Eye Level Franchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
- Investment
- $50K – $133K
- Disclosed sales
- not disclosed
- SBA charge-off
- Under 10 loans (6)
Data from FDD filing + SBA 7(a) records
Analysis by FranchiseVerdict Research · Methodology
Eye Level is an after-school education franchise delivering self-directed math, English, and reading programs for K-12 students. Franchisees run a learning center managing enrollment, instructors, and the leveled curriculum.
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A Eye Level franchise requires a total initial investment of $50K – $133K, including a $5K franchise fee. This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. FranchiseVerdict grade: B (Above average), an editorial assessment, not investment advice. Run a live ROI scan →
Sources, dates and evidence
FDD issued: · Data extracted: · Last cited check: · Staleness risk: low - issued within the last 12 months
Evidence: partial✓ Investment (Item 7)✓ Item 19 status✓ Units and owners (Item 20)✗ SBA loan coverage✓ Litigation (Item 3)✓ Financial statements (Item 21)✓ Franchisor identityhow this is scored0 of 3 headline figures on this page cite a page of the filing; the rest are marked “Not cited” beside the figure.
Overview
- Investment
- $50K – $133K
- 12th pct Education
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- Royalty
- Set by a formula
- Units
- 121
- 66th pct Education
- SBA charge-off
- N/A
Quick verdict · Education · color = vs category peers
Green = favorable by >10% vs Education median · No shading = within ±10% · Red = unfavorable by >10% · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- COSTTotal investment $50K – $133K including a $5K franchise fee.
- RETURNSThis franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that.
- RISKVerdict B (Above average), verdict score 50/100 (higher is better).
- GROWTHPositive: net +3 franchised outlets in the latest year (8 opened, 5 closed); 4 signed but not yet open (Item 20).
- DATAThis franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
Corporate structure & franchisor financials
- Legal entity
- Daekyo America, Inc.
- Parent company
- Daekyo Co., Ltd.
- FDD Item 1, page 9 of the 2026 FDD
- Predecessor
- Daekyo USA, Inc.; Daekyo North America, Inc.
- Prior franchisor entity
- CEO title
- Chief Executive Officer
- Bada Kang
- Incorporated in
- California
- HQ
- 1310 Palisade Avenue, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
- Auditor
- Woori LLP
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $4.5M
- vs $4.9M prior year
Overview
About
- CEO
- Bada Kang
- Headquarters
- NJ
- Founded
- 1976
- FDD year
- 2026
- States available
- 15
Can you afford it, and what does the money buy?
Entry cost runs 53% below the typical education franchise.
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 5–7
FDD Item 7 · 2026 filing
Initial investment breakdown
| Cost component | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial franchise fee | $5K | $5K |
| Working capital (3–6 mo) | $8K | $28K |
| Equipment, build-out, other | $37K | $101K |
| Total initial investment | $50K | $133K |
Source: Eye Level 2026 FDD, Items 5 and 7[2]. “Equipment, build-out, other” is computed as total minus disclosed line items above.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $50K – $133K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $8K – $28K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Franchise fee
- $5K – $5K
- Top 40% of category vs category
- Royalty
- Enrollment Royalty Fee of $15 per newly-enrolled Subject-…
- Ad fund
- Brand Development Fund: $1.00 per Subject-Student per mon…
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer fee | $5K |
| Renewal fee | $1K |
| Inventory (initial) | $0 – $0 |
ROI & LBO modelsSingle-unit · 25-unit portfolio · editable
Eye Level makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD - a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule - so no unit revenue figures are disclosed. The return models need a revenue figure to start from, and the operating costs that turn gross sales into a profit are in no FDD. Enter your own and the calculator runs on your assumptions — nothing here is modelled until you do.
Returns model · single-unit ROIC
What would one Eye Level unit return on the cash you put in?
Illustrative category typicals — not sourced to any filing, survey or sample. Replace them with figures from franchisee validation calls before you rely on the output.
