About Young Chefs Academy Franchise
Young Chefs Academy is a cooking school franchise designed specifically for children.
Franchisees operate a retail location where they provide hands-on cooking classes for kids, teaching them culinary skills, nutrition, and kitchen safety in a fun, engaging environment.
While teaching children is the main focus, franchises may also occasionally offer cooking classes for special needs adults, adult team building cooking events, and cooking classes for adults.
Young Chefs Academy Franchise Cost & Fees
Minimum Investment
$140K
Average Investment
$168K
Maximum Investment
$196K
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $45,000 | One-time payment upon signing |
| Royalty Fee | 5% of Gross Sales with a minimum of $400 of gross sales | Ongoing; paid monthly |
| Marketing/Ad Fund | 2% of previous month's Gross Sales with a minimum of $100 | National brand fund |
| Total Investment Range | $140,400 – $196,000 | Includes build-out, inventory, working capital |
The investment range of $140K–$196K reflects variability in build-out costs, store size, lease terms, and market. The combined royalty (5% of Gross Sales with a minimum of $400) and marketing fee (2% of previous month's Gross Sales with a minimum of $100) are ongoing costs paid as a percentage of gross sales.
Investment Breakdown (Item 7)
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| Grand Opening Inventory | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Travel and living expenses for initial training (per person) | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Lease | $4,000 | $15,500 |
| Real Estate Improvements | $30,000 | $45,000 |
| Cabinets, furniture, fixtures, equipment, and signs | $30,000 | $40,000 |
| Office Equipment | $2,400 | $3,000 |
| Supplies | $500 | $1,000 |
| Grand Opening Marketing and Advertising | $3,000 | $4,000 |
| Deposits, business licenses, permits, etc. | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Insurance (For 1 year) | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Professional fees | $1,000 | $3,000 |
| Additional Funds (for 1st 3 months) | $18,000 | $27,000 |
Additional Fees (Item 6)
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Transfer Fee | The greater of $15,000 or 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee |
| Renewal Fee | $10,000 |
| Technology Fee | $225 per month |
| Audit Fee | Cost of audit |
| Local Marketing Expenditure Amount | 3% of previous month's Gross Sales with a minimum of $500 per month |
| Advertising Cooperative Contributions | Currently $0, but may be required |
| Supplemental On-Site Training | $300 per day (2-day minimum) plus expenses |
| Financial Reporting Late Charge | $100 per occurrence |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Interest | Lesser of 18% per annum or highest rate allowed by law |
| Relocation Fee | $500 per relocation |
| Brand Compliance Fee | $500 each month |
| Annual Conference Fees | $500 per person |
| Extension of Lease Execution Deadline Fees | $5,000 |
Training Program (Item 11)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 7 days, 56 total hours |
| Classroom Training | 32 hours |
| On-the-Job Training | 24 hours |
| Training Location | Woodway, TX or site of a Young Chefs Academy franchise |
| Additional Training | Supplemental on-site training available at $300/day (2-day minimum) plus expenses. SERVSAFE certification and CPR certification required before opening. Refresher or follow-up training may be required. Training for transferees must be completed within 45 days of transfer. |
Territory Rights (Item 12)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Territory Type | Protected |
| Exclusive Territory | No |
| Territory Size | Minimum residential population of 200,000 |
| Description | Franchisor will not establish or license another party to establish a Franchised Business under the Young Chefs Academy trademark within the Protected Territory, as long as franchisee is not in default. However, the Protected Territory is not fully exclusive as the franchisor reserves the right to sell products and services through alternative distribution channels including the Internet within the territory. No minimum sales quota required to maintain the territory. |
Renewal, Termination & Transfer (Item 17)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Initial Term | 10 years |
| Renewal Term | 5 years |
| Renewal Fee | $10,000 |
| Renewal Conditions | Must be in strict compliance with the Franchise Agreement, sign then-current Franchise Agreement, update location to comply with then-current standards, sign general release, complete any required training, pay $10,000 Renewal Fee. May be asked to sign a new agreement with materially different terms. |
| Transfer Fee | The greater of $15,000 or 50% of the then-current initial franchise fee |
| Transfer Conditions | Not in default, give notice, transferee qualifies, training arranged, training fee paid, successful completion of initial training by transferee, transfer fee paid, purchase agreement accepted, pay all debts, sign a release, transferee signs then-current Franchise Agreement |
| Termination for Cause | Franchisor can terminate only if franchisee is in default. 15 days to cure for curable defaults. Non-curable defaults include insolvency, bankruptcy, abandonment, felony conviction, material misrepresentation, violation of non-compete, disclosure of confidential information, and repeated defaults. |
