School of Rock is operated by School of Rock Franchising LLC, based in Canton, Massachusetts. The brand provides music education services, teaching students to play instruments and perform in bands, and offers franchisees access to branded merchandise such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, and other clothing and accessories.
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School of Rock provides a comprehensive support system designed to guide you from your first day of training through every stage of your business ownership.
School of Rock provides pre-opening assistance such as site selection guidance, lease negotiation assistance, and initial training on the System, along with access to Manuals through a password-protected website. Ongoing support includes advertising materials, operational advice, approved supplier lists, and administration of a Brand Fund. Franchisees must also purchase and maintain a specified Computer System and Required Software, and comply with local and cooperative advertising obligations.
The Initial Training Program consists of a Management Training Curriculum and a Music Director Training Curriculum, both using a blended approach of instructor-led, self-paced, and online group learning. The Management Training Curriculum requires about 12.33 hours of classroom training over 4 weeks delivered remotely, plus a fifth week (13.5 hours) held in-person at a designated School location such as Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The Music Director Training Curriculum requires about 10.67 hours of training over 4 weeks, delivered entirely remotely. Training must be completed to the franchisor's satisfaction before opening, and new General Managers or Music Directors hired later must complete training within three months of hire; additional courses and seminars may also be required periodically, sometimes for a fee.
Before opening, the franchisor provides prototypical School specifications, site selection guidelines and consultation, on-site evaluations (at franchisee's expense), and lease negotiation assistance. The franchisor also makes Manuals available via a password-protected website and provides a list of needed equipment along with information on supplier discount packages. After opening, the franchisor continues to provide advice and written materials on operations, teaching methods, class scheduling, sales methods, and marketing techniques, though not on employment terms. The franchisor also organizes and manages 'The School of Rock AllStars' program and designates or approves suppliers of products and equipment.
Franchisees must spend at least $10,000 on a grand opening local advertising program and thereafter must spend 3% of Gross Sales annually on local advertising, marketing, and promotion. Franchisees also pay 3% of Gross Sales monthly to a Brand Fund used for national advertising, promotion of the School of Rock AllStars, and administration (up to 15% for overhead). All advertising materials must follow Brand Advertising Guidelines and be approved by the franchisor unless previously approved or provided by the franchisor. Franchisees may voluntarily join regional advertising Cooperatives, which can require contributions up to 3% of Gross Sales annually, and the franchisor also maintains a website that may host franchisee pages for a monthly fee.
Franchisees must purchase, license, or lease a specified Computer System including POS, back office, and security systems, along with Required Software such as a cloud-based POS/scheduling platform, CRM tools, and email/single sign-on systems. The estimated cost of the Computer System and Required Software is $4,000 to $9,000, with ongoing monthly fees such as $175 for POS licensing and additional per-account charges. Franchisees must also use the proprietary 'Method App' for curriculum delivery, paying a monthly Method App Fee currently $6.21 per curriculum-eligible student. The franchisor may remotely access data from the Computer System and can require upgrades or replacements at the franchisee's expense at any time, with no limit on frequency or cost.
The franchisor designates or approves suppliers from whom franchisees must purchase products, supplies, materials, and equipment used or sold at the School. The franchisor may also negotiate discount equipment packages with suppliers for franchisees to use when opening their School. Certain Required Software and Computer System components may require franchisees to enter into license agreements with, or pay fees to, designated or approved vendors.