Paul Kim went from a traditional career in banking to doing something he truly loves–and he recommends others also find their passion in work.

“My previous careers in real estate, banking, and finance were ‘cube life’,” he says to describe working in an office cubicle. “It was never that fulfilling, but now I’m seeing the joy in these kids when I am at work.”

Paul is the franchise owner of Sticky Fingers Cooking serving North Dallas, Texas. He opened his business in mid-2024 and between 2025 to 2026 he says that he grew his revenue 100% year-over-year. “I just had my most successful summer,” he says of the cooking class summer camps that he ran. 

“It has been an honor to watch Paul grow as a business owner since he first joined Sticky Fingers Cooking,” says Erin Fletter, founder and CEO of Sticky Fingers Cooking. “His joy for our purpose is a delight and I know he will continue to experience success in Dallas as he serves more and more kids with cooking classes!”

Sticky Fingers Cooking is about innovation–one of the company’s core values–and Paul’s enthusiasm for adopting what’s new and possible makes him stand out. The company rolled out the Silver Spatulas Program in 2026 to offer cooking classes to elders in assisted and independent living facilities. 

Erin adds: “We so appreciate how he has embraced the new Silver Spatulas Program this year! He is passionate about teaching people of all ages how to cook!”

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The Appeal of An Education Franchise Opportunity

In his previous job, Paul was commuting up to 40 minutes each way to work. Today, he wakes up and walks his dogs, grabs a cup of coffee and settles into the day at his own pace. 

“I probably put in twenty to thirty hours per week,” he says, adding that he is currently training a new Director of Chef Operations to help with the workload. 

With someone else in charge of scheduling and other day-to-day details, Paul can put his energy into what makes him happiest: teaching a few of the after-school enrichment cooking classes in local schools and continuing to expand with outreach efforts. 

Paul recently secured more classes in another school district so that Sticky Fingers Cooking is now available in 40 area North Dallas schools. He is also taking advantage of the new Silver Spatulas program where his instructors can teach cooking classes to elders in assisted living facilities. 

“This seems like it could be a good opportunity as well,” Paul comments. “It’s providing real value to those seniors, even if they’ve cooked a lot or have not done much cooking.”

As his offerings grow, so does his team: he started with six chef instructors and now has 20 part-time employees. 

In fact, Paul is looking at the numbers and considering an expansion to add another territory of Sticky Fingers Cooking in the Dallas area too. 

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Serving Up Value and Cooking Lessons

Paul thrives on finding meaning in his work and over the summer he was happy to offer cooking classes to kids through a local non-profit. “We lowered the price and reached a lot of children and they had a wonderful time,” he says. “It all feels very meaningful.”

Now in his 50s, Paul has reflected on who he is and therefore what he brings to his work as a franchisee. “As I get older and exercise more and realize my diet is much more important, I like doing something I believe in and love!”

He adds: “Being able to spread this message to children through my own love of cooking brings true joy and it’s a lot of fun.”

If you’re ready to become a franchise owner in your community like Paul has done, reach out today to start the conversation!