Challenge Island Franchise
The World's #1 STEAM Franchise designed to foster critical and creative thinking, problem solving skills, and core STEAM principles in children.
$40,000
$39,900
197
2012
Marietta,GA
Sharon Estroff
About Challenge Island
With over 150 franchises and a critically-acclaimed children's STEAM book series, Challenge Island is the World's #1 STEAM Franchise. Boasting dozens of Entrepreneur Magazine rankings and Parents Picks Awards, Challenge Island has enriched the lives of over 5 million children in over 10,000 schools and community organizations. An established, proven franchise system with a nurturing, family-like franchise culture, Challenge Island was founded and created by its CEO, Sharon Duke Estroff, an award-winning educator, internationally-syndicated parenting journalist and Random House parenting author. Challenge Island learning adventures are set on an archipelago of whimsical island settings like Super Star Island, Cool Careers Island, and Dazzling Decades Island. Wrapped in whimsical trimmings (colorful headbands, team spirit, and the beat of the Challenge Island drum), kids work collaboratively through Challenge Island’s signature STEAMbuilding® process to tackle challenges, using only a treasure chest full of low-tech supplies and their boundless imaginations. A sense of excitement and wonder fill the air as children enter new worlds of learning and adventure through Challenge Island field trips, classes, camps, scout workshops, family fun nights and STEAMbuilding® events. With the release of the first book in the Challenge Island book series on National STEAM Day 2021, kids will be able to experience the magic of Challenge Island programs and the magic of reading all at the same time!
Franchise Unit Trends
197
20
-
* in 2024
Franchise Fees
$39,900
Veteran's Fee: $44,910
7.0%
Gross Sales
2.0%
Gross Sales
Why Choose Challenge Island?
Challenge Island is a franchise opportunity like no other. We are a caring, creative and cohesive community of 100+ franchise owners who are changing the world one child at a time while building personally and financially rewarding home-based businesses and careers. Whether you are an educator looking for your next step, a corporate mom trying to find balance, or a seasoned professional seeking a new career path that will fulfill you personally as well as financially, Challenge Island is worth a visit.
Franchisee Benefits:
- World’s #1 STEAM Franchise with over 150 Franchise Units
- Large Protected Territory based on Zip Codes
- 100’s of Common Core and Next Generation Science Standard-Aligned Lesson Plans
- Works Well in Rural, Suburban and Urban Franchise Locations
- Project-Based Learning Curriculum Works for Every Age Student
- Award-winning, One-of-a-kind, Standard-Aligned Experience that is Enthusiastically Embraced by Public and Private Schools, School Districts, and Non-Profits
- Programs Can be Run Onsite or Virtually
- Year-Round Income Potential
- Extensive and On-Going Training with Continuous, Fresh Curriculum and Programming
- Owners Enjoy Partnerships Nationwide with Non-Profit Organizations Including the Girl Scouts and Boys and Girls Clubs
- Multiple Profit Centers include afterschool classes, in-school field trips, camps, scout workshops, birthday parties, virtual programs, corporate STEAMbuilding and Challenge Island Senior
- Unparalleled Support
Starting Costs & Investment Requirements
$47,600 - $62,450
$100,000
$40,000
Training & Support
Challenge Island corporate has more than 20 years of experience, giving franchisees the comfort that they can help to drive their business success. Our training takes place in Atlanta (or virtually, depending on circumstances) where you will meet with the corporate team and get to know us behind the scenes. During this training, you will get an opportunity to see and participate in Challenge Island workshops where you will witness the true magic of our program. You will learn the ins and outs of Challenge Island franchise ownership, from marketing your programs to orchestrating them to spreading your roots wide and far. You will learn how to share the Challenge Island story in a way that will make your community welcome you and your new business with open arms. Don’t worry, training doesn’t stop when you head home! Once you are part of this unique tribe, you will find support every step of the way from both our amazingly hands-on corporate staff and our wonderfully helpful Owners Tribe. Our franchise success hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Partner Organizations and Awards (partial list):
- Ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Fastest Growing Lists 2021, 2020, 2019
- Entrepreneur Top Home Based Franchises 2021, 2020
- 2021 Entrepreneur Top Franchises Under $50k
- Parents Picks Award 2021, 2018
- Girl Scouts and Boys and Girls Clubs
History
Sharon Duke Estroff M.A.T., founded and created the Challenge Island® business back in 2003. She is an award-winning elementary school teacher with two decades of experience. Sharon is a nationally recognized parenting and education expert and a freelance writer for numerous national publications including Scholastic Parent and Child, Parents, Woman’s Day and Good Housekeeping magazines. She started Challenge Island in her second-grade classroom and began running it as an enrichment program using the current model. She franchised the business in 2013, and it has been growing by leaps and bounds ever since. She is the author of the popular parenting book, “Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?”, published by Random House. She also co-authored the just released first book in the Challenge Island book series, “The Bridge to Sharktooth Island”, that turns the Challenge Island curriculum into an exciting and educational story. Sharon is a sought-after speaker who has presented to scores of communities nationwide about the trials and tribulations of raising kids in the digital age. She continues to innovate and run the Challenge Island business in Atlanta, Georgia where she lives with her husband and four children.
Ideal Candidate
Our Challenge Island owners come from a range of backgrounds with 50% being former educators and the other 50% coming from sales, marketing and other corporate careers. While there is no one-size-fits-all profile, our owners tend to share the following core characteristics:
- Visionary and passionate, aiming to make a difference AND an income.
- A love working with children coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit.
- Fun and outgoing personalities and strong communication skills.
- Team Players Who Enjoy Collaborating with our Owners' Tribe
- Creative Thinkers with Big Dreams and a Fundamental Growth Mindset
- Like Our Icon, the Palm Tree, Our Owners are Fundamentally Flexible, Resilient and Grounded in Their Purpose
- Full Time but can be run Semi-Absentee
- Someone looking for low controllable overhead costs
- Desires a home-based business
- Looking for scalability and multiple profit centers
- Still Can’t Believe That a Franchise Like Challenge Island Actually Exists!
Education Franchises
Franchises up to $50,000
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