Solomon and Stephanie Ko spent over a year thinking about Sticky Fingers Cooking® ever since they attended a franchise expo in Los Angeles in 2024. One edit to 2024 instead of 2023. They had jobs, businesses, a toddler, a baby on the way, and other family caregiving responsibilities so they questioned the timing.

“Now is the time for us to do it,” says Stephanie. “I’m ready to leave the 9 to 5 and a new adventure really excites me! This business is about kids and that’s my focus.”

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Taking a Chance on an Education Franchise Business

What Solomon and Stephanie have in common is family members who sought out businesses for children. Stephanie’s mom had four kids and dreams of opening her own daycare some day; Solomon majored in business in college and then took over his mom’s children’s black-tie apparel store. Yes, like party dresses and tuxedos for the very junior set! 

From there, their professional paths each have had a lot of diversity. Stephanie worked in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, including for gossip show TMZ and sports broadcasting, before her most recent role in background investigations for reality TV shows. 

Solomon never developed a passion for the children’s clothing business, so he sold that and then began investing in commercial and residential property. Just as he was figuring out his next steps, his father had an accident and Solomon became his primary caregiver. “My Dad was one of my mentors and my best friend,” he says. 

Throughout the changes (including moving to Brea), Stephanie and Solomon found joy in their growing family and say that it made sense to them to follow this passion. 

“Orange County has people that love to invest in their kids and see them grow in different types of enrichment programs,” says Stephanie. 

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What’s Cooking in Orange County?

Solomon immigrated to the United States from South Korea when he was a child. He recalls being embarrassed by his grandma’s traditional Korean lunches that he had to take to his new American school. “Kimchi stinks, but now it’s so hip!” he says with a laugh. “I’m so proud and happy that people are acknowledging Korean food. Sticky Fingers Cooking helps to introduce kids to different ethnic foods that they might not be accustomed to.”

Stephanie grew up on Mexican food with a mom who loved cooking so much that she would make something different for each of her four kids in one meal! 

“I want to carry on her legacy of loving cooking and children,” she says. 

With this combined appreciation for global cuisine and background in business, the Ko’s are ready to cook up a successful business in OC North. 

“Stephanie has never run a business, but this is something that we can do together,” explains Solomon. “We went the franchise route because everything is set up for us and the structure is in place for us to follow.” He added that starting up a business from scratch felt “less stable.”

For Stephanie, the appeal was in a woman-founded company and finding more work-life balance. “I’m quitting the 9 to 5 to work 24-7,” she joked. “I don’t want to be needed at a desk Monday through Friday. This has been proven to be successful already.”

Sticky Fingers Cooking® CEO and founder, Erin Fletter, is impressed with this dynamic couple’s business savvy. “What makes franchising  incredible is how it brings people of such varying backgrounds and experience to find success for themselves together,” she says. “We are so thrilled to work with them. Stephanie and Solomon are the total package: experience in business, thoughtful about what lights them up, and the grit for what it takes to be a success. They will fit right into our growing and specTACOular Franchise Owner Team network! ”

Maybe you’ve dreamed of being your own boss, but don’t have an original idea or prefer the structure of a franchise system? Reach out today to speak with us so we can see if you’re a good fit for the Sticky Fingers Cooking® franchise opportunity.