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THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY OF EARLY EDUCATION

THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY OF EARLY EDUCATION

The Learning Experience Academy of Early Education franchises childcare centers that provide educational-based preschool development programs for children aged six weeks to five years, including proprietary curricula like L.E.A.P., literacy programs, foreign languages, enrichment activities such as Little Musicians and Little Engineers, and optional after-school and kindergarten programs. The business operates under a standardized system with trademarks, procedures, technology like TTP, and mandatory programs to ensure quality early education in a safe environment. It targets dual-income middle-class families and single parents seeking comprehensive childcare with a focus on academic and life skills development.

411locations
$781K–$1477K
Since 2003
Education & TrainingDeerfield Beach, FLThe Learning Experience Corp. (TLEC); owned by private equity funds managed by Golden Gate Private Equity, Inc.www.thelearningexperience.comDisclaimer

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Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$60,000
Initial Investment
$780,799 – $1,477,299
Royalty Rate
7.00%
Brand Fund
1.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees
$774 – $774

7% royalty + 1% brand awareness fund + $525/mo software service fee + $249/mo L.E.A.P. interactive fee

Financial Performance


Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$2,098,047.75
Median Gross Revenue
$2,101,059.56
Top Quartile Revenue
$2,574,741.74
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$1,605,029.34

Data Based On: 297 franchised units (232 Mature Centers and 65 Intermediate Centers) open for at least 24 months as of December 31, 2024, were used for revenue calculations. Profit estimates were derived from 16 Mature Company Owned Centers as of 2024.

* All figures are for Fiscal Year 2024. Average Gross Revenue: Calculated as the weighted average of 232 Mature Franchise units (average gross sales $2,163,703) and 65 Intermediate Franchise units (average gross sales $1,863,709). ((232 * 2163703) + (65 * 1863709)) / (232 + 65) = $2,098,047.75. Median Gross Revenue: Calculated as the weighted average of the median gross sales for 232 Mature Franchise units (median $2,160,607) and 65 Intermediate Franchise units (median $1,888,521). ((232 * 2160607) + (65 * 1888521)) / (232 + 65) = $2,101,059.56. Revenue Top Quartile: Represents the average gross sales for the top-performing franchised centers. Calculated as the weighted average of 116 Mature Franchise units that exceeded average gross sales (average $2,647,758) and 35 Intermediate Franchise units that exceeded average gross sales (average $2,332,745). ((116 * 2647758) + (35 * 2332745)) / (116 + 35) = $2,574,741.74. Revenue Bottom Quartile: Represents the average gross sales for the bottom-performing franchised centers. Calculated as the weighted average of 116 Mature Franchise units that were below average gross sales (average $1,679,649) and 30 Intermediate Franchise units that were below average gross sales (average $1,316,500). ((116 * 1679649) + (30 * 1316500)) / (116 + 30) = $1,605,029.34. Best Guess Profit (Low/High): Estimated from the overall average franchised gross revenue ($2,098,047.75) using a range of EBITDAR margins observed in 2024 data for 16 Mature Company Owned Centers. The average EBITDAR margin for these corporate centers was 26.77%, with a range from approximately 17% to 41%. Footnote 2 states that EBITDAR of Mature Franchised Centers is not expected to materially differ from Mature Company Owned Centers, and Footnote 4 indicates that the corporate EBITDAR figures in Statement 2 already account for typical franchisee deductions (like 7% royalties and other fees). A conservative margin of 17% was used for the low estimate ($2,098,047.75 * 0.17 = $356,668.13), and a more optimistic margin of 35% for the high estimate ($2,098,047.75 * 0.35 = $734,316.71).

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $2,098,048

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THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY OF EARLY EDUCATION Franchise Analysis

Demand for premium early childhood education is surging as dual-income families prioritize structured learning over basic daycare. The Learning Experience positions itself with proprietary curricula and tech-driven programs, but franchisees face a hefty entry barrier. Item 19 discloses revenue and profit figures that stand out in the sector, while SBA loan data hints at solid financing success—yet litigation patterns raise questions about operational pressures. Can this system's expansion momentum deliver the returns its pitch promises?

Item 7 outlines an initial investment of $780,799 to $1,477,299, including a $60,000 franchise fee, driven by real estate and build-out for 7,000-15,000 sq ft centers. Ongoing fees hit 7% royalty, 1% brand fund, plus $525/month software and $249/month L.E.A.P. fees, squeezing margins on top of high occupancy needs. Item 19 shines with average gross revenue of $2,098,048 (median $2,101,060) across mature units, translating to estimated owner profits of $356,668-$734,317 after expenses—impressive for education but requiring scale to hit the high end. SBA stats bolster credibility: 314 loans averaging $611,740 with just 2.5% default rate, signaling banks' confidence in cash flow stability.

Franchising since 2003 under private equity ownership, the system expanded from 326 to 386 locations (+18% in 2024), totaling 411 franchises plus 32 corporates, with 57 projected new units and 29 transfers. This trajectory reflects healthy demand in suburban markets, though litigation—mostly over unpaid fees and terminations settled via repurchases—flags potential cash flow strains for underperformers. Overall, robust Item 19 data and low-risk SBA history make it a data-backed play for operators with deep pockets and family-market expertise, but the fee stack and real estate risks demand scrutiny.

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY OF EARLY EDUCATION Compares

Key Insights

  • #1 largest franchise system in Early Childhood Education
  • Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Early Childhood Education
FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY OF EARLY EDUCATION
Current
$781K – $1.5M$60K7.0%411
KIDDIE ACADEMY EDUCATIONAL CHILD CARE$590K – $1.0M$150K7.0%363
Jovie$130K – $205K$50K5.0%160
CHILDRENS LIGHTHOUSE SCHOOLS$1.1M – $1.5M$85K7.0%69
Lightbridge Academy$1.1M – $3.1M$40K7.0%55
Building Kidz School$327K – $1.5M$60K7.0%46
Early Childhood Education Average
17 franchises
$867K – $2.4M$74K6.6%

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 17 Early Childhood Education franchises by location count.

Locations & Growth


Outlet Growth Over Time

Total outlets at end of each year

Geographic Distribution (2024)

Outlets by state across the United States

Top States
1NJ
68
2TX
61
3NY
33
4FL
30
5CO
19
6NC
18
7CA
17
8MA
16
9VA
15
10CT
14
11PA
13
12MI
12
13IL
12
14OH
8
15AZ
7

+14 more states

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SBA Loan History


Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY OF EARLY EDUCATION franchisees (20102025)

Total Loans
314
Average Loan
$611,740
Total Volume
$192.1M
Default Rate
2.5%

Loans by Year

SBA 7(a) loan activity over time

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

314 SBA loans on record

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Franchisee Contacts

507 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

507 Contacts Available

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Due Diligence


Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases2

Primarily breach of franchise agreements, failure to pay fees/royalties, and related termination disputes, settled via repurchase of centers.

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
0
Non-Renewals
0
Reacquired
2
Ceased Ops
1
Transfers
29
Sold to Franchisees
9
Projected New
57

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Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE ACADEMY OF EARLY EDUCATION franchise ranges from $780,799 to $1,477,299. This includes a franchise fee of $60,000. Ongoing royalty fees are 7.0% of gross sales.