1851

As a CPA with 12 years of experience,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyackfeld?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=cpa-brings-childrens-lighthouse-franchise-to-ofallon-missouri-to-address-the-growing-demand-for-quality-child-care-2728626" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ashley Fangmann</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="https://www.childrenslighthousefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=cpa-brings-childrens-lighthouse-franchise-to-ofallon-missouri-to-address-the-growing-demand-for-quality-child-care-2728626" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Children’s Lighthouse&nbsp;</a>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&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse/info">Children’s Lighthouse</a> 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&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse">https://1851franchise.com/childrens-lighthouse</a>.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.

franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ashley Fangmann and family

Ashley & Jeremy Fangmann Bring Children's Lighthouse Franchise to O'Fallon, Missouri to Meet Growing Demand

1851 Franchise

With firsthand experience and a passion for supporting working families, Ashley Fangmann is bringing Children’s Lighthouse to O’Fallon to provide a much-needed early learning solution.

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

cpa-brings-childrens-lighthouse-franchise-to-ofallon-missouri-to-address-the-growing-demand-for-quality-child-care

SweatHouz

SweatHouz SWTHZ Franchise - Hunter and Mallory Mitchem - Franchisee Feature - 1851 Franchise

From Aerospace to Wellness: Hunter Mitchem’s Journey to a SweatHouz Empire

sweathouz-franchise-hunter-mitchem-6g

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Onigilly - Low Operating Costs Drive High Returns for Franchisees - 1851 Franchise

Maximize Your ROI: How Onigilly’s Low Operating Costs Drive High Returns for Franchisees

onigilly-franchise-fast-casual-franchise-opportunity

Layne's Chicken Fingers

What Is the Layne’s Franchise Disclosure Document, and What Will I Find in It?

laynes-franchise-disclosure-document

Athletech News: How SWTHZ Delivers on Wellness Demands of All Kinds

swthz-delivers-wellness-demands-contrast-therapy

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Why Protected Territories Matter and How the TruBlue Franchise Delivers

why-protected-territories-matter-and-how-the-trublue-franchise-delivers

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

Senior Entrepreneurship - Franchising - 1851 Franchise

Senior Entrepreneurship Is Rising — And Franchising Is a Key Outlet

senior-entrepreneurship-franchising-silver-startups

U.S. Government Shutdown - Impact on Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Government Shutdown Stalls SBA Loans: How the Shutdown Could Impact Franchises

government-shutdown-impacts-sba-loans-tourism-franchises

Subway Franchisees Resist Expensive Remodel Directives

subway-franchisees-resist-expensive-remodel-directives

The American Franchise Act: What It Means for Franchisors and Franchisees - 1851 Franchise

The American Franchise Act: What It Means for Franchisors and Franchisees

american-franchise-act-joint-employer-standard

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Barb Volk and KidStrong logo

Why This Orangetheory Fitness Franchise Owner Is Developing KidStrong Franchises

kidstrong-franchise-owner-barb-volk-2025

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Mike Rippey and Sola Salons logo

How This Former Franchisor Is Using His Industry Experience To Help Beauty Pros Thrive With Sola Salons Franchise

mike-rippey-sola-salons-franchisee

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

Image of Mindy and Chad Beale for right at home from cambden south carolina

Chad and Mindy Beale Channel Their Passion for Senior Care and Veteran Advocacy Into Their Right at Home Franchise in Camden, South Carolina

right-at-home-camden-sc-chad-mindy-beale

Top Education Franchises To Consider for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Education Franchises To Consider Investing In for 2025

top-education-franchises-investment-opportunities

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025

early-childhood-education-child-care-franchises

Top Arts and Creative Learning Franchises for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Arts and Creative Learning Franchises for 2025

top-arts-creative-learning-franchises

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

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

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS