Why Sylvan Learning Is a Great Investment for 2020

Sylvan Learning has learned a thing or two in its 40 years of operation. As an industry-leading education franchise, owners of a Sylvan Learning franchise set themselves up for a career that is not only emotionally rewarding, but one that creates a legacy for both themselves and their communities.

“Every year around the holiday season, we hear from prospects that they are planning to finally make their big career move in the upcoming year as they contemplate their New Year’s resolutions,” said Georgia Chasen, Sylvan’s Vice President of Franchise Development. “They know it is time to finally make the change to become their own boss.”

Chasen went on to say that 2020 in particular is going to see a resurgence in people looking to strike out on their own as entrepreneurs in anticipation of an upcoming recession. “Working for someone else, whether in the corporate world or otherwise, certainly has its benefits,” said Chasen, “but those employees will take the skill sets learned from their impressive careers and leverage them into success for themselves and their families as they become franchisees of their own business.”

As a brand that has made a global impact on education, Sylvan Learning is more than just another business—it provides an important and impactful educational service. While individuals and families may have to make certain sacrifices during hard times, childhood development and education is always a priority, and Sylvan Learning has established itself as a force within the industry. Franchisees like Krista Martin of Portsmouth and Salem, New Hampshire and Weymouth, Massachusetts know this first-hand.

“I think at Sylvan you see two different classes of franchisees,” said Martin, who took on her first center in late 2018. “There are people who come to Sylvan from an educational side and those who come to Sylvan from a franchising side. I am from the former.”

“My career has always been deeply rooted in education,” said Martin, “and I had spent about five years prior to becoming a franchisee working in the center itself, doing everything from tutoring to eventually become a center director.”

“Deciding to become a franchisee felt like a natural next step in a place where I already felt passionate about the services that we provide and the impact that we have on families,” Martin continued. “I see it as a positive investment for me professionally as someone who always wanted to be an entrepreneur.”

Martin sees her first year and a half of ownership with Sylvan as a huge learning experience that has been pivotal in her personal development as an entrepreneur. “I’m learning how to be a leader not just to my part-time staff, but in how I can ensure that my center is providing good professional development and career opportunities for my full-time center directors,” said Martin. “I’m excited to refine upon the things that we started in the first year.”

One of the hallmarks of working with Sylvan is the brand’s strong professional development path, like that which led Martin to overseeing three centers of her own. “Sylvan has a professional development path regardless of which role you begin in,” said Chasen. “We have seen center directors, teachers, and even Sylvan parents choose to embrace small business ownership as a Sylvan franchisee, and one of our leading initiatives for 2020 is to continue to grow our franchisee support.”

In addition, Sylvan Learning is working to enhance franchisee support systems from the ground up. “Our Chief Franchisee Operations Officer began her career as a franchisee owning multiple locations, eventually being recruited over to the corporate side,” said Chasen. “She is leading the charge in further developing resources for both veteran franchisees and those just entering the system. It is exciting to see her team grow and the tools they’ve created for franchisee prosperity.”

Martin is excited for what the future looks like for Sylvan. “I’m certainly optimistic about the brand’s plans for 2020 for enhanced franchisee support,” said Martin. “The executive team is going to be spending even more time in the field to continue to understand how the Sylvan franchisee experience continues to change, and how we can continue to grow and refine what we do.”

Startup costs for a Sylvan Learning franchise range from $68,680 to $159,085, including a franchise fee is $24,000. For more information about franchising with Sylvan Learning, please visit https://sylvanfranchise.com/.