Code Ninjas vs Learning Express

Compare franchise fees, investment range, royalties, SBA lending performance, unit growth, and Item 19 transparency with a permanent shareable URL.

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Code Ninjas
Education/Tutoring
Investment
$175K to $298K
Franchise fee
$40,000
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
262
Learning Express
Education/Tutoring
Investment
$201K to $388K
Franchise fee
$40,000
Item 19 status
Revenue Only
Units
88
Lower entry cost
Leans left
Based on minimum initial investment.
Better disclosed economics
Even
Uses Item 19 availability and transparency status.
Lower SBA default risk
Leans right
Treat low-loan brands carefully, sample size matters.
MetricCode NinjasLearning Express
Franchise Fee
$40,000$40,000
Min Investment
$175K$201K
Max Investment
$298K$388K
Royalty Rate
8.0%5.0%
Ad Fund Rate
2.3%1.0%
Total Ongoing Burden
Royalty plus ad fund when available.
10.3%6.0%
Median Revenue (Item 19)
$221K$820K
Cash-on-Cash Return
Estimated when revenue and margin assumptions are available.
18.4%66.8%
Payback Period
5.4 yrs1.5 yrs
Revenue per Dollar Invested
0.93x2.79x
Franchised Units
26288
1-Year Net Unit Change
-25-2
Net Unit Growth Rate
-8.8%-2.2%
Net Closure Rate
Net closure proxy based on disclosed unit change.
8.7%2.2%
SBA Default Rate
13.3%0.0%
SBA Loan Count
Use this to judge whether SBA default data is statistically meaningful.
14715
Average SBA Loan Size
$206K$296K
Item 19 Status
Revenue OnlyRevenue Only
Has Item 19
✓ Yes✓ Yes
Data Quality Score
100100

What stands out

  • Code Ninjas opens at $175K to $298K, while Learning Express ranges from $201K to $388K.
  • Code Ninjas shows an Item 19 disclosure; Learning Express shows an Item 19 disclosure.
  • Code Ninjas has 262 franchised units versus 88 for Learning Express.

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Last updated: April 2026