1851

Ryan Baker was working in the oil and gas industry when he serendipitously stumbled upon&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/lyricoslearning/info">IDEA Lab Kids</a> by attending his goddaughter's birthday party in Houston, Texas. Immediately, he was captivated by the concept and the way it offered kids an opportunity to explore the STEM subjects he is passionate about and feels are so important to a child’s future. Two days later, he reached out to the brand to inquire about franchise opportunities. Now, he looks forward to opening two locations in Alberta, Canada: one in St. Albert and one in southwest Edmonton.1851 Franchise spoke with Baker about his journey into franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://franchise.idealabkids.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=geologist-becomes-idea-labs-kids-franchisee-after-attending-goddaughters-birthday-at-the-houston-location-2724346" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">IDEA Lab Kids</a> and his plans for the future.&nbsp;PROFILE QUESTIONS1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Baker:&nbsp;??I originally graduated from university with a Bachelor of Science in geology and spent over a decade working in the Canadian oil and gas industry, so I am a professional geologist.&nbsp;Given my degree, I started working in very scientific roles, but as time went on, the roles I had became more business and corporate-focused, and I started to feel the entrepreneurial spirit tug at my brain. Eventually, it just became too loud to ignore.After previously relocating to Calgary for my career, my wife and I have more recently moved back to Edmonton; this is where we both grew up. We wanted to be closer to our family while raising our kids, and I started thinking about going into business for myself. I don't have the next million dollar idea, nor did I want to commit that type of capital or time and effort into building something completely from scratch, so franchising seemed like a natural stepping stone into entrepreneurship for me.&nbsp;One day, I happened to be visiting my family in the Houston area and attended a birthday party&nbsp; for our goddaughter at IDEA Lab Kids. I had never heard of the brand before, but I was immediately captivated by what they had to offer. When I saw that they do franchise locations, I reached out, only two days after I was introduced to the concept. I've never seen anything like this in Canada before.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Baker:&nbsp;My initial perception of franchising was basically sandwich shops and fast food. I thought it only included businesses that have a very carbon copy template that try to grow as quickly as they can.&nbsp;As I really started looking into it, and even attended a few franchise expos, I realized that there are so many creative outlets in terms of franchising that I was not aware of. You're representing that company, but you also have a lot of creative flexibility with certain franchises. You are paying for the brand that has been developed already, so you're saving a lot of time, a lot of effort and a lot of money.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Baker:&nbsp;I've worked for both a small startup company and a large corporation before. IDEA Lab Kids is a smaller company that’s focused on growing, and I love that it doesn’t feel like a huge corporation.&nbsp;With now being a parent of two younger children, they are actually entering the age window to be going through the programs that are offered by IDEA Lab Kids, and it’s something I’d love for my own kids to experience. I have the opportunity to have so much fun while still running a business because I’ll be working with kids; kids are so genuine, curious and innocent. They just want to learn and have fun. I have the opportunity to provide kids with an outlet to be learning all these skills that are so important going forward, and I am getting the chance to make a positive impact on my community.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Baker:&nbsp;My near-term plan for IDEA Lab Kids is to get the center in St. Albert off the ground. I plan on trying to find strategic partnerships with other child care providers in the city and also be present in the community at functions so I can encourage parents and children to be thinking about STEM.&nbsp;I feel so passionate about the fact that science and STEM topics are so important in the world and are going to be in high demand. I just want to share that wealth of knowledge to the world.IDEA Lab Kids is completely new here, so I want to focus on building brand awareness. I also look forward to opening my second center in Edmonton and ideally pursuing a third location in the Edmonton area, as well.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Baker:&nbsp;I'm a big advocate for mental health. In this post-pandemic era, I think a lot of people faced some challenging times from a mental health perspective, and I would definitely say that I was one of those people. However, being able to find support and taking advantage of that can really help.&nbsp;Managing and getting through those times of hardship can lead to new periods of enlightenment where you're more confident to take on an entrepreneurial venture or do something that you feel benefits your family and yourself.&nbsp;I have the perspective that you're never stuck, and in periods when you may feel stuck, you can always take action to support yourself.&nbsp;Looking at where my career trajectory was with my career in the energy industry a couple of years ago, I was very happy with it. I really loved my job. It was not an easy decision to exit that role and take on a venture for myself. However, I feel so proud of myself for doing so, and I feel empowered by jumping in the deep end and taking the chance.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Baker:&nbsp;I'm a super detail oriented person, and I like to do my homework; that's probably the science geek in me. I need to know the facts. I would say, to anyone that's considering a franchise business, just do your homework. If you’re prepared and the franchisor knows you well, it's ultimately going to be mutually beneficial. You know what you're going to get into with the franchise, and they know who they are dealing with.ABOUT IDEA LAB® KIDS:IDEA Lab® Kids was founded as a way for kids to explore their love of science, technology, engineering, art, and math subjects. The award-winning Houston-based education franchise system offers after-school classes, camps, birthday parties, open labs, and much more to children. The brand has positioned itself to be a leader in the growing STEAM education space with franchises in the U.S., Canada, and internationally.&nbsp; IDEA Lab Kids franchises are only offered or sold in states where they are registered or compliant with applicable franchise laws.

