For franchisees like Steve Kulawik, owning a Children’s Lighthouse isn’t just about running a business — it’s about building a life that prioritizes both purpose and personal freedom.
“You’re not open nights or weekends. Once you’ve got good managers in place, you can step back from the daily operations and focus on growing the business,” said Kulawik, a longtime Children’s Lighthouse franchisee in Texas. “We’re still actively involved, but now it’s more about guiding the vision and supporting the team than being on-site every day.”
Children’s Lighthouse is an early learning school franchise built with flexibility for owners at its core. For professionals seeking a high-impact, low-drama career shift — one that allows them to travel, spend time with family, and still generate strong returns — it’s an ideal match.
Children’s Lighthouse franchisees are encouraged to take on the role of owner and leader — not day-to-day operator.
“They do hire a director to run the day-to-day — this is more of a CEO role,” said Matt Kelton, Vice President of Development. “They are the ones opening and closing and dealing with the parents most of the time. The first year you might spend 20 hours a week managing the school, but after that it can be 10 hours or less. There are no nights or weekends — it gives you a lot of flexibility.”
That model has proven essential for owners who want to spend more time with family, scale into multi-unit ownership, or even spend extended time away from the business.
“We have a lot of franchisees who are able to leave for weeks at a time to visit family overseas,” Kelton said. “This is a business that allows you to do that.”
Kulawik’s journey to Children’s Lighthouse started after a career in the Army, public accounting, and law. It was his wife’s experience in childcare — and a mutual desire for a more meaningful, sustainable lifestyle — that led the couple to open their first school in 2007.
“[When we first opened], we were there every day,” Kulawik said. “But it was different from the stress of my legal career. It was our business, our impact.”
Today, the Kulawiks own multiple schools and have another territory reserved. With trusted leadership in place, their lifestyle is more flexible than ever.
“You can get to a point where you’re semi-retired,” he said. “With good management in place and training passed down through staff, it all starts to meld into this perfect setting. You’re overseeing your business, but you’re not there on a daily basis.”
Unlike other franchise categories that demand constant physical presence, long nights, or weekend shifts, Children’s Lighthouse offers a workweek that mirrors traditional school hours — without the burnout.
“When you add it all up, it really gives you more freedom than any other franchise that I’ve seen,” Kelton said. “That is clearly a major attraction for this business. Like any franchise, you have more control over your time and you are really your own boss, but this one gives you a lot more flexibility, even more so than the standard franchise.”
For Kulawik, that freedom is no longer theoretical — it’s a lived reality.
“This business is great. It’s almost like a best-kept secret,” he said. “We’re not open at night, not open on weekends. And during the week, we can handle things from anywhere. It’s a good feeling to have that freedom — to run a business, make a good living, and help your staff do the same.”
Even as the Kulawiks plan for future growth, they’re doing it on their own terms — and with peace of mind that the system will support them every step of the way.
“Once you get to having multiple schools, people can hire executive directors to run the day-to-day and that helps even more,” Kelton said. “You can step back and focus on growth — or just enjoy the life you’ve built.”
As for the challenges that come with business ownership, Kulawik’s philosophy is simple: “Give your problems the shortest lifespan possible. Whether it’s issuing a refund or having a tough conversation, just do the right thing, deal with it, and move on.”
With over 15 years in the system and a life built around family, fulfillment, and flexibility, Kulawik wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We’re already living the dream,” he said.
To learn more about franchising with Children’s Lighthouse, visit https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
Children's Lighthouse
SPONSORED
Children's Lighthouse offers a unique franchise opportunity with no nights or weekends, providing franchisees with total control over their business and personal lives.
For franchisees like Steve Kulawik, owning a Children’s Lighthouse isn’t just about running a business — it’s about building a life that prioritizes both purpose and personal freedom.
“You’re not open nights or weekends. Once you’ve got good managers in place, you can step back from the daily operations and focus on growing the business,” said Kulawik, a longtime Children’s Lighthouse franchisee in Texas. “We’re still actively involved, but now it’s more about guiding the vision and supporting the team than being on-site every day.”
Children’s Lighthouse is an early learning school franchise built with flexibility for owners at its core. For professionals seeking a high-impact, low-drama career shift — one that allows them to travel, spend time with family, and still generate strong returns — it’s an ideal match.
Children’s Lighthouse franchisees are encouraged to take on the role of owner and leader — not day-to-day operator.
“They do hire a director to run the day-to-day — this is more of a CEO role,” said Matt Kelton, Vice President of Development. “They are the ones opening and closing and dealing with the parents most of the time. The first year you might spend 20 hours a week managing the school, but after that it can be 10 hours or less. There are no nights or weekends — it gives you a lot of flexibility.”
That model has proven essential for owners who want to spend more time with family, scale into multi-unit ownership, or even spend extended time away from the business.
“We have a lot of franchisees who are able to leave for weeks at a time to visit family overseas,” Kelton said. “This is a business that allows you to do that.”
Kulawik’s journey to Children’s Lighthouse started after a career in the Army, public accounting, and law. It was his wife’s experience in childcare — and a mutual desire for a more meaningful, sustainable lifestyle — that led the couple to open their first school in 2007.
“[When we first opened], we were there every day,” Kulawik said. “But it was different from the stress of my legal career. It was our business, our impact.”
Today, the Kulawiks own multiple schools and have another territory reserved. With trusted leadership in place, their lifestyle is more flexible than ever.
“You can get to a point where you’re semi-retired,” he said. “With good management in place and training passed down through staff, it all starts to meld into this perfect setting. You’re overseeing your business, but you’re not there on a daily basis.”
Unlike other franchise categories that demand constant physical presence, long nights, or weekend shifts, Children’s Lighthouse offers a workweek that mirrors traditional school hours — without the burnout.
“When you add it all up, it really gives you more freedom than any other franchise that I’ve seen,” Kelton said. “That is clearly a major attraction for this business. Like any franchise, you have more control over your time and you are really your own boss, but this one gives you a lot more flexibility, even more so than the standard franchise.”
For Kulawik, that freedom is no longer theoretical — it’s a lived reality.
“This business is great. It’s almost like a best-kept secret,” he said. “We’re not open at night, not open on weekends. And during the week, we can handle things from anywhere. It’s a good feeling to have that freedom — to run a business, make a good living, and help your staff do the same.”
Even as the Kulawiks plan for future growth, they’re doing it on their own terms — and with peace of mind that the system will support them every step of the way.
“Once you get to having multiple schools, people can hire executive directors to run the day-to-day and that helps even more,” Kelton said. “You can step back and focus on growth — or just enjoy the life you’ve built.”
As for the challenges that come with business ownership, Kulawik’s philosophy is simple: “Give your problems the shortest lifespan possible. Whether it’s issuing a refund or having a tough conversation, just do the right thing, deal with it, and move on.”
With over 15 years in the system and a life built around family, fulfillment, and flexibility, Kulawik wouldn’t have it any other way.
“We’re already living the dream,” he said.
To learn more about franchising with Children’s Lighthouse, visit https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
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