Unlevered ROIC · per unit
Your modelled return on total invested capital, before any debt financing.
—
An FDD discloses gross sales, not profit. We hold no sourced figure for annual revenue, royalty rate, ad fund rate, COGS, labour, rent / occupancy and other operating costs, and will not substitute an assumed one. Enter your own and the model runs on your assumptions.
These models are for research and scenario planning only. Not investment advice. Actual results depend on your specific location, management, and market conditions. Consult a franchise attorney and accountant before signing any franchise agreement.
Item 19 · Source: 2026 FDD
Financial Performance
No financial performance representation
This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that.
Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Operator outlook
What the numbers say
Data-driven interpretation of this brand's financial disclosures, fee structure, and system trajectory.
Disclosure
This franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD. Item 19 is voluntary under the FTC Franchise Rule, and this filing states that it makes none, so no revenue or earnings figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Operator retention
System roughly stable (-0.8% 3-year CAGR) with 121 units.
Source: FDD Item 19 financial performance representations and publicly filed FDD data. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Verify all figures with the franchisor and current franchisees before making any investment decision.
vs Education medians
How Eye Level Compares
Category median of published Education brands that report the figure; the middle half spans the 25th to 75th percentile and n counts the brands behind it. Medians are used because a few very large systems pull an average far from the typical brand. Revenue is disclosed gross sales, not profit.
Is the system healthy?
Source: FDD 2026 · Item 20
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 121
- Opened
- 8
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 5
- Terminated
- 1
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 2
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 4.1%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Net growth (3-yr)
- +2.5%
- Net unit change over 3 years
- 3-yr CAGR
- -0.8%
- Compounded over last 3 years
Last fiscal year · Item 20 exits and transfers
- Terminated
- 1
- Not renewed
- 2
- Transferred
- 4
- Reacquired
- 0
- Franchisor bought back
- Signed, not yet open
- 4
- 0.03 per open outlet · Item 20 Table 5
- Projected new
- 33
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 12 · 15 states reported
The Territory Map
FDD Item 12 reports the state count, but the specific list isn't in our current data. The map will appear once we re-extract from the FDD or enough franchisee contacts are available.
15
states with franchisees (per FDD Item 12)
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA loan disclosures. This brand has only 6 7(a) loans on file; statistical reliability is limited below 10 loans.
- Total loans
- 6
- Loan volume
- $706K
- Median loan
- $118K
- average
- Charge-off rate
- Under 10 loans (6)
- Insufficient SBA coverage: 6 loans, rate hidden below 10
Historical SBA 7(a) lending data, not predictive of future performance. How SBA charge-off rates are calculated
- Repayment rate (PIF)
- Under 10 loans (6)
- 5-yr charge-off
- Under 10 loans (6)
- Loans approved 2021+
- Active lenders
- 4
- Defaults
- N/A
Explore lender portfolios on Bank Reports or regional data on State Reports.
What could kill this investment?
Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA · FDD Items 3, 21
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 4, 8, 16, 21
Risk & Legal
Multiple concerns stack: net loss of -$736,204 on revenue of $5,366,192 with financial_distress flagged, a -15.8% unit decline (117 units), and three administrative consent orders for registration/franchise-law violations. Net worth is thin at $746,692 relative to the loss, and no Item 19 is disclosed.
Litigation (Item 3)
Subject: officers or affiliates. The franchisor is not a named party in these cases.
No litigation required to be disclosed. Three administrative consent orders disclosed: WA Dept of Financial Institutions Securities Division (2016, unregistered sales); MD Securities Commissioner (1996, unregistered sales, rescission offered); MD Securities Commissioner (2018, second consent order, $15,000 civil penalty, reimbursement of franchise fees to affected MD franchisees).
