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The real numbers on owning a Sylvan Learning franchise
Children's Education / Tutoring · FDD 2026 · from public state filings
DDisclosure honesty
This franchisor discloses earnings (Item 19) — but read how.
Investment
$117,600–$288,400
Total fees
16% of sales
Outlets
433
Closure signals
45 ceased, 10 terminated
Lawsuits
4
What their own earnings claim actually says
Discloses 2025 gross sales by quartile for 409 of 433 centers; top quartile avg $795K, bottom quartile avg $120K. No profitability, expenses, or net income data provided. Excludes 24 centers; cherry-picks gross revenue only.
Honesty grade D: the disclosed numbers are incomplete or framed to look better than an owner's real take-home.
Failure & turnover reality (Item 20)
2025: net loss of 43 franchise outlets; 45 ceased operations, 10 terminations; significant contraction from 476 to 433.
Legal history (Item 3)
4 matters disclosed.
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The franchisor won't put real owner profit in writing. We do — reconstructed from their own FDD.
Franchisor's framing: Discloses 2025 gross sales by quartile for 409 of 433 centers; top quartile avg $795K, bottom q…
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The FDD lists a total initial investment of about $117,600–$288,400, including a $46,900 initial franchise fee.
How much do Sylvan Learning franchise owners make?
Discloses 2025 gross sales by quartile for 409 of 433 centers; top quartile avg $795K, bottom quartile avg $120K. No profitability, expenses, or net income data provided. Excludes 24 centers; cherry-picks gross revenue only. We grade this disclosure D for honesty.
What is the Sylvan Learning franchise failure rate?
2025: net loss of 43 franchise outlets; 45 ceased operations, 10 terminations; significant contraction from 476 to 433.
Is a Sylvan Learning franchise worth it?
It depends on the numbers, not the pitch. Sylvan Learning scores D on disclosure honesty, carries about 16% of sales in ongoing fees, and discloses 4 legal matters. Get the real owner take-home before you sign.
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Source: MN CARDS 36207-202604-03 (Clean FDD 2026). FranchiseValidate is independent and not affiliated with Sylvan Learning or its franchisor. Figures are extracted from the franchisor's own public disclosure document; verify against the current FDD before any decision.