The Real Food Academy

The Real Food Academy is a community-focused culinary center founded by Arthur and Maria Cummins, dedicated to improving health through hands-on education in cooking with real, unprocessed ingredients, guided by the principles of functional medicine.

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The Real Food Academy
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The Real Food Academy Franchise Cost and Requirements for 2024

Background

The Real Food Academy is located at the intersection of culinary arts and functional medicine.

Arthur and Maria Cummins, the husband-and-wife team, founded The Real Food Academy in 2008; Chef Maria, with her extensive culinary experience, and Arthur, a strategic thinker from the corporate world. They have very different backgrounds, but they share a profound commitment to nutrition and wellness that unites them. They established a community-centric hub for culinary education, emphasizing the power of unprocessed, real food ingredients. Maria's culinary finesse and Arthur's strategic prowess form the cornerstone of their mission to educate, inspire, and transform eating habits, nurturing a healthier community through the joy of cooking.

The Real Food Academy is a community-focused culinary center dedicated to improving health and culinary skills through education and hands-on experiences. Guided by the principles of functional medicine, the Academy teaches smarter, health-conscious food choices regardless of dietary preferences. Whether catering to meat lovers or devoted vegans, we offer personalized guidance to help individuals make the most beneficial decisions for their health.

The heart of our mission is to educate people of all ages-from young children to adults-on the merits of real, unprocessed foods through a variety of engaging programs. These include cooking classes, after-school programs, culinary camps for kids, and parties and team-building events for adults. Each program is designed not only to impart essential cooking skills but also to deepen understanding of nutritional values, fostering a lasting appreciation for real food.

Competitive Advantages

  1. Wide Variety of Clientele: TRFA appeals to a diverse audience, including adults, kids, families, health enthusiasts, young professionals, and seniors, ensuring a broad market base. This diversity allows franchisees to cater to various customer needs and preferences, increasing sales, cross-selling, and customer loyalty.
  2. On-Trend, Focusing on Health and Wellness: TRFA taps into the growing consumer demand for healthier living choices and eating smarter, aligning its offerings with the wellness movement that is gaining momentum worldwide. This positioning attracts health-conscious consumers and gives franchisees an edge in a competitive market where wellness is increasingly valued.
  3. Good for the Community: TRFA fosters a warm, inclusive environment that encourages community engagement and healthy living, making it a local favorite. This atmosphere helps build strong customer relationships and enhances the reputation of TRFA as a positive community force, driving repeat business and word-of-mouth referrals.
  4. Founders Heavily Involved in the Franchise: TRFA's founders' direct involvement in the development of each franchisee ensures that all operations align with the brand's core values and high standards. This hands-on approach gives franchisees confidence in the support they receive and the integrity of the business model.
  5. Extensive Training: TRFA offers comprehensive training programs that cover recipes, culinary skills, nutrition education, business management, customer service, and marketing strategies. This training ensures that franchisees are well-equipped to operate their franchises effectively, leading to smoother operations and higher success rates.
  6. Multiple Revenue Streams: TRFA offers numerous revenue opportunities by providing a variety of cooking classes for both kids and adults, private events of all kinds, and cooking camps for kids. This diversity in income sources allows franchisees to maximize profitability and maintain financial stability.
  7. B2C and B2B Opportunities: TRFA caters not only to individual consumers but also to businesses through team-building cooking events and corporate wellness programs. This dual-market approach broadens the potential customer base and provides franchisees with additional lucrative revenue channels.

Company Details

Established: 2008
First Unit Franchised: 2023
Franchised Units: 0
Company Owned Units: 1
States Registered In: Alabama - AL, Arizona - AZ, Arkansas - AR, Colorado - CO, Delaware - DE, Idaho - ID, Iowa - IA, Kansas - KS, Massachusetts - MA, Mississippi - MS, Missouri - MO, Montana - MT, Nevada - NV, New Hampshire - NH, New Jersey - NJ, New Mexico - NM, Ohio - OH, Oklahoma - OK, Oregon - OR, Pennsylvania - PA, Tennessee - TN, Vermont - VT, West Virginia - WV, Wyoming - WY
Canada Franchises: No
International Franchises: No

Support and Training Offered By The Real Food Academy

Financial Assistance Provided: No
Site Selection Assistance: Yes
Specify: Franchisor will provide recommendations and assistance in site seleciton
Lease Negotiation Assistance: Yes
Specify: Franchisor will provide recommendations on lease negotiation
Recruiting Assistance: Yes
Specify: Franchisor will provide recommendations for recruiting
Cooperative Advertising: No
Training:
Franchisees will receive 55+ hours of initial training through The Real Food Academy's training program, varying from in-person and virtual training avenues.

