OFFICIAL FILING · MN · 2020
Learning Express FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document) — 2020
The FDD is the 23-item legal disclosure every U.S. franchisor must hand you at least 14 days before you sign or pay anything (FTC Franchise Rule, 16 CFR 436). Learning Express's most recent FDD tracked here was filed in 2020 with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (public CARDS portal) — and because registration-state filings are public records, you can read it free, without giving a broker your phone number.
THE SAME DOCUMENT SITES SELL OR GATE BEHIND LEAD FORMS. FILED 2020 · SOURCE STATE MN
| ITEM 5 | Initial franchise fee | $35K |
| ITEM 6 | Ongoing royalty | 5.0% of gross sales |
| ITEM 7 | Total initial investment | $182K–$319K |
| ITEM 3 | Disclosed litigation matters | 0 |
| ITEM 19 | Earnings disclosure (FPR) | Yes — median unit volume $651K ("We are reporting only on those businesses open one full-year or more and are comparable in size and scope to the offer described in this Disclosure Agreement. Of the 103 Stores operating on December 31, 2019, we are reporting on 100 Stores. The Learning Express location in Fremont, Nebraska is a fractional franchise operating as a toy department within a drug store, therefore is not included below." Number of Stores: 108 (2017), 101 (2018), 100 (2019). "The Annual Sale Revenue ranges from $1,517,511.48 to $98,960.23." Figures were calculated from franchisee monthly sales reports and "have not been audited.") |
| ITEM 20 | Outlets (fiscal 2019) | 101 franchised at year end · 10 exits (9.2% annualized) |
| ITEM 21 | Franchisor financial statements | clean (unqualified) audit opinion — Burke & Company LLC |
Citation discipline: every figure above is extracted from the 2020 Learning Express FDD as filed and links back to that document. Fields the filing did not state are omitted — nothing here is estimated, surveyed, or filled in from marketing material. FDDs are reissued annually; verify against the current issuance before relying on any number.
Learning Express FDD questions, answered
Where can I download the Learning Express FDD for free?
Learning Express's 2020 Franchise Disclosure Document is a public record, filed with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (public CARDS portal). It can be downloaded free from the source link on this page — no broker form, no email signup required.
What year is Learning Express's most recent FDD on file?
The most recent Learning Express FDD tracked here was filed in 2020 with the Minnesota Department of Commerce (public CARDS portal). Franchisors must update their FDD annually, so confirm you are reading the current issuance before signing.
Does Learning Express's FDD disclose earnings (Item 19)?
Yes — Learning Express makes a financial performance representation in Item 19 of its 2020 FDD, reporting a median unit volume of $651K. Read the basis fine print: franchisors choose which units and metrics to include.
What does Learning Express's FDD Item 20 show?
In fiscal 2019, Learning Express ended with 101 franchised outlets; 10 of 109 open at the start of the year left the system — an annualized exit rate of 9.2% (terminations, non-renewals, and "ceased operations — other reasons").
A broker is paid by the franchisor to place you. An independent CPA is paid by you — and the job is pressure-testing Learning Express's numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.
Talk to an independent CPA before you buy →