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From the filings
+3.978% units YoYHQ-led decisions
Goddard Systems
Youth servicesGoddard Systems requires every School to run its proprietary Franchise Management System (FMS), available only from the franchisor — a fully centralized software decision. The 2022 FDD covers 575 franchised schools under parent Sycamore Partners.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Total units
575
575 franchised
Unit growth YoY
+3.978%
vs prior filing
AUV
$1.75M
Item 19, 2022
Royalty
7%
of gross sales
Ad fund
4%
national + local
Initial fee
$135K
per unit
Investment range
$848K–$1.12M
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Approved supplier
from the filing
Non-compete
3 years
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
from the filing
Ongoing fee load
What the operator pays every month
The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.
11%of gross sales (FY2022)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
20 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 4 explicit no's; 10 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 11
We will have independent access to the information and data collected by and produced by your computer system; there is no contractual limitation on our right to access this information and data.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall submit to us, no later than the third business day of each month during the term of this Agreement, a signed statement in the form we prescribe that accurately reflects all Gross Receipts during the preceding month and any other data or information as we may require.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesItem 8
We and our affiliates are approved suppliers to our franchisees.
Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?
YesItem 20
The following independent franchisee organization has asked to be included in this disclosure document: The Independent Association of The Goddard Schools Franchisees (IAGSF), A Chapter of the American Association of Franchisees & Dealers, PO Box 10158, Palm Desert, CA 92255-1058, telephone 619-209-3775, email iagsf…
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 11
We also may modify specifications to our computer systems, including all hardware, software and firmware and network infrastructure, including a router and firewall (IT Security), network equipment / wireless access point devices, and telephone systems, including telecommunications infrastructure products and support…
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesFranchise agreement
We may receive fees and other payments from suppliers and others in connection with your purchases and we may use the fees for our own purposes.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
25Item 8
Approximately 95% of your total purchases in connection with the establishment of your School and approximately 25% of your overall purchases in operating the School must be purchased through Purchase Orders we issue, from approved suppliers or in accordance with our standards and specifications.
Communications
Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?
YesItem 11
Either we or you will own the telephone number depending on the telephone service you choose.
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
You must install, configure endpoint security and data loss threat prevention software we specify and authorize us to monitor endpoint security and data loss threat prevention software on your computer systems.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 11
We will use our commercially reasonable efforts to maintain high standards of quality, appearance, professionalism and service of the System and to that end will conduct periodic inspections of the School, as we deem advisable.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 11
We will have the right to add to or otherwise modify the Manual as we deem necessary and you must comply with those changes at your expense, except any addition or modification will not materially alter your fundamental status and rights under the Franchise Agreement.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 12
You may operate the School (including any Annex or Satellite Location) only at the location we have approved.
Marketing
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesItem 7
When you sign the Franchise Agreement, you must pay us an initial marketing fee of $50,000 for a building size range of from 8,600 square feet to 10,000 square feet
Operations
Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall develop the School, including any approved Annex, in the manner prescribed by us for Goddard Schools, including the implementation of the System, and shall use in the development and operation of the School only those approved suppliers we designate or those brands and types of equipment and supplies which…
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesFranchise agreement
You shall develop the School, including any approved Annex or Satellite Location, in the manner prescribed by us for Goddard Schools, including the implementation of the System, and shall use in the development and operation of the School only those approved suppliers we designate or those brands and types of…
Payments
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesFranchise agreement
You acknowledge and agree that this Section is intended to serve as your authorization for us to withdraw payment of any amounts due to us under this Agreement under any type of electronic funds transfer or wire transfer process.
People
Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?
YesItem 15
You must have one full-time director, and any additional full-time directors we may deem appropriate in our sole business judgment for the School.
Point of sale
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesItem 11
We will have independent access to the information and data collected by and produced by your computer system; there is no contractual limitation on our right to access this information and data.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 11
We may, in our sole business judgment, require that you attend and successfully complete additional training after your School opens or a transfer is complete.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesFranchise agreement
At our request, you shall attend and fully complete supplemental or refresher training programs, which may take place over two or more consecutive weeks, and any sales meetings, operations meetings, marketing meetings and conventions that may be offered by us from time to time during the term of the franchise.
