Why Drama Kids?
Explore Franchise Ownership
We Set the Stage for Success®
Drama Kids offers unique and fun-filled drama programs, theater classes for kids, and after-school acting lessons used across the USA and around the world to help children and young adults develop:
Confidence
Creative Thinking
Self-Esteem
Acting Abilities
Public Speaking Skills
Leadership & Teamwork
Low-Cost
The initial franchise fee for a standard territory is $35,000.
Home-Based
With our flexible schedule, you can set your own hours and work from the comfort of your own home
Largest Drama Program
Be a part of the largest, worldwide after-school drama program.
Rewarding
Provide children with critical life skills & self-confidence
Recession Resistant
Join the recession-resistant children's extracurricular industry.
Our
Distinctive
Advantage
Low -Cost
The initial franchise fee for a standard territory is $35,000.
Home-Based
With our flexible schedule, you can set your own hours and work from the comfort of your own home
Largest Drama Program
Be a part of the largest, worldwide after-school drama program.
Rewarding
Provide children with critical life skills & self-confidence
Recession Resistant
Join the recession-resistant children's extracurricular industry.
Our
Distinctive
Advantage
CurriculumComprehensive||Entertaining||Valuable
Comprehensive Curriculum
Drama Kids is a home-based franchise opportunity and educational company that employs theatre activities to enhance public speaking abilities for students of all ages. Our classes are not only entertaining but also teach valuable life skills. The Drama Kids franchise curriculum aims to foster public speaking, acting skills, teamwork, confidence, and self-esteem – all while the children are having some serious fun! As a Home-Based Franchise Owner, you receive comprehensive lesson plans to last for the whole school year for all school-aged children. We also offer various curriculum options for summer camps, ensuring that the learning never stops.
LocationConvenient||Low Overhead||Flexible
Convenient Locations with no Overhead Cost
Drama Kids is a unique franchise that operates all business-related tasks from the convenience of your own home while taking our classes right to where the kids are! This model ensures convenience to the parents and a low-cost structure for franchise owners.
DKI Community Classes are held at community centers, retail facilities such as dance studios, or other halls that can be rented during after-school hours. Business owners who currently operate a retail facility can easily add Drama Kids to their programs. A flat, open floor space is all that you need for a booming kids’ business!
Drama Kids In-School Classes are offered in schools as part of a school’s after-school program, usually in partnership with the school’s PTA or PTO.
Whether it be via Community Programs or In-School Programs, Drama Kids’ unique flexibility to go where the kids are is a significant business advantage. Our system offers a very low-cost structure to the franchise owner and considerable scheduling and travel ease for parents and students.
Summer camps are one of the fastest-growing segments of the child enrichment industry and Drama Kids Summer Camp programs are in “hot” demand. Drama Kids provides the full curriculum for 10 separate week-long camp themes that you can offer on either a half-day or full-day basis.
OngoingTraining||Support||Guidance
Ongoing Training and Support
Before launching, Franchise Owners receive comprehensive training on every aspect of their home-based business, including hiring, management, teaching, marketing, and administration. In addition, we offer a complete online resource center that includes:
- training videos
- classroom music
- owner’s operations manual
- teacher’s manual
- marketing materials
- curriculum
Business training is conducted through series of online videos to be watched at your convenience along with follow-up Zoom sessions with your support team to review tasks. Curriculum training is held in Tampa, FL, and completed in person over three to four days.
BrandedWebsite||Media||Content
Branded Marketing Library
As a Drama Kids Franchise Owner, you have access to a variety of resources to help grow your business. Take advantage of Drama Kids’ trademarked names and logos as well as national branding afforded by our National Advertising Fund.
As an owner, you can keep your business on the leading edge of technology without extra time or cost to you. Drama Kids maintains a website for Franchise Owners to post class schedules, local information about their teachers, and testimonials from parents and students.
You also have access to a vast library of marketing and advertising materials via our exclusive Drama Kids Resource Center. Personalize these materials for your location and save time and money by not having to create them from scratch. We offer a range of advertising media, including brochures, free class passes, flyers, social media images, reels, and more! Our marketing programs are both effective and economical.
