Building a Sweeter Future: How Wiki-Licious Founder Amy Johnson Created a Home-Based Franchise Revolution
When Amy Johnson founded Wiki-Licious, she wasn’t just bringing Hawaii’s beloved malasadas to new corners of the country—she was building a business model that helps families create income from their own kitchens. Amy’s journey began during a challenging season in her life, juggling the demands of homeschooling four adopted children from Ukraine after a divorce.
Her first venture was selling shaved ice in Alaska, but constant rain led her to seek a warm alternative. Inspired by malasadas she discovered on trips to Hawaii, she began selling the donuts locally and quickly grew a loyal customer base. What started at home became a commercial kitchen, then a full-fledged donut shop—until Amy realized her original model was not only more manageable but also more impactful.
That realization led to the birth of Wiki-Licious as a franchise. Amy designed a system that allows franchisees to start small and scale up, using cottage food laws to operate from home or collaborate with local food businesses. With an emphasis on marketing, mindset, and simplicity, the brand now spans 17 states and supports 54 franchisees.
Amy’s mission is bigger than donuts. It’s about giving people—especially families—the tools to be self-sufficient, financially flexible, and fulfilled. Through a mix of strong branding, personal development roots, and a deep commitment to making business accessible, Wiki-Licious continues to transform lives one malasada at a time.
July 21, 2025
