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Abhinav Ramnarayan

Looks for presence in 7 countries by year-end

Chennai , April 7

Maths for five-year-olds. A money-spinner? BrainOBrain Kids Academy, a company that manages 250 franchisees in 18 States in the country, and a couple in Sharjah and Dubai, has proved that it is possible, with a yearly cash inflow of about Rs 4 to 5 crore through royalties.

The institute promotes the teaching of mathematics through the Chinese Abacus system, said Mr S. Anand, Managing Director, BrainOBrain. The schools cater to the age group of 5 to 14, a time when both the left and right side of the brain can be easily developed, he said. The programme is designed to improve memory, speed, accuracy, visualisation skills, concentration and self-confidence.

"Not only does the marks of the students improve, but also their all round ability and confidence to succeed in any field," he said.

The initial investment for a franchisee is Rs 68,000, for which the franchisee will have to pay 30 per cent royalties, but the institute does offer two more packages for persons who show exceptional ability in managing a school — Rs 43,000 with a payment of 50 per cent royalties and Rs 18,000, with a payment of 70 per cent royalties, with the institute funding the difference. The prospective franchisees will have to undergo an entrance examination and a training course.

The fee structure ranges between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 according to the location, and the intake is fixed based on the size of the classroom, though the institute insists that the franchisee begins with a batch of 15 children. All in all, you can make about Rs 15,000 a month initially, said Mr Anand, which means you can break even in about four months.

The franchisees are typically awarded to women homemakers, because the institute feels more comfortable working with them. "This cannot be run as a business," said Mr Anand. The institute has faced offers for multiple-franchises, and some large companies have looked to have ownership over a whole State as well. "But when people come and ask us questions like how much money can I make, we tell them this is not the place for you," he said. "Homemakers typically ask questions like, will I be able to pick up the concept, and do you think I will be able to teach the children — that is something we can deal with." But he does admit that some offers were tempting.

The institute is looking to spread its network beyond the borders. Apart from the institute in Dubai and Sharjah, franchisees in Singapore and Kuwait will be up and running by the end of April, and one in the UK is slated to come up in July, while the registration process is still taking place for US and Canada. "By the end of 2006, we hope to be in seven countries," he said.

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