From the filings

HQ-led decisions

Sylvan Learning

Education

Sylvan Learning controls software purchasing centrally: every center must run the franchisor's proprietary "Sylvan Software" for front desk, POS, online enrollment and marketing, plus a designated point-of-sale system and a dozen Apple iPads. With 433 franchised centers and no company-owned locations, the buying decision for anything in that stack lives with Sylvan's headquarters, not the individual center.

For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.

Live signals

Total units
433
433 franchised
Unit growth YoY
-9.034%
vs prior filing
AUV
$376K
Item 19, 2025
Royalty
11%
of gross sales
Ad fund
5%
national + local
Initial fee
$47K
per unit
Investment range
$118K–$288K
all-in, Item 7
Procurement
Franchisor controlled
from the filing
Item 19
Claims
from the filing

Ongoing fee load

What the operator pays every month

The recurring percentage of gross sales named in this filing, before rent, labour or any technology fee.

16%of gross sales (FY2026)

Ongoing fees: 16% of gross sales (FY2026)Royalty 11%, Ad fund 5%. Total 16% of gross sales. Drawn against a 15% reference scale.

15% reference

Royalty 11%Ad fund 5%

Mandated & recommended tech

The systems vendors compete with

Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.

FacebookMeta
MarketingItem 13

oprietary Marks or any derivative of the Proprietary Marks as part of the registration of any username on any gaming website, personal blogs or social networking website including Facebook, LinkedIn,

InstagramMeta
MarketingItem 13

the Proprietary Marks as part of the registration of any username on any gaming website, personal blogs or social networking website including Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, o

LinkedInLinkedIn
MarketingItem 13

Marks or any derivative of the Proprietary Marks as part of the registration of any username on any gaming website, personal blogs or social networking website including Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, Pint

PinterestPinterest
MarketingItem 13

ivative of the Proprietary Marks as part of the registration of any username on any gaming website, personal blogs or social networking website including Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, Pinterest, Instagram

QuickBooksIntuit
AccountingItem 7

er, instructor name tags, incentive gifts for motivational programs, etc.) may differ depending on the number of students you enroll. NOTE 13: Sylvan requires that franchisees use QuickBooks or equiva

TikTokTikTok
MarketingItem 13

tary Marks as part of the registration of any username on any gaming website, personal blogs or social networking website including Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, or X (former

TwitterX
MarketingItem 13

ration of any username on any gaming website, personal blogs or social networking website including Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, or X (formerly known as Twitter), or any vir

YelpYelp
MarketingItem 13

ny derivative of the Proprietary Marks as part of the registration of any username on any gaming website, personal blogs or social networking website including Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp, Pinterest, Ins

Franchisor behaviours

What the franchisor requires

30 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 2 explicit no's; 2 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.

Accounting

Must the franchisee use an accounting or bookkeeping system designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 8

(5) point-of-sale system and related hardware (if required), (6) insurance policies (if required), and (7) certain support services related to the operation of your Franchised Business, including the accounting systems and third party accounting services that we prescribe.

Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?

Yes

Item 11

We may independently access from a remote location, at any time, all information input to, and compiled by, your computer system or an off-site server, including information concerning sales, purchase orders, inventory, and expenditures.

How the franchisor buys

Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?

Yes

Item 8

You will be required to purchase the following through us or our affiliate: (1) retail merchandise; (2) licenses to the point of sale, merchant processing, and other software programs that we designate; (3) certain digital marketing services; (4) technology solutions (e.g., franchise management system, computer…

Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?

Yes

Item 11

We reserve the right to develop and implement various technologies, software, or systems for the benefit of the System, in which case we may require you to adopt and use such technologies, software, or systems, and require you to pay our then-current Technology Fee as published in the Manual periodically.

How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?

925979

Item 8

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, Sylvan’s total revenue from franchisees’ required purchases or leases of Sylvan System and SylvanSync System products and services was $925,979, or approximately 2.4%

Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?

Yes

Item 8

We have negotiated supply agreements with providers of merchandise, technology solutions, and credit card processing services under which the vendors will remit to us a percentage of revenue from purchases made by franchisees.

Does the franchisor charge a fee to evaluate a proposed supplier?

Yes

Item 8

You must reimburse us for all costs that we incur in connection with due diligence of your proposed supplier and our evaluation of such supplier as well as any costs we incur in monitoring a Designated Supplier’s compliance with our requirements.

Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?

