Early Care & Learning Center
Franchise research report · reviewed 2023 disclosure data
Researching Early Care & Learning Center franchise opportunities? Every figure below is cited to the FDD.
Maple Bear operates early care and learning centers providing childcare and preschool education using a play-based curriculum and a second-language immersion program. Schools serve infants through preschool-age children at individual locations with indoor learning spaces and fenced outdoor play areas, following standardized curriculum and operating procedures.
Headline figures
Early Care & Learning Center quick facts
- Is Early Care & Learning Center a franchise?
- Yes. Early Care & Learning Center offers franchises through a Franchise Disclosure Document. At the end of 2022, it reported 3 franchised and 0 company-owned outlets (2023 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 44).
- How much does it cost to open an Early Care & Learning Center franchise?
- The Early Care & Learning Center Franchise Disclosure Document reports an estimated initial investment of $690,000 (2023 FDD, Item 7, PDF p. 16). This is the franchisor's disclosed estimate, not a quote. Details
- What is the Early Care & Learning Center initial franchise fee?
- The disclosed initial franchise fee for a standard single unit is $55,000 (2023 FDD, Item 5, PDF p. 11). Other fee options (for example multi-unit or conversion) are listed separately in the report. Details
- What ongoing fees does Early Care & Learning Center charge?
- The disclosed ongoing royalty is $6 (2023 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12). The brand or advertising fund contribution is $2 (2023 FDD, Item 6, PDF p. 12). Other recurring fees are listed in Item 6. Details
- Does Early Care & Learning Center disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- No. The reviewed Early Care & Learning Center FDD states that it does not make a financial performance representation in Item 19. Details
- How many Early Care & Learning Center locations are there?
- The FDD reports 3 outlets at the end of 2022 (2023 FDD, Item 20, PDF p. 44). Existing locations do not indicate territory availability. Details
- Is Early Care & Learning Center a good franchise to buy?
- Franopolis does not rate or recommend franchises. From the reviewed FDD: Item 19 makes no financial performance representation, so ask current owners about results; Item 20 lists outlet openings, closures and transfers; Item 6 includes a brand or advertising fund contribution on top of royalty; Item 20 also lists current and former franchisees you can contact. Review the full FDD with a franchise attorney and accountant before deciding.
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
What the disclosures show
- 1Opening costs are estimated at $690,000 in the 2023 FDD (Item 7); several initial fee options apply.
- 2The franchisor makes no financial performance representation in Item 19.
- 3Outlets held steady in 2022, to 3 (systemwide, as labeled in the FDD, Item 20).
From reviewed FDD figures only. Not a recommendation or projection.
Early Care & Learning Center head-to-head
Closest peers in the same subcategory, side by side from reviewed FDD figures. Not a ranking or recommendation.
Costs · Items 5–7
What does it cost to open?
Estimated opening costs and the fees payable to the franchisor.
Startup Investment — Item 7
Total estimated initial investment
2023 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16
Standard single-unit franchise fee
2023 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11
Discounted and multi-unit options are separate; see all fees.
Ongoing Fees — Item 6
Selected recurring charges; payment bases and conditions remain attached to each fee.
- Royalty feeMain ongoing fee
12 reported fees, each with its payment basis, are listed below; they haven't been sorted into recurring, initial and occasional groups yet.
Financial Performance — Item 19
What results are disclosed—and for which locations?
No financial performance representation in Item 19
The reviewed 2023 FDD for Early Care & Learning Center has no Item 19 figures on record. Franopolis does not estimate revenue or earnings in their place; ask the franchisor and current owners what unit-level information they can share.
Outlet Changes — Item 20
How has the outlet count changed?
systemwide, as labeled in the FDD · counts as of year end of each year.
2023 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44
Net +0 outlets, 2020–2022
Year-end counts reported in Item 20. The scale starts at zero, so the line looks nearly flat; the labels between the dots show each year's change. Openings and closures for 2022 haven't been pulled from the Item 20 tables yet, so no turnover or churn is shown.
Questions to investigate
Prompts based on what this brand's reviewed disclosures do and don't show — not conclusions. Join free as a member to save questions to your research.
For the franchisor
Which line items in the 2023 Item 7 estimate ($690,000) vary most by market, and why?
Which initial fee option would apply to my situation, and what conditions or discounts affect it?
Early Care & Learning Center reports no financial performance figures in Item 19. What information can you share about unit-level results?
Reported units went from 3 to 3 in 2022. How many new units opened, closed or changed hands?
Is a territory available in my area, and how is it defined in my agreement?
For current and former owners
How did your actual startup costs and timeline compare with the Item 7 estimate?
How many hours a week do you work in the business, and in what role?
What support from the franchisor has been most and least useful?
For your advisors
Ask a franchise attorney to review the territory, renewal, transfer and termination terms.
Ask an accountant to build a cash-flow plan using your own assumptions, not the franchisor's.
Sources & vintage history
Every displayed fact is retained with its disclosure vintage, item, page, and reviewed status. Prior vintages remain on file rather than being overwritten.
Citations (2023 FDD)
- [1]Estimated initial investment — Item 7 · PDF p. 16
- [2]Standard initial franchise fee — Item 5 · PDF p. 11
- [3]Outlet counts — Item 20, Table 1 · PDF p. 44
"PDF p." is the page in the PDF file; "printed p." is the number printed on the FDD page.
Territory & operations
These are contract disclosures, not confirmation that any territory is currently available.
Legal & agreement
Franchisor financial statements
| Fiscal year | Measure | Reported value |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | total assets 2021 | $52,970 |
| 2021 | total current liabilities 2021 | $692,859 |
| 2021 | stockholder deficit 2021 | -$639,889 |
| 2021 | royalty fee revenue 2021 | $60,120 |
| 2021 | operating expenses 2021 | -$685,025 |
| 2021 | loss from operating activities 2021 | -$624,905 |
| 2021 | net loss 2021 | -$624,905 |
| 2021 | cash end of year 2021 | $27,185 |
These figures describe the franchisor company, not individual franchise locations.
SBA-backed loans to franchisees
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Source: U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) & 504 FOIA data. Loan volume is not a measure of franchisee success.
Related research
Brands in the same subcategory first, then the wider industry, ordered by shared business format and overlapping investment range. This is not a ranking or recommendation.
Building Kidz
Ivybrook Academy
Celebree School
Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care
Montessori Kids Universe
The Learning ExperienceHead-to-head comparisons
At a glance
Business history
Not reviewed
Owner participation
Not reviewed
Territory language
Litigation disclosure
Not reviewed
Bankruptcy disclosure
Not reviewed
Agreement term
Not reviewed
Independent analysis of franchisor-provided data. Not investment advice. Franopolis does not distribute FDDs.
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