4 Reasons Sylvan Learning Went from Emerging to Established

Sylvan Learning* started in Portland, Oregon, in 1979. Founded by former teacher Berry Fowler, the tutoring company quickly expanded. By 1986, Sylvan Learning had opened 500 franchises. After 37 years of building academic confidence and inspiring intellectual curiosity in its students, the brand currently has more than 750 locations and 5,000 school relationships.

1851 Franchise connected with Sylvan CEO John McAuliffe and Chief Franchise Operations Officer Susan Valverde to learn more about how it grew to outpace its competitors and claim the highest market share of all paid tutoring brands.

1. They offered a one-of-a-kind concept.

From the beginning, Sylvan recognized that a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching does not work for everyone because no two students are the same. People learn in different ways and at various paces, so Sylvan offers individualized learning plans tailored to each student’s needs.

“When the company started, it was designed around the concept of personalized learning, which was unique in those days and still is,” McAuliffe said. “We came up with a concept that made a lot of sense in the educational world and filled a gap that wasn’t being filled. Finding a tutor back then wasn’t easy, and it was even more difficult to find one who could personalize learning the way Sylvan does.”

2. They attracted passionate franchisees to grow the brand.

According to McAuliffe, franchising made sense for Sylvan. Because the business model could be easily replicated and the company was poised for growth, the brand decided to franchise in order to expand. Since then, Sylvan has attracted hundreds of franchisees dedicated to helping the company succeed, including Valverde.

Valverde started her career with Sylvan as a franchisee in 2002, overseeing a location in Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Over the years, she opened two new centers and managed five satellite locations while helping to pilot some of the company’s key initiatives. When she was given the opportunity to join the brand’s corporate team, she jumped at the opportunity.

“We are always looking for ways to attract franchisees who love education and have a passion for impacting the lives of kids because that is what drives great owners and operators,” Valverde said.

Valverde believes Sylvan draws devoted franchisees because it is committed to changing the lives of children and their families.

“We are not only a great business, but a mission-driven organization that does extremely meaningful work,” Valverde said. “We don’t sell a commodity or service. We change lives. The key to our longevity is that we are passionate about what we do.”

3. They always innovate.

In order to offer the best services and surpass the competition, Sylvan stays on top of developments in the education industry, including technology. With programs such as SylvanSync, which allows children to complete assigned lessons on an iPad, and mySylvan, a personalized website that keeps families informed on the progress of their children, Sylvan uses technology to make learning more engaging and convenient.

“We have worked hard to introduce new technology, which is a huge enhancement and something that differentiates us from the competition,” McAuliffe said. “We are continuously investing in new programs and products to stay ahead of the curve.”

4. They guarantee great results.

Sylvan has earned the trust of millions of families by consistently proving that its programs work. Typically, its students see up to two to three times more growth in their math and reading scores than other students.

“We guarantee results for families, and not every person, group or company in this industry can say that,” Valverde said. “It all comes down to quality. The key to growth is to make sure the consumer is happy and sees results.”