The filing answers no to 4 questions
- Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?Franchise agreement
- Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Franchise agreement
- Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?Item 11
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at Goddard Systems
575 Goddard Systems schools run under the 2022 FDD, 100% franchised, under parent Sycamore Partners. New Jersey leads with 77 locations, followed by Texas (62) and Pennsylvania (55), among 635 mapped operators, all single-unit. Franchised outlets grew 4.0% year over year. Item 19 of the FDD makes a financial performance representation.
Who controls software purchasing
Item 11 requires every School to run the franchisor's proprietary Franchise Management System, currently called FMS, or any other proprietary or designated software the franchisor requires — and FMS is available only from the franchisor itself. Franchisees must also install a franchisor-specified endpoint security and data loss threat prevention system and authorize the franchisor to monitor it. President, CEO, and Chairman Dennis R. Maple and SVP and CFO Timothy J. Dwyer head the Item 2 officer roster, alongside SVP Chief School Support Services Officer Jacqueline Burls and SVP Chief Legal Officer Cynthia Turner.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
Before opening a School, Annex, or Satellite Location, franchisees must buy a computer system — hardware, software, firmware, and network infrastructure including a router, firewall, and wireless access points — plus a telephone system meeting the franchisor's then-current IT Hardware Standards, with Windows 10 and antivirus software kept current under a maintenance agreement. Item 11 also requires an iPad Air 2 or later or a Surface tablet, and Item 8 an interactive flat panel and digital signage.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 makes the Franchise Management System and proprietary curricular materials available only from the franchisor; the computer system and IT Security must come from the franchisor's approved suppliers under its IT Hardware Standards, while other equipment, fixtures, signs, and supplies meeting its specifications may come from any source, with items not yet approved submitted for review. The royalty is 7% of sales on a 15-year initial term. Item 17 renewal runs 5 years and requires written notice, substantial compliance, completed training, and a renewal license fee.
How to read the Goddard Systems FDD
The viewer below holds the complete 2022 Goddard Systems FDD. Item 11 covers the FMS and hardware mandate, and Item 8 the supplier rules. Talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of franchise systems like this one, sized and scored for software fit.
Questions vendors ask
Goddard Systems, answered from the filing
The franchisor is the sole source of its proprietary Franchise Management System (FMS), which Item 11 requires every School to run — a fully centralized decision. President and CEO Dennis R. Maple and CFO Timothy J. Dwyer anchor the buying center, under parent Sycamore Partners.
Item 11 requires every School to use the franchisor's proprietary Franchise Management System (FMS) or any other proprietary or designated software the franchisor may require, plus a franchisor-specified endpoint security system it may monitor remotely, computers running Microsoft Windows 10 or above, and an iPad Air 2 or later or a Surface tablet.
575 schools, all franchised, led by New Jersey (77 locations), Texas (62), and Pennsylvania (55); franchised outlets grew 4.0% year over year.
An approved-supplier list: the Franchise Management System and proprietary curricular materials are available only from the franchisor, and the computer system and IT Security must come from approved suppliers under its IT Hardware Standards; other equipment, fixtures, signs and supplies meeting its specifications may come from any source.
The initial term runs 15 years, with a 5-year renewal term requiring written notice, substantial compliance, completed training, and a renewal license fee — a long initial runway before the first renewal-driven refresh.
The embedded PDF viewer below holds Goddard Systems's 2022 Franchise Disclosure Document in full. Read Item 11 for the FMS mandate, then Item 8 for the supplier rules.
Source
Read the filing itself
Every number on this page traces back to this document. Read it in full, page by page. Buy the original PDF to download, search, and annotate it.
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FDD alert
Tell me when this brand refiles.
We’ll email you the moment Goddard Systems files a new annual FDD, usually the freshest signal of a vendor change.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
635 operators run 635 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Single-unit635
Top states by locations
| NJ | 77 |
|---|---|
| TX | 62 |
| PA | 55 |
| OH | 49 |
| MD | 34 |
Ownership
The portfolio behind Goddard Systems
holding_vehicle of Sycamore Partners.
Sibling brands
Related Youth services brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.