Drama Kids generates significant media interest, with stories featured in USA Today, Entrepreneur Magazine, the Washington Post, and Franchise Times. We have also built a robust online presence through social media and our website.
Business ModelUnique||Fast-growing||Economical
Unique Business Model
Over the past decade, the children’s activity industry has experienced unprecedented growth, making it one of the fastest-growing segments of the economy. Even during an economic downturn, childhood enrichment remains a priority, making Drama Kids a recession-resistant business model. Our emphasis on overall child development at a reasonable price is why parents choose us for their children.
Moreover, Drama Kids’ large-scale organization offers its franchise owners a cost-effective business solution with lower management tool expenses. Our specialized registration software and social media management program are among the many advantages of joining our franchise.
Finally, our franchise owners benefit from our brand’s widespread recognition, loyalty, and support. We provide an environment that fosters encouragement, friendliness, and positivity, ensuring our franchisees experience a high level of job satisfaction.
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Owner
Training & Support
You are not in this alone!
With Drama Kids, you’ll always have a team that’s got your back. From the moment you sign your franchise agreement, we’ll help you set the stage for success. Our franchise model is rooted in the strength of our community of owners who support each other and are backed by the National Office. Whether you have been in business for one month or 20 years, our dedicated Support Team is here to help you along the way.
Training that isComprehensive||Engaging||Thorough
All-Inclusive Training
Our training package is comprehensive and combines online and in-person instruction. The first stage is our business training, which covers everything from learning about Drama Kids and why the difference IS dramatic, to pricing classes, securing locations, and targeting ideal customers.
Once you’re ready to launch your classes, you’ll travel to Tampa, FL to receive training from our Curriculum experts. This includes hands-on instruction, immediate feedback, and the opportunity to teach a test class before returning to your location to start teaching your own classes.
SupportWeekly Calls||Online Meetings||Mentorship
Business Support
During your first year of business, you will participate in weekly support calls as well as monthly New Owner Meetings. These meetings will cater to the specific business needs of that month and provide opportunities for collaborative support and Q&A with other members of your training class.
Throughout your first year and beyond, we offer monthly owner Zoom calls designed to help you connect with your peers in DK Hives and DK Connections. Additionally, we have mentorship calls, trainings with third party vendors, and quarterly informational all-owner calls to keep you in the loop with the latest happenings.
DK FamilyCommunity||Annual Conference||Idea Exchange
Drama Kids Family
Drama Kids is an extraordinary community of like-minded individuals, all committed to supporting each other through the ups and downs of business ownership.
Our owners come from all walks of life, but they share one common trait: they are willing to lend a hand to our newest members. We hold monthly all-owner meetings via Zoom and small group Connection meetings, grouped by the size of the business, the region of the country, and years in business.
You can also look forward to yearly in-person conferences where our entire Drama Kids family can connect, exchange ideas, and keep up-to-date with the latest trends, innovations, and techniques. There is nothing like a Drama Kids franchise, where every owner “acts up with a purpose”!
MarketingMedia Assets||Personalized||Tips & Tricks
Branded Marketing Materials at Your Fingertips
- Easily personalized marketing materials save you time and money when preparing to launch your business.
- Franchise support works with you to cater your marketing to your territory.
- Successful owners share their marketing tips and tricks with creative and outside-the-box ideas that have worked for them.
BalanceWork & Life||Family||Time
Work-life Balance
- Flexible schedule so you never have to miss an important event with your family.
- Take holidays, weekends, and school breaks off so you can spend important time with your family.
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Understanding My
Investment
What is Included in My Franchise Investment?
The initial fee for an exclusive Drama Kids franchise territory is $38,500, which is based on a population of at least 500,000. When awarding a territory we also take into consideration: household income levels, number of school districts and total number of schools to ensure that each owner has a variety of opportunities to launch their new business.
