Franopolis
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    Franchise opportunities compared

    Sylvan Learning vs the tutoring center

    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.

    Sylvan Learning2026 FDDthe tutoring center2026 FDD

    Initial investment · Item 7

    Sylvan Learning

    $117,600 – $288,400

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    the tutoring center

    $86,510 – $169,475

    2026 FDD · Item 7

    Initial franchise fee · Item 5

    Sylvan Learning

    $46,900

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    the tutoring center

    $32,000

    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10

    Royalty · Item 6

    Sylvan Learning

    11%

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    the tutoring center

    $500

    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    Before you compare

    • Both sets of figures come from 2026 FDDs.
    • Sylvan Learning and the tutoring center disclose more than one business format, so the investment range spans formats; the full report breaks them out.
    • Item 19 figures cover the location groups each FDD names (Sylvan Learning: 1, the tutoring center: 6). Different groups are not directly comparable.

    Financial commitment

    Estimated initial investment (Item 7)

    Sylvan Learning

    $117,600 – $288,400
    2026 FDD · Item 7

    the tutoring center

    $86,510 – $169,475
    2026 FDD · Item 7
    Standard initial franchise fee (Item 5)

    Sylvan Learning

    $46,900
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 16

    the tutoring center

    $32,000
    2026 FDD · Item 5 · PDF p. 10
    Royalty (Item 6)

    Sylvan Learning

    11%
    Royalty standard programs
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17

    the tutoring center

    $500
    Royalty first three months
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11
    Brand / advertising fund (Item 6)

    Sylvan Learning

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

    the tutoring center

    $250
    Digital marketing minimum low
    2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11

    System scale & health

    Total outlets (Item 20)

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    No reviewed outlet counts

    the tutoring center

    73
    Outlets at end of 2025
    2026 FDD · Item 20 · PDF p. 42
    Net outlet change (Item 20)

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    Only one year reported

    the tutoring center

    −9
    Calculated: 82 at end of 2023 → 73 at end of 2025
    Outlet exits (Item 20)

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    No complete exit records for a year

    the tutoring center

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

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    the tutoring center

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

    Sylvan Learning

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    the tutoring center

    Not available
    Not in reviewed records

    Financial performance (Item 19), by location group

    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
    the tutoring center
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 25% of Centers by student enrollment
    84 students
    other Top quartile median enrollment
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 40
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Top 50% of Centers by student enrollment
    68 students
    other Top 50% median enrollment
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 40
    Locations counted not stated in the reviewed record — Bottom 50% of Centers by student enrollment
    43 students
    other Bottom 50% median enrollment
    2026 FDD · Item 19 · PDF p. 41
    +3 more groups in the full report

    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.

    Sylvan Learning vs the tutoring center: common questions

    Which costs less to open, Sylvan Learning or the tutoring center?
    Sylvan Learning: $117,600 – $288,400 (2026 FDD · Item 7); the tutoring center: $86,510 – $169,475 (2026 FDD · Item 7). These are each franchisor's Item 7 estimated initial investment. The low end of the disclosed estimate is lower for the tutoring center. At least one range spans several business formats. Estimates are not quotes, and the FDD years may differ.
    How do Sylvan Learning and the tutoring center royalties compare?
    Sylvan Learning: 11% (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 17); the tutoring center: $500 (2026 FDD · Item 6 · PDF p. 11). Royalties as disclosed in Item 6; other recurring fees are listed separately.
    Do Sylvan Learning and the tutoring center disclose financial performance (Item 19)?
    Sylvan Learning has reviewed Item 19 figures for 1 location group; the tutoring center has reviewed Item 19 figures for 6 location groups. 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 Sylvan Learning report

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

    Full the tutoring center report

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

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    Plain-language meaning of each Item