Lightbridge Academy^®

Children's Services • Year: 2026

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What Is Lightbridge Academy?

Lightbridge Academy is a franchise in the Children's Services category offering early learning and child care programs. It operates through brick-and-mortar Lightbridge Academy Centers (typically ~8,000–11,600 sq. ft.) serving infants, toddlers, preschool and kindergarten-age children and providing summer camps, before care, after care and back-up care to families (B2C). The franchise delivers services under the Lightbridge Academy System and Proprietary Marks, which include a proprietary design and layout, fixtures and furnishings, teaching methods, operational procedures, training and promotional programs.

Lightbridge Academy Franchise: Pros and Cons

Exceptional franchisee stability — zero terminations, zero non-renewals, and zero reacquisitions — plus a spotless legal record (no lawsuits, judgments, or penalties) suggest low churn and legal exposure; however, the franchisor's 16 company-owned units and 43 signed-but-not-open outlets raise concerns about franchisee priority and slower openings.

Pros

Zero franchise terminations, zero non-renewals, and zero reacquisitions — all well below what's common in Children's Services — indicates unusually strong franchisee stability and lower immediate churn risk.

160 hours of initial training combined with a training/support score of 100 — both well above typical — shows the franchisor invests heavily in onboarding, which should reduce your ramp-up time and initial operating mistakes.

Zero disclosed lawsuits, zero franchisee-initiated judgments or settlements, zero government penalties, and zero franchisor enforcement actions — all well below typical — give the system a very clean legal and regulatory record, lowering legal exposure.

Cons

16 company-owned units is well above typical for Children's Services, which suggests the franchisor maintains significant corporate-run operations and could prioritize company growth over franchise expansion; this warrants follow-up on their commitment to supporting franchisees.

43 signed-but-not-open outlets is well above typical for Children's Services, which can indicate the franchisor is selling agreements faster than it can support openings or is facing site/buildout delays — expect potential slower openings and heavier coordination.

No mandatory ongoing training — an unusual absence given most peers require it — means less structured, enforced continuing education post-opening, shifting more responsibility onto you to keep operations current.

Lawsuits & Legal Risk

100

Excellent

The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Territory Protection

48/100

NORMAL

Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units. The franchisor retains rights to sell via e-commerce, retail, and alternative channels; to develop additional nearby units; to acquire and convert franchise locations; and to use different trademarks, with protection contingent on meeting performance quotas and allowing site-specific relocation.

Training & Support

100

Excellent

The brand provides an extensive 160-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four staff members for launch. The program includes on-site launch support for operational readiness; on-site services carry additional fees, and travel and living expenses are the responsibility of the franchisee.

Unit Growth Analysis

The chain showed accelerating expansion through 2025 (66 → 73 in 2024, +7 units / +10.6%; 73 → 81 in 2025, +8 units / +11.0%) but then experienced a sharp contraction in 2026 (81 → 61, −20 units / −24.7%). For investors this mixed picture—healthy unit additions through 2025 followed by a 35.7 percentage-point swing from +11.0% to −24.7%—is a warning sign that the franchise’s recent growth momentum has reversed and warrants investigation into mass closures, terminations or market issues before committing capital.

How Much Do Lightbridge Academy Franchise Owners Make?

Lightbridge Academy franchise locations reported median gross sales of $1,662,322 in 2026, based on financial performance data disclosed in Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document.

Average Gross Sales:

N/A

Median Gross Sales:

$1,662,322

High Gross Sales:

$2,435,128

Low Gross Sales:

$666,679

Sample Size:

Franchise vs Corporate Performance: Franchised Mature Centers show a median gross revenue of 1,662,322 for the 2022 period reported, while affiliated/company-operated centers in earlier tables had different medians and ranges, indicating franchised locations are a primary revenue driver in the disclosed data.

Performance Variability Analysis: There is substantial variability across franchised Mature Centers in 2022, with reported highs of 2,435,128 and lows of 666,679, implying meaningful dispersion in center performance that prospective buyers should investigate.

Data Scope and Limitations: The 2022 figures cover January–September results for Mature Franchised Centers and do not include an average (mean) revenue or percent attaining average; expense line items and full-year 2021 P&L figures are available elsewhere in the Item 19 but the 2022 P&L details are not fully presented.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Lightbridge Academy initial franchise fee?

The initial franchise fee for Lightbridge Academy is $40,000, as stated in the 2026 FDD. This fee is paid upon signing the Franchise Agreement.

How much do Lightbridge Academy franchise owners make?

Lightbridge Academy franchise locations reported median gross sales of $1,662,322 in 2026, based on Item 19 of the Franchise Disclosure Document. Actual earnings vary by location, market, and operator experience.

Does Lightbridge Academy have any franchise lawsuits or legal issues?

Lightbridge Academy received a legal risk score of 100 out of 100 in the 2026 FDD analysis. The franchise reported no material legal proceedings.

Does Lightbridge Academy offer exclusive franchise territories?

Lightbridge Academy received a territory protection score of 48 out of 100. Grants a protected operating area where the franchisor will not place other physical units.

What training does Lightbridge Academy provide to new franchisees?

Lightbridge Academy received a training and support score of 100 out of 100. The brand provides an extensive 160-hour training curriculum designed to prepare four staff members for launch.

How many Lightbridge Academy franchise locations are there?

Lightbridge Academy had 61 total locations as of the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document.

What type of business is Lightbridge Academy?

Lightbridge Academy is a franchise in the Children's Services category offering early learning and child care programs.

Interested in Lightbridge Academy?

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