Relationships Drive the Business: How These Sylvan Franchisees Grew Through Connection

For Lauren Webster and Marissa Roh, the strength of relationships within the Sylvan Learning network has shone through since day one. Roh took over a Sylvan Learning center that her mother-in-law previously owned, and Webster eventually invested in the center where she previously worked.

As the two have grown their respective businesses, their understanding of community connection and the role relationships play in a Sylvan business has also evolved.

“Coming in as a CPA, I was all about the numbers when I started out,” Roh explained. “I quickly learned that this is a relationship-driven business. While the numbers are really important, the relationships are just as important.”

In the personalized learning space, building relationships with community members, individual families, and each student served is crucial to success.

“A lot of it is just reminding families that we’re here,” Webster said. “Sylvan is a very popular name.” She went on to explain that, while many families know about Sylvan, taking any opportunity to be visible in the community and connect with potential students keeps Sylvan top of mind.

For franchisees who believe in and have a passion for what Sylvan does, making these connections is not necessarily difficult. Attending events like local fairs and community holiday celebrations allows Sylvan franchise owners and their employees to connect more naturally with the populations they intend to serve.

In addition to more traditional marketing techniques, making oneself known in the community and forging organic relationships with those they hope to serve, franchise owners can make an incredible impact.