Geologist Becomes IDEA Labs Kids Franchisee after Attending Goddaughter’s Birthday at the Houston Location

1851 Franchise

While Ryan Baker enjoyed his career in the energy industry, creating a space for kids to learn and have fun was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

geologist-becomes-idea-labs-kids-franchisee-after-attending-goddaughters-birthday-at-the-houston-location

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

Filta Franchise - David Hoover Franchisee Feature - 1851 Franchise

From Stadiums to Sustainability: How David Hoover Is Scaling Impact With Filta

filta-franchise-david-hoover-scaling-impact

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Be a Community Hero: How TruBlue Franchisees Are Changing Lives Beyond Business

be-a-community-hero-how-trublue-franchisees-are-changing-lives-beyond-business

Caring Transitions

Caring Transitions Wraps Up Record-Breaking Q3 With National TV Launches, Platform Growth and Key Leadership Promotion

caring-transitions-wraps-up-record-breaking-q3-with-national-tv-launches-platform-growth-and-key-leadership-promotion

SweatHouz

SweatHouz SWTHZ Franchise - Hunter and Mallory Mitchem - Franchisee Feature - 1851 Franchise

From Aerospace to Wellness: Hunter Mitchem’s Journey to a SweatHouz Empire

sweathouz-franchise-hunter-mitchem-6g

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Onigilly - Low Operating Costs Drive High Returns for Franchisees - 1851 Franchise

Maximize Your ROI: How Onigilly’s Low Operating Costs Drive High Returns for Franchisees

onigilly-franchise-fast-casual-franchise-opportunity

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

Senior Entrepreneurship - Franchising - 1851 Franchise

Senior Entrepreneurship Is Rising — And Franchising Is a Key Outlet

senior-entrepreneurship-franchising-silver-startups

U.S. Government Shutdown - Impact on Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Government Shutdown Stalls SBA Loans: How the Shutdown Could Impact Franchises

government-shutdown-impacts-sba-loans-tourism-franchises

Subway Franchisees Resist Expensive Remodel Directives

subway-franchisees-resist-expensive-remodel-directives

The American Franchise Act: What It Means for Franchisors and Franchisees - 1851 Franchise

The American Franchise Act: What It Means for Franchisors and Franchisees

american-franchise-act-joint-employer-standard

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Barb Volk and KidStrong logo

Why This Orangetheory Fitness Franchise Owner Is Developing KidStrong Franchises

kidstrong-franchise-owner-barb-volk-2025

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Mike Rippey and Sola Salons logo

How This Former Franchisor Is Using His Industry Experience To Help Beauty Pros Thrive With Sola Salons Franchise

mike-rippey-sola-salons-franchisee

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

Image of Mindy and Chad Beale for right at home from cambden south carolina

Chad and Mindy Beale Channel Their Passion for Senior Care and Veteran Advocacy Into Their Right at Home Franchise in Camden, South Carolina

right-at-home-camden-sc-chad-mindy-beale

Top Education Franchises To Consider for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Education Franchises To Consider Investing In for 2025

top-education-franchises-investment-opportunities

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025

early-childhood-education-child-care-franchises

Top Arts and Creative Learning Franchises for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Arts and Creative Learning Franchises for 2025

top-arts-creative-learning-franchises

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Geologist Becomes IDEA Labs Kids Franchisee after Attending Goddaughter’s Birthday at the Houston Location

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS