Start a Sylvan Learning Franchise in 2025

Company Overview

About Sylvan Learning

Industry	Children's Businesses
Related Categories	Tutoring, Miscellaneous Children's Businesses, Children's Education/Enrichment
Founded	1979
Parent Company	Unleashed Brands LLC
Leadership	Susan Valverde, Brand President
Corporate Address	2350 Airport Fwy., #505 Bedford, TX 76022
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1980 (45 years)
# of employees at HQ	141
Where seeking	This company is offering new franchises throughout the US. This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada
# of Units	604 (as of 2025)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a Sylvan Learning franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$36,900
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$107,922 - $239,012
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$150,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$75,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	5% off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	11%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	5%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	10 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing	Sylvan Learning has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training	32 hours
Classroom Training	70 hours
Ongoing Support	Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	2-4
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes

Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where Sylvan Learning landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where Sylvan Learning ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

Ranked #115 in 2025

Franchise 500

Ranked #76 in 2025

Top Global Franchises

Ranked #16 in 2025

Top Franchises for Less Than $150,000

Ranked #81 in 2025

Top Brands for Multi-Unit Owners

Sylvan Learning is a provider of custom instructional services to students of all ages and backgrounds. Operating since 1979, Sylvan Learning opened for franchising in 1980 and is now a leader in the school-age tutorial industry in North America and Asia.

As a franchisee, you may gain a head start into your dream lifestyle by opening a business that has a proven business model that has worked for over four decades. You will have the opportunity to shape young people's lives and make a significant impact on their future through learning.

Why You May Want to Start a Sylvan Learning Franchise

Learning centers tend to come in great numbers, but Sylvan Learning's advantage may lie in its top-notch programs. These programs may have been mastered through the brand's decades-long experience and passion for developing new techniques and strategies to better serve their students.

Moreover, Sylvan Learning operates with an unconventional business model with a comprehensive team effort between corporate and existing franchisees. The goal is to identify the needs of locals, create systems and processes, and find tools and resources that make it easiest for needs to be met.

This approach ultimately comes down to designing an affordable investment where you, as a Sylvan Learning franchisee, will likely gain more experience than you may have with other competing traditional and online tutorial sites.

What Might Make a Sylvan Learning Franchise a Good Choice?

Many times since its inception, Sylvan Learning has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

Sylvan Learning has made changes to improve the overall experience of the franchisee. The introduction of a new scheduling program and an admin system may have made the whole system easier to operate. It also may have helped make program delivery more efficient and reliable.

To be part of the Sylvan Learning team, you should make sure you’re financially ready for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. You should also prepare yourself for ongoing fees that will include royalty fees and potential renewal fees. Franchisees will also need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements.

How to Open a Sylvan Learning Franchise

If you would like to open a Sylvan Learning franchise, the best place to start is with an evaluation of your city for an ideal location. You'll want to make sure this is the right opportunity for your community.

Before making any financial commitment or signing an agreement, you'll usually have the chance to speak with existing franchisees and ask questions directed to the Sylvan Learning team. If your net worth and available liquid capital match the brand’s requirements, you may qualify to open a Sylvan Learning franchise, and you can get started with an initial investment.

More from Sylvan Learning

Sylvan Learning: A Leader in Personalized Tutoring & Academic Enrichment

Sylvan Learning is one of the most recognized and trusted names in supplemental education. Founded in 1979, Sylvan has built a legacy of helping millions of students achieve academic success through personalized instruction and proprietary technology.

Sylvan centers offer tutoring in reading, math, writing, study skills, test prep, and STEM enrichment programs. With a focus on delivering measurable results, Sylvan’s certified teachers and adaptive learning tools create tailored learning experiences that help students build confidence and succeed in school and beyond.

Today, Sylvan Learning operates nearly 700 points of presence worldwide, providing franchisees a strong brand reputation and proven business model to leverage in their communities. Sylvan Leaning has become a recognized leader in the education industry and a proud member of the Unleashed Brands portfolio.

Why Open a Sylvan Learning Franchise?

Owning a Sylvan Learning franchise allows you to combine your passion for education with the opportunity to build a thriving business. Sylvan’s strong brand recognition, recurring revenue model, and robust support systems position franchisees for success.

Key franchise advantages include:

45+ years as a trusted leader in supplemental education
Diverse offerings, including tutoring, test prep, and STEM programs
Proprietary assessment and adaptive learning technology for personalized instruction
Multiple revenue streams, including in-center, virtual, and school-based programs
Access to comprehensive training, marketing, and operational support

Sylvan Learning has consistently ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 thanks to its strong brand equity, growth, and franchisee support.

What Makes Sylvan Learning a Strong Business Opportunity?

Demand for high-quality academic support continues to grow, as families seek ways to help their children excel in school and prepare for college. Sylvan’s proven systems, broad program offerings, and flexible learning delivery (both in-person and online) give franchise owners multiple ways to meet this demand.

When considering a Sylvan franchise investment, key factors include:

Market and territory availability
Initial investment, which includes the franchise fee, buildout, and startup costs
Ongoing marketing contributions
Meeting Sylvan’s net worth and liquid capital requirements

Sylvan provides the framework for franchisees to create meaningful impact in their communities while operating a scalable business.

Training & Support

Sylvan Learning offers comprehensive training and ongoing support designed to ensure franchisee success. This includes:

Initial training on operations, curriculum, and business management
Access to Sylvan’s proprietary software and learning management systems
Guidance from experienced field consultants and business coaches
National marketing campaigns and resources to drive enrollment
Ongoing professional development for franchisees and their staff

How to Start a Sylvan Learning Franchise

Buying a franchise with Sylvan Learning is a structured yet personal journey designed to help both you and our team determine if we’re the right fit for each other. Our 8-step discovery process gives you a comprehensive look at what it means to own and operate a Sylvan Learning. From an initial goals overview to an in-depth brand presentation and territory analysis, each step is built to give you clarity and confidence.

You’ll review important documents like the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), explore financing options, and even experience our brand firsthand at Launch Day. If everything aligns, you’ll move into final validation and sign your franchise agreement—officially joining a community of entrepreneurs passionate about bringing supplemental education to their markets.

Disclaimer

The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.

Updated: December 12th, 2022

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