SpiderSmart LearningFranchise Cost, Revenue & Review 2026
Data from FDD filing
FranchiseVerdict summary · 2026
A SpiderSmart Learning franchise requires a total initial investment of $80K – $139K, including a $30K franchise fee. The 2025 FDD does not disclose unit-level revenue (no Item 19). Verdict grade: A. Run a live ROI scan →
Data last verified June 18, 2026 · figures per the 2025 FDD issuance
Overview
- Investment
- $80K – $139K
- 25th pct Education
- Avg gross sales
- N/A
- 47th pct Education
- Royalty
- N/A
- Units
- 19
- 36th pct Education
- SBA default
- N/A
Quick verdict · Education · color = vs category peers
Green = >15% above Education avg · No shading = within ±15% · Red = >15% below avg · Source: FDD filings + SBA 7(a)
Data from public FDD filings and SBA records. Not financial advice. Methodology
Bottom line
- Total investment $80K – $139K including a $30K franchise fee.
- No Item 19 financial performance data disclosed. The franchisor chose not to publish revenue figures.
- Verdict A (Top Quintile) with a risk score of 44/100.
- No Item 19 financial performance representation. Without franchisor-disclosed revenue data, you'll need to gather unit economics directly from existing franchisees.
Item 1 · who you're contracting with
The Franchisor
- Legal entity
- SpiderSmart, Inc.
- Parent company
- JLS Education, LLC
- CEO title
- President
- Jordan Steinberg
- CEO experience
- 23 yrs
- Years in role or industry
- Incorporated in
- VA
- HQ
- 8401 Maryland Dr, Ste S, Richmond, Virginia 23294
- Auditor
- Ahmad Associates, Ltd (AAL)
- Audited financials
- Franchisor revenue
- $259K
- vs $260K prior year
- Management churn noted
- Frequent turnover
- Item 2 disclosed frequent executive changes
Overview
About
SpiderSmart Learning franchisees operate tutoring and test-prep centers serving K-12 students. Day-to-day activities include recruiting and managing tutors, scheduling student sessions, delivering academic instruction (or managing instructors), marketing to parents, and maintaining client retention through performance tracking.
- CEO
- Jordan Steinberg
- Headquarters
- VA
- Founded
- 2004
- FDD year
- 2025
- States available
- 6
FDD Item 7 · 2025 filing · 16 line items
Initial investment breakdown
| Line item | Low | High | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $30K | $30K | |
| Lease Deposit (2 months' rent) | $5K | $9K | |
| Construction and remodeling | $5K | $30K | |
| Furnishings | $2K | $5K | |
| Fixtures | $2K | $5K | |
| Signage | $2K | $6K | |
| Equipment | $1K | $3K | |
| Computers for use in tutoring instruction, plus one for the Center Manager's use | $3K | $5K | |
| Inventory (Books and Supplies) | $5K | $8K | |
| Utilities - deposits, connection fees, and monthly charges during first 3 months | $1K | $2K | |
| Advertising (pre-opening and during start-up phase) | $2K | $3K | |
| Business licenses | $500 | $500 | |
| Wages for employees in the first three months | $5K | $8K | |
| Insurance | $400 | $400 | |
| Attorney, Accountant and other Professional Fees | $1K | $5K | |
| Additional funds (initial 3 months) | $15K | $20K | |
| Total initial investment | $80K | $139K |
Line items extracted from FDD Item 7. Ranges reflect the franchisor's stated low and high per line. Total is the sum of line-item lows / highs — actual costs may fall outside this range depending on market and build-out scope.
Item 7 · what it costs to open + operate
The Vitals
- Total investment
- $80K – $139K
- Better than avg vs category
- Liquid capital req'd
- $15K – $20K
- Better than avg vs category
- Franchise fee
- $30K – $30K
- Better than avg vs category
- Royalty
- greater of 5% of Gross Revenue or $1,500 per month
- Ad fund
- -n/d
- Total fee load
- 5.0%
- vs 9–13% typical
Ongoing fees · Item 6
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Royalty (flat) | greater of 5% of Gross Revenue or $1,500 per month |
| Transfer fee | $5K |
| Total fee load | 5.0% of rev |
Financial Performance
This franchisor did not disclose financial performance representations in Item 19, or our extractor could not parse them.
vs Education averages
How SpiderSmart Learning Compares
Unit growth
Item 20 · unit dynamics
The Growth Chart
- Total units
- 19
- Opened
- 2
- Last reporting year
- Closed
- 0
- Terminated
- 0
- Franchisor ended the franchise (per Item 20)
- Non-renewed
- 0
- Term expired, not renewed (per Item 20)
- Turnover rate
- 0.0%
- Company-owned
- 0
- Corporate units in the system
- % franchised
- 100%
- vs corporate-owned
- Multi-unit owners
- 50.0%
- Net growth (yr3)
- +11.8%
- Net unit change last year
- 3-yr CAGR
- +5.6%
- Compounded over last 3 years
3-year detail · Item 20
- Opened (3yr)
- 2
- Transfers (3yr)
- 0
- Projected new
- 3
- Franchisor's next-year forecast
Year-over-year franchised unit counts and net change. Source: FDD Item 20.
Item 20 · 7 states with active franchisees
The Territory Map
Derived from franchisee contact records. Shows states with at least one current operator. Not where the franchisor is registered to sell new units (that data is re-extracting in a future refresh).
States derived from franchisee contact records (FDD Item 20). Shows states with at least one current operator on file. Full state registration data (Item 12) will appear on a future FDD refresh.
Available to sell in · Item 12
- California
- Maryland
- Virginia
States where the franchisor is registered to sell new franchises (FDD registration filings).
SBA loan performance
Government records
SBA Loan Data
Aggregated from SBA 7(a) and 504 loan disclosures, public data unique to FranchiseVerdict.
No SBA loan data available for this brand.
Risk analysis
FranchiseVerdict rating + FDD Items 3, 5, 6, 12, 17
Risk & Legal
Undisclosed financials, regulatory history, minimal growth trajectory, and high fixed royalties create significant uncertainty about unit economics and franchisor stability for a small learning center concept.
Litigation (Item 3)
Consent Order with Maryland Securities Commissioner (File No. Maryland 2014-0422) dated March 20, 2015. Commissioner concluded SpiderSmart violated Sections 14-214 and 14-223 of Maryland Franchise Law by entering into Licensed Facility Agreements for six locations without proper registration. Franchisor agreed to cease and desist from offering/selling franchises in violation of Maryland law, complete franchise registration application, and offer Maryland licensees option to rescind agreements and receive refunds of setup, initiation or transfer fees.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
None disclosed
Audited financials (Item 21)
Yes · Ahmad Associates, Ltd (AAL)
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: No
Score breakdown · what drove the 44 / 100 rating
- 01MINORNo financial performance disclosure (Item 19) — cannot assess actual franchisee profitability against $79,900-$139,400 investment
- 02MED2015 Maryland Securities Commissioner Consent Order for unregistered franchise sales indicates regulatory compliance issues in franchisor's past
- 03MEDSlow unit growth (11.8% YoY on only 19 units) suggests limited system traction and market appeal
- 04MINORHigh floor royalty ($1,500/month = $18,000 annually) creates significant fixed cost burden even if revenue is low
- 05MINOR10-year term locks franchisees into long commitment with minimal system track record or profitability proof
- 06MINORMinimal franchise fee ($30,000) may indicate franchisor prioritizes recruitment over franchisee success, combined with regulatory history
Severity inferred from the FDD text · not a regulatory classification
FDD Items 5, 6, 12, 17 · continued from Risk & Legal
Contract & Territory Detail
| Initial term | 10 years |
|---|---|
| Renewal term | 10 years |
| Allowed renewalsℹ | 1 |
| Territory type | Demographic |
| Protected territory | Yes |
| Exclusive territoryℹ | Yes |
| Territory radius | 2 mi |
| Territory population | 5,000 |
| Online sales rightsℹ | Restricted |
| Franchisor can compete | Yes |
| Hire a manager? | Allowed |
| Owner-operator | Required |
| Non-compete (years)ℹ | 2 years |
| Non-compete (miles)ℹ | 15 mi |
| Right of first refusalℹ | Yes |
| Transfer requires consent | Yes |
| Termination notice | 20 days |
| Termination groundsℹ | 1 |
| Curable defaultsℹ | 1 |
| Mandatory arbitration | No |
| Jury trial waiver | Yes |
| Governing law | Virginia |
| Litigation count | 1 |
View Item 3 litigation summary
Consent Order with Maryland Securities Commissioner (File No. Maryland 2014-0422) dated March 20, 2015. Commissioner concluded SpiderSmart violated Sections 14-214 and 14-223 of Maryland Franchise Law by entering into Licensed Facility Agreements for six locations without proper registration. Franchisor agreed to cease and desist from offering/selling franchises in violation of Maryland law, complete franchise registration application, and offer Maryland licensees option to rescind agreements and receive refunds of setup, initiation or transfer fees.
Items 10, 11
Training & Operations
- Classroom training
- 22 hrs
- On-the-job training
- 0 hrs
- Training location
- virtual through video conferencing technology
- Ongoing training
- Required
- Time to open
- 2 mo
- From signing to launch
- Franchisor financing
- Offered
- Item 10
- POS system
- Spidersmart.com Website
- Operating tech stack
Items 5 & 11
Franchisor Support
Technology: Spidersmart.com Website
Item 20 · call current owners
Franchisee Contacts
21 owners to call
Name · phone · city · state. Extracted from FDD Item 20
FDD download
SpiderSmart Learning · FDD (2025) PDF
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a SpiderSmart Learning franchise?
The total investment to open a SpiderSmart Learning franchise ranges from $80K – $139K, with an initial franchise fee of $30K. This includes real estate, equipment, inventory, and working capital as disclosed in their Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
What do SpiderSmart Learning franchise owners earn?
SpiderSmart Learning does not disclose average franchise owner earnings in their FDD Item 19. Not all franchisors are required to make financial performance representations. We recommend asking existing franchisees directly about their financial experience.
What is SpiderSmart Learning's franchise failure rate?
SBA 7(a) loan charge-off data is not available for SpiderSmart Learning (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 SpiderSmart Learning franchise locations are there?
As of their most recent FDD filing, SpiderSmart Learning has 19 total units in the United States, including 18 franchised units and 0 company-owned units. 2 new units were opened in the latest reporting year.
Is SpiderSmart Learning a good franchise to buy?
FranchiseVerdict rates SpiderSmart Learning as a A-grade franchise with a risk score of 44 out of 100, based on our analysis of investment costs, revenue data, SBA loan performance, and growth trends. 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 SpiderSmart Learning, you can request corrections or provide updated information.
Claim this brandOther 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.