic reviews to ensure adherence to brand standards. This continuous support helps franchisees stay current with educational practices and operational improvements.

Territory Protection

Safari Kid offers its franchisees a designated territory to operate their learning center, providing a degree of territorial protection. The franchise agreement specifies that the territory is defined and approved by the franchisor, ensuring that no other franchisee can open a Safari Kid center within that area. This helps minimize direct competition from other Safari Kid franchises within the same market.

However, the franchisor retains certain rights that can impact territorial exclusivity. For example, Safari Kid may continue to market and advertise its brand broadly, including within a franchisee’s designated area, through online and regional campaigns. While the protected territory provides operational space, franchisees should note that digital and brand-wide promotions are not limited by physical territorial boundaries.

Competitors

Below are some of

Safari Kid

key competitors in the

Preschool

sector.

Franchise
Franchisees
Initial fee
Total investment
Revenue
Upgrade
Gross Profit
Upgrade
EBITDA
Upgrade

18

New
+
-10%
-10%

$70,000

$377,000

$1,273,000

n.a.

$0

$xxx,xxx

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

n.a.

xx%

n.a.

Competitors

LEAFSPRING SCHOOL

LEAFSPRING School is an early-childhood education franchise offering preschool and elementary-grade programs, serving families seeking Montessori-style learning, and known for modern campuses, teacher development, and results-focused academic foundation.

Franchisees

?

12
+
-8%
-8%
Investment

?

$979,000 - $1,406,000

KidsPark

KidsPark is a family entertainment and early-education franchise offering indoor play, drop-in childcare, preschool programs, and birthday events, serving families of young children, and known for bright facilities, flexible scheduling, and community-centric model.

Franchisees

?

19
+
-5%
-5%
Investment

?

$299,000 - $527,000
Education
Preschool

Genius Kids

Genius Kids is a children’s educational franchise offering fun learning classes, camps, and early enrichment programs, serving families seeking supplemental education, and known for engaging instructors, accessible locations, and broad age-range curriculum.

Franchisees

?

23
+
-4%
-4%
Investment

?

$276,000 - $909,000
Education
Preschool

Ducklings Early Learning Center

Ducklings Early Learning Center is a childcare and education franchise offering preschool and early learning services from infant to kindergarten, serving families and working parents, and known for 30-year curriculum, strong franchisee training, and growth-oriented system.

Franchisees

?

11
+
57%
57%
Investment

?

$993,000 - $2,154,000

Compuchild

CompuChild is an educational franchise offering after-school STEM, STEAM, entrepreneurship, and enrichment programs, serving children and schools, and known for certified curriculum, interactive tech-based lessons, and full franchise-support model.

Franchisees

?

9
+
-10%
-10%
Investment

?

$40,000 - $65,000

Safari Kid

Safari Kid is an early childhood education franchise offering preschool and after-school programs that blend academic learning with creative and physical activities.

Franchisees

?

18
+
-10%
-10%
Investment

?

$377,000 - $1,273,000
Education
Preschool