Children's Lighthouse

Investing in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.childrenslighthousefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-lease-program-lowers-the-cost-of-entry-into-becoming-a-childrens-lighthouse-franchisee-2728540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Children’s Lighthouse franchise</a> is an exciting opportunity to build a business that makes a meaningful impact on families and communities. However, the traditional path to ownership — buying land and constructing a school — has historically required a multi-million dollar investment. To make franchising more accessible,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse/info">Children’s Lighthouse</a> introduced the Lease Program, a game-changing option that significantly lowers the upfront cost of opening a new location.“Historically, owning a Children’s Lighthouse meant a total investment of over $7 million, with franchisees needing to inject at least $1 million to $1.2 million in cash,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kelton?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-lease-program-lowers-the-cost-of-entry-into-becoming-a-childrens-lighthouse-franchisee-2728540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Kelton</a>, vice president of franchise development at Children’s Lighthouse. “While that investment structure allows franchisees to build long-term equity through real estate ownership, it also created a high barrier to entry.”The Lease Program removes this significant financial obstacle. Instead of franchisees purchasing land and constructing a school, a third-party investment group — working with&nbsp;<a href="https://woodmont.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-lease-program-lowers-the-cost-of-entry-into-becoming-a-childrens-lighthouse-franchisee-2728540" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">the Woodmont Company</a> — buys the land and builds the facility according to Children’s Lighthouse specifications. The franchisee is then responsible for the interior build-out and playgrounds, reducing the required investment to approximately $1.4 million.“This option makes opening a school one-third of the cost compared to traditional ownership,” Kelton said. “It’s a big shift that allows more entrepreneurs, especially younger franchisees or those looking to scale faster, to enter the system.”<h2>Scaling Faster With the Lease Program</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse/why-this-franchisee-continues-to-invest-in-childrens-lighthouse-2726922">franchisees who want to own multiple locations</a>, the lease model offers a significant advantage.“With a traditional investment, if you have $6 million to spend, you’re looking at opening one school. With the Lease Program, you could open three for that same amount,” Kelton said. “Rather than tying up their capital in real estate, franchisees can use their funds to expand and operate more locations.”This structure enables franchisees to grow faster and serve more families, helping them scale their businesses more efficiently while maintaining operational flexibility.<h2>An Option To Buy Later</h2>Although the Lease Program allows franchisees to start with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse/how-to-get-financed-to-open-a-childrens-lighthouse-franchise-2728462#featured">a lower financial commitment</a>, it doesn’t prevent them from eventually owning their school.“There is a first right of purchase built into the agreement,” Kelton said. “The investment group doesn’t want to be a long-term landlord — they’re looking to sell eventually. That means franchisees who start with a lease can later buy the building and land if they choose.”This flexibility provides an excellent long-term investment strategy, allowing franchisees to enter the system with lower costs and later build equity when they are financially ready.<h2>Lower Costs and Added Support in the First Year</h2>Another benefit of the Lease Program is the reduced financial burden in the first 12 months.“When you’re developing a new project, unexpected costs can come up, and you’re the one writing that check,” Kelton said. “With this model, you put $75,000 down when you buy the franchise, and your financial commitment is minimal until the school opens.”Additionally, franchisees only pay half the lease cost for the first year, further easing early-stage expenses.“This structure allows franchisees to focus on building enrollment and ensuring strong operations before taking on the full financial load,” Kelton said.<h2>Meeting Market Demand With a Flexible Model</h2>Children’s Lighthouse has seen&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse/why-now-is-the-perfect-time-to-join-childrens-lighthouse-franchise-2727038">tremendous demand</a> for its educational childcare services, and the Lease Program plays a key role in helping the brand expand into more communities faster.“We saw half of our franchise sales last year come through the lease model,” Kelton said. “Many of our competitors have grown through similar programs. This gives us a powerful way to lower the cost barrier, get more franchisees into the system and ultimately help more children and families.”<h2>A Win-Win Opportunity</h2>By lowering the initial investment, offering a scalable path for multi-unit growth and providing an option to purchase later, the Lease Program represents a win-win for franchisees and Children’s Lighthouse at large.“There’s huge demand for high-quality early childhood education,” Kelton said. “If we can make it more affordable for franchisees to get started and help them scale up faster, that’s a win for everyone.”For more information about Children’s Lighthouse franchise opportunities, visit:&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse">https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse</a>. &nbsp;

Children's Lighthouse Lease Program: Lowering the Cost of Entry into Franchising

1851 Franchise

The Lease Program lowers initial investment, supports scalable multi-unit growth and offers a purchase option, benefiting franchisees and Children's Lighthouse as a whole.

This brand page has been paid for by CHILDREN'S LIGHTHOUSE. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

How the Lease Program Lowers the Cost of Entry Into Becoming a Children’s Lighthouse Franchisee

how-the-lease-program-lowers-the-cost-of-entry-into-becoming-a-childrens-lighthouse-franchisee

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Own a Children's Lighthouse

How Children's Lighthouse Compares to the Competition

Scaling to Multiple Schools

Franchisee Highlight

Financing a Children's Lighthouse

Learn

Visit Website

CHILDREN'S LIGHTHOUSE

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

YouTube

SOCIAL MEDIA

Why Now Is the Time To Invest in a Children's Lighthouse Franchise

Hospitality to Quality Child Care: Why Alexis Legg is Expanding Her Children's Lighthouse Footprint

How These Parents Conquered the Challenge of Finding Quality Childcare: A Children’s Lighthouse Webinar Recap

CHILDREN'S LIGHTHOUSE MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT CHILDREN'S LIGHTHOUSE

CONTACT CHILDREN'S LIGHTHOUSE

facebook

instagram

linkedin

youtube

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

City

State / Province

Do you meet liquid asset requirement of 400K?

Tell us why Children's Lighthouse

Why Children’s Lighthouse Is a Great Opportunity for Swim School Franchisees

why-childrens-lighthouse-is-a-great-opportunity-for-swim-school-franchisees

Why Children’s Lighthouse Is the Perfect Fit for Hospitality Professionals

why-childrens-lighthouse-is-the-perfect-fit-for-hospitality-professionals

why-now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-a-childrens-lighthouse-franchise

Why Children’s Lighthouse Is a Great Multi-Unit Franchise Opportunity

why-childrens-lighthouse-is-a-great-multi-unit-franchise-opportunity

Children’s Lighthouse Closes the Third Quarter with Record Franchise Signings and New School Opening

childrenslighthouse-q3-2025-growth

Children’s Lighthouse Climbs the Franchise Times Top 400 List Once Again

childrens-lighthouse-climbs-the-franchise-times-top-400-list-once-again

Why This Mother of Six Chose To Open Her Own Early Learning School Franchise With Children’s Lighthouse

why-this-mother-of-six-chose-to-open-her-own-early-learning-school-franchise-with-childrens-lighthouse

How Children’s Lighthouse Stands Out Among Other Children’s Education, Childcare, and Daycare Franchises

how-childrens-lighthouse-stands-out-among-other-childrens-education-childcare-and-daycare-franchises

How the Lease Program Lowers the Cost of Entry Into Becoming a Children’s Lighthouse Franchisee

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS