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Free Download, 2026 Edition

The Year 1 School OPEX Template

Excel template covering 14 cost heads for a K-12 school's first operating year, pre-populated with benchmark ranges from RAYSolute's 60-school database.

  • All 14 OPEX heads: faculty, admin, operations, marketing, legal, technology, transport, food, security, utilities, R&M, insurance, contingency, finance
  • Pre-loaded benchmark ranges by city tier and board
  • Faculty cost calculator with TGT, PGT, PET, and coordinator slabs
  • Marketing budget by enrolment ramp curve (Year 1 vs Year 2 vs steady state)
  • Built-in P&L summary with monthly cash burn projection
  • Customisation guide for boarding, IB, and dual-curriculum models

Get the file

Email or WhatsApp Aurobindo. We send the file the same day, often within an hour.

Email aurobindo@raysolute.com WhatsApp Aurobindo

Aurobindo Saxena, Founder & CEO. Replies personally, usually within an hour during India business hours.

14
OPEX heads modeled
60+
School cost database
4
Boards covered
Excel
Editable template
What is inside

Six sections, fully editable

Every section is actionable, with templates, calculators, or step-by-step instructions.

1

Faculty cost calculator

Salary slabs by city and board, with TGT, PGT, PET, music, art, special-education roles. Includes EPF, ESIC, gratuity provisions.

2

Admin and operations

Principal, vice-principal, coordinators, admin staff, accountants, lab technicians. Cost: 8 to 12 percent of OPEX.

3

Marketing and admissions

Year 1 spend benchmarks: 6 to 10 percent of revenue. Includes digital, school visits, OOH, parent referrals.

4

Facility management

Security, housekeeping, gardening, building R&M. Cost: 5 to 8 percent of OPEX.

5

Transport (where applicable)

Bus fleet sizing, route planning, fuel and driver cost, depreciation. Net deficit budgeted.

6

Technology

ERP, smart classes, parent app, fee management software. Year 1: 1.5 to 2.5 percent of OPEX.

About the author

Built from the field, not the textbook

AS
Aurobindo Saxena, Founder & CEO, RAYSolute Consultants

23+ years in Indian education. Founder, RAYSolute Consultants. Forbes India contributor. Recipient of the Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Commendation for Education (2019). Global Schools Ambassador (2021).

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