TEANECK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kumon, the No. 1 ranking children's franchise, formed a real estate alliance with Realogy Global Client Solutions to provide real estate services for new and existing Kumon franchisees.
Realogy Global Client Solutions, a division of Realogy Corporation, delivers its services through the Coldwell Banker Commercial® and ONCOR International® brokerage networks. Realogy Global Client Solutions and the members of these networks will serve as business advisors and assist Kumon's franchisees with finding retail space for new or relocated centers, market analysis, and strategic planning.
"The greatest barrier to a small business owner's success is their location," says Corwin A. Thomas, managing director of Realogy Global Client Solutions. "Our commercial real estate acumen will allow new and existing franchisees to set up centers in premier locations, therefore gaining an advantage over the competition and creating the exposure Kumon desires."
In a recent survey, Kumon franchisees said that searching and finding a desirable and affordable location was one of the more difficult aspects of starting a Kumon franchise. At the same time, many current Kumon entrepreneurs are looking to relocate to larger spaces due to increased enrollments. Kumon is working with Realogy Global Client Solutions to provide needed assistance in this area.
Kumon is one of the fastest growing education franchise businesses in the United States. In the first half of 2008, Kumon increased its new center openings 37 percent compared to the same period last year. Growth is particularly strong in Seattle, Atlanta, the New York Tri-State area, South New Jersey and Philadelphia. Kumon expects to open an additional 68 Kumon Centers this year. In the past five years, the average Kumon Center enrollment increased 55 percent, and overall, the company has 80,000 more U.S. students than in 2002. Driven by demand, parents believe Kumon helps children acquire critical thinking, problem solving and self-learning skills to do well in school and life. The Kumon method of learning helps unlock the potential of children so they can achieve more on their own.
"Kumon franchisees often leave the corporate world for a rewarding career to help children and their communities," says Deven Klein, vice president of Kumon franchising. "Education is vital to a community's prosperity and Kumon Instructors have a strong conviction for improving society through education."
Created in 1958 by Toru Kumon, a Japanese math teacher, the Kumon method focuses on daily practice and self-paced advancement to improve children's math and reading skills, from simple addition and letter sounds to differential calculus and literature. There are more than 1,800 franchises in North America and 26,000 worldwide. Kumon seeks entrepreneurs who enjoy working with children, have some prior business experience and have a four-year college degree.
About Kumon Math and Reading Centers
Kumon [koo-mŏn] is an after-school math and reading program that helps unlock the potential of children so they can achieve more on their own. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the self-learning method helps children develop critical thinking skills, independence and a solid command of math and reading skills. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence and begin to learn on their own. Kumon has 26,000 centers in 45 countries and more than four million students studying worldwide. For the seventh consecutive year, Entrepreneur ranked Kumon as the leading franchise in the tutoring industry and Entreprenuer.com ranked Kumon the No. 1 Children's Franchise. Kumon is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey. To learn more visit www.kumon.com or call 1-800-ABC-MATH. Franchise inquiries: www.kumon.com/franchise.
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