| Non-Compete Period | 2 years |
| Non-Compete Details | No competing business (any cooking school or business providing cooking instructions or related products and services) for 2 years within 75 miles of the franchisee's Young Chefs Academy location. During the term, no involvement in any Competitive Business anywhere in the U.S. |
Operations & Supply (Items 8 & 15)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Owner-Operator Required | Yes |
| Participation Details | Franchisee or a trained manager must personally manage the franchised business at all times. Franchisee and manager must attend and successfully complete initial training. At least 1 person on premises must be minimum age 21 and certified in CPR and first aid. |
| Required Suppliers | Franchisees must purchase a minimum of $2,500 of Grand Opening Inventory from an approved supplier. Certain additional services and products must be purchased from approved suppliers periodically. Currently, neither the franchisor nor affiliates are approved suppliers. |
| Supply Restrictions | Franchisees must purchase or lease equipment and supplies meeting franchisor specifications. Signs, logos, emblems, or pictorial materials using the Marks must meet specifications and require prior approval. Estimated 50-100% of required purchases for establishment and 50-75% of ongoing required purchases are subject to franchisor specifications. |
| Franchisor Revenue from Suppliers | In 2021, neither the franchisor nor affiliates received any revenues or other material benefits from franchisees' required purchases or leases. |
Financing (Item 10)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Financing Available | No |
| Description | We do not offer any direct or indirect financing. We do not guarantee your promissory notes, mortgages, leases, or other obligations. |
Young Chefs Academy Franchise Earnings — Item 19
Average Revenue
$215K
Median Revenue
$203K
Revenue Range
$101K – $372K
Sample Size
19 units
Past financial performance does not guarantee future results. Individual results will vary.
Young Chefs Academy Litigation & Risk Flags
Clean Litigation RecordYoung Chefs Academy has no pending litigation actions listed in their FDD. There is also no bankruptcy history disclosed.
Litigation and bankruptcy data is sourced from Items 3 and 4 of the FDD. Always verify current status directly from the most recent FDD.
Young Chefs Academy System Growth
Total Units
23
Franchised
22
Company-Owned
1
Young Chefs Academy currently operates 22 franchised locations and 1 company-owned units. Unit count data is sourced from Item 20 of the FDD.
Unit History (Item 20)
| Year | Opened | Closed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 | 1 | 24 |
| 2020 | 2 | 5 | 21 |
| 2021 | 4 | 2 | 23 |
Transfers: 1 | Closures: 2
State Registrations
Registered in 19 states: CA, CT, HI, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, NE, NY, ND, RI, SD, TX, UT, VA, WA, WI
Young Chefs Academy Franchise — FAQ
The total investment to open a Young Chefs Academy franchise ranges from $140,400 to $196,000, per their Franchise Disclosure Document. This includes the initial franchise fee of $45,000. The investment covers build-out, inventory, equipment, signage, working capital, and other startup costs.
Young Chefs Academy charges a royalty fee of 5% of Gross Sales with a minimum of $400 of gross sales, plus a 2% of previous month's Gross Sales with a minimum of $100 contribution to the marketing/advertising fund. These fees are paid on an ongoing basis.
You can download the Young Chefs Academy Franchise Disclosure Document free on this page. The FDD is a public document filed with state franchise registries. Always also request the current FDD directly from Young Chefs Academy to ensure you have the most up-to-date version.
According to the Item 19 financial performance representation in their FDD, Young Chefs Academy franchise owners report average revenue of $215K and median revenue of $203K. This is based on a sample of 19 units. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Young Chefs Academy has been franchising since 2014. The FDD shows an investment range of $140,400-$196,000, a 5% of Gross Sales with a minimum of $400 royalty, and includes an Item 19 earnings disclosure. There is no pending litigation. Review the full FDD and contact current franchisees listed in Item 20 before making any investment decision.
The franchise fee is $45,000 and the total investment ranges from $140,400 to $196,000 depending on location size and market. Contact the franchisor directly for current net worth and liquid capital requirements, territory availability, and application details.
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Data Source & Disclaimer: This website is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer to sell or buy a franchise. This profile is based on publicly available FDD data sourced from state franchise registry filings. All information is for research purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or investment advice. Data may be outdated or contain errors. Always obtain the current FDD directly from Young Chefs Academy and consult a qualified franchise attorney before making any investment decision. FranchiseOverview.com is operated by Franchising Compliance, LLC and is not affiliated with Young Chefs Academy or any of its subsidiaries. To report an inaccuracy: info@franchiseoverview.com