Franchise opportunities compared

    Early Care & Learning Center vs The Learning Experience

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $690,000

    2023 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    The Learning Experience

    $805,799 – $5,658,799

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $55,000

    2023 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    The Learning Experience

    $60,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    Royalty · Item 6

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $6.00

    2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    The Learning Experience

    7% · percent of Gross Revenue

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21

    Before you compare

    • Early Care & Learning Center figures come from its 2023 FDD and The Learning Experience figures from its 2026 FDD, so the years differ.
    • The Learning Experience discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only The Learning Experience has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $690,000
    Total estimated initial investment
    2023 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16

    The Learning Experience

    $805,799 – $5,658,799
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $55,000
    2023 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11

    The Learning Experience

    $60,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $6.00
    Royalty fee
    2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    The Learning Experience

    7% · percent of Gross Revenue
    Royalties
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    $2.00
    Advertising fund contribution
    2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12

    The Learning Experience

    Not available
    No reviewed brand or advertising fund fee

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    3
    Outlets at end of 2022
    2023 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44

    The Learning Experience

    465
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 73
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    +0
    Calculated: 3 at end of 2020 → 3 at end of 2022

    The Learning Experience

    +99
    Calculated: 366 at end of 2023 → 465 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    The Learning Experience

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Learning Experience

    null
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 6
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Early Care & Learning Center

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    The Learning Experience

    Organized as a Delaware corporation in April 2003 and converted to a Delaware limited liability company in December 2006
    2026 FDD · Item 1 · PDF p. 6

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    ECEarly Care & Learning Center

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    The Learning Experience
    Franchised (197 centers) — revenue
    $2,034,763
    mean Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 67
    Franchised (266 centers) — revenue
    $2,186,393
    mean Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 67
    Franchised (135 centers) — revenue
    $1,688,611
    mean Gross Sales
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 68
    +1 more groups in the full report

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Early Care & Learning Center vs The Learning Experience: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Early Care & Learning Center or The Learning Experience?
    Early Care & Learning Center: $690,000 (2023 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 16); The Learning Experience: $805,799 – $5,658,799 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Early Care & Learning Center. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Early Care & Learning Center and The Learning Experience royalties compare?
    Early Care & Learning Center: $6.00 (2023 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 12); The Learning Experience: 7% · percent of Gross Revenue (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 21). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Which has more locations, Early Care & Learning Center or The Learning Experience?
    Early Care & Learning Center: 3 (2023 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 44); The Learning Experience: 465 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 73). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
    Do Early Care & Learning Center and The Learning Experience disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Early Care & Learning Center makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; The Learning Experience has reviewed Item 19 figures for 4 location groups. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

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