School of Rock
$150,000
$49,900
281
2005
Canton,MA
Stacey Ryan
Overview
A MUSIC EDUCATION FRANCHISE THAT LETS YOU INDULGE YOUR PASSION FOR MUSIC WHILE CHANGING LIVES
For more than 25 years, School of Rock has been teaching youth and adults how to channel their inner rock stars. As educators, we’re trailblazers with our unique performance-based model of music instruction. Today we’re a 380 unit global brand, boosting the lives of over 65,000 students in 15 countries and counting. We continue to develop and open new schools across the world at a rapid pace, and our leadership team is a group of experienced franchise executives who are either musicians themselves or deeply passionate about music and music education.
Traditional music education approaches rarely teach students how to perform with other musicians, focusing instead on teaching music only through one-on-one lessons. The patented School of Rock Method™ is different. We combine private instruction with group rehearsals and live performances, starting students on their musical journey by teaching the songs that inspire them. This integrated SongFirst® approach teaches students techniques and theory while also helping them apply those skills when performing with other musicians. This method results in remarkable musical proficiency.
This School of Rock Method™ is a particularly strong source of differentiation from competitors and is brought to life through proprietary Method Books, a novel Method Application, detailed operations manuals, and a proprietary technology called the School of Rock Method Engine which creates a highly customized learning path for students by linking songs, instruments, proficiency levels, skills and exercises.
The School of Rock Method app connects students and instructors, houses copyrighted exercises from the Method Books, provides interactive tools, and allows parents to monitor their child's progress. It enables the student to play along with sheet music and get AI-powered, real-time feedback. This gamification of the learning process makes practicing more engaging for students of all ages. The App was recognized with the 2021 Franchise Innovation Award for Most Innovative Use of Customer-Facing Digital Tools by Franchise Update Media.
This unique approach helps young, aspiring musicians find themselves, hone their talents, and build the confidence they need in their lives. School of Rock is a safe place for kids to learn, develop friendships with other kids who are into music, and carve out a niche for themselves in a world where they might never have felt a sense of belonging before.
Whether you’re an experienced business executive looking to buy a franchise or a musician looking to build your first business venture, we’ve built up an incredible support team to provide you with everything you need to build your business.
Franchise Unit Trends and Revenue
281
25
$552,524
* in 2023
Franchise Fees
$49,900
Veteran's Fee: $44,900
8.0%
Gross Sales
3.0%
Gross Sales
Why Choose School of Rock?
We understand what it takes to succeed as a franchise, and have a proven track record going back to the mid-’90s. Over the years, we have developed the techniques, the business processes, and the franchisee-centric culture that provide you with a blueprint for your own success. The support doesn’t end when the lease is signed on the new school site. School of Rock will be with you all the way.
School of Rock has garnered the following industry awards: International Franchise Associations 2024 Franchisees of the Year; 2024 and 2023 Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 Top Children’s Music Enrichment Brand; 2023 Global Franchise Grand Champion; 2023, 2022 and 2021 Global Franchise’s Awards Best Children’s Service and Education Franchise; 2024 Global Franchise Highly Commended Best Children’s Service and Education Franchise Recognition; Franchise Business Review’s 2024 and 2023 Top 200 Franchises and Culture 200 list; 2021 Franchise Innovation Award for Most Innovative Use of Customer-Facing Digital Tools; 2020 Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 200 Franchise and the #1 Child Enrichment Franchise; and 2018 Forbes # 2 Best Franchise Medium-Level Investment Award and the #1 Music Franchise in America.
Our students get to perform live at prestigious music festivals like Lollapalooza and well-known venues such as the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. We also have a policy of only hiring professional musicians as instructors at each of our schools.
Best of all, you’ll be able to work in a music-focused business that helps transform children’s lives and makes a difference in your community. You’ll be able to employ 20 or so professional musicians as instructors, helping them further their musical careers. It’s an amazing franchise to invest in and we have multiple opportunities still available.
