Sylvan Learning Reduces Start-Up Costs to Attract the Next Generation of Franchisees

When it comes to identifying the best supplemental education and tutoring resources available to children across the globe, there’s one name that consistently stands above the rest: Sylvan Learning*. That’s why it’s no surprise that entrepreneurs are consistently jumping at the chance to bring Sylvan’s unique business model to their own communities—by partnering with the brand, franchisees don’t have to go it alone when they’re working to turn their dreams of business ownership into a reality. And now, Sylvan is making it even easier for its local owners to get started.

The brand has significantly reduced the start-up costs associated with opening a Sylvan Learning center, starting with its franchise fee. Instead of paying $48,000, franchisees now only have to pay a $24,000 fee. And Sylvan has also lowered its square footage requirements for every center—franchisees can now operate in 1,000 square foot spaces, as opposed to when each center had to be at least 2,400 square feet.

“Sylvan has a long history of setting the standard in the supplemental education industry. From our focus on creating quality STEM courses to making our innovative programs digitally compatible, we’ve always been the brand to beat. Now, we’re taking that commitment to being the best to the next level by providing prospective franchisees with an affordable investment structure,” said John McAuliffe, the CEO of Sylvan Learning. “We took a look at our overall business model, and realized that we needed to lower the cost of our initial investment in order to be competitive not just in our segment, but in the franchising industry in general.”

Sylvan decided to change its investment structure in an effort to attract a new type of franchisee. By making its proven system more affordable, the brand is enabling itself to attract top quality candidates that it may not have been reaching before.

“The goal in reducing our franchise fee was to attract the next generation of entrepreneurs. We didn’t want to discourage anyone from opening their own Sylvan franchise because the initial investment seemed too high right off the bat,” said Georgia Chasen, Sylvan’s director of franchise development. “Our new system also opens up the door to affordable multi-unit development. By opening up smaller centers and paying less rent, our franchisees will be able to saturate their markets and grow the Sylvan Learning brand.”

Beyond decreasing its franchise fee and square footage requirements, Sylvan’s services are also available outside of its physical centers. By making its courses digitally accessible to students, parents, teachers and staff members through its comprehensive SylvanSync platform, franchisees have the opportunity to create pop-up Sylvan locations at places like community centers, libraries and schools.

Going forward in the new year, Sylvan plans to continue its tradition of raising the bar in the supplemental education industry. The brand is constantly evaluating its best practices and systems to ensure that it’s providing the best opportunity for its customers and franchisees.

“Sylvan Learning provides entrepreneurs with a unique opportunity. They can create a successful business and make a great living while also doing something that they can feel good about,” Chasen said. “Our goal is to make that opportunity available to more people all over the world. By making our model more affordable, we’re being introduced to a broader base of potential candidates whom we’re confident will fuel Sylvan’s continued success.”