Listing F2E3820C
Sticky Fingers Cooking franchise for sale in Tampa, Florida
List Price: $48,000 USD
Key Facts
Annual Gross Revenue
$50,000 USD
Cash Flow (SDE)
Upon Inquiry
Seasonal Business
No
Value of Inventory
$0
Value of Assets
Less than $25,000
Year Established
2025
Business Operates From
My home
Location Is
N/A
Approx. Monthly Rent
N/A
Total Employees
Less than 10
1–3 MonthsTransition
Support
NonePrice/Terms
Flexibility
SomeSeller financing Available
Full-timeOwner
Involvement
About this Business
At Sticky Fingers Cooking®, our mission is focused on Cultivating ‘Cool’inary Curiosity in Kids® by supporting lifelong skills in preparing, eating, and sharing nutritious foods. Because it’s Thyme to Turnip the Beet on what kids eat®!
Sticky Fingers Cooking Tampa is a locally operated franchise of a national children’s culinary education company. We provide hands-on cooking classes, after-school enrichment programs, summer camps, and special events for children throughout the Tampa Bay area.
We operate through a mobile cooking school model, bringing programs directly to partner schools, community centers, libraries, camps, and other local facilities. Our trained, part-time Chef Instructors travel with portable equipment, ingredients, and educational materials to deliver engaging culinary experiences.
Sticky Fingers Cooking® is dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the communities we serve. Giving back is baked into our company culture, and we proudly support local initiatives and enrich lives through community involvement. With over one million students taught in thousands of schools and venues across the U.S., we are proud to make a difference through culinary education.
Sticky Fingers Cooking Tampa combines education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement to help children build confidence, independence, healthy eating habits, and lifelong cooking skills. We look forward to Cultivating ‘COOL’INARY CURIOSITY in Kids® throughout Tampa Bay. LETTUCE make a difference together!
Growth opportunities
This territory is in the beginning phase of development. There are approximately 190 public schools and 100 private schools across two main public school districts. Sticky Fingers currently operates in nine school venues and has ongoing outreach to expand into more.
Owner's Day-to-Day Involvement
The Owner/Area Director oversees local business growth and daily operations, including pitching enrichment programs to schools, managing finances, and hiring and supporting chef instructors. They coordinate schedules across locations, ensure classes run smoothly, and serve as the primary link between corporate headquarters, schools, parents, and staff to ensure successful local programs.
Franchise Accolades & Awards
Sticky Fingers Cooking is a member of the IFA (International Franchise Association) and is recognized in many locations for being an outstanding business. For example, it was named “Best Cooking School” by Westword in 2026 (Denver) and “Best After School Program” by Best of Florida in 2026 (Northeast FL). The brand is consistently cited in national news outlets for expertise in cooking with kids, such as this Miami Herald article that was picked up in several more outlets.
Additional Info
This home-based, low-overhead business has no storefront lease. The sale includes all portable instructor cooking kits, immediate access to "The Dash" operating software, an active roster of trained part-time staff, and established relationships with local schools. Full training and ongoing operational support from corporate HQ will be provided to ensure a seamless handoff.
Asset Description
Equipment consists of ten complete chef kits, with additional backup supplies available for replacements as needed. All equipment and supplies are neatly organized and stored in bins in a nearby storage unit that provides unlimited, 24-hour indoor access, ensuring convenient and reliable access whenever needed for cooking classes and events.
Inventory Description
No inventory is maintained on hand, as it is not necessary for this business model. Ingredients and consumable supplies are purchased as needed for scheduled cooking classes and events, allowing for efficient cost management, minimal storage requirements, and use of the freshest ingredients in each class.
Reason for Selling
I moved to Tampa hoping to reconnect with my family and become a successful franchise owner. However, family priorities and personal reflection have led me to realize this is not the right time for business ownership. After months of introspection and professional support, I know this is the best decision for me. Having previously worked as a Sticky Fingers Cooking chef instructor, I truly believe in the brand’s mission and am excited to support your transition into ownership of this territory.
Why I Love My Franchise
I love the Sticky Fingers Cooking® franchise because it combines my passion for helping children learn and grow with the opportunity to build a flexible, scalable, and financially sustainable business. The ability to inspire children in my community, encourage creativity and confidence, and make a meaningful impact while growing a business. As a mom, former teacher, and educator, I see the difference that it makes when kids can get off screens, collaborate, and have results to their learning.
About Sticky Fingers Cooking
Sticky Fingers Cooking® is a mobile children’s culinary education franchise founded in 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The brand delivers hands-on cooking classes for kids at schools, summer camps, libraries, and community centers, requiring no kitchen, commercial lease, or physical buildout. All equipment and supplies travel to each venue with chef instructors.
Classes blend cooking with STEAM-related learning, incorporating math, science, geography, global cultures, and nutrition through hands-on recipes. Programs run as after-school sessions, seasonal camps, and community events, with national partners including the Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Girl Scouts, and the Public Library Association. The brand has taught more than one million children, with 95% of school partners returning year after year.
Sticky Fingers Cooking began franchising in 2023 and is an International Franchise Association member. Franchisees operate from a home office on an exclusive territory model, recruiting and managing a team of chef instructors while building local school and community partnerships. The proprietary Dash® platform handles scheduling, enrollment, payroll, lesson plans, and communications.
Franchisee Support
Franchisees receive 90 hours of initial training. Ongoing support includes weekly HQ office hours, 1:1 owner coaching, monthly peer group sessions, Chef Circle trainings to develop instructor teams, leadership roundtables, and on-demand KPI reporting. The Dash® platform manages scheduling, enrollment, payroll, lesson plans, and communications, covering 85% of daily operations. Buyers of an existing unit should confirm what initial training and Dash® platform access the franchisor provides to incoming ownership.
Brand Accolades & Awards
Sticky Fingers Cooking received recognition from Entrepreneur magazine as one of the 2025 Top New and Emerging Franchises (No. 126) and was named Best Cooking School in Denver in Westword's Best of Denver 2026. The brand was previously recognized with Colorado 5280 Magazine's Top of the Town award for Best Kids Classes and has been featured in national outlets including The Washington Post. Sticky Fingers Cooking is an International Franchise Association member, was highlighted in IFA's Franchising World magazine in 2025, and carries a 4.9-out-of-5 average Google rating.
Industry / Market
Demand for after-school enrichment programs in the United States has grown steadily as dual-income families seek structured, educational activities during non-school hours. School funding gaps drive administrators toward third-party enrichment providers, creating consistent demand for quality operators. Culinary education sits within this growing segment, supported by parental interest in food literacy, healthy eating, and STEAM-integrated learning. For resale buyers, key considerations include the depth of existing school contracts, territory enrollment rates, and the seasonal revenue patterns typical of school-based programs.
Ideal Owner
The model suits owner-operators who prefer managing people and business development over delivering the service themselves. A franchisee's day-to-day involves recruiting and scheduling chef instructors, building relationships with schools and community organizations, and overseeing local marketing and enrollment; prior cooking or teaching experience is not required. The role fits organized, community-minded operators who are comfortable leading a small team from a home office and developing ongoing institutional partnerships.