In addition to the franchise fee, we estimate that the initial investment required to cover expenses such as travel and lodging for our curriculum training in Tampa, insurance for the first year, business and home-office setup, and initial marketing expenses will be between $9,500 and $20,500. Please keep in mind that these are only estimates, and your actual investment may vary depending on several factors, and is ultimately spent at your discretion.
We’re honored to be recognized as the #1 Children’s Enrichment Program by Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 and consistently ranked among the top 50 low-investment franchise opportunities year after year! With Drama Kids, you’ll receive a license to use our proven curriculum and camp programs, advertising materials, a thorough new owner training program, regular ongoing support, and much more.
Our highest priority is to provide you with a high-quality children’s development business at a reasonable investment level. If you’re interested in learning more about this investment and franchise ownership opportunity, we’ll provide you with a full list of start-up items and estimated costs as part of the discovery process.
The data below is drawn straight from our 2025 franchise disclosure document, specifically he financial performance representation of our franchise system, otherwise known as Item 19.
On December 31, 2024 we had 43 Franchises. Of those 43 Franchises, 41 have been operating their Franchises for over one year (“Reporting Group”). We divided the Reporting Group into three separate subgroups: (a) franchisees in the top 1/3 of all Gross Sales (13 franchisees) (“Group One”); (b) franchisees in the middle 1/3 of all Gross Sales (14 franchisees) (“Group Two”); and (c) franchisees in the bottom 1/3 of all Gross Sales (14 franchisees) (“Group Three”). The information in all three tables below is based on Gross Sales reports submitted to us by the Reporting Group.
Disclaimer: These results are based on data provided in our Item 19 of our 2024 franchise disclosure document. Your individual results may vary from these metrics and there is no assurance that your results will be the same.
Business-in-a-Box
As soon as you sign your franchise agreement you will go through “onboarding” and gain access to our comprehensive Resource Center, which is packed with useful tools and resources. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s included:
- Training videos
- Classroom music
- Operations manual
- Teacher’s manual
- Branded marketing materials
- Curriculum
- Spreadsheets to manage your budget, run a competitive analysis, and assess your profit margins
- And so much more!
The best part? Our exclusive Resource Center is searchable by keyword, giving you quick and easy access to anything you need to manage your business in a matter of seconds!
Ongoing Training & Support
Once you make the decision to invest in Drama Kids, Drama Kids invests in you! We provide a range of training and support materials to ensure that you and your business perform to the highest level. Upon joining our franchise organization, franchisees are given access to a suite of educational resources, including materials for sales, classroom operations, and teacher management, marketing materials, and launch support.
By investing in Drama Kids International, you’ll gain a head start into the business world, professional coaching, and ongoing support from our franchise team. You’ll also have access to advice and encouragement from other Drama Kids franchise owners across the country. Our training program is second to none, starting with 40 hours of web-based and classroom training that covers business and sales coaching, classroom operations, financial management, and, most crucially, how to manage your most important resource: people. We also provide additional web-based training and scheduled support calls throughout your first year in business. When it comes to low-cost franchise organizations, Drama Kids is a leading performing arts institution that will help you find success every step of the way through your investment and training process.
Extraordinary Curriculum
The Drama Kids curriculum is a proprietary, research-based program that nurtures children’s confidence, creativity, and communication skills through the power of drama. Unlike traditional theatre programs focused solely on performance, Drama Kids uses engaging activities to develop public speaking, problem-solving, and critical thinkingin a fun, supportive environment. Through improvisation, dialogue-building, and collaboration, students learn to think on their feet and express themselves with clarity.
Each class follows a structured progression, sharpening key skills along the way. The speech segment strengthens articulation, projection, and inflection, while the movement section teaches the impact of body language and facial expressions. The main lesson brings it all together with interactive performances that promote teamwork, leadership, and confidence. Every session ends with a fun theatre game or activity, ensuring kids leave feeling energized and inspired. More than just acting, Drama Kids empowers children with lifelong skills for success on and off the stage!
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FAQ
Question with Answers
At Drama Kids, we offer an unforgettable experience for franchise owners as well as kids and teens. Our programs go beyond the ordinary to provide a platform for personal and creative growth for everyone.
