Founded in 2004 by Chet and Lisa Gunhus in Minnesota, Youth Enrichment League (YEL!) was created with a clear mission: to deliver high-quality enrichment classes that inspire and educate children. Headquartered in Hopkins, Minnesota, the organization began franchising in 2019, opening up opportunities for entrepreneurs to bring its proven programs to schools and communities across the country.

YEL! offers a wide array of after-school and summer enrichment programs focused on both intellectual and physical development. These include subjects such as chess, engineering, coding, fencing, sewing, woodworking, basketball, soccer, track and field, magic, and music, among others.

What makes YEL! stand out is its robust curriculum and streamlined delivery system. Franchisees gain access to hundreds of hours of structured curriculum material, as well as a proprietary system that simplifies logistics for instructors and partner schools.

Training

Youth Enrichment League ({YEL!}) provides extensive training programs for its franchisees to ensure quality and consistency in service delivery. The training offered by the franchisor includes the following:

1. Initial Training Program: Franchisees and their managers must complete an 8-day training covering {YEL!} Way, Sales and Marketing, Operations, Finance, and Teacher Subjects. The training includes 44.5 hours of classroom instruction and 32 hours of on-the-job training, conducted in Minnesota. This must be completed within 60 days of signing the agreement and prior to starting operations.
2. Supplementary Manager Training: Any newly hired manager must attend the Initial Training Program within 30 days of employment. Franchisees are responsible for the training costs if additional sessions are needed.
3. Ongoing Training and Support: {YEL!} offers optional additional training on mutually agreed topics. These can be held at locations designated by the franchisor or provided electronically.

Territory Protection

Youth Enrichment League ({YEL!}) provides its franchisees with a defined "Designated Territory" as outlined in their Franchise Agreement. Within this territory, and as long as the franchisee remains in compliance, the franchisor agrees not to establish or license another {YEL!} business providing in-person after-school programming under the {YEL!} name.

However, the franchisor retains the right to conduct certain business activities both inside and outside the Designated Territory under different branding or through other distribution methods.

Importantly, {YEL!} does not offer exclusive territorial rights. Franchisees may face competition from other franchisees, franchisor-owned outlets, or third parties operating through channels like online classes, catalog sales, or telemarketing.