Making 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.
What better place for a kids' cooking school to start than in a kitchen? That's where founder and CEO Julie Burleson came up with the idea behind Young Chefs Academy a child entertainment franchise, she says.
"I'm an entrepreneur at heart, so the wheels are always spinning," she explains. "I was doing some catering from home, and my young son kept asking to help. I wanted to be involved with him, of course, but I was also trying to get a job done. Many parents struggle with that work-life balance, and it's an even bigger struggle when you're running your own business. So, I started thinking about a business that would involve kids, one that would make a difference in their lives - as well as that of their parents. And the more I thought about what would become Young Chefs Academy, I got excited about the positive impact it could have."
Soon she had opened the first location, and the idea of a kid-friendly program that taught meaningful skills in a fun, colorful environment took off. She'd always had a franchise business model in mind, she says, because she knew there were other entrepreneurs out there who felt as she did about kids and learning. She was right.
"We have a network of amazing people with a shared passion for the service we are providing for children and families," Burleson says. "They understand the responsibility of owning their own business, they are problem solvers and they come to work every day loving what they do. We build a strong relationship with them, and they build strong bonds with their communities."
That has led to a collaborative brand that never stands still. Young Chefs Academy continues to find new audiences and new ways to engage the community. That means franchise owners have multiple ways to build revenue streams.
"We have our membership program, which enrolls kids who are serious about broadening their culinary skills," Burleson says. "We also have birthday parties, summer camps, and seasonal activities around Christmas, Valentine’s Day and other holidays, not to mention birthday parties for kids and, increasingly, adults. Young Chefs Academy is continually finding ways to develop new lines of business that are fun for the participants and profitable for the franchise owner."
*Based on total gross sales for Young Chefs Academy in the highest and average units for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2022 as per the 2023 FDD. See Item 19 of the Young Chefs Academy 2023 FDD.
A new franchisee's results may differ from the represented performance. There is no assurance that you will do as well and you must accept that risk. This offering is made by prospectus only.
We are committed to treating every person how they would want to be treated. We are committed to being incredibly kind in everything we do.
We believe that every person is right from their own perspective and deserves empathy.
Children are our focus. We are committed to making a positive lasting influence on the children we serve.
We operate above the line. We do the right thing whether or not someone is watching and whether or not it is easy.
Every business action we take is driven by our enthusiasm and strong sense of purpose for the joy and value we are bringing to our customers' lives.
We strive to provide an extraordinary experience from every touchpoint.