Established
2011
Franchise Units
11
Minimum Investment
$50,000
Franchise Fee
$25,000
Total Investment Range
$95,000
Home Based
No
Description
Sticky Fingers Cooking is a purpose-driven children’s cooking and nutrition franchise designed to inspire young minds through hands-on culinary education. Built around the belief that children learn best by doing, the brand introduces kids to real cooking skills, global cuisines, healthy eating habits, and food science in a fun, interactive, and age-appropriate environment. Rather than operating from a traditional brick-and-mortar kitchen, Sticky Fingers Cooking follows a flexible, mobile and community-based model that allows franchisees to deliver classes directly in schools, community centers, camps, birthday parties, and private homes.
In today’s market, parents are actively seeking enrichment programs that go beyond screen time and traditional academics. Sticky Fingers Cooking meets this demand by combining education, creativity, and wellness into a single offering that resonates with modern families. The brand has positioned itself at the intersection of children’s education, experiential learning, and healthy lifestyle development, making it highly relevant in a post-pandemic world where flexible business models and meaningful experiences matter more than ever.
Background
Established Year: 2011
Sticky Fingers Cooking was founded in 2003 with a clear mission: to empower children with confidence, creativity, and healthy habits through cooking. What began as a small, passion-driven program quickly gained traction as parents and educators recognized the value of hands-on culinary education for kids.
Founders and Brand Journey:
The brand was created by educators and culinary enthusiasts who saw a gap in traditional education systems when it came to food literacy and life skills. Over the years, Sticky Fingers Cooking evolved from local classes into a structured franchise system, allowing entrepreneurs across the United States to bring the program to their own communities.
Franchise Active Units: 11
Ownership and Market Presence:
Sticky Fingers Cooking operates within the children’s educational enrichment and experiential learning industry. Its mobile and community-based model allows it to serve a wide range of markets without the limitations of fixed locations. The franchise appeals to families, schools, camps, and organizations seeking engaging, educational activities for children ages 3 to 18.
Industry Category:
Children’s Education Franchise
Kids Enrichment & After-School Programs
Cooking & Nutrition Education
Support Training
Sticky Fingers Cooking provides comprehensive support to ensure franchisees are confident and fully prepared from day one. The franchisor understands that many franchise owners may not come from a culinary or teaching background, which is why the system is designed to be simple, structured, and well-supported.
Pre-Launch Support:
Franchisees receive guidance on territory setup, local market planning, business licensing, and launch strategy. The corporate team assists with initial scheduling, partnerships, and community outreach to help generate early momentum.
Training Program:
Initial training includes in-depth instruction on curriculum delivery, class management, child engagement techniques, food safety, and brand standards. Franchisees also receive business training covering operations, scheduling, pricing, staffing, and customer experience management.
Operational Support:
Ongoing operational support includes access to proven lesson plans, recipes, supply lists, and class formats. Franchisees benefit from standardized systems that streamline planning and execution while allowing room for local customization.
Marketing & Branding Support:
Sticky Fingers Cooking provides professionally designed marketing materials, brand guidelines, and digital assets. Franchisees receive support with local marketing strategies, school partnerships, social media promotion, and community engagement to build strong brand visibility in their territory.
Ongoing Support:
Continuous training, updates to curriculum, coaching calls, and access to a franchisee support network ensure owners are never operating alone. The franchisor remains actively involved in helping franchisees grow, optimize operations, and expand revenue streams over time.
Ideal Candidate
Sticky Fingers Cooking is best suited for individuals who are passionate about working with children, education, wellness, and community engagement. While prior experience in cooking or teaching can be helpful, it is not required.
Ideal franchisees often include former educators, parents, nutrition advocates, stay-at-home parents re-entering the workforce, and entrepreneurs seeking a meaningful, flexible business. Strong organizational skills, enthusiasm, and the ability to build relationships with schools and families are key traits for success.
From an investment standpoint, franchisees should be comfortable managing a small team of instructors as the business grows and be willing to actively promote the program within their community. This franchise is particularly attractive to owner-operators but can also be scaled for semi-absentee ownership with the right management structure in place.
Territories are well suited for suburban areas, family-oriented neighborhoods, and communities with strong school systems and extracurricular activity demand.
Financial Detail
| Financial Category | Estimated Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Franchise Fee | $25,000 |
| Total Initial Investment | $50,000 – $95,000 |
| Minimum Investment Required | ~$50,000 |
| Initial Training & Setup | Included in franchise fee |
| Equipment & Supplies | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| Initial Marketing & Launch Budget | $3,000 – $7,000 |
| Working Capital (3–6 months) | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| Ongoing Royalty Fee | Percentage of gross revenue |
| Technology / System Fees | Nominal, varies by usage |
| Franchise Term | Standard multi-year agreement |
| Break-Even Timeline | 12 – 24 months |
| Expected ROI | Moderate to high (market & effort dependent) |
| Franchise Model | Single-unit, protected territory |
| Commercial Space Required | No |
| Staffing Requirement | Low to moderate |