Discover a world of opportunities as a franchise owner and watch a child's confidence soar as they explore the exciting world of acting and drama. As a franchise owner, you can unlock a child's true potential while owning your own business.
Questions AboutThe Business||Your Role||Getting Started
Who Makes a Successful Drama Kids Franchise Owner?
To be successful in this business, you really must love children and people. Even with the power of a solid franchise behind you, building a business is hard work. Many franchisees don’t mind working hard because they are building something tangible for themselves while making a positive difference in the children they serve.
If someone is willing to work hard, listen to what Drama Kids has to teach, and follow our proven systems, we can all be successful. We're looking for results-oriented children's franchise owners who are outgoing, entrepreneurial, and have the support of family and friends.
What prior experience do I need?
The ideal candidate would be a degreed teacher or someone with business experience who has:
- A genuine passion for educating young children
- Dedication to providing exceptional quality
- Tenacity and determination
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Willingness to commit full-time hours to the role
Are you eager to own a Drama Kids franchise but lack teaching or business experience? No problem! We provide online business training to teach you all you need to know to run a successful franchise. Additionally, our in-person curriculum training will equip you with the skills to be an excellent Drama Kids teacher and trainer.
What does the Franchise Fee and Initial Investment cover?
The cost covers the full license of our branded curriculum and sales materials. It also comes with the following inclusions to help you grow your business:
- An exclusive territory that is generous in size
- In-person curriculum training
- Comprehensive educational materials for sales, personnel management, and operations
- Access to our professionally designed marketing materials
- Business coaching and local support
Additionally, our detailed operations manual and Resource Center will guide you in running your franchise efficiently and effectively.
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What is the earning potential?
Single Territory Performance
The data is drawn straight from our 2024 franchise disclosure document, specifically the financial performance representation of our franchise system, otherwise known as the Item 19.
On December 31, 2023, we had 51 Franchises. Of those 51 Franchises, 44 have been operating their Franchises for over one year ("Reporting Group"). We divided the Reporting Group into three separate subgroups: (a) franchisees in the top 1/3 of all Gross Sales (14 franchises) ("Group One"); (b) franchisees in the middle 1/3 of all Gross Sales (15 franchisees) ("Group Two"); and (c) franchisees in the bottom 1/3 of all Gross Sales (15 franchisees) ("Group Three"). The information in the table below is based on Gross Sales reports submitted to us by the Reporting Group.
Disclaimer: These results are based on data provided in our Item 19 of our 2024 franchise disclosure document. Your individual results may vary from these metrics and there is no assurance that your results will be the same.
Will I personally teach the Drama Classes?
In order to reinforce our core class techniques, we encourage all owners to teach a few initial classes themselves. Every small business owner initially needs to learn how to “make the doughnuts,” and we believe in this principle. As a small business owner, it is essential to learn the basics before delegating tasks to others. You may also elect to hire part-time teachers initially or do so at a pace that fits your talents and requirements. Our team is here to assist you in finding the right fit for your business. Ultimately, the aim is to have others teach the majority, if not all, of your classes. Trust us to guide you through this process.
Why is Drama Kids a great choice for today?
Due to budget cuts and the focus on stringent reading and math test scores, schools are reducing or eliminating creative arts education programs. In fact, most public schools do not offer a drama program either during school or as an after-school activity. However, Drama Kids is here to fill that void.
- Parents understand the value of dramatic arts education and actively seek out programs like Drama Kids for their children.
- Private schools, charter schools, and daycare centers are seeking ways to stay competitive. Drama Kids offers a unique and safe adventure for their students without ever having to leave the school.
- Children, parents, and school administrators alike have found the Drama Kids program to be both enjoyable and educational, encouraging creativity and personal growth.
- Our business model has low operating costs, allowing us to offer affordable pricing to families in today's economy, making Drama Kids a recession-resistant business.
How long does It take to get started?
Typically, it takes 60 days to start a Drama Kids franchise, but a faster start-up is possible.
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