Yes

Item 8

If we require that a product or service be purchased from an Designated Supplier and you wish to purchase it from an alternate supplier, you must submit to us a written request for approval and must include pertinent information about the supplier as required in the Manual.

Communications

Does the franchisor own or control the business telephone numbers, or take them over when the agreement ends?

Yes

Item 17

transferring the Article 19 Franchised Business’ telephone number to us;

Data and IT

Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

(2) comply with all Standards that relate to Privacy Laws and the privacy and security of Customer Data;

Franchise management

Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?

Yes

Item 17

The Franchised Business fails two (2) consecutive quality assurance inspections during any rolling 12- month period or fails three (3) quality assurance inspections during any rolling 24-month period;

Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?

Yes

Item 16

We may, at any time SYLVAN LEARNING, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document | 2026 Page 49 and in our sole and absolute discretion, add, eliminate, or modify authorized products, goods, and services; there are no contractual limitations on our rights to make such changes.

Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?

Yes

Item 11

No site may be used for the location of the Franchised Business unless we first approve it in writing.

Marketing

Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?

Yes

Item 13

You may not independently establish or maintain a web site or other presence on the World Wide Web portion of the Internet, including gaming websites or social networking websites such as Facebook, SYLVAN LEARNING, LLC Franchise Disclosure Document | 2026 Page 44 LinkedIn, Yelp, Pinterest, Instagram, Tik Tok or X…

Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?

Yes

Item 11

You must spend between $10,000 and $15,000 in connection with your grand opening, which will begin 60 days prior to the grand opening and continue for 60 days after your grand opening.

Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?

Yes

Item 11

You must make the Local Marketing Expenditure which is (i) 6% of monthly Gross Sales (revenue derived from Sylvan Edge and ACE IT! are excluded) or $1,500 per month, whichever is greater, and (ii) 3% of monthly Gross Sales generated under the Sylvan Edge program.

Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?

Yes

Item 16

You must participate in and offer to your customers all customer loyalty and reward programs and all contests, sweepstakes, and other prize promotions that we designate.

Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?

Yes

Item 11

If we form an Advertising Cooperative for the region in which your Franchised Business is located, your membership to the Advertising Cooperative is automatic, and you must participate in the Advertising Cooperative.

Operations

Must the franchisee buy products from a designated distributor?

Yes

Item 8

You must purchase from from suppliers or distributors we designate (each a “Designated Supplier”) all of your requirements for developing, constructing, and operating the Franchised Business

Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?

Yes

Item 8

You must purchase from from suppliers or distributors we designate (each a “Designated Supplier”) all of your requirements for developing, constructing, and operating the Franchised Business including: (1) fixtures, furniture and other furnishings, equipment, supplies, point-of-sale systems, merchant processing…

Payments

Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 8

You must purchase from from suppliers or distributors we designate (each a “Designated Supplier”) all of your requirements for developing, constructing, and operating the Franchised Business including: (1) fixtures, furniture and other furnishings, equipment, supplies, point-of-sale systems, merchant processing…

Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?

Yes

Franchise agreement

Attachment H ACH Authorization Agreement

Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?

Yes

Item 8

You must accept for payment gift card(s) presented as payment for purchases made in your Center for products and services.

People

Does the franchisor require minimum staffing levels or specific roles?

Yes

Item 15

The minimum staffing requirements and the hours of operation described in the Franchise Agreement and Manuals have been established exclusively for the purpose of preserving Sylvan’s brand standards.

Must employees wear uniforms specified by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 8

We are the sole approved supplier for certain items which includes, among other things, lobby marketing materials; customer marketing materials; staff uniforms; initial inventory; front desk management software and hardware described in Item 11; and Internet site design and Internet marketing described in Item 11.

Point of sale

Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

we require all franchisees to acquire and use the point-of-sale (“POS”) system that we designate, including payment of the monthly licensing requirements related to the use of such POS.

Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?

Yes

Item 11

We may independently access from a remote location, at any time, all information input to, and compiled by, your computer system or an off-site server, including information concerning sales, purchase orders, inventory, and expenditures.

Sales and CRM

Must the franchisee use a CRM system designated or approved by the franchisor?

Yes

Item 11

You must license our proprietary office management software that includes proprietary front desk management and point of sale system, online enrollment system, automated e-mail marketing tool, customer management system, and any other technology or software and respective updates that we may implement from time to…

Training

Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?

Yes

Item 11

We may charge you an Initial Training Fee or an Additional Training fee (as described in Item 6) if you have to offer you the Initial Training Program off our regular schedule, if you wish more than two people to participate in the Initial Training Program, or if you are required to send individuals to re-train to…

Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?

