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<a href="http://www.lightbridgeacademy.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-celebrates-20-years-of-caring-with-sweepstakes-winner-receiving-child-care-for-a-year-2705635" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy</a>, a leading early education child care franchise with 30 open centers serving more than 3,500 children, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in business by giving away one year of free child care. The sweepstakes, which ran throughout January, was open to both families already enrolled and to potential new families in the areas where the centers are currently operating across New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Randall and Cathy Thomas of Baldwin, New York, won the sweepstakes at random and are now receiving free care for one of their children for the next year. The couple has two children enrolled at <a href="http://www.lightbridgefranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lightbridge-academy-celebrates-20-years-of-caring-with-sweepstakes-winner-receiving-child-care-for-a-year-2705635" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lightbridge Academy</a>, their son Axel is two and a half and their daughter Sloane is one year old.

Cathy is an attorney at Progressive with her office on Long Island, sometimes having to go to court across the boroughs of New York City. Randall is a loan consultant at Associated Mortgage Bankers, working at an office in Garden City, New York. With both parents having to get to work, it was imperative that the child care center they chose be easily accessible.

&ldquo;When looking for a child care center, I needed it to be centrally located, and the Baldwin center is close to home and also close to the train station and a couple of the major highways,&rdquo; said Cathy Thomas. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s simple for me to commute to work and travel to other areas for court. The convenient location also helps so I don&rsquo;t have to take major detours when one of my children gets sick or in the event of an emergency. It&rsquo;s easy to get them.&rdquo;

With an outstanding reputation rooted in core values, a Circle of Care philosophy and a proprietary early childhood education curriculum, Lightbridge Academy stands out among its competition as The Solution for Working Parents&reg;. Its signature Circle of Care philosophy places equal weight on supporting the needs of everyone in a child&rsquo;s life&mdash;including parents, teachers, center owners and local communities&mdash;allowing the brand to tap into previously unseen potential within the booming educational child care segment.

&ldquo;When looking at child care centers when my husband and I were moving to Baldwin, we chose Lightbridge Academy for multiple reasons,&rdquo; said Thomas. &ldquo;First of all, we wanted a diverse learning environment for our children - different cultures and lifestyles all represented in one school. Of all the schools I visited, Lightbridge Academy also had the cleanest and most brightly lit facility. They are technologically advanced with educationally stimulating tools in each classroom, a structured curriculum and they are a working parent&rsquo;s dream.&rdquo;

Outstanding customer service has been constant since the inception of Lightbridge Academy, but its focus on innovation and ability to embrace technology have also been major differentiators in the industry. Lightbridge Academy provides parents with ongoing communication throughout the day with its eCommunication app that gives updates on the child&rsquo;s day and activities. The brand was also the first educational child care franchise to provide parents with access into the classroom through its ParentView&reg; internet monitoring system.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never worried about my children&rsquo;s security at Lightbridge Academy. They have a biometric check-in and check-out system, and the teachers really work on fostering relationships with parents,&rdquo; said Thomas. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s two way communication that&rsquo;s essential in a child&rsquo;s development. The directors and administration staff really do a great job sending pictures, video and notes home, conducting parent-teacher conferences, and are available to schedule in person meetings. I don&rsquo;t consider Lightbridge Academy to be a day care, it is much more, a school that is educationally stimulating for our young children. We&rsquo;re very thankful for this opportunity and happy to be a part of the family.&rdquo;

Lightbridge Academy Celebrates 20 Years of Caring With Sweepstakes Winner  Receiving Child Care for a Year

1851 Franchise

Leading Educational Child Care Franchise Giving Free Child Care to the Thomas Family of Baldwin, New York 

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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.

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