Is Sylvan Learning right for you?
Proven Scale
433 franchised centers operated full-year 2025; 409 centers reported Gross Sales data in the financial-performance disclosure.
Defined Territory
Protected area sized for 15,000-20,000 students aged 4-18 with average household income above $65,000.
Structured Training
Initial training program totals approximately 196 hours combining online, webinar, and in-center instruction.
About Sylvan Learning
Sylvan Learning is a national supplemental education franchise founded in 1979 and now owned by Unleashed Brands, LLC. The company franchises learning centers and electronic learning environments that deliver individualized assessment-driven programs in reading, mathematics, writing, and test preparation. As of the end of 2025 the system operated 433 franchised centers across 47 states.
Franchisees operate either permanent centers, satellite locations, or hybrid models that combine in-center and at-home tutoring. Programs are built around proprietary SylvanSync technology and include targeted interventions such as Sylvan Edge and ACE IT!. Centers serve students aged 4-18 within protected territories typically sized for 15,000-20,000 eligible students.
Unleashed Brands, LLC is the parent of Sylvan Learning, LLC; its own parent is Leviathan Intermediate Holdco, LLC, which is owned by UA Holdings, LLC. Unleashed Brands owns multiple education and recreation franchise brands.
The business model
How a Sylvan Learning territory actually makes money at the unit level.
Initial Franchise Fee
Single-territory franchise fee is $46,900. Area development agreements for up to three locations are also available.
Royalty and Marketing Fees
Royalty is 11 percent of Gross Sales for core programs and 12 percent for Sylvan Edge and ACE IT!, subject to a quarterly minimum of $5,500. National Advertising Fund contribution is 5 percent of Gross Sales; local marketing expenditure is the greater of 6 percent or $1,500 per month.
Total Investment Range
Estimated initial investment for a single 1,000-2,400 square foot center ranges from $117,600 to $288,400. Figures include real estate improvements, equipment, grand opening marketing, insurance, and three months of working capital.
Technology and Supply Requirements
Franchisees must purchase fixtures, curriculum, software, signage, and marketing materials from Sylvan or its approved suppliers. Sylvan and its affiliates receive revenue from these purchases.
Ongoing Support
Sylvan provides on-site visits, digital resources, annual conferences, and centralized services including membership, gift card, and loyalty programs.
Quick facts
Initial franchise fee
$46,900
Total investment range
$117,600 to $288,400
Royalty
11.00% of gross revenue
Marketing fund
5.00% of gross revenue
Founded
1979
Headquarters
Bedford, TX
Active US franchisees
n/a
Total US units
n/a
Training & support
What the franchisor + parent platform provide. And what they don't.
What's provided
- +Franchise Fundamentals (Part I): 10 hours classroom plus 35.5 hours on-the-job delivered online, via webinar, or in a designated center.
- +Center Operations (Part II): 13 hours classroom plus 13.5 hours on-the-job delivered online, via webinar, or in a designated center.
- +Annual Conferences: 24 hours of classroom instruction offered in-person or online.
- +Sylvan University self-directed modules: approximately 100 optional hours.
- +Up to two seats in the certification program are included at no additional charge; all required training must be completed prior to opening.
Honest disclosure: what's NOT provided
Sylvan does not provide on-site staffing, day-to-day operational management, or owner-operator payroll coverage. Franchisees are responsible for hiring, training, and retaining their own center teams.
Multi-unit growth path
Development agreements are available for up to three locations. Multi-unit operators benefit from shared overhead and brand presence within adjacent territories. The the filed disclosures does not disclose separate performance data for multi-unit owners; prospective multi-unit buyers should conduct their own analysis of economies of scale against the disclosed single-center cost structure and royalty minimums.
Capital + financing paths
Most operators use one of these four paths to fund the initial investment.
SBA 7(a) Loan
Many Sylvan franchisees finance a portion of the $117,600-$288,400 investment through SBA-guaranteed loans. Lenders typically require 20-30 percent equity injection and look for relevant education or small-business experience.
