Bricks & Minifigs vs Learning Express
Bricks & Minifigs vs Learning Express: Bricks & Minifigs costs $241K to $570K to open; Learning Express costs $25K to $388K. Bricks & Minifigs has 161 units, Learning Express has 86. SBA loan history: Bricks & Minifigs = 106 loans (0.9% default); Learning Express = 92 loans (17.4% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Bricks & Minifigs vs Learning Express: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
Learning Express requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($25K vs $241K for Bricks & Minifigs), a 850% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Bricks & Minifigs versus $40K for Learning Express. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for Bricks & Minifigs and 5% for Learning Express, giving Learning Express the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Bricks & Minifigs operates 161 units to Learning Express's 86. Learning Express has been operating 39 years (founded 1987) versus 16 for Bricks & Minifigs (founded 2010), a 23-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Bricks & Minifigs has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 106 7(a) approvals compared with 92 for Learning Express. Bricks & Minifigs's peak SBA year was 2025 (60 loans); Learning Express's peak was 1997 (16 loans). Bricks & Minifigs's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Bricks & Minifigs deals is $180K vs $194K for Learning Express, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.9% for Bricks & Minifigs and 17.4% for Learning Express, Bricks & Minifigs has the cleaner SBA loss record by 16.5 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 88 (Excellent) for Bricks & Minifigs and 45 (Fair) for Learning Express, giving Bricks & Minifigs the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 88/100 | 45/100 |
Health Tier | Excellent | Fair |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Surging | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 106 | 92 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.9% | 17.4% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $241K to $570K | $25K to $388K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $40K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 5% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 1% |
Liquid Capital | $70K | N/A |
Net Worth Required | $250K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 161 | 86 |
Franchised Units | 155 | 86 |
Company Owned | 6 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 2010 | 1987 |
Franchising Since | 2011 | 1990 |
Years Franchising | 15 yrs | 36 yrs |
Headquarters | HOUSTON, TX | MILTON, GA |
Category | Toy | Toy |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, Bricks & Minifigs or Learning Express?
Lower upfront capital required
Learning Express
Bricks & Minifigs: $241K starting · Learning Express: $25K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Bricks & Minifigs
Bricks & Minifigs: 106 SBA loans · Learning Express: 92 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Bricks & Minifigs
Bricks & Minifigs: 0.9% · Learning Express: 17.4%
Larger system & brand presence
Bricks & Minifigs
Bricks & Minifigs: 161 units · Learning Express: 86 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
Learning Express
Bricks & Minifigs: 6% · Learning Express: 5%
More lender financing options
Learning Express
Bricks & Minifigs: 16 unique lenders · Learning Express: 37 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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About These Franchises
Bricks & Minifigs vs Learning Express: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Bricks & Minifigs and Learning Express is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $25K to $570K.
Bricks & Minifigs has 106 SBA loans on record and Learning Express has 92. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Bricks & Minifigs vs Learning Express, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Bricks & Minifigs or Learning Express?
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Can I finance Bricks & Minifigs or Learning Express with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Bricks & Minifigs or Learning Express?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman