Franchise financing
The Learning Experience franchise financing
What it costs to finance a The Learning Experience franchise and how buyers fund it. The real numbers: how much gets borrowed, which lenders fund it, and the track record.
By Mario Bailey · Source: SBA FOIA data, as of 2026-03-31
- SBA loans
- 365
- Total funded
- $270.5M
- Median loan
- $460K
- 7(a) charge-off
- 2.4%
What financing a The Learning Experience franchise costs
The median SBA loan to a The Learning Experience franchisee is $460K, and the middle half of The Learning Experience's 365 loans run $350K to $620K (average $741K). Across all SBA-financed franchises the median loan is $350K. The Learning Experience buyers borrow more than the typical franchisee.
These are loan amounts, not the brand's total startup cost. Buyers also put in equity (the SBA generally wants at least 10% down on a new franchise), and the brand's own investment estimate is Item 7 of its franchise disclosure document (FDD). The median The Learning Experience loan runs 10 years. Model your numbers with the franchise financing calculator.
Of the 346 The Learning Experience loans where the SBA recorded a business age, 79.5% went to new businesses two years old or younger. The rest funded existing operations.
How to finance The Learning Experience
The Learning Experience franchisees have financed with 365 SBA loans since FY2010, averaging $741K each. The 7(a) program is the usual route: it covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital (331 of the 365 loans). Lenders weigh your credit, management experience, and the brand's track record alongside the equity you bring.
The Learning Experience's 7(a) charge-off rate is 2.4% across 331 loans, a relative track-record signal lenders and buyers weigh, not a guarantee. See how that compares across franchises.
Lenders that finance The Learning Experience
By SBA loan count
Where The Learning Experience gets funded
Top states by loan count
- 1. Texas 73
- 2. New Jersey 43
- 3. New York 31
- 4. Florida 31
- 5. Virginia 22
- 6. Michigan 11
- 7. Pennsylvania 17
- 8. Massachusetts 16
Financing a The Learning Experience?
Get matched with the SBA lenders that actually fund businesses like yours, ranked on real loan data by state, industry, and size. Independent: your details go only to the lenders we match you to, never to data brokers.
The Learning Experience SBA financing FAQ
How much does a The Learning Experience franchise cost?
The public SBA data shows what buyers actually borrow, not a sticker price: the median SBA loan to a The Learning Experience franchisee is $460K, and the middle half of The Learning Experience's 365 loans run $350K to $620K. Total investment (including the equity you put in, generally 10% or more) is estimated in Item 7 of The Learning Experience's franchise disclosure document.
Can you use an SBA loan for The Learning Experience?
Yes. Lenders have funded 365 SBA loans to The Learning Experience franchisees, worth $270.5M in all, so The Learning Experience is regularly financed with SBA 7(a) and 504 loans.
Can a first-time owner get an SBA loan for The Learning Experience?
The data says yes: of The Learning Experience's 346 SBA loans that record a business age, 79.5% went to new businesses two years old or younger. Expect the lender to look harder at your experience, business plan, and equity injection.
Which lenders finance The Learning Experience?
By loan count, the most active SBA lenders for The Learning Experience are First Bank of the Lake, Provident Bank, Trenton Business Assistance Corporation, among others. A lender already active with your brand often moves faster.
What is The Learning Experience's SBA charge-off rate?
Across The Learning Experience's 331 SBA 7(a) loans, 2.4% have charged off. Read it as a relative track-record signal, not a prediction. It is not a lifetime default rate.
Which SBA program fits The Learning Experience?
Mostly 7(a): 331 of The Learning Experience's 365 SBA loans. The 7(a) program covers the franchise fee, build-out, equipment, and working capital. The median The Learning Experience loan term is 10 years.