You are passionate about children + art.

We know our type!

Bring Creativity to Life. Own a Small Hands Big Art Studio.

Inspire young minds, build a rewarding business, and be a force for creativity in your community.

Join a proven, profitable model in the booming children’s enrichment industry—no art degree required.

If you peeked through our windows on an ordinary day, you’d see—and hear—a joyful whirlwind of creativity. We’re a bright, bustling children’s art studio where laughter echoes, paint splatters, glitter floats, and gluey fingers are hard at work. You’d witness wide-eyed little artists exploring big ideas: learning patience, counting to ten, and daring to defy gravity.

There’s chatter about color and stories spun mid-brushstroke. Some kids are deep in focus, mastering new techniques or pushing through frustration. Others are happily experimenting—collaging, printmaking, painting, and yes, making a glorious mess. Friendships form here. Curiosity blooms. And our dedicated team—paint-speckled and pastel-smudged—cheers it all on.

But the magic you can’t see through the window is what we’re most proud of.

You can’t see a child’s confidence quietly blooming. Or the spark of creative self-discovery lighting up their imagination. You can’t hear their dreams getting louder, or feel the freedom they find the moment they step through our doors. And you can’t measure the joy they carry out with them when they leave.

Yes, we make art here—sometimes beautiful, sometimes messy, always meaningful. Teaching art to children is a lot like gardening. We get messy. We plant seeds. We pull weeds. We sweep up, turn out the lights, and come back the next day—eager to see what’s bloomed.

What makes us unique?

Each Child is Our #1 Priority

We believe a lot sets us apart, but at the heart of it all is our unwavering focus on each child’s individual experience. That personal connection has been the foundation of our success—and the reason families keep spreading the word.

If every child leaves our studio feeling proud, inspired, and joyful about what they created, then we’ve done our job.

As teachers and artists, we constantly challenge ourselves to dream up fresh, imaginative projects that “wow” both kids and parents. We believe in learning through creating—and we don’t do cookie-cutter crafts or trendy Pinterest knock-offs. What we offer isn’t meant for the kitchen table. It’s meant to spark wonder, build confidence, and open doors to creative self-expression.

Being different has always been our strength—and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

An Profitable Art Business With Multiple Revenue Streams

A Kids Entertainment Franchise to Fit Your Schedule and the Market Demands

WEEKLY CLASSES
WEEKLY CLASSES
Our bread & butter 6 week Mixed Media class sessions during the school year are geared towards kids age 18m - 15 yrs., split into age groups, and offered throughout the week. We even offer adult classes + workshops!
PARTIES
PARTIES
We sweep up more than beads & buttons around here -the weekends are for sweeping up cupcake crumbs! Our popular party time slots often book months in advance!
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS
When school is out, art is in! School holidays, teacher workdays, snow days and winter break are great opportunities to offer half day camps and special themed workshops!
SUMMER CAMPS
SUMMER CAMPS
Summer is our busiest time of year! The art-making is fast & furious. Kids leave the cool, comfort of the studio encrusted in paint, glue & glitter, then go home and jump in the pool!
OFFSITE PROGRAMS
OFFSITE PROGRAMS
If they can’t get to you, take the art to them! The flexibility to provide programs + events to local schools, community centers and organizations opens unlimited opportunities!
RETAIL MERCHANDISE
RETAIL MERCHANDISE
Save your customers a trip to the craft store! A curated retail section of your studio can be a huge convenience to parents or and artsy shoppers in your neighborhood!

Owning a Franchise

Small Hands Big Art has 16 years of experience running a successful, brick-and-mortar children’s art studio that has grown steadily and organically.

We’ve built a solid reputation and model around a children’s fine-art inspired curriculum infused with a modern and contemporary spin — and we’re excited to share it with you!

Our first independently owned & operated franchise location opened in Fort Mill, SC in December, 2018.  This is a photo of our Fort Mill studio owners, the Lumpkins.  We couldn’t be more proud of the way they’ve represented our brand!  After only one short but fabulous year under their belt, that buzz kill called “Covid” tried to rain on their parade!  But they were not having it!  They never missed a beat and navigated the pandemic years with steadfast determination, stamina, and a laser focused drive to succeed!  And they’ve never looked back!

Keep reading to see if our profile of a potential Small Hands Big Art studio owner reminds you of someone you know <ahem>.  It might sound like an online dating profile, but we know our type.  You probably do too. It may take us a while to find the perfect match, but when we do, it will be a relationship that will last!

If:

  • You love children
  • You’re not afraid of hard work (these paintbrushes don’t wash themselves! wink wink)
  • You’re equally creative and strategic-minded
  • You’re a creative entrepreneur with hustle and style  
  • You have strong business experience in management, marketing or sales
  • You’re passionate about visual arts and the benefits of arts education
  • Profitability and a strong bottom line are important to you, but you’re also motivated by the desire for a flexible career, spending time with your family, and living a life creative
  • You believe in the transformative power of art and want to make a difference in the lives of children
  • You have the courage to take risks and do what calls out to your heart and soul
  • You know and trust in your capabilities
  • You like to organize things in the color of the rainbow (we can relate)…

Let's Talk About a Business Plan!

About Us

Things We Are Proud Of

  • We’ve built a successful, sustainable, & scalable business model
  • We have a unique, strong brand identity with a wide social media reach
  • We’re positioned well in a wildly emerging & growing business segment
  • We’re committed to your success – we’re looking to slowly build solid, sustainable and collaborative partnerships.
  • We share our “secret sauce”! You get the keys to our vault of almost fifteen years of original, outside-the-box lesson plans, all at your fingertips in our company shared drive. Imagine an organized, searchable database of thousands of lessons with step-by-step instructions, one page lesson plans with links to reference photos & info, and instructional videos! And printable information for parents about each lesson!

Marketing, Training & Support

  • We offer a solid training program to help you succeed! If you have all other qualifications but are light on teaching experience yet strong on passion, we can help mold you!
  • Our marketing and brand support includes materials to help you shine in the print world and social media platforms

Soup to Nuts Operational Support

We provide support for all aspects of franchise operations, from site selection to marketing and advertising support. This includes:

  • Our continuously expanding vault of curated lesson plans, with detailed teacher how to’s, tips & tricks, and video demos.
  • Robust Point of Sale system & reporting software
  • Ongoing operational and marketing assistance & support
  • Comprehensive Operations Manual
  • Guidance regarding staffing, accounting, payroll
  • Your own stand-alone, location specific customized website (hello Google rankings!)
  • Guidance in site selection, branding, decor, supply management

Tap into your creative potential and make a difference in children's lives.

Notice Regarding Franchise Offers and Sales

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. There are approximately 15 states that regulate the offer and sale of franchises. The states are California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you are a resident of one of these states, are receiving this message in one of these states, or intend to operate a franchise in any of these states, we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with any applicable pre-sale registration and/or disclosure requirements in the applicable jurisdiction.