Young Rembrandts Franchise Review - A Low Cost Franchise Opportunity

Young Rembrandts got its start in 1988 when Bette Fetter, a mother of three, began teaching drawing skills to preschool aged children. Fetter made notice that friends were looking for art classes for their young children and finding that the classes did not exist in their area. Being a watercolor artist herself with a degree in studio art, Fetter felt that she was more than qualified to start an art program for youngsters. After a few years, she was able to advance the classes from preschool to age groups 3-5 years and then to 6-12 year olds. Her program was eventually taken into parks, day care centers, and after-school programs. Young Rembrandts began franchising is 1997 and by 2009 had 72 US based franchise units. They are currently seeking franchisees worldwide and exclusive territories are available. The typical territory consists of roughly 50 elementary schools and/or a population range of 400,000 to 600,000.

The franchise fee for a new Young Rembrandts franchise ranges from $28,500 to $31,500 depending on location. There is also an ongoing royalty fee of 8-10%. The total start up investment for a new franchisee is $39,900 to $49,600. The Young Rembrandts franchise does not allow for financing of the startup costs and they require a minimum cash liquidity requirement of $75,000. It is not required for a franchisee to have an artistic background or education, but it is imperative for an owner to have business skills including, but not limited to, marketing, sales, presentation, and management experience. In order to achieve success with Young Rembrandts or any other home based franchise, an owner must posses persistence and insight into interpersonal relations.

Young Rembrandts is a home based franchise and absentee ownership is not allowed. It is estimated that 2-20 employees are needed to run each unit. The parent company provides a five day introductory training course at its headquarters in Elgin, Illinois. They also provide marketing support and co-op advertising.

Careful consideration must be taken prior to embarking on a franchise opportunity. Being "plugged in" to a good system does not guarantee results and for most new franchisees, the start up costs represent a significant portion of savings, even though it may be considered a "low cost" franchise opportunity. The new franchisee is usually seeking flexibility of hours and some level of time freedom, but success in a new business such as this will require a tremendous amount of time and energy, especially over the first few years. I would encourage any prospective franchisee to investigate all business opportunities, including those online, before committing to a new franchise.

Greg Preite is a successful business owner and online marketing consultant and mentor. He is passionate about helping other achieve their dreams and goals. Read additional franchise reviews including many lower cost, home based franchise options.