Hi-5 ABA

What Hi-5 ABA does

Hi-5 ABA is a privately held, Warrenton, Virginia-based franchise organization that provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy services to children with autism and developmental disabilities, ages 2-21. The company was founded in 2019 by the Maddox family, building on the operating playbook of their earlier venture, ABC Behavior, which had launched 10 ABA practices across Northern and Central Virginia by late 2018. Hi-5 ABA does not deliver therapy directly as a corporate entity; instead, it licenses its brand, operating systems, and administrative infrastructure to independent BCBA franchisees who own and operate their own clinical practices. The network has grown to 30+ franchise owners spanning more than 20 U.S. states, with end customers finding services through the corporate website locator, healthcare provider referrals, and direct outreach by individual franchisees.

The company's technology stack combines a few branded platforms with established third-party tools: Motivity for workforce management, Aloha for financial transaction processing, and MTAG for employee onboarding and administrative integration, layered on top of CentralReach, a third-party ABA practice management system used for scheduling, documentation, and billing. Franchisees also receive operational templates (insurance audit manuals, clinic and in-home service templates, training materials) and centralized back-office support for credentialing, billing, payroll, bookkeeping, and practice management, delivered through a wholly owned shared services subsidiary, Hi-5 ABA Processing. The company has obtained Authorized Continuing Education (ACE) Provider status from the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, allowing it to issue CE credits to behavior analysts.

Hi-5 ABA generates revenue from four primary streams: one-time initial franchise fees of $12,000-$15,000 per new franchisee, ongoing royalty payments (historically subject to deferrals during COVID-19), administrative and managed services fees billed to franchisees through Hi-5 ABA Processing, and hourly executive consulting services ($600-$900/hour) sold to non-franchisee ABA operators. The corporate entity is small (11-50 employees) and bootstrapped, with no disclosed institutional funding, and operates under a family leadership structure anchored by founder David Maddox, J.D., serving as CEO, Chairman, and President.

Name

Hi-5 ABA

Legal name

Hi-5 ABA, Inc.

Website

https://hi5aba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hi-5 ABA is a Warrenton, Virginia-based franchise organization founded in 2019 that licenses its brand and administrative infrastructure (billing, payroll, credentialing, practice management) to independent BCBAs operating ABA therapy practices for children with autism across 20+ U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy Services

NAICS

Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Office Administrative Services (5611), Management of Companies and Enterprises (55111)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

ABA Supervision, Clinical Oversight & BCBA Consulting (EDAKAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

ABA Therapy Providers (Clinic-Based) (EDAKAHAA), ABA Therapy Providers (Home-Based) (EDAKAHAB), ABA Therapy Providers (School-Based) (EDAKAHAC), ABA Staff Training & RBT/Paraprofessional Support Services (EDAKAHAI)

Keywords

• ABA therapy services
• Autism therapy franchise
• Applied behavior analysis
• Franchise business services
• Behavioral health consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Warrenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Initial franchise fees ranging from $12,000 to $15,000 for new franchisees. Additional startup costs detailed in the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
2. Consulting Services: Expert consulting services offered to ABA professionals and businesses including payroll, credentialing, business development, billing, and marketing. Rates vary by consultant: $900/hour for David Maddox and Ben MacGowen, $750/hour for Tim Maddox, $600/hour for Christian Maddox, with 30-minute consultations available at reduced rates ($450 and $380).
3. Administrative Support Services: Franchisees pay for administrative services including credentialing, billing, payroll, bookkeeping, and practice management support provided by Hi-5 ABA and its processing affiliates.
4. Royalty Payments: Ongoing royalty payments from franchisees, with temporary deferrals offered during COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hi-5 ABA operates a franchise organization that licenses the Hi-5 ABA brand, administrative infrastructure, and clinical systems to independent Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and entrepreneurs who own and operate their own Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy practices for children with autism and developmental disabilities ages 2-21. The franchisor provides administrative support services including billing, payroll, credentialing, bookkeeping, employee onboarding and training, marketing assistance, and practice management, while franchisees deliver in-home, clinic-based, and telehealth ABA therapy services. The company also sells professional consulting services (payroll, credentialing, business development, billing, marketing) directly to ABA professionals and businesses on an hourly basis.

