SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA · FY1991–PRESENT · PENNSYLVANIA
Learning Express franchise in Pennsylvania: what the public record shows
Franchisees of Learning Express in Pennsylvania have taken 9 SBA loans in the FY1991–present FOIA files (average $186,000). Fewer than 30 of them were approved through FY2020 and have resolved, so no local loss ratio is published. Learning Express's national ratio is 1.3× (not clearly different from 1.0×). Its latest FDD Item 20 state table reports 10 franchised outlets in Pennsylvania (fiscal 2019) — about 0.08 per 100k residents.
Loans in PA
9
Charged off (all years)
0 of 4
Loss ratio in PA
—
Loss ratio nationally (not clear)
1.3×
Source: SBA 7(a)/504 FOIA files (data.sba.gov), borrower state = PA. Loss ratio = charge-offs among loans approved through FY2020 ÷ the charge-offs expected if each had defaulted at the national rate for franchise loans approved the same year; 1.0× is the same. Only charged-off and paid-in-full loans count. A ratio is shown at 30+ such loans; “not clear” marks a ratio chance alone could produce. The all-years count mixes every era and is evidence, not a rate to compare. Borrowers are matched to the brand by name and SBA franchise code; some matches may be wrong or missing.
| Fiscal year | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 12 | — |
| 2018 | 12 | — |
| 2019 | 10 | — |
| System | Loans in PA | Charged off (all years) | Loss ratio in PA | Units in PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Value Hardware | 19 | 2 of 11 | — | — |
| Once Upon a Child | 18 | 0 of 7 | — | — |
| Ace Hardware | 11 | 2 of 10 | — | — |
| Play It Again Sports | 11 | 4 of 7 | — | — |
| Taylor Rental Center | 11 | 0 of 11 | — | — |
| Cartridge World | 10 | 2 of 10 | — | — |
| Woodcraft | 10 | 1 of 8 | — | — |
| BRICKS AND MINFIGS | 9 | 0 of 1 | — | 3 |
| Premier Rental Purchase | 8 | 0 of 3 | — | — |
| Bella Bridesmaids | 7 | 1 of 4 | — | — |
| Foot Solutions | 7 | 0 of 4 | — | — |
| HobbyTown | 7 | 0 of 6 | — | — |
Other systems in Learning Express's sector whose franchisees borrowed in Pennsylvania. A loss ratio appears only where at least 30 loans approved through FY2020 have resolved; “—” means too few.
A broker is usually paid by the franchisor to place you. I'm paid only by you, never by a franchisor you're considering — and the job is pressure-testing Learning Express’ numbers, including talking you out of a bad deal.