Becoming part of the Children’s Lighthouse family is much more than just investing in a successful business model. As a family-owned concept, the 70-plus-unit early learning franchise continues to embrace its roots; each franchisee is made to feel like a valued business partner, complete with all of the connections and support they need to succeed. “We have a well-structured process that takes potential franchisees from initial interest to the grand opening of their school,” said Matt Kelton, Vice President of Franchise Development.
While maintaining its core values of integrity, honesty, and passion and providing robust support, the early learning franchise has developed a detailed system to guide franchisees through each step along the way.
“From the moment any franchisee signs their franchise agreement, the support is very hands-on with pre-opening project and marketing support, curriculum training and implementation, and ongoing operations training,” said Colin Berry, Vice President of Brand Development. “During the development phase of the project, we have bi-weekly calls with every franchisee to help ensure they are hitting every milestone along the way.”
Once the franchise agreement is signed, the entire team remains available to franchisees and support remains steadfast during all phases of the life of the business.
“Getting the project off the ground and getting the school open requires the focused attention of everyone involved, but our support continues every day thereafter,” said Shelly Pair, Vice President of Operations. “And everyone the franchisee interacted with during the discovery process remains available as a resource every step of the way.”
Within the first two weeks after signing the franchise agreement, the Children’s Lighthouse team launches the onboarding and support process, starting with a discussion that revolves around real estate options for sites. Either before the initial meeting occurs, or as a part of the meeting, the franchisee and Children’s Lighthouse will agree on the assigned, protected search area (PSA) the franchisee will have. While the PSA is in place, no other Children’s Lighthouse franchisee will be approved to search for a site within the same PSA.
A biweekly call schedule will be set up to help keep the project on track and to provide a space to ask any questions or address any hiccups that arise during the development process. These calls start with onboarding and continue until the school opens. They cover a wide range of topics such as site selection, lending options, site approval, competitive analysis, architectural guidance, permitting, construction processes, pro forma analysis, marketing strategies, guidance on establishing tuition rates, and enrollment.
“We keep this biweekly schedule to ensure we stay connected and are available to support owners throughout the whole process,” Berry said. “This is not a scenario where someone signs their franchise agreement and we send them off on their own to figure it out.”
“We have a project management team that assists franchisees with the entire process,” Kelton said. “There are around 1,500 steps in the process. A lot goes into building these schools, and we continue to work to make the process even more efficient. We are constantly learning and evolving so that we can offer our franchisees the full support needed to keep their projects moving along.”
Children’s Lighthouse’s ongoing training is comprehensive. In addition to the knowledge franchisees gain during the biweekly development calls, they will learn about the licensing and operational aspects of running the business while attending training in person at the Children’s Lighthouse Franchise Support Center.
“The time spent at our Franchise Support Center in Fort Worth is a pivotal part of this journey, setting the foundation for success,” Pair said. “During our owner training, franchisees are introduced to vendors, discuss marketing strategies, and review operational procedures. We cover topics such as becoming familiar with the childcare industry, guidance on regulatory compliance, and budgeting. We provide a high-level overview of everything to complete 90 days before opening. This time together also serves to strengthen our relationships with those who attend so that they see that we truly are here to help them succeed.”
As opening nears, Children’s Lighthouse supports the franchisee in building their leadership team. While Children’s Lighthouse cannot make hiring or firing decisions, the team provides step-by-step guidance and feedback throughout the process.
Roughly 120 days before opening, franchisees begin the recruiting process to build the perfect leadership team. According to Pair, the franchise support team is deeply involved in this stage, ensuring that new owners have the guidance they need to make informed hiring decisions.
“We’re with them every step of the way, and we make ourselves available to provide the guidance they need while drawing from the decades of early childhood education and care experience we have that they may not have, which we share freely,” Pair said.
Once a director is selected, they attend the Lighthouse Leadership Academy, an intensive 40-hour training program held at the Franchise Support Center in Fort Worth.
“It’s a rigorous program that fully equips directors with the skills and knowledge to run the school not just efficiently and successfully, but also as a ‘Children’s Lighthouse’ early learning school,” Pair said.
As the opening day approaches, franchisees will receive guidance to ensure all rooms are properly set up and stocked to meet licensing requirements and Children’s Lighthouse brand standards. On-site support will be provided to review all details, ensuring the curriculum, classrooms, and staff readiness are in order.
“We strongly believe it’s important to provide in-person support at this point in the process,” Pair said. “We want our franchisees and their teams to feel comfortable, excited, and supported.”
Once the school is open, each franchisee is assigned a specific franchise business coach (FBC) who provides ongoing, day-to-day support that is specific to the needs of the school. FBCs visit their assigned schools on a regular basis and are always available through all forms of distance communications to answer questions, troubleshoot problems, or just serve as a sounding board.
Schools also have access to field marketing support. “Our continued support is very personalized. We believe in a very localized approach as no two schools are the same,” Berry said. “Childcare is a unique business and one of the most competitive local businesses out there, so our support strategies, including coaching and marketing, are all tailored to the unique needs of each location.”
"The real strength of our brand lies in the tight, personalized support we offer," Pair said. “Our FBCs manage a carefully selected number of schools, ensuring they can provide in-depth attention and support. So, if a franchisee needs anything beyond the scheduled check-ins, we’re ready to jump in. Whether it’s additional site visits, extra video calls, or more phone time — we’ll do whatever it takes to help them reach their full potential.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
Children's Lighthouse
SPONSORED
You’ve signed your franchise agreement; here’s what’s next. Children’s Lighthouse supports you from day one with construction guidance and mentorship, knowing franchisee success fuels brand success.
