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<a href="https://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-to-open-its-first-location-in-florida-bringing-its-circle-of-care-to-port-st-lucie-2722054" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy®</a>, one of the nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/why-lightbridge-academyr-is-one-of-franchisings-most-exciting-opportunities-2717444">leading providers</a> of early childhood education and child care, has announced the opening of the first new center in Florida. Located in Port St. Lucie, Florida this center is located at 8565 Commerce Centre Drive and targeted to open late this year. The East Coast-based franchise is quickly moving into multiple new markets&nbsp;<s>a</s>s entrepreneurs recognize the opportunity to provide an essential and rewarding child care service to their local community.&nbsp;One of those entrepreneurs is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/al-ferrari-1b512662/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-to-open-its-first-location-in-florida-bringing-its-circle-of-care-to-port-st-lucie-2722054" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Al Ferrari</a> — the franchise owner and local resident behind this new Lightbridge Academy center in Port St. Lucie, along with his sons&nbsp;Tommy and Eric Ferrari.Ferrari spent a quarter century in the foodservice industry, working in operations for brands like Sysco and Gordon Food Service. But the father of two says his true passion has always been for his family. Now, Ferrari is leaving the foodservice business and starting a new career that will allow him to leverage his passion for educational child care. He will be joined by Tommy and Eric, college graduates with degrees in business and marketing, as the family begins this venture together.“My wife and I have two boys, and when they were young, we were very involved with all their activities,” said Ferrari. “I coached them in soccer and football throughout their childhood and watched them enjoy the sports throughout their high school years. We were also very involved in our local church and the youth ministry, and we taught elementary children at the school on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the church. So, we were always involved with children and dreamed of opening a preschool.”When looking at various franchises, Ferrari says Lightbridge Academy was a clear frontrunner right away. “Lightbridge stood out to me with its Circle of Care philosophy, which places a high importance on the care provided to not just the child, but everyone in the child’s life, and it's so much more than just a preschool or daycare,” he said. “They truly are&nbsp;The Solution for Working Parents®. It's tough to juggle your personal life and work — especially when both parents are working. And with Lightbridge, parents are provided much more support. They offer cameras in the classroom so parents can stay connected to their child’s day, the eCommunication app allows for real-time communication from the teachers, extended hours, facial recognition entry systems and more. They even do occasional babysitting for parents to enjoy a night out. I wish all of these things were around when I had young children, and that’s what really made Lightbridge stand out to me.”Now, with the new center, Ferrari says he is eager to bring a higher level of child care and early education to his community. “As far as trends, Port St. Lucie is quickly developing into a residence for young families,” he said. “The trends are changing to accommodate those young working families. We're the pioneers in Florida for Lightbridge Academy, and I want to help the brand grow. We want to provide even more value to the community and demonstrate that this is a different type of child care. A child care center should care for parents too! We are here to support the busy working parent while also providing nurturing care in a high quality learning environment.”Although this is the first Florida location, the brand is targeting expansion in other high demand markets including Tampa and Orlando.“We couldn’t be more excited to bring Lightbridge Academy’s 25 year tradition of educational child care excellence as&nbsp;The Solution for Working Parents® to Port St. Lucie, and we couldn’t have found better partners than the Ferrari family,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gigischweikert/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-to-open-its-first-location-in-florida-bringing-its-circle-of-care-to-port-st-lucie-2722054" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Gigi Schweikert</a>. “This is an incredible time for the Lightbridge Academy brand as we continue to grow and make a positive impact for everyone in our Circle of Care and the communities we serve.”To learn more about Lightbridge Academy’s programs, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lightbridgeacademy.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-to-open-its-first-location-in-florida-bringing-its-circle-of-care-to-port-st-lucie-2722054" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://LightbridgeAcademy.com/</a>. To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-to-open-its-first-location-in-florida-bringing-its-circle-of-care-to-port-st-lucie-2722054" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://LightbridgeAcademyFranchise.com/</a>.About Lightbridge Academy:&nbsp;Established in 1997, the company was founded as a family business based on core values and a Circle of Care philosophy that places equal importance on the needs of children, their families, teachers, center owners and the community. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Lightbridge Academy provides quality early education and child care programs to children aged six weeks through kindergarten. The company currently has over 140 child care centers either open or in development throughout Florida, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. In response to COVID-19, Lightbridge Academy launched The Lightbridge Promise as the Gold Standard for health &amp; safety in the child care industry. In 2020, the company was featured on the Inc. 5000 ranking, Franchise Times Top 200+ awards, and on Newsweek’s 2021 list of America’s Best Customer Service. For the 2nd year in a row, Lightbridge Academy was on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing private companies. In 2023, Lightbridge Academy was featured for the 9th year on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500.

Lightbridge Academy to Open its First Location in Florida, Bringing Its Circle of Care to Port St. Lucie

1851 Franchise

Local resident Al Ferrari aims to provide a much-needed level of early childhood education and child care excellence to the working parents and families of his community.

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How much can franchisees make? It’s a question many prospective owners ask before investing in a franchise. While earnings tend to be driven by variables such as industry, location and general management skills, a proper understanding of the key factors driving profitability can help franchise owners develop expectations that are realistic.&nbsp;Multi-unit franchisee&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mangesh-patel-9368569/">Mangesh Patel</a>, who’s readying the launch of six&nbsp;<a href="https://www.beefobradysfranchise.com/">Beef ‘O’ Brady’s</a> restaurant locations in the Macon, Georgia area, shares insights from his franchising experience.<h2>Understanding Franchise Income</h2>Keeping operational costs in check can have a major impact on overall earnings. Taking a proactive approach to expenses such as food and labor, as well as payroll and scheduling, can help align actual franchise income with general expectations for the business.“I just had a meeting with a couple of people, and they said, ‘You talked about a 25% profit margin, but I’m only doing 12%.’ So, I looked at the figures they sent me,” Patel said. “Their&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/calculate-restaurant-franchise-profit-2730476">restaurant</a> food cost was running at 37%, which should be around 30%. The national average is about 32%. If I do things correctly, my average food cost needs to be at or below 30%. And payroll should run around 18%. But many people run 25 to 28%.”So,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/unraveling-franchise-earnings-how-much-can-you-really-make-2723935">how much can franchisees make</a>? Here are five areas to consider.<h2>Practical Tips for Prospective Franchisees</h2><ol><li>Control Costs From Day One:&nbsp;It’s important to monitor payroll, food and supply costs closely. Overstaffing and inefficiencies can quickly reduce profits.</li><li>Plan For The Opening Surge:&nbsp;Traffic within the first few months of opening is likely to be higher. It’s important to adjust staffing and inventory accordingly, and pay close attention to how those levels change as time goes on.</li><li>Invest In Training:&nbsp;Properly trained workers can help reduce waste and improve overall service, which has a direct effect on net income.</li><li>Understand Your Market:&nbsp;Each market is unique and revenue potential will vary depending upon location, demographics and competition.</li><li>Track Metrics Regularly:&nbsp;Food cost percentages, labor ratios and weekly sales data act as key indicators operations may need to be adjusted.</li></ol><h2>What Profitability Really Comes Down To</h2>Patel notes that if franchise owners manage labor and costs properly, it’s not impossible to achieve strong cash flow even in the first year, bucking some franchising trends.So,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-much-can-you-make-as-a-franchise-owner-2724761">how much can franchisees make</a>? While results tend to vary, careful planning, disciplined operations and a proactive approach to assessing initial costs are essential. But by grasping and guiding the elements that drive franchise profitability, franchise owners can maximize overall business earnings, scaling a business that’s sustainable financially over the long term.Want to learn more about franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise? Be sure to visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/power-rankings">Power Rankings</a> to read more on brands making moves.

How much can franchisees make? This guide explains what drives franchise earnings and how to manage costs, with expert tips from multi-unit owner Mangesh Patel on maximizing your franchise income.

How Much Can Franchisees Make? A Guide for Prospective Franchise Owners

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Building&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/how-do-you-build-a-franchise-business-plan-2717037">a business plan</a> is a crucial operational step for any entrepreneur. But how do I build a business plan for a franchise that complements the franchisor’s system while addressing the unique needs of a given location? In this guide with expert tips, you’ll learn how to craft a thoughtful, actionable franchise business plan.<h2>Start With The Franchisor’s System In Mind</h2>So, how do I build a business plan for a franchise? Well, avoiding repetition is a good start.“You specifically don’t want to duplicate what your franchisor is doing,” said long-time multi-unit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solafranchising.com/">Sola Salons</a> franchise owner,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/haynes-chidsey-6a36a06/">Haynes Chidsey</a>. “There’s a reason why you join a franchise system and why you pay the fees and costs associated with it.”A strong franchise business plan should take advantage of the resources, marketing and operational systems that the franchisor provides (while utilizing daily experiences at the local level to help fine-tune what matters locally).<h2>Focus On Local Priorities</h2>A franchise business plan should be&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/strategicfranchising/how-to-build-a-strong-franchise-brand-presence-in-your-local-community-2729771">locally focused</a>. It should reflect the unique characteristics and needs of each local market. It’s essential to identify opportunities to attract local customers, build relationships within the community at the local level and tailor services to the regional preferences required by each market.“Be complementary to what your system provides,” said Chidsey. “Stay locally focused. That’s what I would say is key. Avoid mistakes by focusing on the magic.”<h2>Practical Steps For Building Your Plan</h2><ol><li>Assess Both Market And Competition – Build a thorough understanding of local demand, competitors and potential customer base. This will lead to more informed projections. &nbsp;</li><li>Define Financial Goals – Include startup costs, ongoing fees and revenue expectations in the business plan. Staffing, rent, marketing and working capital should all be factored in. &nbsp;</li><li>Leverage Franchisor Resources – Incorporate the systems, training and support offered by the franchisor (instead of reinventing processes). &nbsp;</li><li>Set Operational Priorities – Decide which areas require hands-on local management (as opposed to areas guided by the franchisor). Focus energy where it’s most impactful. &nbsp;</li><li>Review And Adjust – A business plan shouldn’t be static. So, track performance, adjust strategies and refine priorities as the franchised business scales.</li></ol><h2>The Takeaway</h2><a href="https://1851franchise.com/chapter-3-developing-a-franchise-business-plan-2722586">Creating a franchise business plan</a> is about balance. With a clear plan that integrates franchisor resources and local insight, franchisees can confidently move forward, knowing their businesses are structured to thrive. Leveraging a proven franchisor system to make smart, locally relevant decisions is key. By slowing down to go fast, and catering to the local trends or demands unique to each market, zees can more effectively build a roadmap and franchise business plan capable of delivering long-term success.Want to learn more about franchise opportunities on 1851 Franchise? Be sure to visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/power-rankings">Power Rankings</a> to read more on brands making moves.

How do I build a business plan for a franchise?

How do I build a business plan for a franchise? In this guide with expert tips, learn how to build a plan that leverages franchisor resources, focuses on local priorities and brings long-term success.

Lightbridge Academy to Open its First Location in Florida, Bringing Its Circle of Care to Port St. Lucie

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