Young Chefs Academy Franchise
To make a positive lasting impact on children and families through teaching the joy and value of cooking in a welcoming environment that encourages discovery and creativity.
$75,000
$50,000
25
2005
Waco,TX
Leigh Feldman
About Young Chefs Academy
Young Chefs® Academy is a fun, scalable business that meets kids where they are by offering several skill levels to carry students from pre-school through high school: KinderCooks®, JuniorChefs™, and SeniorChefs™.
At every step, kids learn to prepare dishes of varying complexity, which gives them confidence in and out of the kitchen. Along the way, students are learning valuable life lessons about where food comes from, different customs and cultures, nutrition, teamwork, leadership, just to name a few!
Franchise Unit Trends & Revenue
25
5
$189,538
* in 2019
Franchise Fees
$50,000
Veteran's Fee: $34,900
5.0%
Gross Sales
2.0%
Gross Sales
Why Choose Young Chefs Academy?
Young Chefs® Academy is a straightforward, scalable business with broad appeal. Today’s parents and youth desire engaging, hands-on, extracurricular activities that are both fun and affordable. Young Chefs Academy has the perfect recipe that meets kids where they are by offering different skill levels to carry students from kindergarten through high school. Through classes, workshops, camps, and even parties and special events, we take kids into the kitchen and teach them not just how to cook, but how to work independently and as a team to master new skills. Along the way, they learn valuable life lessons about where food comes from, different customs and cultures, nutrition, teamwork, leadership, and more! YCA™ programs are a fun, rewarding enrichment opportunity that kids and parents love – and that is the platform for a fun and rewarding business!
Starting Costs & Investment Requirements
$247,000 - $397,000
$200,000
$75,000
Training & Support
Corporate Support:
Pre-opening site selection & build-out assistance
Operational and training support
Marketing tools
Curriculum tools
Technology tools
Ongoing business and franchise coaching
Training:
On-Site YCA Training
The 4-day on-site training is designed to:
Teach them
Show them
Let them try
Training covers culinary instruction, class simulations, role-playing, and core operational elements of the business.
Initial Training:
Online pre-training
Pre-opening and grand opening checklist and support
4-day initial training program
Training for franchisee and manager
Comprehensive training on proprietary systems
Ongoing Training:
Regular check-ins with support teams on all aspects of the business
Guidance on promotional events and marketing
Regular group and one-on-one coaching sessions
Annual conference
Operations:
Support begins as soon as the franchise agreement is signed. Franchisees receive:
Access to business and technology tools (POS and scheduling)
Pre-opening and build-out support
Regular business coaching and field coaching
Ongoing curriculum development and classroom management support
Monthly benchmark reporting
A collaborative culture where franchisee voices are heard
Marketing:
Support for grand openings and re-openings
Marketing for programs and campaigns
Local marketing coaching
Guidance on digital media and email campaigns
Public relations coaching
Templates and marketing guidelines
National strategic partnership initiatives aligned with the brand mission
History
Founded in 2004, Young Chefs Academy has established itself as a leader in recreational cooking education, offering structured classes, workshops, and camps designed specifically for young aspiring chefs. Their curriculum goes beyond basic cooking instruction – it incorporates mathematics through measuring, chemistry through understanding ingredient interactions, and cultural awareness through international cuisine exploration. The Young Chefs Academy vision of cultivating/serving children’s strong interest in the culinary arts has allowed it to expand nationally with 30+ locations throughout the United States.
What sets Young Chefs Academy apart is their commitment to creating a fun, safe, and educational environment where children can develop confidence, teamwork skills, and a lifelong appreciation for healthy eating habits. Their programs cater to various age groups, ensuring age-appropriate instruction and challenges that help young chefs progress in their culinary journey.
Ideal Candidate
We want a candidate that enjoys being around kids and families and that is excited about making connections in their community to help build their business. A culinary and/or education background is not required – we teach people how to teach cooking, and we teach you how to teach it to kids, families, and adults. We want people with fun personalities, or that understand that if they are not that, that they can have a team to be the face of their brand in the classrooms. This means you are self-aware, comfortable speaking with people, and care about processes and opportunities to find improvements. We welcome feedback and want people that consider themselves communicative and will speak up if something is needed. We say our Owners are the conductor of the orchestra – they don’t need to know how to play the instruments, but they understand how to bring everything together to create a remarkable experience.