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Woori LLP
Franchisor revenue (Item 21)
Franchisor entity revenue (not unit-level)
Supplier relationship · Items 8 & 16
- Franchisor sells you products: Yes
- Kickbacks from required suppliers: Yes
- Must buy proprietary products: Yes
- Restricted to system-approved products: Yes
- Can negotiate own supplier terms: Yes
Score breakdown · what drove the 50 / 100 verdict
- 01MINORNet loss -$736,204 on $5.37M revenue
- 02MED-15.8% net unit decline (117 units)
- 03MINOR3 regulatory consent orders (registration violations)
- 04MINORNo Item 19; thin net worth $746,692
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
What are you signing up for?
Source: FDD 2026 · Items 11, 12, 17
FDD Items 12, 15, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 3 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 5 years |
| Territory type | No territory protection |
| Protected territory | No |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | No |
| Online sales rights | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 25 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 30 days |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 4 |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | New Jersey |
| Litigation count | 0 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
No litigation required to be disclosed. Three administrative consent orders disclosed: WA Dept of Financial Institutions Securities Division (2016, unregistered sales); MD Securities Commissioner (1996, unregistered sales, rescission offered); MD Securities Commissioner (2018, second consent order, $15,000 civil penalty, reimbursement of franchise fees to affected MD franchisees).
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 58 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 12 hrs
- Training location
- Franchisor's Fort Lee, New Jersey HQ office (New Franchisee Training); virtual/online for other modules; franchisee's Learning Center for Opening Day Support
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 4 mo
- From signing to launch
- Site selection
- Franchisor approves site proposed by franchisee
- Franchisor financing
- Not offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Key & Manager
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Key & Manager
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a Eye Level franchise?
The total investment to open a Eye Level franchise ranges from $50K – $133K, with an initial franchise fee of $5K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do Eye Level franchise owners earn?
Eye Level makes no financial performance representation in Item 19 of its FDD - a voluntary item under the FTC Franchise Rule - so no unit revenue figures are disclosed. Declining to publish one is lawful and is not evidence of how the outlets perform. It does mean that less about this brand can be verified from its filing, and the FranchiseVerdict grade - an editorial assessment, not investment advice - reflects that. Item 20 of the FDD lists current and former franchisees; asking them directly is the standard way to fill this gap.
Who owns Eye Level?
Eye Level is franchised by Daekyo America, Inc.. Its parent company is Daekyo Co., Ltd.. Source: FDD Item 1, 2026 filing.
What is Item 19 in the Eye Level FDD?
The FDD section where a franchisor may disclose financial performance of its outlets. Disclosure is optional and formats vary; figures are typically gross sales, which is revenue before expenses, not profit. FranchiseVerdict extracts these figures directly from the Eye Level FDD and qualifies whose outlets they describe.
What is Eye Level's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for Eye Level (fewer than 10 loans on file). Charge-off rates are one way to gauge franchise risk, but not all franchise loans go through the SBA program. We recommend reviewing turnover and closure data in the FDD and speaking with current franchisees.
How many Eye Level franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, Eye Level has 121 total units in the United States, including 121 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 8 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is Eye Level a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates Eye Level as a B-grade franchise with a verdict score of 50 out of 100 (higher is better). The grade is a deterministic score built from six weighted dimensions — financial health, unit economics, unit growth, scale, legal, and transparency — then calibrated against SBA loan charge-off rates and FDD age. Transparency is one of the six, so a filing that discloses less scores lower on that dimension than one that discloses more. Our rating is based solely on publicly available FDD and government data; we recommend speaking with current franchisees before making any investment decision. This is not investment advice.
Data sourced from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) FOIA records. Not financial advice.
For franchisors
Are you the franchisor?
If you represent Eye Level, you can request corrections or provide updated information.
Other Education franchises
Compare similar franchise opportunities in the Education category
Data extracted from public FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan disclosures (FOIA). This information is provided for research purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Verify all figures with the franchisor's current Franchise Disclosure Document before making any investment decision.