The 10 Questions Most Frequently Asked by Sylvan Learning Franchisees
Members of Sylvan Learning’s leadership and two top-performing franchisees sound off on everything from ‘How does Sylvan deliver on its promise?’ to ‘What kind of training and support can I expect?’
When signing on as a franchise owner with a brand—even a brand as established as 40-year-old Sylvan Learning—it’s important to do due diligence and ask questions. Luckily for prospective Sylvan Learning franchisees, CEO John McAuliffe, SVP of Finance Jacob Jones and Chief Franchise Operations Officer Susan Valverde are all well-versed in the valuable information franchise candidates seek—and more than ready to share their insights. Two respective owners of two of Sylvan’s top-performing centers—Anthony DiGiacomo of Sylvan Learning Center in Fair Lawn, New Jersey and Kim Teixeira of Sylvan Learning in Chesapeake, Virginia—also spoke to their success as Sylvan franchisees.
Below are 10 of the most frequently asked questions by prospective Sylvan Learning franchisees.
1. What is the investment level associated with opening a Sylvan Learning Center?
Startup costs for a Sylvan Learning franchise range from $70,270 - $163,625, including a franchise fee of $24,000.
2. How was the brand built and what is Sylvan’s track record of success?
Sylvan Learning began in Portland, Oregon as Sylvan Learning Corporation in 1979. The brand’s original offering focused on reading, writing and math, but has since expanded to include SAT/ACT test prep and high-value STEM courses—which, taken together, drive real results.
“Over the past five or six years, we’ve worked incredibly hard to expand our product base and increase the use of technology in our learning programs. Take our variety of classes—we cover the basics like math, reading, study skills and test prep in addition to diving into the STEM arena,” said McAuliffe. “Sylvan is also the only brand that uses technology to deliver the vast majority of our core programs. We’re continuing to expand more and more into online content, ultimately making our program more convenient for students, teachers and families.”