Becoming part of the Children’s Lighthouse family is much more than just investing in a successful business model. As a family-owned concept, the 70-plus-unit early learning franchise continues to embrace its roots; each franchisee is made to feel like a valued business partner, complete with all of the connections and support they need to succeed. “We have a well-structured process that takes potential franchisees from initial interest to the grand opening of their school,” said Matt Kelton, Vice President of Franchise Development.
While maintaining its core values of integrity, honesty, and passion and providing robust support, the early learning franchise has developed a detailed system to guide franchisees through each step along the way.
“From the moment any franchisee signs their franchise agreement, the support is very hands-on with pre-opening project and marketing support, curriculum training and implementation, and ongoing operations training,” said Colin Berry, Vice President of Brand Development. “During the development phase of the project, we have bi-weekly calls with every franchisee to help ensure they are hitting every milestone along the way.”
Once the franchise agreement is signed, the entire team remains available to franchisees and support remains steadfast during all phases of the life of the business.
“Getting the project off the ground and getting the school open requires the focused attention of everyone involved, but our support continues every day thereafter,” said Shelly Pair, Vice President of Operations. “And everyone the franchisee interacted with during the discovery process remains available as a resource every step of the way.”
Within the first two weeks after signing the franchise agreement, the Children’s Lighthouse team launches the onboarding and support process, starting with a discussion that revolves around real estate options for sites. Either before the initial meeting occurs, or as a part of the meeting, the franchisee and Children’s Lighthouse will agree on the assigned, protected search area (PSA) the franchisee will have. While the PSA is in place, no other Children’s Lighthouse franchisee will be approved to search for a site within the same PSA.
A biweekly call schedule will be set up to help keep the project on track and to provide a space to ask any questions or address any hiccups that arise during the development process. These calls start with onboarding and continue until the school opens. They cover a wide range of topics such as site selection, lending options, site approval, competitive analysis, architectural guidance, permitting, construction processes, pro forma analysis, marketing strategies, guidance on establishing tuition rates, and enrollment.
“We keep this biweekly schedule to ensure we stay connected and are available to support owners throughout the whole process,” Berry said. “This is not a scenario where someone signs their franchise agreement and we send them off on their own to figure it out.”
“We have a project management team that assists franchisees with the entire process,” Kelton said. “There are around 1,500 steps in the process. A lot goes into building these schools, and we continue to work to make the process even more efficient. We are constantly learning and evolving so that we can offer our franchisees the full support needed to keep their projects moving along.”
Children’s Lighthouse’s ongoing training is comprehensive. In addition to the knowledge franchisees gain during the biweekly development calls, they will learn about the licensing and operational aspects of running the business while attending training in person at the Children’s Lighthouse Franchise Support Center.
“The time spent at our Franchise Support Center in Fort Worth is a pivotal part of this journey, setting the foundation for success,” Pair said. “During our owner training, franchisees are introduced to vendors, discuss marketing strategies, and review operational procedures. We cover topics such as becoming familiar with the childcare industry, guidance on regulatory compliance, and budgeting. We provide a high-level overview of everything to complete 90 days before opening. This time together also serves to strengthen our relationships with those who attend so that they see that we truly are here to help them succeed.”
As opening nears, Children’s Lighthouse supports the franchisee in building their leadership team. While Children’s Lighthouse cannot make hiring or firing decisions, the team provides step-by-step guidance and feedback throughout the process.
Roughly 120 days before opening, franchisees begin the recruiting process to build the perfect leadership team. According to Pair, the franchise support team is deeply involved in this stage, ensuring that new owners have the guidance they need to make informed hiring decisions.
“We’re with them every step of the way, and we make ourselves available to provide the guidance they need while drawing from the decades of early childhood education and care experience we have that they may not have, which we share freely,” Pair said.
Once a director is selected, they attend the Lighthouse Leadership Academy, an intensive 40-hour training program held at the Franchise Support Center in Fort Worth.
“It’s a rigorous program that fully equips directors with the skills and knowledge to run the school not just efficiently and successfully, but also as a ‘Children’s Lighthouse’ early learning school,” Pair said.
As the opening day approaches, franchisees will receive guidance to ensure all rooms are properly set up and stocked to meet licensing requirements and Children’s Lighthouse brand standards. On-site support will be provided to review all details, ensuring the curriculum, classrooms, and staff readiness are in order.
“We strongly believe it’s important to provide in-person support at this point in the process,” Pair said. “We want our franchisees and their teams to feel comfortable, excited, and supported.”
Once the school is open, each franchisee is assigned a specific franchise business coach (FBC) who provides ongoing, day-to-day support that is specific to the needs of the school. FBCs visit their assigned schools on a regular basis and are always available through all forms of distance communications to answer questions, troubleshoot problems, or just serve as a sounding board.
Schools also have access to field marketing support. “Our continued support is very personalized. We believe in a very localized approach as no two schools are the same,” Berry said. “Childcare is a unique business and one of the most competitive local businesses out there, so our support strategies, including coaching and marketing, are all tailored to the unique needs of each location.”
"The real strength of our brand lies in the tight, personalized support we offer," Pair said. “Our FBCs manage a carefully selected number of schools, ensuring they can provide in-depth attention and support. So, if a franchisee needs anything beyond the scheduled check-ins, we’re ready to jump in. Whether it’s additional site visits, extra video calls, or more phone time — we’ll do whatever it takes to help them reach their full potential.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
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