Starting Costs and Investment Requirements
$387,000 - $664,000
$350,000
$150,000
Training and Support
TAn important ingredient for School of Rock’s success is the franchise awarding process, which provides a clear path that not only allows candidates to properly evaluate the opportunity but also gives our team the chance to analyze if the potential franchisee is a good fit for the School of Rock business model and community.
We use rigorous analysis and analytical tools with world-class statisticians to identify optimal territory definitions. Then, every new franchisee enjoys comprehensive management training consisting of role-specific modules. Before opening their school, new franchisees have weekly interaction with our dedicated New School Opening team. This team works directly with new owners and staff until they operate with comfort and independence. We also have a novel cohort process, where new owners network to cheer and challenge each other, contributing significantly to the impressive first year of performance of many of our new schools.
School of Rock offers a comprehensive library of digital resources and tools. 2023 saw the rollout of a state-of-the-art learning management system, which has earned substantial engagement and praise from our franchisees. The company intranet houses hundreds of how-to articles, operating manuals, marketing materials, and recorded training webinars.
School of Rock is run as a community of collaboration. Every other year, the company hosts a global convention that is packed with learning sessions, round table events, networking opportunities, and a community jam night. During the off years, School of Rock hosts regional meetings. Franchisees are also encouraged to pose questions and share insights on our internal social media platform and participate in weekly CEO and department-led office hours. All franchisees have the personal mobile numbers of the CEO and other leadership members and are welcome to call or text anytime.
Our corporately operated schools foster empathy and expertise to share with franchisees. These units act as a laboratory to reduce the risk of and optimize new innovations before a global rollout. For 25 years, management has demonstrated our belief in the wisdom of investing in School of Rock by investing millions of dollars in running schools. When we put programs forward to franchisees, they know we will win or lose alongside them.
History
School of Rock was founded in 1998 in Philadelphia, PA. From our unique approach to teaching music, expansion quickly followed. For over 25 years, School of Rock has taught guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and keys through an innovative performance-based method to both children and adults. Students are put through a series of private lessons and group rehearsals and then get to show off what they learn on real stages to real audiences. Learning music in a lesson room is just the beginning because we get kids playing on stage as quickly as possible. This real-life experience pushes them to do their best, helping them master skills more quickly and thoroughly than stuffy old music lessons. As both rockers and educators, School of Rock’s experienced instructors are passionate about creating a legacy of music for the future by helping your kids succeed in music and beyond. With more than 30,000 students worldwide, School of Rock ranks as one of the top 5 music education franchise opportunities for entrepreneurs. Since 2014, we’ve added more than 80 music school franchises thanks to our strong leadership, years of expertise, and franchisee-focused support. It’s never too late to join the show. Invest in School of Rock today.
Ideal Candidate
IF YOU LOVE MUSIC AND YOU’RE LOOKING FOR THE BEST KIDS’ FRANCHISE IN THE SEGMENT, SCHOOL OF ROCK MIGHT BE FOR YOU
Our franchisees come from all sorts of backgrounds, but something they all share is a passion for music. Whether they’re experienced entrepreneurs or musicians themselves, they get the coaching and guidance they need from School of Rock to maximize profit after opening their franchises.
We can’t predict how much you’ll make owning a School of Rock franchise, but we can show you how much franchisees have earned in years past. Qualified franchise candidates will receive a copy of our Franchise Information Report, which includes earnings reported by our owners as well as more detailed information about franchise startup costs and what you get for your initial investment.
If you’ve been dreaming about how to start a music school, one of the first things you want to know is how much your initial investment will cost. To be a qualified candidate, you and/or your group need at least $150,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of $350,000.
School of Rock costs for your initial investment for a single location range from $387,000 to $664,000. If you qualify for a small business loan through our preferred lending partner, your cash contribution may only be 20% of the total initial investment.