Product overview

Hi-5 ABA operates as a franchise organization offering a comprehensive ABA therapy service ecosystem. The core offering is the Hi-5 ABA Franchise Model, which provides independent BCBAs with administrative infrastructure including billing, payroll, credentialing, and consulting support. The company also offers Professional ABA Consulting Services for private practices and startups. Underlying technology platforms include Motivity (workforce management), Aloha (financial transactions), and MTAG (employee onboarding/administrative integration). The ABA Business Blueprint serves as an educational resource for practice development. All services are oriented toward supporting children with autism and developmental disabilities aged 2-21, with locations across multiple U.S. states.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hi-5 ABA Franchise Opportunity A franchise offering for BCBAs and entrepreneurs to launch and operate their own ABA therapy practice under the Hi-5 ABA brand. Includes initial franchise fee ($12,000-$15,000), ongoing administrative support (credentialing, billing, payroll, bookkeeping, employee onboarding, training, marketing, practice management), proprietary systems access (Motivity, Aloha, MTAG, CentralReach), national marketing, peer support network, and negotiated vendor rates. Available in 20+ U.S. states.
• Professional ABA Consulting Services Expert consulting services offered directly to ABA professionals and businesses covering payroll, credentialing, business development, billing, marketing, and operational support. Hourly rates: $900/hour for David Maddox (CEO) and Ben MacGowen (EVP of Strategy); $750/hour for Tim Maddox (Director of Franchising); $600/hour for Christian Maddox (COO of ABC Behavior). 30-minute sessions available at reduced rates ($450 and $380).
• ABA Therapy Services Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy programs for children with autism and developmental disabilities ages 2-21, including early intervention, school readiness programs for preschool-aged children (ages 2-5), social skills groups, skill acquisition, behavior reduction, and comprehensive behavioral therapy. Services delivered through in-home therapy (10-40 hours/week), clinic-based settings, and telehealth modalities. Coverage typically includes Medicaid, private insurance, and plans such as BCBSM, Blue Care Network, and Aetna.

Quantifiable outcome

• Faster return on investment through proven franchise system versus building independently
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Cortica: Cortica is a multi-site provider of integrated medical, ABA, and developmental therapies for children with autism. Comparable end customer and clinical modality, but pursues a physician-led integrated-care model rather than a franchise system.

Broad incumbents

• Autism Learning Partners: Autism Learning Partners is a multi-state ABA provider serving children and families across the US. Comparable in service line, target demographic, and multi-state coverage, though structured as a centralized operator rather than a franchise system.
• Behavior Frontiers: Behavior Frontiers is a national ABA provider offering in-home, clinic-based, and school-based services. Comparable in delivery modalities and end-customer profile, competing for the same BCBA talent pool.
• BlueSprig Pediatrics: BlueSprig is one of the largest US ABA therapy providers, operating company-owned centers across many states. Comparable core clinical service, target demographic, and insurance reimbursement dynamics, but as a scaled operator rather than a franchise.
• Hopebridge: Hopebridge is a large multi-state ABA and pediatric therapy provider with hundreds of clinicians. Overlaps with Hi-5 ABA on pediatric autism services, geographic breadth, and payer mix, but operates company-owned rather than franchised clinics.
• Centria Healthcare: Centria Healthcare is a national provider of ABA and home health services for children with autism. Comparable end customers, in-home and clinic modalities, and national footprint, though larger and not franchise-based.

Direct peers

• Empower Behavioral Health: Empower Behavioral Health operates an ABA franchise model offering similar administrative, billing, and operational support to BCBA franchisees. Directly comparable in business model and target franchisee profile to Hi-5 ABA.
• Lighthouse Autism Center: Lighthouse Autism Center is an ABA therapy provider that has expanded through both company-owned and franchise/satellite models. Comparable as an ABA services franchise with multi-state presence serving pediatric autism populations.
• PediaPlex: PediaPlex offers franchised pediatric therapy services including ABA, speech, and occupational therapy. Comparable franchise architecture serving families of children with autism and developmental delays.
• Proud Moments ABA: Proud Moments ABA is a multi-state ABA therapy provider delivering clinic- and home-based services to children with autism. Comparable end-customer offering and multi-state geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Hi5ABA.Bcube
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hi-5aba

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hi-5 ABA