Young Rembrandts Franchise

Bette Fetter began the Young Rembrandts business in 1988 and developed its original concept, format and operating methods. Young Rembrandts, Inc. was incorporated in Illinois in 1994 and delivered the same type of art instruction in Illinois and Wisconsin through September 2009. The separate franchisor, Young Rembrandts Franchise, Inc., was incorporated in December 1997 and began actively offering and selling franchises in 2001. The brand is headquartered in Elgin, Illinois.

Its core offering remains drawing instruction for preschool and elementary-school children. Owners and their teaching staff deliver the lessons in school and community classrooms or through live Zoom sessions. The franchisor supplies weekly lesson plans with instructions and drawings, plus separate camp curricula for programs outside the regular school calendar. This structure allows local owners to organize instruction without developing an independent curriculum or leasing a dedicated studio.

The March 25, 2026 FDD reports 46 U.S. franchised units and one affiliate-owned unit at December 31, 2025. The 46 franchised units were owned by 41 franchisees; 45 were Gold franchises and one was Silver. Item 1 separately reports four franchised units in Canada at year-end 2025, a master franchise in Taiwan and a unit franchise in India. Elizabeth Wahl became President, Secretary and Director in December 2025 after serving as Vice President since December 2019.

The standard Gold franchise covers a territory containing at least 75 public and private elementary schools. Its disclosed initial investment is $51,650–$60,100, including a $44,500 initial franchise fee. The Silver option, offered only in limited qualifying areas, contains at least 40 elementary schools and has a $46,650–$55,100 investment range with a $39,500 initial fee. These are distinct territory formats; territorial rights also carry performance requirements and reserved-channel exceptions.

Preparation and initial training. New owners complete pre-training materials before attending the program at the home office in Elgin, Illinois. Item 11 describes five days of initial training and lists 23.5 classroom hours covering the brand’s philosophy, sales and marketing, staffing, curriculum and sample classes, business management, technology and summer programming. Training must begin within 90 days of signing, and owners must complete it to the franchisor’s satisfaction. The agreement permits a different designated training location and describes the initial program as up to five days.

Follow-up instruction and attendance costs. The disclosed post-training schedule adds 13 hours of conference calls on summer programming, technology, marketing, curriculum and operations, alongside a prescribed agenda of recorded webinars, calls and operating documents. Initial and post-training instruction are included for the owner. A second person can attend initial training without an additional training fee if attendance occurs within two years of signing. Additional attendees, or a second attendee outside that period, are subject to availability and an additional training fee, currently $3,000 per person with a disclosed maximum of $4,000. Owners pay travel, living and employee-attendance expenses; tuition inclusion does not cover those costs.

Getting the business ready. The franchisor assists with identifying the territory, provides purchasing specifications and approved-supplier lists, lends operating manuals and supplies initial advertising copy and layouts for local customization. Owners purchase the required computer system, art supplies, insurance and Marketing Starter Kit themselves. No office or studio lease is required. Required computer proficiency must be arranged before training, and owners handle instructor recruitment, employee background checks and applicable requirements for teaching in schools, preschools and daycare settings.

Curriculum and operating support. After opening, the franchisor provides proprietary weekly lesson plans for 48 weeks each year and periodic camp lesson plans. There is no additional lesson-plan fee, although owners pay approved printing costs. Owners must follow the supplied curriculum. Continuing assistance includes manual updates, reporting forms, advisory services upon written request and access to staff for consultation on operating problems. Active Network supplies the designated class-registration and data-management system, covering enrollment, scheduling, instructors, students and reporting; its ongoing support includes email, chat and an online learning center. The disclosed subscription is currently $110 per month, with separate payment-processing charges.

Continuing development and owner responsibilities. Supplemental training may be offered at headquarters, another designated location or by webinar. Required attendance outside the territory is limited to one such program a year; owners pay attendance-related expenses. An annual conference is discretionary for the franchisor, but attendance is required if one is held, including the required manager for a multi-territory business. The conference fee is estimated at $600–$800 per person for 2026, capped at $1,200, and is payable even if an attendee fails to attend; travel and living costs are additional. The business operates year-round on a full-time basis under the direct supervision of the owner or a trained full-time manager. Local enrollment, venue relationships and staffing remain the owner’s responsibilities.

Young Rembrandts combines an established drawing curriculum with a business built through local education and community relationships. Owners can bring classes to existing classrooms instead of investing in a dedicated studio, while supplied weekly and camp lessons provide the teaching framework. School-year programs and camps create different ways to organize instruction across the calendar, supported by training in both curriculum delivery and business administration.

The opportunity suits an involved owner who enjoys building relationships with schools and families, recruiting instructors and organizing an enrichment service. The owner can teach with the team while also managing enrollment, scheduling and promotion. For someone drawn to children’s art education, the distinctive proposition is the combination of a long-running brand, centrally supplied teaching materials and a locally operated service business with no required studio lease.

Explore the business in Young Rembrandts Franchise: Art Classes, Training and Owner Role.