This 72 Year-Old Education Brand Is Staying On Top By Doing One Crucial Thing In-Person
Kumon invests heavily in learnings across regions. That landed it at #5 on our Franchise 500.
This story appears in the January 2026 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
To view our entire 2026 Franchise 500 list, including category rankings, click HERE.
Angelo Chavez believes in the power of Kumon.
He’s been a certified instructor of the methods that made Kumon a global success, and has spent 31 years at the after-school learning program franchise — climbing the ladder to his current role as assistant vice president of franchise development.
In short: He knows the 68-year-old company is a solid, reliable business. But he doesn’t take the company’s success for granted.
“What’s keeping me up at night is: How do I future-proof this established brand?” he says, pointing to the ever-increasing chatter around AI, especially in the world of education. But rather than run from new tools, Chavez says he’s focused on a “slow kind of digital transformation” to supercharge Kumon’s operations and franchisees.
“We’re taking a hard look at everything we’re doing, searching for opportunities for technology to make things faster, easier, and smoother,” he says.
That’s already started with programs like Kumon Connect, a 2024 launch that supports learning via digital tablets to increase convenience and engagement. And as Chavez brings additional innovations to Kumon, he’s leaning on his peers around the world.
Related: Kumon Is Killing It With Two New Initiatives That Meet Students Where They Are Today
With over 23,000 global locations, the company invests in sharing insights across regions. An annual development gathering in New Jersey recently welcomed teams from Kumon locations in China, Europe, Africa, South America, and Japan.
“There’s a reason we didn’t do this on Teams,” Chavez says. “Whether the parent is in Brazil or Dubai, they want what’s best for their child. So we’re putting our money where our mouth is [by coming together]: How can we think as one company and what can we learn from each other?”
A common theme from those global discussions is a slump in spending. “Families take longer to make decisions when there’s an economic slowdown,” Chavez says. But Kumon’s pricing model delivers undeniable value, which is part of why Kumon has been in the Franchise 500 Top 10 for the last six years, achieving its highest ranking ever this year.
As the company maps future development, maintaining quality of franchisees will drive success, Chavez says. The bulk of Kumon franchisees are single-unit operators, and that’s by design; all franchisees are Kumon instructors, and the company expects them to be active participants in their business. To identify potential operators that fit this mold, in-house recruiters (many who have worked in Kumon centers) seek and screen all prospects.
“This is not the investor type of franchise opportunity,” Chavez says. “Our franchisees want to help society, and make an impact in their community. They want to influence the future.”
Related: Transforming Your Passion Into Impact — Discover the Top 15 Franchises Shaping Children’s Futures
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To view our entire 2026 Franchise 500 list, including category rankings, click HERE.
Angelo Chavez believes in the power of Kumon.
He’s been a certified instructor of the methods that made Kumon a global success, and has spent 31 years at the after-school learning program franchise — climbing the ladder to his current role as assistant vice president of franchise development.
