Five Years of Academic Growth: Sylvan Learning in Boise, Idaho, Marks a Milestone

For Dr. Sudhaker Chhabra, opening the Sylvan Learning center in Boise, Idaho, five years ago was more than a career change — it was a chance to make a real difference in his community. With a background in engineering and over a decade of corporate experience, Dr. Chhabra wanted to focus on something closer to home that aligned with his passion for education. What started as a way to support his own daughter’s academic growth quickly grew into a Sylvan Learning center that has helped countless students in the Treasure Valley region.

Sylvan Learning of Boise center has thrived under Chhabra’s leadership, overcoming early challenges — including the impacts of COVID-19 — to become a vital resource for local families. By adopting best practices from Sylvan’s supportive franchise network and staying focused on the needs of each child, Chhabra has built a center that’s known for its positive results. Now, with three locations and two more on the way, he’s excited to continue growing his impact in the area.

As the center celebrates its fifth anniversary, Chhabra looks back on the successes that have defined its journey and ahead to new opportunities to expand and serve more families. His dedication to helping students succeed remains at the heart of everything the Boise Sylvan Learning center stands for.

1851 Franchise recently spoke with Chhabra about his franchising journey with Sylvan Learning and the recent 5-year milestone of his Boise center. Here’s what he had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Sudhaker Chhabra: I’m originally an engineer with a doctorate degree in engineering. I worked for about 10 years in corporate roles, primarily in R&D divisions for various engineering firms. My decision to switch gears was largely influenced by my family situation, particularly my daughter — she was the driving factor. That’s when I decided to transition into education.

I started exploring Sylvan almost six years ago. During that process, I looked into several other education franchises but ultimately decided Sylvan was the best fit. I felt it was the best solution for my daughter. One of the things that really excited me about Sylvan was the dynamic education plan that changes with student’s needs as they progress. The breadth and depth of their offerings were truly impressive. The program is tailored to meet each child’s unique needs and then as they progress it adapts to their learning abilities and skill gaps. The adaptability and automaticity of the learning plan played a significant role in my decision. It’s what made Sylvan stand out compared to other franchises.

1851: What have been some of the most significant achievements or milestones you've reached as a franchisee?

Chhabra: I have to admit, after a little less than two years, I almost gave up. I wasn’t happy with the business growth, which was primarily impacted due to COVID — but I didn’t want to completely give up. I decided to keep trying for another six or seven months.

To ensure delivering quality education and serve community needs better, I started following another very successful franchisee who has been serving their community for almost 35 years.  Their suggestions and advice were a game-changer and I started achieving incredible success. I began adopting their processes and procedures, and that was the turning point for me. I was able to serve the academic needs to the local community better since then.

Now, I have three Sylvan locations, with two more in the pipeline. I’ve also become a franchisee for a second brand, Class 101, which is now a sister company to Sylvan. So overall, I manage five centers — three Sylvan and two Class 101 centers within the Sylvan network — and I’m preparing to open two more Sylvan locations.

1851: How would you say that Sylvan has positively impacted the children and families in your community?

Chhabra: After COVID, many students were significantly behind in their education. Unfortunately, the public education system is unable to support all these students due to the tremendous load on teachers and schools. While Sylvan is an investment for parents, the impact we make is substantial. I would say almost 99% of students who come to Sylvan see success. The only exceptions are when a child shows a lot of resistance to attending, which does happen occasionally, but it’s rare. For the vast majority of students who come willingly and continue to attend, they experience tremendous growth.

Hearing testimonials from parents is incredibly rewarding. One example that stands out is a student who joined Sylvan as a fifth grader, though he should have been in sixth grade. Both of his parents are school teachers, but they couldn’t help him catch up on their own. After about 11 months with us, we helped him get back to his original grade level and the school agreed to place him in seventh grade. He’s been doing well ever since. His mom was so impressed with the results that she brought his younger sibling to Sylvan as well.

Stories like this demonstrate the significant impact Sylvan can have on a child’s life. I’ve only been with Sylvan for five years, but I can share 30 to 40 similar success stories that are just as inspiring. The change Sylvan brings to kids and their families is truly remarkable.

1851: What would you say sets your center and your staff apart? Are there any unique programs or initiatives that have contributed to your success?

Chhabra: It’s primarily the Sylvan methods and programs that have helped our students succeed. The biggest challenge initially was convincing parents to enroll. However, after I started following that successful franchisee’s enrollment process, it became much easier to bring parents on board.

Once parents are convinced, the Sylvan methods, philosophy and techniques take over, and they start working effectively. At that point, it’s almost like being on autopilot. Of course, we still need to regularly review each student’s education plan to ensure we’re delivering the quality that Sylvan expects. 

1851: As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of your location, how do you see the future of your center and the brand overall?

Chhabra: I’m hoping to open more centers here in the Treasure Valley area. As I mentioned, I already have two more in the pipeline. I’m also planning to expand further and am actively looking for a permanent location of my own rather than continuing to rent. This new location will be much larger. I’m very optimistic and anticipating significant growth in the near future.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Chhabra: There are many things I’ve tried and learned, but if I had to focus on one or two key pieces of advice, here’s what I would say:

First, follow all the processes and procedures laid out by Sylvan. Don’t shy away from seeking suggestions or help from other franchisees. Sylvan’s franchising network is incredibly friendly and supportive. Franchisees actively help each other and share information, and the Sylvan franchisee community is very strong and collaborative. 

Secondly, stay focused on the needs of the children rather than just the dollar amount. At the end of the day, prioritizing the child's needs will pay off. When you center your efforts on their success, everything else — including financial rewards — tends to follow.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit 

https://www.sylvanfranchise.com/.

ABOUT SYLVAN LEARNING

With more than 45 years of experience and more than 710 points of presence, Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of personal learning for students in grades K-12. Sylvan is transforming how students learn, inspiring them to succeed in school and in life. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach blends amazing teachers with SylvanSync™ technology on the iPad® for an engaging learning experience. Sylvan also leads the way with Sylvan EDGE — STEM and accelerated courses and Sylvan Prep — college and test prep courses. Sylvan supports families through every stage of the academic journey.  For more information, visit www.SylvanLearning.com.