UJ and Sohini Patel, a husband-and-wife team in Knoxville, recently invested in a Children’s Lighthouse franchise after seeing both a need in their community and an opportunity to build something their own children could one day be part of.
“I am a pharmacist, and I didn’t have anything to do with childcare originally,” Sohini said. “But being in pharmacy, I’m always managing people, whether it’s employees or patients. I also grew up in the hotel business because my parents owned hotels, so being involved in operations and running a business was nothing new to me.”
What ultimately convinced her to pursue early childhood education was something much more personal. “What really drove me to pull the trigger was the children aspect of it,” she said. “We both have children, and I wanted to do something better for the future generations coming up. That drive really led me to finding Children’s Lighthouse. Their mission really aligns with us as a family, and this is the path I wanted to go down.”
The Patels first learned about Children’s Lighthouse through a family member in Nashville who had been researching educational franchise opportunities.
“We met with the Children’s Lighthouse schools and got to learn about the curriculum,” Sohini said. “That is really what drew me in. It was unbelievable and unmatched, unlike anything I had ever come across. It emphasizes a values-based curriculum and creates a nurturing environment that focuses on the emotional side, the intellectual side, and everything in between. It’s an all-encompassing curriculum, and you could see how engaged the students were. The entire curriculum tied together.”
UJ agreed that while the economics of childcare can be attractive, the educational philosophy was what ultimately separated Children’s Lighthouse from other opportunities. “The financial aspect will be there for any childcare business,” he said. “But for us, the curriculum really aligned well. We felt like Children’s Lighthouse was doing something special.”
The couple also found confidence in the level of support they received from the franchise team throughout the discovery process.
“They provide a lot of support,” UJ said. “They are there when you need them, while other franchises might leave you out on your own. With Children’s Lighthouse, they are always just a phone call away. Everyone on the team was never hesitant to answer all of our questions. They understand what it takes to be a business owner, but they also understand family life.”
Beyond the brand itself, the Patels saw a significant opportunity to serve families in their hometown. “In Knoxville, there is a grave need for childcare centers,” Sohini said. “We’ve known this for a long time because we’ve experienced it ourselves as parents. I wanted to make sure I picked the right franchise to bring into the community. Children’s Lighthouse has such a proven system in place, and they keep improving no matter what. They are always looking for ways to get better.”
The Patels are currently working toward opening their first Children’s Lighthouse location in Knoxville and are already laying the groundwork for future growth. “Hopefully we’ll be opening sometime next year,” UJ said. “Right now, we want to focus on this first school and build a well-seasoned team around it.”
According to Matt Kelton, Vice President of Franchise Development for Children’s Lighthouse, the Patels possess many of the qualities the brand looks for in successful franchisees.
“Sohini and UJ are exactly the kind of people we’re thrilled to have in the Children’s Lighthouse family,” Kelton said. “They’ve got the business chops, for sure, but what really shines through is how much they truly care about kids and their community. It wasn’t just about the bottom line for them; they fell in love with our mission and curriculum first. We’ve seen that when you lead with that kind of heart and back it up with solid experience, great things happen. We have no doubt they’re going to build a fantastic school and eventually expand to even more locations.”
As they move closer to opening day, the Patels have simple advice for prospective franchisees considering Children’s Lighthouse: “If you’re thinking about it, trust your gut,” Sohini said. “What they show you is really honest, and it’s truly what they deliver. Children’s Lighthouse is a really amazing place. You can walk into their office and immediately feel the family environment.”
That combination of family values, educational excellence, and growth potential is exactly why the Patels chose Children’s Lighthouse and why they already see expansion in their future.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
Children's Lighthouse
SPONSORED
While neither Sohini nor UJ Patel came directly from the childcare industry, they were drawn to a mission that closely aligned with their values as parents and business owners.
UJ and Sohini Patel, a husband-and-wife team in Knoxville, recently invested in a Children’s Lighthouse franchise after seeing both a need in their community and an opportunity to build something their own children could one day be part of.
“I am a pharmacist, and I didn’t have anything to do with childcare originally,” Sohini said. “But being in pharmacy, I’m always managing people, whether it’s employees or patients. I also grew up in the hotel business because my parents owned hotels, so being involved in operations and running a business was nothing new to me.”
What ultimately convinced her to pursue early childhood education was something much more personal. “What really drove me to pull the trigger was the children aspect of it,” she said. “We both have children, and I wanted to do something better for the future generations coming up. That drive really led me to finding Children’s Lighthouse. Their mission really aligns with us as a family, and this is the path I wanted to go down.”
The Patels first learned about Children’s Lighthouse through a family member in Nashville who had been researching educational franchise opportunities.
“We met with the Children’s Lighthouse schools and got to learn about the curriculum,” Sohini said. “That is really what drew me in. It was unbelievable and unmatched, unlike anything I had ever come across. It emphasizes a values-based curriculum and creates a nurturing environment that focuses on the emotional side, the intellectual side, and everything in between. It’s an all-encompassing curriculum, and you could see how engaged the students were. The entire curriculum tied together.”
UJ agreed that while the economics of childcare can be attractive, the educational philosophy was what ultimately separated Children’s Lighthouse from other opportunities. “The financial aspect will be there for any childcare business,” he said. “But for us, the curriculum really aligned well. We felt like Children’s Lighthouse was doing something special.”
The couple also found confidence in the level of support they received from the franchise team throughout the discovery process.
“They provide a lot of support,” UJ said. “They are there when you need them, while other franchises might leave you out on your own. With Children’s Lighthouse, they are always just a phone call away. Everyone on the team was never hesitant to answer all of our questions. They understand what it takes to be a business owner, but they also understand family life.”
Beyond the brand itself, the Patels saw a significant opportunity to serve families in their hometown. “In Knoxville, there is a grave need for childcare centers,” Sohini said. “We’ve known this for a long time because we’ve experienced it ourselves as parents. I wanted to make sure I picked the right franchise to bring into the community. Children’s Lighthouse has such a proven system in place, and they keep improving no matter what. They are always looking for ways to get better.”
The Patels are currently working toward opening their first Children’s Lighthouse location in Knoxville and are already laying the groundwork for future growth. “Hopefully we’ll be opening sometime next year,” UJ said. “Right now, we want to focus on this first school and build a well-seasoned team around it.”
According to Matt Kelton, Vice President of Franchise Development for Children’s Lighthouse, the Patels possess many of the qualities the brand looks for in successful franchisees.
“Sohini and UJ are exactly the kind of people we’re thrilled to have in the Children’s Lighthouse family,” Kelton said. “They’ve got the business chops, for sure, but what really shines through is how much they truly care about kids and their community. It wasn’t just about the bottom line for them; they fell in love with our mission and curriculum first. We’ve seen that when you lead with that kind of heart and back it up with solid experience, great things happen. We have no doubt they’re going to build a fantastic school and eventually expand to even more locations.”
As they move closer to opening day, the Patels have simple advice for prospective franchisees considering Children’s Lighthouse: “If you’re thinking about it, trust your gut,” Sohini said. “What they show you is really honest, and it’s truly what they deliver. Children’s Lighthouse is a really amazing place. You can walk into their office and immediately feel the family environment.”
That combination of family values, educational excellence, and growth potential is exactly why the Patels chose Children’s Lighthouse and why they already see expansion in their future.
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.
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