Franopolis
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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Best Brains vs Sylvan Learning

    Reviewed figures from each brand's Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), side by side. Each figure carries its FDD year and page. This is not a ranking or recommendation, and the two FDDs may cover different years and location groups.

    Best Brains2026 FDDSylvan Learning2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Best Brains

    Not available

    Sylvan Learning

    $117,600 – $288,400

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Best Brains

    $14,500

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Sylvan Learning

    $46,900

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    Royalty · Item 6

    Best Brains

    $750

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Sylvan Learning

    11%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Sylvan Learning discloses more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Only Sylvan Learning has reviewed Item 19 figures here.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Best Brains

    Not available
    No reviewed Item 7 total

    Sylvan Learning

    $117,600 – $288,400
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Best Brains

    $14,500
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Sylvan Learning

    $46,900
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Best Brains

    $750
    Normal monthly royalty minimum
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Sylvan Learning

    11%
    Royalty standard programs
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Best Brains

    $3.00
    Brand development fund per-student subject cap
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Sylvan Learning

    5%
    National Advertising Fund contribution — 5%
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 18

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Best Brains

    203
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 36

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    No reviewed outlet counts
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Best Brains

    +79
    Calculated: 124 at end of 2023 → 203 at end of 2025

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    Only one year reported
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Best Brains

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year
    Franchising since (Item 1)

    Best Brains

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records
    Franchisor founded (Item 1)

    Best Brains

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    Best Brains

    Not disclosed — no Item 19 financial performance representation

    Sylvan Learning
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record
    $795,074
    other 2025 top quartile gross sales average
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 68

    Item 19 groups are shown separately and never combined. Revenue or sales figures are not profit. Net outlet change and turnover are Franopolis calculations from the disclosed counts; turnover is a count-based rate, not a measure of owner earnings.

    Best Brains vs Sylvan Learning: common questions

    How do Best Brains and Sylvan Learning royalties compare?
    Best Brains: $750 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11); Sylvan Learning: 11% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Do Best Brains and Sylvan Learning disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Best Brains makes no Item 19 financial performance representation; Sylvan Learning has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group. Different location groups are not directly comparable, and revenue is not profit.

    Answers restate the reviewed figures above. Not a ranking or recommendation.

    How Franopolis reviews FDD figures

    Keep researching

    Full Best Brains report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

    Full Sylvan Learning report

    Every reviewed fee, Item 19 group, outlet table and territory disclosure

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    FDD glossary

    Plain-language meaning of each Item