CPA Brings Children’s Lighthouse Franchise to O’Fallon, Missouri, to Address the Growing Demand for Quality Child Care

As a CPA with 12 years of experience, Ashley Fangmann was no stranger to making careful, calculated decisions. But when she and her husband struggled to find available child care for their three children — and realized many other families were facing the same challenge — she saw an opportunity to make a difference. After nearly eight months of research, Fangmann decided to leave her corporate career and open a Children’s Lighthouse Early Learning School.

One week after officially opening the doors at 2570 Sommers Road in O’Fallon, Missouri, Fangmann is already seeing a tremendous response from the community, with parents eager for a high-quality childcare option. With plans to open multiple Children’s Lighthouse schools over the next decade, Fangmann is on a mission to provide a safe, nurturing, and educational environment for children while offering much-needed support to working parents.

1851 Franchise recently sat down with Fangmann to talk about her franchising journey with Children’s Lighthouse and her passion for providing quality child care and early education. Here’s what she had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Ashley Fangmann: I’ve been a CPA for 12 years, and my husband and I had three children in childcare. The waitlists were incredibly long and we found ourselves paying more in childcare costs than one of our full-time incomes.

I was invited to the partner group at my firm, which is essentially the pinnacle of a CPA career. But around that time, I connected with a mom in a Peloton moms’ Facebook group who shared her story about opening a Children’s Lighthouse school. It resonated with me, and I started researching the brand. The more I looked into it, the more I saw that our community — and our family — needed a solution like this.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Fangmann: I knew I wanted to be a business owner and be my own boss, but as a CPA, I’m naturally risk-averse. I wasn’t interested in running a public accounting firm, so I started researching different franchise models.

I spent almost eight months evaluating Children’s Lighthouse before making the decision. After talking to other franchisees and learning more about the company, it felt like the right choice. It was a huge investment and a big life change, but I knew I wanted to go with an established, reputable brand.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Fangmann: Several things stood out to me about Children’s Lighthouse. First, they have never had an SBA loan failure, which speaks volumes about the strength of their business model.

The support from the leadership team has been incredible. From the very beginning, they guided me through the process and I never felt like I was on my own. They truly care about the success of their franchisees.

The curriculum was another major factor. It meets children where they are, helping them grow emotionally, socially and academically while focusing on character development. It allows for choice while providing the right amount of structure. As a parent, that was something I wanted for my own kids.

The opening has been a success so far — we’re giving about 10 tours a week, and parents are excited to have this level of quality child care in our community.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?

Fangmann: Our goal is to open four Children’s Lighthouse centers over the next 10 years.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Fangmann: My husband was a stay-at-home dad for a year, so he brings a lot of passion to this business as well. Our three children attend our school and they love it.

I’m deeply committed to being a resource for working parents. As two parents who worked full-time, we struggled to find reliable childcare options that met our needs. I want to make sure our school is open and available as much as possible because I know how critical that is for families like ours.

This business isn’t just a great solution for our family — it’s something that so many other families in our community need.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Fangmann: If you’re considering franchising, go with an established brand. There is so much value in having industry experts develop the curriculum, systems and processes for you. That’s what you’re paying for with royalties — trust the system. If you follow their guidance, you’ll be set up for success.

For me, the hardest part was securing financing. That may not be everyone’s challenge, but I would advise new franchisees to be prepared for the financial side. You may need more money than you initially think.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse.

About Children’s Lighthouse:

The Children’s Lighthouse brand was established in Ft. Worth, Texas in 1997. The Children’s Lighthouse Early Learning Schools® brand promise to create a safe, fun, and happy place that gives children confidence, a sense of comfort today, and a lifelong love of learning, friendship, and community. Children’s Lighthouse focuses on age-appropriate and values based curriculums that focus on kindergarten readiness and creating lifelong learners. In 2025, Children's Lighthouse was ranked on the Entrepreneur 500 and as a Top Franchise for 2025 by Franchise Business Review. In 2024, Children's Lighthouse was featured on the Franchise Times Top 400.