Sylvan Stories: How a Passion for Students Drives the Business

Each franchise owner’s Sylvan Story is a bit different. For Jessica Rollins, Sylvan started as a way to distract herself after the school day as her husband was away on deployment. Audra Bohn began interning at a Sylvan Learning Center, fell in love with the concept, and pursued a job. What was intended to be a job to bridge the gap between graduation and the start of her first year as a school teacher became a full-blown career for Kayann Bock.

In any case, Sylvan’s over four decades of proven success is driven by passionate, committed franchisees who continue to make the success of their employees, students and communities top priority.

Though each franchise owner has a slightly different history, all three emphasize the importance of quality service and prioritization of learning and care when discussing the success of their businesses.

After working her way from an after-school Sylvan employee to a multi-unit owner, Rollins says that, in order to succeed on all fronts, it simply cannot be about her. Across her six units, she will never be well-known by every single student, family and employee because that would mean she is not doing her job correctly.

At this point in her Sylvan journey, it is her responsibility to do what she can to provide everyone within her circle with the resources necessary that will lead to each student’s success. Though she has a history and passion for education, that is no longer her role.

On the other hand, Bohn has kept her operation smaller, allowing her to have a more active role on the education side.

After graduating with an education degree and seeing the ins and outs of both a traditional classroom and a Sylvan Learning setup, Bohn felt she could make a more significant impact with Sylvan. Since purchasing her center, she has managed to double revenues.

“Just doing what Sylvan is designed to do, but doing it at a really high level or doing it really well, within our center has helped us grow in volume, and I think it will continue to as we expand,” she explained.

When it comes down to it, Bohn says that marketing and other standard growth practices have been important. Still, she attributes the center’s growth to the students' success and the center staff’s willingness to ensure that success is being communicated.

For Bock, the passion was clear from the get-go. She originally secured a position at Sylvan to bridge the gap between an early summer college graduation and a late summer start date as a classroom teacher —  But after just three months, she knew Sylvan was where she was meant to be.

“Approximately two years after being a director in my first center, I was having a lot of success as a center director, and I thought, ‘I can probably do this on my own. What does that look like?’” she explained. Shortly after this, Bock set meetings with corporate, existing owners and other Sylvan staff, set her sights on center ownership and got to work.

Over the years, regardless of her role within the network, Bock said that her focus has always been on the students' success. Rather than viewing the center as something meant to succeed and bring in revenue, she says she places students’ success as the first priority. Happy, successful students lead to pleased families, which will drive the demand for the center.

For many, choosing to become a business owner is a huge financial play. Though this is a crucial thing to consider when looking to purchase a Sylvan, finances are not at the heart of the mission. Rather, owners who focus on the success of those they serve report that the business's success is just a natural consequence.

Watch the entire video here.

Start-up costs range from $85,525-$186,930. Learn more at www.sylvanfranchise.com.