Franchise opportunities compared
Learning Express vs Southern Steer
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
Learning Express
$25,375 – $387,514
2026 FDD · Item 7Southern Steer
$376,223
2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20Initial franchise fee · Item 5
Learning Express
$7,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 11Southern Steer
$59,500
2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10Royalty · Item 6
Learning Express
$1,500
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11Southern Steer
1 3 ) — 250
2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14Before you compare
- Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
- Learning Express discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
- Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Learning Express: 3, Southern Steer: 8). Different groups are not directly comparable.
Financial commitment
Southern SteerLearning Express
Southern Steer
Learning Express
Southern Steer
Learning Express
Southern Steer
Learning Express
Southern Steer
System scale & health
Southern SteerLearning Express
Southern Steer
Learning Express
Southern Steer
Learning Express
Southern Steer
Learning Express
Southern Steer
Learning Express
Southern Steer
Financial performance (Item 19), by location group
Southern SteerItem 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.
Learning Express vs Southern Steer: common questions
- Which costs less to open, Learning Express or Southern Steer?
- Learning Express: $25,375 – $387,514 (2026 FDD · Item 7); Southern Steer: $376,223 (2026 FDD · Item 7 · PDF p. 20). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for Learning Express. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
- How do Learning Express and Southern Steer royalties compare?
- Learning Express: $1,500 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11); Southern Steer: 1 3 ) — 250 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 14). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
- Which has more locations, Learning Express or Southern Steer?
- Learning Express: 86 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 36); Southern Steer: 9 (2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 57). Total outlets from Item 20. Outlet counts do not indicate territory availability or franchisee results.
- Do Learning Express and Southern Steer disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
- Learning Express has reviewed Item 19 figures for 3 location groups; Southern Steer has reviewed Item 19 figures for 8 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.
Keep researching
Full Learning Express report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
Full Southern Steer report
Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure
