Young Chefs Academy

The vendor opportunity at Young Chefs Academy

Young Chefs Academy operates 27 franchised units and 2 company-owned locations, all under the Youth Franchise Brands, LLC holding company. The system posted a 12.5% year-over-year unit growth rate in its 2025 FDD, with an average unit volume of $278,699. The franchise is concentrated in Texas (9 units), Florida (7), Pennsylvania (6), Georgia (4), and Ohio (3). All 41 mapped operators are single-unit franchisees — there are zero multi-unit owners in the system.

For software vendors, the opportunity is narrow but focused. The franchisor mandates an operational software program system across all locations, creating a single point of procurement influence. With no multi-unit operators, every technology decision flows through the franchisor’s headquarters. The 6% royalty rate and 10-year initial term provide a stable, predictable revenue base for any vendor that secures a system-wide agreement.

Who controls software purchasing

Item 1 of the 2025 FDD names five executives. CEO Leigh Feldman and VP of Business Operations Alexia Stevens are the most relevant contacts for a software pitch. COO Jamie Skinner may also weigh in on operational tools. Franchise Business Coaches Elizabeth McKelvey and Chris McKelvey are less likely to hold purchasing authority but could influence adoption if a tool affects day-to-day unit operations.

Because the system has no multi-unit franchisees, there is no secondary buying center at the operator level. A vendor’s path to adoption runs entirely through the franchisor’s leadership team in Texas. The holding company structure — Youth Franchise Brands, LLC — may also centralize some vendor evaluation across sibling brands, though the FDD does not disclose shared procurement.

Mandated and current tech stack

The 2025 FDD mandates an “operational software program system” for all franchisees. No specific vendor name, POS brand, or software category is disclosed beyond that phrase. The filing does not list any recommended or optional technology systems. This lack of detail suggests either a proprietary system or a single-vendor arrangement that the franchisor does not publicly name in its disclosure document.

For vendors selling POS, scheduling, CRM, or inventory management tools, the mandate signal is clear: any system-wide software must be approved and likely mandated by the franchisor. The absence of a named vendor in the FDD may indicate an opportunity to displace an incumbent or fill an unaddressed need, but due diligence requires direct confirmation with HQ.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

Item 8 of the 2025 FDD does not extract a procurement model. Whether Young Chefs Academy uses designated suppliers, an approved-supplier program, or an open procurement policy is not disclosed in the filing. Vendors should assume a closed, franchisor-controlled process until they confirm otherwise.

Renewal terms, outlined in Item 17, run 5 years and require a $5,000 renewal fee, strict compliance with the Franchise Agreement, signing the then-current agreement, updating the location to current standards, a general release, and any required training. The 10-year initial term means most units are not approaching renewal soon, but the 12.5% unit growth rate suggests new locations are opening regularly. Each new unit represents a fresh technology deployment window, likely tied to the franchisor’s mandated system.

How to read the Young Chefs Academy FDD

The 2025 FDD is embedded below. For software vendors, the most actionable sections are Item 1 (executive team and buying center), Item 11 (mandated technology systems), Item 8 (procurement restrictions), and Item 17 (renewal conditions that may trigger technology updates). The document is filed with state franchise regulators and reflects disclosures current as of the 2025 filing year. Review Item 11 carefully — the mandated operational software program system is the single technology requirement disclosed, and any vendor seeking to sell into this system must understand how that mandate is enforced and who manages the vendor relationship.

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