Yes

Item 6

Conference Fee Currently $950 to $1,350 per Upon We require that you attend our attendee, up to $1,500 per invoice annual conference.

The filing answers no to 2 questions
  • Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?Item 11
  • Must the franchisee participate in a customer-satisfaction or net-promoter survey program?Item 11

The vendor opportunity at Sylvan Learning

Sylvan Learning runs 433 franchised centers with no company-owned locations, as a wholly owned subsidiary of Unleashed Brands, whose affiliates franchise Urban Air Adventure Park, The Little Gym, Snapology, Premier Martial Arts, Class 101 and Water Wings Swim School. Franchised outlets fell 9.0% year over year. Royalty runs at 11% of Gross Sales (12% on the Sylvan Edge and ACE IT! programs), subject to a quarterly minimum, over a 10-year initial term, and the 2026 FDD includes an Item 19 financial performance representation.

Who controls software purchasing

Item 2 names President Susan Valverde and CMO Kyle Martin, along with Unleashed Services executives CEO Michael Browning Jr., Chief Legal Officer Stephen Polozola and COO Joshua Wall, CFE. The operator base carries real scale: of 253 mapped operators, 74 run more than one center, across roughly 401 located units, with Texas (60), California (59), Florida (33), North Carolina (28) and Ohio (18) leading. Even with that multi-unit base, the franchise agreement requires every center to acquire and use only the computer systems Sylvan prescribes, which keeps the core technology decision at headquarters.

Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required

Each center must purchase or lease at least twelve Apple iPad (7th generation or later) devices, unless Sylvan grants prior approval for a lower count. Centers must acquire and use only the computer systems Sylvan prescribes and may not run unapproved systems or components. A designated point-of-sale system carries a monthly licensing fee, and every center must license Sylvan's proprietary office management software — the "Sylvan Software" — which bundles front desk management, the point-of-sale system, online enrollment, automated e-mail marketing, and customer management.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Sylvan's Item 8 model is designated suppliers only: franchisees must buy fixtures, furnishings, equipment, point-of-sale systems, merchant-processing systems and signage from suppliers Sylvan designates, and Sylvan or its affiliate is the sole approved supplier for certain items, including retail merchandise and lobby marketing materials. Franchisees may propose an alternate supplier for written approval. The initial term is 10 years; a franchisee in good standing may renew for two additional, consecutive five-year terms, paying a $6,000 renewal fee plus reimbursement of Sylvan's legal and professional expenses.

How to read the Sylvan Learning FDD

The embedded PDF viewer below holds Sylvan Learning's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 11 sets out the Sylvan Software, POS and iPad requirements in full; Item 8 covers the designated-supplier rules. Talk to FranCloud for a ranked target list of education-segment franchises with a centrally mandated tech stack.

Questions vendors ask

Sylvan Learning, answered from the filing

Item 2 names President Susan Valverde and, at Unleashed Services, CEO Michael Browning Jr. and COO Joshua Wall, CFE. The franchise agreement obliges every center to run software and hardware the franchisor prescribes, not tools a center owner picks independently.
Centers must license Sylvan's proprietary office management software ("Sylvan Software"), acquire and use a designated point-of-sale system, and purchase or lease at least twelve Apple iPads.
433 centers, all franchised with none company-owned, concentrated in an education-services system led by Texas (60), California (59) and Florida (33).
Designated suppliers only. Franchisees must buy fixtures, equipment, POS and merchant-processing software, and digital marketing services from suppliers Sylvan designates, though they may propose an alternate supplier for approval.
The initial term is 10 years, with two additional five-year renewal terms available for a $6,000 renewal fee plus legal expenses, giving vendors a recurring window to revisit the required software stack.
The embedded viewer below holds Sylvan Learning's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. Item 11 lays out the computer system and Sylvan Software requirements; Item 8 covers the designated-supplier rules.
Source

Read the filing itself

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Sylvan Learning2026 FDDView only

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The brands you can actually sell into, from the filings.

Operator footprint

Who runs the locations

253 operators run 401 mapped locations. 74 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.

Operators by units owned

Single-unit179
2–9 units71
10–24 units3

Top states by locations

TX60
CA59
FL33
NC28
OH18

Ownership

The portfolio behind Sylvan Learning

strategic_multibrand of Unleashed Brands.

Sibling brands

Related Education brands

Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Every figure is source-traceable and QA-checked.