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Sylvan employee with student
Sylvan franchisee

Why Franchise?

Since its beginning, franchising has remained a pathway for people to live out their dreams of owning a business with less risk and more support. Franchise ownership opens the doors to entrepreneurship for everyone by:

When you invest in an established and proven business model that’s been developed over decades, you minimize much of the risk associated with starting a business from the ground up. Through franchising, you save yourself the time and money it would take to create a profitable business and determine the best operational strategies.

Franchise ownership comes with a lot of perks, including access to training and support resources, instant brand recognition and increased growth potential. Plus, you’ll enjoy the freedom to oversee your own schedule and team, all while benefiting from the stability of the tried-and-true strategies provided to you.

Franchising provides an opportunity to create lasting generational wealth for your loved ones. Many franchise owners go into business with family members to build a legacy of financial security and success that can be passed down for generations to come.

Check out our Franchise Brochure

Affordable Business Ownership

Owning a Sylvan is more accessible than you might think! With customizable financial assistance options, you can turn your passion for making a difference into a thriving business.

Partner with a family member, friend or investor to combine resources
Partner with a family member, friend or investor to combine resources
Explore local bank or Small Business Administration loans
Explore local bank or Small Business Administration loans

Want to learn more?

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Your Frequently Asked Questions, Answered

Startup costs for a Sylvan Learning Center range from $98,087 to $199,582, including a franchise fee of $34,900. The investment not only covers the initial franchise fee and the initial build-out of the space but also the first several months of operations.

The average unit volume for our top 25% of territories by gross revenue is $842,462. However, it’s important to note that profitability depends on a variety of factors, making it difficult to predict sales or profits for a future location. A full breakdown of financial performance is available within our Franchise Disclosure Document upon request as part of the franchise ownership process.

While we welcome franchisees with a background in education, you do not need to have prior experience in education or franchising. With our extensive training and support programs available to owners, we bridge any potential gaps by teaching you how to run a successful education franchise.

Our next-level training and support tools are designed to assist franchise owners at every stage, from the pre-opening phase to ongoing operations. Beyond our Franchisee Certification Training, readily-available help desk and expert Franchise Business Consultants, our owners have access to a dedicated support ecosystem of industry experts and fellow franchisees. An added layer of training, the Sylvan MBA program, may be available to you if you are an educator making the transition to Sylvan franchise owner.

We value and respect the unique needs of each of our franchise owners, whether they dream of owning one or 10 locations. Nurturing strong connections within local communities is a priority for us, and we are fully committed to assisting all our owners in achieving that goal no matter the number of locations.

Absolutely! Sylvan is proud to support our veterans by offering 10% off the initial franchise fee for those who qualify.

The Sylvan story began in Portland, Oregon in 1979. Our original offering focused on reading, writing and math, but has since expanded to include study skills, SAT/ACT test prep and high-value STEM courses. With a broader range of services, Sylvan has built a reputation for proven results among students and families.

We stay competitive with various points of differentiation, including cutting-edge technology and multiple product offerings (not just math!). With SylvanSync™, an adaptive platform used to develop and deliver personalized lesson plans that adjust to a student’s needs in real-time, certified tutors and more, we proudly remain the leading supplemental and enrichment education franchise for a reason.

Our franchise owners have the privilege of helping students boost their scores and self-confidence while also making a difference through local partnerships. Several of our departments provide valuable resources for Sylvan owners to collaborate with local schools or non-profit organizations in their communities, ensuring that supplemental education reaches those who need it most.

Extra! Extra!

Read All About Sylvan

Browse recent mentions of Sylvan in the press:

Let’s Go Farther Together

What makes Sylvan a good investment? We invest in you. Hear from our team as they describe the support you can count on as a Sylvan owner.
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Meet Susan: Chief Franchise Operations Officer

Franchisee-turned-corporate team member Susan Valverde reveals how you can live out the American dream of owning your own business with Sylvan.

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Meet Emily: Vice President Of Education

Listen as Emily Mitchell explains the importance of Sylvan’s education department and how it benefits both franchise owners and students.

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Meet John: Chief Executive Officer

Discover Sylvan’s difference as John McAuliffe details what makes the company stand out from the crowd with its leading education franchising model.

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Meet Jacob & Scott: CFO & Director of Software Development

Hear Jacob Jones and Scott Morgan describe the industry-leading technology that makes entrepreneurship easier for our business owners.

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Meet Amy: Chief Marketing Officer

Explore how Amy Przywara and her marketing team provide franchise owners with a library of resources for local promotion while advertising on a national level.

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Meet Kate: Senior Vice President & General Counsel

Discover how Kate McComiskey and her compliance team help protect our franchisees and their territories under the Sylvan brand.

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Meet Leslie: Vice President of Operations

Listen as Leslie Poteet takes you through her career journey, Sylvan’s unmatched support and the importance of quality and proven results.