Equipment Leasing
Computer systems, furniture, and instructional equipment may be leased, reducing the cash component of the initial investment.
Home Equity or Retirement Funds
Some owners utilize HELOCs or self-directed IRA rollovers to meet the equity requirement for conventional or SBA financing.
Seller Financing on Resales
Existing centers that become available through the resale program may include seller financing for a portion of the purchase price.
Process timeline: inquiry → grand opening
Typical 12-16 week path from first call to launching your first customer route.
Discovery & Validation
Review the filed disclosures, speak with current franchisees, and validate local market demographics against the 15,000-20,000 student protected-territory model.
Franchise Agreement Execution
Sign franchise agreement and pay the $46,900 initial franchise fee.
Site Selection & Build-out
Secure 1,000-2,400 square foot location, complete leasehold improvements, and install equipment and signage (typically 8-12 weeks).
Training
Complete 96 structured training hours plus optional self-directed modules before opening.
Grand Opening Preparation
Execute grand opening marketing plan, onboard initial students, and activate SylvanSync systems.
Launch & First 90 Days
Open the center, begin delivering programs, and receive initial on-site support from Sylvan field team.
Ongoing Operations
Meet quarterly royalty minimums, fulfill local marketing requirements, and participate in annual conferences.
Match assessment
Are you a Sylvan Learning match?
12 questions. Math-first. No high-pressure sales call afterwards. Just your match assessment and the reasoning behind it.
Start nowCommon questions
How much does a Sylvan Learning franchise cost?
The estimated initial investment for a single center ranges from $117,600 to $288,400 according to the investment disclosure of the the filed disclosures. This includes the $46,900 franchise fee, leasehold improvements, equipment, grand opening marketing, insurance, and three months of working capital.
What is the royalty fee for Sylvan Learning?
The royalty is 11 percent of Gross Sales for core programs and 12 percent for Sylvan Edge and ACE IT! programs, subject to a quarterly minimum of $5,500. The National Advertising Fund contribution is an additional 5 percent of Gross Sales.
Does Sylvan Learning provide financial performance representations?
Yes. the financial-performance disclosure discloses 2025 Gross Sales for 409 franchised centers that operated the full year, broken out by quartile and by territory size. The data are unaudited; no averages or dollar figures are quoted in this summary.
How many Sylvan Learning centers are there?
As of December 31, 2025 there were 433 franchised centers and zero company-owned centers in the United States.
What training does Sylvan Learning provide?
The initial training program totals approximately 196 hours, including 96 structured hours across Franchise Fundamentals, Center Operations, and annual conferences plus roughly 100 optional self-directed hours through Sylvan University.
Is territory exclusivity included?
Franchisees receive a protected area sized for 15,000-20,000 students aged 4-18 in which Sylvan will not open or franchise another Sylvan Learning center. The franchisor retains rights to sell through other channels and operate affiliate brands inside the territory.
Can I open multiple Sylvan Learning locations?
Yes. Area development agreements for up to three locations are available. Multi-unit operators should evaluate shared overhead against the single-center investment range and royalty minimums disclosed in the the filed disclosures.
How does Sylvan Learning compare to Kumon or Huntington?
Sylvan operates a blended in-center and at-home model with proprietary SylvanSync technology and a broader subject range including test preparation. Investment, royalty, and support structures differ; direct comparison requires reviewing each brand’s current the filed disclosures.
What ongoing fees should I expect beyond royalty?
Expect technology fees of $114 per center per month (capped at $750), call-center fees based on volume, annual conference fees of $950-$1,500 per attendee, local marketing spend of at least $1,500 per month, and potential audit or additional training charges.
Are Sylvan Learning centers required to purchase supplies from the franchisor?
Yes. Curriculum, software, signage, uniforms, marketing materials, and certain technology must be purchased from Sylvan or its approved suppliers. Sylvan and its affiliates receive revenue from these purchases.
What is the typical timeline to open a Sylvan Learning center?
From franchise agreement signing, most centers open within 4-6 months. The schedule includes site selection, build-out, training, and grand opening marketing execution.
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