Rank no. 208 – The Learning Experience – US

 
Products & Services: Child care

Number of Locations: 131

Total Investment: $495.29K – 3.58M

Founded: 1979

Began Franchising: 2003
About The Learning Experience

The Weissman family, founders of The Learning Experience, have been providing education-based childcare services for over 30 years. Following a brief retirement, the Weissmans decided to re-enter the childcare industry in 2000, building on their experience to create The Learning Experience. The company began franchising in 2003 and has extended its curriculum to include extensive enrichment programming.

Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units in the U.S.,Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, Central America, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South America, Western Europe.
Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing

Total Investment: $495,299 – $3,585,549
Franchise Fee: $60,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: 7%
Term of Franchise Agreement: 15 years, renewable
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS
Net Worth: $500,000
Liquid Cash Available: $150,000
OPERATIONS
25% of all franchisees own more than one unit. Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 10 – 20. Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed..

How This Franchise Supports Franchisees

Training: Available at headquarters: 2 weeks. At franchisee’s location: 2 weeks.
Ongoing Support: Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Lease Negotiation
Marketing Support: Ad slicks, National media, Regional advertising,
Franchise Ranking History

Franchise 500®: #208 (2013), #193 (2012), #205 (2011),
Fastest-Growing: #89 (2013), #101 (2012),
America’s Top Global: #151 (2012), #163 (2011),

The TLE® Vision making a difference
At The Learning Experience® (TLE®), we believe that each child deserves to grow and learn at his/her own pace. Our responsibility as an Academy of Early Education is to provide the tools and the environment that will give every child the opportunity to develop to their greatest potential. Children deserve to receive all the support and respect it takes to establish a strong foundation for their future. We do all of this in a safe and nurturing environment that is both fun and exciting for children.

Making learning fun and exciting is just one of the ways we’re able to develop each child’s potential. The other is to focus on the three key educational platforms for children: cognitive, social and physical. Or, as we say at TLE®, “learn, play, and grow!”

Objectives for Learning building a foundation for life
The Learning Experience’s® founders have spent more than 30 years developing successful educational programs on a national scale. From that vast experience, TLE® has developed these primary educational objectives for its students:

1. LIFE SKILLS
TLE® will embrace important practical matters that are often ignored by other early academic institutions. In order to lay a foundation for them to become respectful and mannered young adults, our children are presented and taught sharing, manners, etiquette and responsibility.

2. CORE ACADEMIC SKILLS
Children will graduate TLE® with exceptional academic skills that will provide them with a solid foundation for all future life endeavors. The goals we have set for children at TLE® have been formed with respect for the individual child and are tailored for each age group. The objectives were set with both the knowledge of the typical development cycle of a child and through an awareness of differences in patterns of growth, personality, learning style and family background.

We know that each child develops at their own pace, so our curriculum was designed to provide experiences for children that promote general academic competency and mastery of developmental tasks no matter what learning stage they’re in.

3. FITNESS SKILLS
At TLE®, children engage in a variety of controlled and safe activities that encourage them to be active. Healthy food choices are provided daily.

4. COMFORT SKILLS
TLE® staff understands the importance of creating a warm, safe and nurturing environment for your child’s comfort. Through steadfast encouragement and support, TLE® helps to build confidence in your child at an early age that will set them on a path of future achievement.

Built for purpose instilling creativity through design
TLE Center Model
The Learning Experience® centers offer contemporary school designs, combined with the best from the fields of learning, early education and development, technology, ergonomics and environmental design. An abundance of light-filled and open spaces provide an ideal environment fit for emotional and educational growth. Everything from the floor design and furniture to learning tools and supplies have been carefully and meticulously designed to assist in enhancing your child’s experience at TLE®.

Pioneers in education, a commitment to caring
The first The Learning Experience® center was opened in 1980 in Boca Raton, FL, by pioneers in the child care business, TLE® Founder & Chairman Michael Weissman, and Founder & EVP of Marketing Linda Weissman. This center was later recognized as the largest single operating preschool in the southeastern United States.

As their center grew, Richard Weissman joined TLE® as President in 1986. With Richard on board, the Weissman Family decided to take a huge leap into creating and developing the first branded childcare franchise in the United States. That franchise later became known as Tutor Time. By 1999, Tutor Time had more than 200 centers in operation, was recognized as the world’s largest child care franchise and the fourth largest for-profit child care company in the United States. Michael Weissman retired from Tutor Time in 1997 and Richard Weissman followed suit in 1999. Shortly thereafter, the Weissmans sold Tutor Time to Childtime Learning Centers.

In December 2001, the Weissmans realized that there was a tremendous void in the then current offerings of the early academic sector. They decided that there was more that they could provide to children, and that there was more to accomplish. So, the Weissmans came out of retirement and The Learning Experience® brand was re-formed. Once re-formed, the family worked tirelessly to update and evolve their “best in class” proprietary curriculum to meet and exceed the expectations for early academic achievement in today’s environment. This already exceptional curriculum continues to evolve and improve with each passing year.

Today, TLE® has grown to more than 200 locations opened or under construction in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, Virginia, and is currently the fastest growing child care franchisor in the United States.

The Company is majority owned and operated by the Weissman family (Michael, Linda, Richard and family).
Open-Minded Approach, culturally and ethnically diverse
The Learning Experience® (TLE®) promotes economic and cultural diversity. We create an environment of students and teachers from all cultures, races and ethnicities. Exposing your child to a wide array of cultural backgrounds at this early age will help to promote an open-minded viewpoint for the future.

Additionally, TLE® is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

Source:  The Learning Experience Official Website