Sylvan Learning (2026 FDD) Huntington Learning Center (2026 FDD) Side-by-Side Comparison
Sylvan Learning vs Huntington Learning Center Franchise Cost (2026)
Which lists a lower Item 7 minimum? Sylvan Learning lists the lower Item 7 minimum estimate at $117,600, compared with $191,992 for Huntington Learning Center (a difference of $74,392). Their high estimates are $288,400 and $340,632, respectively. Actual site costs can differ.
How do Item 6 percentage fees compare? No combined percentage is compared here; each fee is listed as Item 6 states it. Sylvan Learning: royalty 11% – 12% of Gross Sales excluding Sylvan Edge and ACE IT!; brand fund 5% of Gross Sales excluding Sylvan Edge and ACE IT!. Huntington Learning Center: royalty 9.5% of Gross Revenue; brand fund 2% of Gross Revenue.
Which provides Item 19 financial disclosures? Both franchisors disclose financial performance representations in Item 19: Sylvan Learning reports Average gross sales for top quartile franchised centers in 2025 (offered-territory subset, Table 3): $532,008 (2025; Top 46 franchised centers in 2025; subset of centers with territory size currently offered, not the full 409-center reporting sample), while Huntington Learning Center reports Average gross revenue of mature centers open the full year: $609,454 (2025; 232 mature centers open the entire year 2025). The definitions, periods and samples can differ. Sales figures do not represent owner take-home income.
Side-by-side cost & fee comparison
Investment and fee figures use the formats recorded in each linked FDD analysis. Combined percentages, annualized fees and comparable outlet changes are calculations from those records. Fee conditions and samples can differ.
| Disclosure Metric | Sylvan Learning | Huntington Learning Center |
|---|---|---|
| FDD Year & Filing State | 2026 FDD (MN) | 2026 FDD (MN) |
| Category | Education & Tutoring | Education & Tutoring |
| Item 7 Total Investment | $117,600 – $288,400 | $191,992 – $340,632 |
| Item 5 Franchise Fee | $46,900 | $42,000 |
| Item 6 Royalty | 11% – 12% of Gross Sales excluding Sylvan Edge and ACE IT! | 9.5% of Gross Revenue |
| Item 6 Brand / Advertising Fund | 5% of Gross Sales excluding Sylvan Edge and ACE IT! | 2% of Gross Revenue |
| Sales-Based Percentage FeesFixed fees, minimums and sales-subset charges are separate. | Not a single percentage of sales | Not a single percentage of sales |
| Recurring Fixed Fees (Annual) | See Item 6 conditions | See Item 6 conditions |
| Required Liquid Capital | $75,000 | $110,000 |
| Required Net Worth | $150,000 | $200,000 |
| Capital Requirement Source & Conditions | Franchisor website, checked October 30, 2026 Sylvan describes these minimums as financial criteria a candidate typically meets. | Franchisor website, checked October 29, 2026 |
| Item 19 Financial Disclosures? | Yes Average gross sales for top quartile franchised centers in 2025 (offered-territory subset, Table 3): $532,008 (2025; Top 46 franchised centers in 2025; subset of centers with territory size currently offered, not the full 409-center reporting sample) View Sylvan Learning earnings | Yes Average gross revenue of mature centers open the full year: $609,454 (2025; 232 mature centers open the entire year 2025) View Huntington Learning Center earnings |
| Total System Outlets | 433 units | 245 units |
| 3-Year Net Unit Growth | -36 franchised | -37 franchised |
| 3-Year Average Franchise Exit Rate | 6.3% / yr | 6.1% / yr |
| Initial Agreement Term | 10 years | 10 years |
| FDD Verification Status | Verified FDD Data | Verified FDD Data |
Item 20 outlet histories and comparison limits
In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Sylvan Learning contracted by a net 36 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 6.3%. In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Huntington Learning Center contracted by a net 37 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 6.1%. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.
| System | Year | Start Outlets | Opened | Reported Exits | End Outlets | Franchise Exit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sylvan Learning | 2023 | 469 | +18 | -14 | 473 | 3.0% |
| Sylvan Learning | 2024 | 473 | +24 | -21 | 476 | 4.4% |
| Sylvan Learning | 2025 | 476 | +12 | -55 | 433 | 11.6% |
| Huntington Learning Center | 2023 | 280 | +4 | -11 | 273 | 3.9% |
| Huntington Learning Center | 2024 | 273 | +4 | -17 | 260 | 6.2% |
| Huntington Learning Center | 2025 | 260 | +4 | -21 | 243 | 8.1% |
Detailed brand guides and earnings disclosures
Review our full itemized analysis for each system, including complete Item 7 line-by-line tables and Item 6 fee rules.
- Sylvan Learning Full Cost Breakdown Item 7 line-by-line costs & fee definitions
- Sylvan Learning Item 19 Figures Item 19 financial representations & sample sizes
- Huntington Learning Center Full Cost Breakdown Item 7 line-by-line costs & fee definitions
- Huntington Learning Center Item 19 Figures Item 19 financial representations & sample sizes
Official FDD sources
Franchise costs, fees and outlet records on this comparison page were compiled from the respective brand's official Franchise Disclosure Document filed with state regulators. Capital and net-worth requirements may instead come from the franchisor website when the FDD does not state them; those sources and conditions appear in the table above.
- Sylvan Learning: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-04-24 , filed with MN regulators. View Sylvan Learning filing record.
- Huntington Learning Center: 2026 FDD, issued 2026-04-16 , filed with MN regulators. View Huntington Learning Center filing record.
Frequently Asked Questions: Sylvan Learning vs Huntington Learning Center
- Which lists a lower Item 7 minimum, Sylvan Learning or Huntington Learning Center?
- Sylvan Learning lists the lower Item 7 minimum estimate at $117,600, compared with $191,992 for Huntington Learning Center (a difference of $74,392). Their high estimates are $288,400 and $340,632, respectively. Actual site costs can differ.
- How do Sylvan Learning and Huntington Learning Center Item 6 percentage fees compare?
- No combined percentage is compared here; each fee is listed as Item 6 states it. Sylvan Learning: royalty 11% – 12% of Gross Sales excluding Sylvan Edge and ACE IT!; brand fund 5% of Gross Sales excluding Sylvan Edge and ACE IT!. Huntington Learning Center: royalty 9.5% of Gross Revenue; brand fund 2% of Gross Revenue.
- Do Sylvan Learning or Huntington Learning Center provide Item 19 financial disclosures?
- Both franchisors disclose financial performance representations in Item 19: Sylvan Learning reports Average gross sales for top quartile franchised centers in 2025 (offered-territory subset, Table 3): $532,008 (2025; Top 46 franchised centers in 2025; subset of centers with territory size currently offered, not the full 409-center reporting sample), while Huntington Learning Center reports Average gross revenue of mature centers open the full year: $609,454 (2025; 232 mature centers open the entire year 2025). The definitions, periods and samples can differ. Sales figures do not represent owner take-home income.
- What do the Item 20 outlet records show for Sylvan Learning and Huntington Learning Center?
- In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Sylvan Learning contracted by a net 36 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 6.3%. In Item 20 for 2023–2025, Huntington Learning Center contracted by a net 37 franchised outlets, with an average annual franchised exit rate of 6.1%. Net changes shown here use the FDD's printed start and end counts. Reported exits include terminations, non-renewals, franchisor reacquisitions and other cessations; they are not all business closures.