Introduction to The Real Food Academy - Online and Remote
Understanding The Real Food Academy and its services - Online and Remote
Job Description and Roles - Online and Remote
Our Philosophy - Online and Remote
Advertising - Miami, Florida
Scripts - Online, Remote, and at Miami location
Recipes- Online, Remote, and at Miami location
Conducting Classes, Camps, Parties- Online, Remote, and at Miami location
Customer Service - Online and Remote
Phone Skills - Online and Remote
Website/Calendar Management - Online and Remote
Marketing and Sales - Online and Remote

2024 Franchise Requirements Needed to Own a The Real Food Academy Franchise.

What does a The Real Food Academy Franchise Cost?

The Real Food Academy franchise fees for 2024:

Cash Investment: $150,000
Total Investment: $332,100 - $511,950
Minimum Net Worth: $400,000
Single Unit Franchise Fee: $49,500
Franchise Fee for each addtion unit: 2 Units: $91,500, 3 Units: $129,500, 4 Units: $165,500, 5 Units: $199,500, 6 Units: $231,500, 7 Units: $261,500, 8 Units: $291,500, 9 Units: $321,500, 10 Units: $351,500
Royalty: 8%
Ad: 1-2%
Average Number of Employees at Start/at Maturity: Minimum of 3-8 FTE
Item 19: Yes
Visa Candidates: No
Passive Ownership: No
Semi-Passive Ownership: Yes
Specify: There is potential for a semi-absentee model upon the development of an open location.

Work "on" the business not "in" the business

Manage the Manager

Measure and Track KPIs
Home-Based: No
B2B: No
Master Franchise Opportunities: No
Veteran Discount: Yes($5,000 off initial territory franchise fee)

Is The Real Food Academy a Semi Absentee Franchise with a Passive Ownership Opportunity?

No. The Real Food Academy is not a semi absentee franchise. The owner of the franchise (the franchisee) is expected to be involved in all aspects of day-to-day operations.

Is The Real Food Academy a Home Based franchise?

No. The Real Food Academy is not a home based franchise opportunity.

What Do The Real Food Academy Franchise Owners Make?

Click here to find out how much The Real Food Academy franchisees make. The Real Food Academy offers an Item 19 in their Franchise Disclosure Document which provides financial information about select franchisees in their franchise system.

Is The Real Food Academy a Master Franchise Opportunity?

No. The Real Food Academy is not a master franchise opportunity.

Does The Real Food Academy Offer a Veteran Discount?

Yes. The Real Food Academy franchise does offer a veteran discount.

Does The Real Food Academy Work with E2 Visa and EB-5 Visa Candidates?

No. The Real Food Academy franchise does not work with E2 Visa and EB-5 Visa candidates.

Is The Real Food Academy Looking for Franchisees in Canada?

No. The Real Food Academy franchise is not looking for Canada franchisees.

Is The Real Food Academy Looking for International franchisees?

No. The Real Food Academy franchise is not looking for International franchisees.

Where can I see The Real Food Academy's FDD (Franchise Disclosure Document)?

Buying a Franchise Guide: What is a Franchise Disclosure Document?

When evaluating a franchise opportunity, reading and understanding the current version of their FDD is a necessity. Considering the benefits of franchising, such as established brand recognition and support from the franchisor, it's important to also take into account franchise fees and franchising royalty fees. Since most franchisors are privately owned companies, the current versions of their FDDs are typically not available unless requested directly from them.

Click here to connect with a Franchise Consultant who can help you obtain a copy quickly and for free. They can also guide you through the essential franchise questions to ask, ensuring you make a well-informed decision about your investment.

Additional Information

Additional Categories

Education, Recently Added Franchises, Health, Beauty & Nutrition, Food & Restaurants, Non Food Franchises

Number of Units Open

LESS THAN 20 UNITS

Cash Required

$100,000 - $250,000

Master Franchise

No

Passive Franchise

No

Home Based Franchise

No

Item 19 Franchise

Yes

Veteran Discount

No

B2B

No

Franchise Opportunities in Canada

No

International Franchise Opportunities

No

E2 Visa Franchise

No

The Real Food Academy Franchises for Sale

Click Here to inquire about existing The Real Food Academy franchises for sale. We may have The Real Food Academy franchise resales. A franchise resale is an already established franchise owned by a franchisee and the franchisee is looking to sell their franchise.

The International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG) is an internationally recognized membership-based franchise organization. IFPG Franchise Consultants guide aspiring business owners through the process of identifying and investing in franchise businesses. The IFPG represents more than 550 franchises. We do not represent all franchises listed here. By clicking on "Request a Consultation," you are agreeing to be contacted by one of our Certified Franchise Consultants to discuss franchise ownership.

About our rankings: The IFPG uses its internal data collected from our membership portal to identify which franchises had the most activity in the past week. This ranking system is not based on franchise sales, franchisee success rates or number of units open. Our ranking system should not be used to make a decision on which franchise to buy it was solely created for internal purposes and for our IFPG Members.