ChatGPTClaudeCursorGemini
The only franchise database you can use inside ChatGPT, Claude & Cursor. Learn more →

1,700+ FDDs structured for franchise professionals

We extract fees, Item 19 financials, franchisee contacts, SBA default rates, litigation, and outlet data from every FDD — so you can compare brands in minutes, not months. Used by multi-unit operators, consultants, and franchise development teams.

SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN

SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN

Sylvan Learning franchises enable operators to run short-term or permanent learning centers and electronic learning environments that provide specialized assessments and individualized educational programs for children, focusing on reading, mathematics, writing, and test preparation under SYLVAN trademarks like SylvanSync and Sylvan Edge. The business model involves franchise fees, royalties, and adherence to proprietary systems, standards, and curricula, with options for single centers or multi-unit development agreements. The target market is parents of school-aged children seeking supplemental tutoring and skill-building services.

469locations
$108K–$239K
Since 2003
Education & TrainingBedford, TXUnleashed Brands, LLCwww.sylvanlearning.comDisclaimer

Loading preview...

Unlock FDD download

Download this + 1,700 other FDDs · One-time purchase

Franchise Costs

Franchise Fee
$36,900
Initial Investment
$107,922 – $239,012
Royalty Rate
11.00%
Brand Fund
5.00%
Fixed Monthly Fees
$464 – $1,450

11% royalty + 5% NAF + $114/mo technology fee (up to $750) + $350-$700/mo call center fee

Financial Performance


Item 19 Financial Performance

Average Gross Revenue
$386,114.95
Top Quartile Revenue
$810,698
Bottom Quartile Revenue
$123,299

Data Based On: 438 franchised territories operated continuously during the 12 calendar months of 2024

* Calculated weighted average gross revenue from Table 1, '2024 Franchisee Gross Sales by Quartile': (110 units × $810,698 + 110 units × $366,443 + 109 units × $240,305 + 109 units × $123,299) / 438 total units = $386,114.95. No single overall median gross revenue, net income, net profit, EBITDA, or expense data was explicitly provided to estimate profit ranges.

Extracted Item 19 Section

Avg. Revenue: $386,115

Unlock financial performance data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports

Unlock financial performance data

SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN Franchise Analysis

In the competitive children's education space, Sylvan Learning stands out with a business model rooted in personalized tutoring that's been refined over decades, yet its expansion pace raises eyebrows. Item 19 delivers revenue insights that could reshape your expectations for supplemental learning centers, while a deep dive into SBA lending history uncovers resilience amid economic shifts. What happens when hefty ongoing fees meet steady but unspectacular unit growth—does the math still add up for operators? Unlock to find out.

Item 7 lays out the financial entry: franchise fee of $36,900, total initial investment ranging $107,922-$239,012 covering build-out, equipment, and initial marketing for a learning center. Ongoing fees bite hard at 11% royalty on gross sales plus 5% brand/ad fund, layered with a $114 monthly technology fee (capped at $750) and $350-$700 call center charge—potentially 16%+ of revenue before extras. Yet Item 19 counters with average gross revenue of $386,115 across comparable outlets, suggesting top performers could clear six figures in profit after fees, assuming 30-40% margins typical for tutoring ops.

System health shows stability over growth: 469 franchised units plus 5 corporate, up just 1% from 473 in 2023 to 478 in 2024 per recent FDD. SBA data bolsters confidence—116 loans averaging $346,433 with an impressively low 5.2% default rate, far below industry norms, indicating franchisees secure financing and sustain operations. Low contraction signals reliability, but minimal expansion hints at market saturation in kids' enrichment; for patient investors eyeing $300K+ top-line potential in under $250K startup, Sylvan offers proven footing without explosive scaling risks.

Analysis based on the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document. All figures should be independently verified before making investment decisions.

How SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN Compares

Key Insights

  • #3 largest franchise system in Children's Education & Enrichment
  • Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Children's Education & Enrichment
FranchiseInvestmentFeeRoyaltyLocations
SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN
Current
$108K – $239K$37K11.0%469
Mathnasium$113K – $150K$49K10.0%995
MATHNASIUM LEARNING CENTERS; MATHNASIUM CENTERS,$113K – $150K$49K10.0%968
CLUB Z!$41K – $57K$27K6.0%319
SOCCER SHOTS$43K – $54K$37K7.0%313
HUNTINGTON LEARNING CENTER$192K – $341K$42K9.5%243
Children's Education & Enrichment Average
38 franchises
$211K – $398K$41K7.7%

* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 38 Children's Education & Enrichment franchises by location count.

Locations & Growth


Outlet Growth Over Time

Total outlets at end of each year

Geographic Distribution (2024)

Outlets by state across the United States

Top States
1TX
64
2CA
62
3FL
34
4NC
29
5WA
20
6OH
18
7MI
18
8IN
16
9IL
15
10NY
14
11MN
14
12NJ
13
13VA
11
14PA
10
15SC
10

+34 more states

Unlock location growth data with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports

Unlock location growth data

SBA Loan History


Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN franchisees (20102025)

Total Loans
116
Average Loan
$346,433
Total Volume
$40.2M
Default Rate
5.2%

Loans by Year

SBA 7(a) loan activity over time

* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.

116 SBA loans on record

Unlock SBA loan history with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports

Unlock SBA loan history

Franchisee Contacts

478 franchisee contacts on file from official FDD filings.

478 Contacts Available

Unlock all SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN franchisee contacts with verified contact information

Unlock contacts

Due Diligence


Litigation (Item 3)

Franchisee Cases0
No litigation involving franchisees reported

Bankruptcy (Item 4)

Bankruptcy HistoryNo
No bankruptcy history reported

System Health (Item 20)

Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year

Terminations
N/A
Non-Renewals
N/A
Reacquired
N/A
Ceased Ops
N/A
Transfers
N/A
Sold to Franchisees
N/A
Projected New
N/A

Unlock due diligence reports with full access to 1,700+ franchise reports

Unlock due diligence reports

Frequently Asked Questions

The total initial investment to open a SYLVAN LEARNING, SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER, SYLVAN franchise ranges from $107,922 to $239,012. This includes a franchise fee of $36,900. Ongoing royalty fees are 11.0% of gross sales.