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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Young Chefs Academy Franchise

Young Chefs Academy is a children’s culinary education franchise founded in 2004 and based in Waco, Texas. Locations operate dedicated kitchen studios where children from early childhood through high school attend hands-on cooking classes, seasonal camps, birthday parties, workshops, field trips, and group events. The curriculum covers cooking technique alongside kitchen safety, nutrition, teamwork, and cultural appreciation, built around a proprietary STEAM-based framework that advances as students progress.

The business model centers on recurring weekly class memberships, supplemented by seasonal camps, private cooking parties, workshops, and adult programs. The multi-stream structure gives locations activity across weekdays, weekends, and school-holiday periods throughout the year.

In 2024, YCA received private equity backing from ABACO, with investor Michael Abdy joining as chairman while founder and CEO Julie Burleson continued leading operations. The brand operates under the Youth Franchise Brands parent organization, launched a full rebrand in 2024, and holds an Entrepreneur 2026 Verified Franchise designation.

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Why buy a Young Chefs Academy Franchise?

Young Chefs Academy has developed national brand recognition through strategic content partnerships, including collaborations with Food Network Magazine, Disney/Pixar, and Microsoft and Penguin Random House. These partnerships deliver promotional programming that individual locations can run without originating content, bringing new families through the door. The corporate team carries more than 100 years of combined experience, and the 2024 PE investment added dedicated marketing support.

The recurring membership model provides a relatively predictable revenue base; students who join weekly classes tend to re-enroll across skill levels as they progress, creating sustained customer relationships. Seasonal camps, parties, and adult programs add volume on top of that base through the calendar year.

Young Chefs Academy Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2003

    • Franchising Since

      2014

    • New Startup Cost

      $238,735 – $563,164

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $50,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $5,000

      or 10% of then-current Initial Franchise Fee

    • Royalty Fee

      6%

      of Gross Sales or $400/mo min

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Gross Sales or $100/mo min

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      30

    • New Units Opened *

      5

    • Units Transferred *

      5

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $266,024

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

Young Chefs Academy – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    YCA's initial training covers 400 hours of classroom instruction and 40 hours of on-the-job training, with an in-person week at the Waco, Texas headquarters. Franchisees receive YCA's fully integrated operating system, a dedicated website and email domain, social media support, and a curated weekly curriculum updated as the brand evolves. Ongoing support includes marketing resources, back-office support, and regular curriculum updates. The annual Franchise Conference brings owners together for shared learning. Resale buyers should confirm what onboarding, transfer training, and system access the franchisor provides to an incoming owner.

  2. Ideal Owner

    A Young Chefs Academy owner is typically community-minded and comfortable working directly with children and families. The role centers on scheduling and supervising culinary instructors, managing student enrollment, and maintaining the quality of the learning experience at a physical kitchen studio. Prior foodservice or education experience is helpful but not required; comfort with curriculum-based operations and genuine interest in children's enrichment matter more. Active local marketing and family relationship-building are essential to growing and retaining the student base. The model suits hands-on local operators willing to recruit and manage teaching staff.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Young Chefs Academy holds Entrepreneur's 2026 Verified Franchise designation following an editorial review of the brand's operational systems and documentation. The brand and its franchisees have received national media coverage on CNN, ABC, Fox, the Food Network, and Disney, and have been featured in Working Mother and Inc. magazine. YCA students have competed on TV shows including MasterChef Junior and Chopped, reflecting the level of culinary training the program delivers. Across the network, Young Chefs Academy carries a 4.9 average rating on Google.

  4. Industry / Market

    Young Chefs Academy operates in the US children's enrichment and after-school education market, supported by rising dual-income household rates and growing parental demand for structured, skills-building activities. The North American after-school program market is estimated at approximately $12 billion in 2026, growing at around 10% annually through 2033 (Coherent Market Insights, 2026). The culinary education segment benefits from parents' preference for hands-on, experiential learning that builds practical life skills. Seasonal variation is moderate, with camp and party revenue concentrated in summer and school holiday periods.

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