The Great Franchisee | Former Beauty Expert Buys Second Sylvan Learning Franchise to Provide Learning Solutions for Children

Amy Tipton-Fletcher knows the value of a strong education, which ultimately led her to Sylvan Learning*, the supplemental and enrichment education franchise that has provided proven results for students, families and communities for over four decades. 

Tipton-Fletcher’s father didn’t finish high school, and her mother almost didn’t graduate. She realized early on that she needed to earn a college degree to escape the education crisis in Mississippi and break the family cycle of skipping education. Tipton-Fletcher was the first person in her family to earn a college degree, and after meeting her husband, she became an esthetics educator at a Cleveland beauty college. She eventually applied her teaching skills and business knowledge to buy her former student’s Sylvan Learning Center in Westlake. 

Just two years after purchasing her first Sylvan Learning, Tipton-Fletcher bought her second location in Strongsville, Ohio. She is excited to welcome new and returning students to Sylvan Learning. Tipton-Fletcher sees the value of a strong base education and believes it is necessary for every student, no matter what path they decide to take after high school. 

1851 Franchise spoke with Tipton-Fletcher to learn more about her franchising journey with Sylvan Learning.

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

Amy Tipton-Fletcher: I was in the beauty industry for 30 years. I started in the industry by selling professional hair care products to professional salons. I eventually moved to Atlanta and earned my esthetician's license. From there, I became a medical esthetician and spent 23 years in the skin therapy industry. I moved from Atlanta after meeting my husband, who is a small business consultant. 

When I moved to the Cleveland area, I accepted a position as a general manager and an esthetics instructor at a beauty college. I loved being a part of both education and the beauty industry, but I ended up leaving that position to be the general manager at a former student’s spa. That student just happened to own Sylvan Learning of Westlake, and she thought I would be perfect to buy the business as she opened and grew her spa. My husband, Trenton, and I took Sylvan Learning of Westlake on as a consulting client, and he helped her and the new Center Director for 2 years navigate the business's operations since she could not be present. She loved his plans and vision and knew the center could really serve the community in a greater way, with me being the boots on the ground on a daily basis, as opposed to consulting a few hours a week. 

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Tipton-Fletcher: I didn’t have a super positive perspective on franchising initially. Sylvan Learning has been around for years. I was initially worried about the brand being unable to pivot and deliver success after all this time. I thought there was no way they could stay relevant. But I was proven wrong. 

When I bought Sylvan Learning of Westlake, it was during the Covid shutdown, so I was walking into a center without any students. We were able to deliver sessions virtually, and once Covid calmed down, we got students back in person and gained momentum.

1851: What makes you stand out as business owners in your local community?

Tipton-Fletcher: I think our compassion sets us apart from other businesses. I want to serve my community, and I want anyone who walks through our doors to feel welcomed. When they sit down for that first session, I want the parents to know they have found a solution. Everything is personalized at Sylvan Learning, so our students and parents can feel that the help is immediate and see the compassion my staff and I have.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Tipton-Fletcher: There was an untapped part of the community in the Strongsville area that didn’t know about Sylvan Learning, so I’m excited to serve them. I’m excited to figure out how the staff can effectively serve them and help more students in the future. Right now, we are focusing on teaching the staff new ways of doing things within Sylvan Learning so we can all serve the community better.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Tipton-Fletcher: There are plans for expansion in the future. My husband and I are small business consultants. Having boots on the ground and taking our own advice is so exciting to us both. We’re looking forward to buying more Sylvan Learning locations in the future, but for right now, we are focusing on Strongsville.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Tipton-Fletcher: My husband comes from a long line of educators. Both sides of his family were all educators, going back to his great-grandparents. In contrast, my father didn’t finish high school, and my mother barely graduated. So, my husband and I see how important education is. Every child needs a strong base education no matter what path they choose after high school. We are truly here to help our students and help them reach their goals.

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

Tipton-Fletcher: Go for it. But expect to be more exhausted than you’ve ever been. The exhaustion is so worth it, though, because being a business owner, especially with Sylvan Learning, is so rewarding. I’ve never felt like I’ve had more of a purpose than I do now through owning two Sylvan centers.