--- title: "How This Marine Finds Long-Term Value in Sylvan Learning" url: https://burnaze.com/article/c6dc5d41-64e7-43f2-a9d3-f06fa8e31124 source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/how-this-marine-finds-long-term-value-in-sylvan-learning-2717268 category: "Tutoring" industry: "Education & Childcare" segment: "Tutoring" published: 2021-11-19T18:13:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T02:13:49.614Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/eebf185aa61872f292cf5502901c2c777214.jpg --- # How This Marine Finds Long-Term Value in Sylvan Learning **TL;DR:** Todd Crabtree, a successful Sylvan Learning franchisee, attributes his success to the brand's systems and protocols. Crabtree owns five locations in the Los Angeles and southern California areas and became a Sylvan Learning owner in 2006. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2021-11-19. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/how-this-marine-finds-long-term-value-in-sylvan-learning-2717268).* ## Story Franchising and life in the military have many similarities. In the military, there are specific systems and protocols one must follow to be successful — and it’s the same in franchising. Todd Crabtree is a successful long-time owner within the Sylvan Learning system, with five locations in the Los Angeles and southern California areas. “I was attracted to Sylvan for the same reason I was attracted to the Marines: because it was the best,” Crabtree said. “I worked for a competitor before I purchased my first Sylvan, and Sylvan was always the front-runner and our main competitor. When I looked at franchising for myself, I just knew I was going to be a Sylvan owner the same way I knew I was going to be a Marine.” Crabtree became a Sylvan Learning owner in 2006 when he bought the West Covina territory, where he was not only the owner, but also the acting center director. After two years, he began to scale his business, purchasing the Gardena territory in 2008 with Torrance, San Marino and West Lake Village following. Before Crabtree franchised with Sylvan Learning — and after he left active duty with the Marines — he worked in education management for eight years. Ultimately, it was the brand’s position as a leading education franchise that inspired him to become an owner. “I came to Sylvan because it was the top supplemental service provider available,” Crabtree said. “For me, it is about focusing on the long-term value for families.” Sylvan Learning creates this long-term value, Crabtree explained, by developing relationships and offering membership plans that keep families coming back. Crabtree’s deep connection with families is what allows him to be successful through a strong client retention rate. For Crabtree and other franchisees, it’s all about having the support and tools available to them to remain an important, influential part of their communities. “With our Sylvan Method, we're ahead of the game in so many ways, like our technology, our engaging certified teachers and our three teachers to one student model — it works,” Crabtree said. “Children need the extra motivation they get from having two other students learning with them, but the classes aren’t overloaded. We pride ourselves on making it fun at Sylvan and making it a place that families can trust.” With approximately 10,000 teachers across the U.S. ready to help students, Sylvan Learning ensures students are on track to achieve their goals year after year. As of the end of August 2021, Sylvan Learning has partnered with more than 170,000 students and continues to serve more as the new school year continues. “There has never been a better time to partner with Sylvan Learning,” McAuliffe said. “At a time when demand for our services is unprecedented, Sylvan Learning’s system is stronger, more nimble and more united than ever. We are excited to find new partners who want to make a difference in their communities and in the lives of their students.” ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - Education & Childcare (sector) - Sylvan Learning (company) - franchisee success (topic) - Los Angeles (location) - education franchise (topic) - franchising systems (topic) - military comparison (topic) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/how-this-marine-finds-long-term-value-in-sylvan-learning-2717268). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/c6dc5d41-64e7-43f2-a9d3-f06fa8e31124).