Key Numbers
131
Total units open
119 franchised + 12 company-owned
19 franchised units
Units opened last year
0 franchised units ceased operations
Units closed last year
13 total units
Net unit growth
11 franchised + 2 company-owned
Apex Leadership Franchise
Child Services & Education FDD 2025 Item 19 disclosed
Data extracted from Apex Leadership's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, filed under FTC Rule 16 CFR 436. How we analyze FDDs →
Initial investment
$94K - $143K
Franchise fee
$50K
System size
119 (+19)
Royalty
8%
The Verdict
Quick Verdict · who it fits
Apex Leadership fits first-time franchise buyers looking for a mid-scale child services concept.
✓ Strengths
- ✓Discloses Item 19 financial performance
- ✓119 units — strong system scale
- ✓No disclosed Item 3 litigation
⚠ Risks to review
- ⚠No exclusive territory — franchisor can open nearby
Key FDD Facts
The numbers a buyer needs first — straight from the filing.
Initial investment (Item 7)
$94K - $143K
Franchise fee (Item 5)
$50K
Royalty (Item 6)
8% + 2% ad
System size (Item 20)
119 +19
Agreement term
10 yrs
Company-owned units
12
Item 3 litigation
None disclosed
Model Apex Leadership's costs in the investment calculator → Prefilled from this filing — startup cost, cash flow and break-even.
Buyer qualifications
•No exclusive territory•Owner-operator required✓No bankruptcy disclosed✓No Item 3 litigation
Data extracted from the 2025 FDD filed with state regulators. Fees and terms may have changed since filing — request the current FDD from the franchisor before deciding. Not legal, financial, or investment advice. Full disclaimer.
What you'd pay the franchisor
Drag to your projected annual sales. Royalty 8% + ad fund 2% on gross sales.
PROJECTED ANNUAL SALES$920,000
$100k$2M
Royalty (8%)
—
Ad fund (2%)
—
Total / year
—
▪ Of-sales fees only · excludes rent, labor, COGS, and one-time costs · for illustration
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What's inside
Franchise Overview
Costs & Fees Breakdown
Your Obligations
Franchisor Obligations
Financial Statements
Contracts Summary
Unit Economics
Network Health
Litigation Risk
Earnings Analysis
Financial Fit Analysis
Buyer Verdict
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Research, not legal advice. Use this report alongside professional legal and financial review before signing any franchise agreement.
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Competitive intelligence for franchisors →Executive Summary
Free AI summary — the first read on the filing.
AI Due Diligence Findings PREMIUM
What our analysis flagged across the 2025 filing.
5
Risks to review
4
Strengths identified
5
Questions to ask
Industry Benchmarks
How Apex Leadership ranks against 138 Child Services & Education peers we've analyzed.
Initial investment
39th pct · of 138 peers
Franchise fee
51st pct · of 138 peers
System size
77th pct · of 138 peers
Child Services & Education industry averages
Avg investment
$372K - $1.0M
Avg franchise fee
$46K
Avg system size
95
Franchises analyzed
138
How Apex Leadership stacks up
Closest concepts by category and investment.
| Brand | Item 19 | Fee | Investment | Royalty | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Leadership | Disclosed | $50K | $94K - $143K | 8% | 119 |
| Afficient Academy of America Similar price | None | $1K | $47K - $142K | 22% | 10 |
| Kumon North America Biggest system | Disclosed | $2K | $102K - $234K | — | 1,705 |
| Uatp Management Top-rated in category | Disclosed | $100K | $2.9M - $5.4M | 7% | 202 |
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Answer five questions and get matched against 2,000+ analyzed FDDs — including every Child Services & Education brand we cover. Free, no account needed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Apex Leadership franchise cost?
Apex Leadership requires a $49,500 initial franchise fee and a total initial investment range of $94,000–$143,000, per the most recent FDD on file.
Who owns Apex Leadership?
Apex Leadership franchises are sold by Apex Leadership Franchising, LLC, the franchisor entity of record on its Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 1 of the FDD discloses the corporate structure, including any parent companies and predecessors.
Does Apex Leadership disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
Yes. Apex Leadership discloses Item 19 financial performance representations in its FDD. See the financials sub-page for the disclosed figures.
What ongoing fees does Apex Leadership charge?
Franchisees pay a royalty of 8% of Gross Revenue and an advertising fund contribution of 2% of Gross Revenues on gross sales as defined in Item 6 of the FDD.
How many Apex Leadership locations are there?
As of their 2025 FDD, Apex Leadership has 119 total locations, with 19 new locations opened in the most recent reporting year. This information comes from Item 20 of the FDD.
Does Apex Leadership grant exclusive territory?
No. Apex Leadership does not grant exclusive territory rights under Item 12. The franchisor retains the right to operate or grant additional units inside or adjacent to your trade area.
What are the renewal and exit terms?
Per the FDD, Apex Leadership discloses an initial agreement term of 10 years, a renewal fee of $5,000, a transfer fee of $10,000. Review Items 10 and 17 for the full renewal and termination provisions.
Franchise research guides
Free explainers to go deeper before you sign.
Industry
Browse all Child Services & Education franchises
FDD basics
What is a Franchise Disclosure Document?
Costs
Understanding Item 7: Estimated Initial Investment
Earnings
Item 19: Financial Performance Representations
Due diligence
Franchise Red Flags to Watch For
Validation
How to Validate a Franchise Opportunity
Recommended reading
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Child services franchises have the highest Item 19 disclosure rate of any industry at 88.2%. We analyze 61 systems covering tutoring, enrichment, childcare, and youth sports using real FDD data.
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