Franchise News Release - Coast-to-Coast Expansion | Sylvan Learning

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Sylvan Learning, Inc. Announces Six New Franchisees in Markets from Coast-to-Coast

Entrepreneurs in California, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah join pioneer of supplemental education to help children throughout the nation excel academically

BALTIMORE, MD (May 13, 2009) – Sylvan Learning, Inc., North America’s most recognized provider of supplemental education, announced today the signing of 11 corporate center sales agreements with six franchisees located in markets across the nation. The six new franchisees have signed agreements for centers in Arlington, TX; Baltimore, MD; Marlton, NJ; Mountain View, CA; Pittsburgh, PA and Salt Lake City, UT. These franchise agreements are part of Sylvan Learning’s national growth strategy to convert its corporate centers to local franchisees, while expanding in new and existing territories.

Several franchisees are becoming multi-unit owners, while others are joining Sylvan as single-unit owners. Donna Dixon, former President of National Learning Centers (Sylvan’s corporate centers), purchased five Baltimore, MD-area centers located in Abingdon, Waldorf, Crofton, Silver Spring and Lanham. Larry and Stephanie Basinger purchased the Arlington, Texas corporate center, adding to their other centers in Southlake and Burleson, Texas. Bill Northrop purchased two corporate centers in Pittsburgh, and later added two other centers in the Pittsburgh area. Of the single-unit owners, Nick Skene purchased a corporate center in Salt Lake City; R. Dente purchased the Marlton, New Jersey corporate center; and Nick Ni and Renee Zhou purchased the Mountain View, California corporate center.

“Sylvan Learning is thrilled to welcome its newest franchisees to our growing family. Under their leadership and through their dedication, Sylvan will continue to satisfy a growing demand in these key U.S. markets for high quality, individualized supplemental education,” says Curt Hapward, Sylvan Learning’s vice president for franchising. “We will continue to convert these corporate locations to local franchisees because Sylvan has found that local center ownership, community involvement and partnerships with local school systems are integral components to each center’s success.”

With more than two million students served since 1979, the pioneer of personalized, supplemental education is looking for qualified candidates interested in helping children build confidence and success in school and in life. There are additional opportunities in hundreds of communities across the U.S. for prospective franchisees to purchase a territory and start their own Sylvan Learning center.

Sylvan also has identified nearly 40 existing corporate-owned centers in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Houston, Washington D.C., Sacramento, Orlando and Milwaukee that the company is interested in converting to franchised centers. In those markets, interested franchisees have the potential to generate revenue from these existing centers ranging from $200,000 to $1 million.

Sylvan franchisees benefit from a $40 million advertising and marketing program designed to drive enrollment and conversion. In addition, all franchisees experience an unparalleled training program that prepares them, with or without educational experience, with the tools they need to succeed as business owners.

“Despite an economic environment where many businesses are struggling, the supplemental education market is proving resilient, and as a result, there is increased interest by entrepreneurs in aligning themselves with Sylvan,” said Hapward. “With brand awareness twice as strong as any competitor in the industry, our franchisees benefit from the proven, 30-year success of Sylvan's well-established franchise system as they work collaboratively with families and businesses in their own backyard.”

Sylvan currently operates nearly 1,100 centers worldwide including operating in 49 states in the U.S. and six provinces in Canada. Sylvan has served more than two million students since 1979. In 2008, Sylvan Learning was ranked number 57 in Franchise Times magazine’s “Top 200 Systems” based on total number of units and has been ranked 24 times in Entrepreneur magazine’s “Franchise 500 Ranking,” the industry’s premier franchise ranking. Most recently, Sylvan was named one of the “25 Top Franchises for Hispanic American ownership” by Poder Enterprise magazine.

Entrepreneurs interested in exploring opportunities in supplemental education franchising may contact Curt Hapward, Sylvan Learning’s vice president for franchising, at 800-627-4276, ext. 8242.

About Sylvan Learning

Sylvan Learning is the leading provider of in-center, online and at home tutoring to students of all ages, grades and skill levels. With 30 years of experience and nearly 1,100 centers located throughout North America, Sylvan’s proven process and personalized instructional methods have inspired more than two million students to discover the joy of learning. Sylvan's trained and certified instructors provide individual instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, study skills and test-prep for college entrance and state exams. Sylvan helps transform unique kids into uniquely inspired learners with the skills to do better in school and the confidence to do better in everything else. For more information on Sylvan’s franchise opportunities call 800-284-8214 or visit www.sylvanfranchise.com.

The information contained on this website is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise. Any such offer or solicitation is made only through our Franchise Disclosure Document and only in jurisdictions where such offers are lawful.