Central Creativity is building a franchise opportunity for educators, community leaders and mission-driven entrepreneurs who want to make a meaningful impact in K-12 education while building a scalable local business.
The brand, founded in 2017, provides hands-on STEM enrichment programs, classroom-ready “TO GO” kits, field trips, camps, professional development and custom education solutions for schools and community partners. Under CEO, Dr. Clint Coleman, Central Creativity is now expanding through franchising with a clear focus: to bring high-quality, hands-on learning to more students through locally connected owners who understand their communities' needs.
“We’re an education workforce solutions provider,” Coleman said. “What we really focus on is helping not only educators, but also our industry partners, corporate partners and nonprofit partners understand how to support what they may already be doing in their communities and then help them scale that to a level that reaches even further beyond that.”
Where the Business Comes From: Schools and Districts
Unlike education concepts built primarily around one-on-one tutoring or birthday parties, Central Creativity’s model is designed to serve schools, districts and community organizations at scale. Franchisees build business through multiple channels, including school-site field trips, Classroom TO GO kits, after-school programs, camps, STEM nights, professional development and custom partnerships.
“Our model focuses on school districts and schools,” Coleman said. “When a school partners with us, we’re serving an entire building, not one family at a time. And once a school knows you, that relationship tends to keep going.”
That structure gives franchisees the opportunity to build relationships that can produce repeat, larger-scale programming. For example, Central Creativity franchisees in Kentucky run in school field trip experiences, where the full program is delivered on campus for an entire grade level or building.
The model is also designed to meet schools where they are financially. Coleman said franchisees have seen schools and after school providers draw on a range of sources, including local operating budgets, PTA funds, grants and federal formula funds. Because Central Creativity enhances existing curriculum rather than replacing it, programming often aligns with enrichment, STEM, literacy support, workforce exploration and professional development priorities schools have already set. Allowability decisions rest with each district.
“We don’t replace what schools are already doing,” Coleman said. “Instead we enhance it.”
A Business Built Around Flexibility
Central Creativity’s estimated initial investment ranges from $135,000 to $247,500, including a $30,000 franchise fee, equipment, marketing and working capital. The model is intentionally designed to be accessible compared to many franchise opportunities, while still requiring a serious full-time commitment.
Franchisees can begin with a mobile model, grow into a brick-and-mortar or hybrid approach, and eventually pursue multi-unit or area developer opportunities. The brand is currently focused on finding career educators who are interested in single mobile locations but excited about long-term growth.
That flexibility has already been proven in Louisville, Kentucky, where Chris and Kerry Wahl became Central Creativity’s first franchisees after operating as contractors for four years.
“What we’re doing here in Louisville looks a lot different than what they’re doing in Laurel,” Kerry said. “We’re doing new, different things here than they’re doing in Laurel, and I love that we have the flexibility to change things. The thing about Central Creativity is you’re getting the quality instruction and materials — that’s the hamburger. But it’s flexible enough to fit the needs of every community and address gaps that may be here, while different gaps may be in another community.”
Who Is the Ideal Central Creativity Franchisee?
The ideal franchisee is someone who wants to make Central Creativity their full-time job, build meaningful relationships in the community and grow a business around education impact.
“It is a unique opportunity,” Coleman said. “It’s not a passive investment. You have to be connected to the community.”
The brand’s ideal candidate is often a career educator who understands the K-12 environment and sees the gaps between what students need and what a school day allows, but is not burned out on students. While many candidates come directly from education, the brand also looks for community leaders from outside the classroom whose local relationships and service background translate to the same work. Central Creativity is looking for people who still believe in education, still want to see children succeed and want a new way to create change.
“Teachers aren’t burned out on kids,” Coleman said. “They're burned out on everything that keeps them from teaching. They want to teach. They want to be meaningful.”
The Right Candidate Is Mission-Driven and Community-Minded
The ideal Central Creativity franchisee should have strong ties to their local community and a desire to become a trusted partner for schools, nonprofits and local organizations. Coleman believes that local ownership is essential because education needs vary by community.
“That’s what the franchise model brings,” Coleman said. “It creates connectivity to the community you’re trying to serve. No matter how many planes I get on or how many trips I take, I’ll never have the same connection to what’s happening in a specific community as someone who lives there.”
Chris and Kerry embody that profile. Kerry spent nearly 20 years as a public school teacher, while Chris spent 24 years as a professional firefighter. Both saw Central Creativity as a way to serve their community in a new way.
“I’m a lifelong learner, and I’m from a family of helpers and community workers — firemen, cops, nurses,” Chris said. “Kerry’s a teacher, so we’re naturally community-driven.”
Kerry said the need was obvious from her classroom experience. “We felt those opportunities were missing here in the classrooms where we were teaching, hands-on science specifically,” she said.
The Right Candidate Is Proactive, Process-Oriented and Accountable
Central Creativity franchisees must be self-starters. The brand provides the structure, programs and support, but franchisees are responsible for executing the model, building relationships and driving growth in their market.
“We don’t assume franchise owners come in with all the answers,” Coleman said. “Our job is to give them the tools, structure and support they need so they can focus on building relationships and serving their communities.”
Strong candidates are proactive, but they also understand the value of following a proven process. They do not want to reinvent the model; they want to execute it well. They are accountable, coachable and willing to do the work required to build trust with schools and partners.
Chris said future franchisees should understand that owning the business requires real effort. “Buy a hat rack that holds many hats because you’re going to be wearing several,” he said. “You have to work very hard. Just because it’s somebody else’s idea that you’re adopting does not mean you don’t have to put in the hard work.”
The Right Candidate Is People-Driven and Team-Oriented
Central Creativity is a relationship business. Franchisees are not simply selling kits or programs; they are building partnerships with schools and helping teachers deliver meaningful learning experiences.
“We don’t look at schools as customers,” Chris said. “We look at them as partners.”
That means the ideal franchisee should enjoy working with people, building teams and serving as a local brand ambassador. They should be comfortable hiring, training and leading staff who can deliver the Central Creativity experience in schools and community settings.
Kerry said one of the most important lessons for future owners is simple: “Get a good team. Hire good people.”
The Right Candidate Believes in Quality and Impact
Central Creativity is built around more than hands-on science activities. The brand’s goal is to help students connect classroom learning to real-world skills, future careers and new possibilities.
“We’re not interested in doing science just for the sake of doing science,” Coleman said. “Everything we build is meant to help students think differently, ask better questions and see how learning connects to the world around them.”
That mission is what drew the Wahls in. “Central Creativity is not just a franchise,” Chris said. “It’s a mission to bring quality educational programs to kids that aren’t receiving them. We really believe in the mission and the franchise, and being able to provide a living for us and our family at the same time — it’s a win. You can’t be what you can’t see. When students get exposure to real careers through hands-on learning, it changes how they think about their future. That’s where education and workforce development really meet.”
A Full-Time Opportunity for Educators Who Still Want to Make a Difference
Central Creativity’s best candidates are hardworking, responsible, trustworthy, respectful and passionate about helping students succeed. They understand the gaps in traditional education. They know teachers need support. They believe learning should be exciting, accessible and equitable. And they are ready to build a business that reflects the needs of their local community.
“We take the pain away,” Coleman said. “Essentially, we get to be the fun aunt or the fun uncle coming into the schools and bringing that excitement and engagement to the students. If you want to run a business and be a positive impact on where you live, then Central Creativity is the franchise you should be investigating.”
To learn more about the costs required to buy this franchise, visit: https://1851franchise.com/central-creativity/info.