Why Now Is the Time to Franchise With Lightbridge Academy

Lightbridge Academy®, the leading child care and early education brand, has spent the past decade establishing itself as a prime franchise opportunity in the child care industry (which is estimated at a value of $61.70 billion). Now, with recent expansions into new markets and a record-setting year behind them, the time for investing in a Lightbridge Academy franchise has never been better.

Continued Strong Momentum

In 2023, Lightbridge Academy celebrated a year of monumental success, signing 34 franchise agreements — a record for the company — and reaching 75 centers around the country. This surge is a testament to Lightbridge Academy's robust franchise opportunity as well as the essential role early education and child care play in economic development. 

“Early education and child care is not just a want, it is a need,” said Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy. “It is the backbone of our economy, and we really saw that we were an essential business coming out of COVID. We’ve continued to see increasing development and momentum as a result.”

Jim DiRugeris, senior vice president of franchise sales, also points to the record number of franchise agreements signed as evidence of the brand's appeal, especially among those seeking scalable growth opportunities in unsaturated markets. The brand signed one of its largest franchise agreements last year, for example: a multi-unit franchisee in Orlando set to open seven centers. 

“We truly offer a scalable growth opportunity compared to most of our competitors, who are largely sold out or saturated in certain markets,” said DiRugeris. “That is why we attract a lot of high-income owners and professionals who want to open multiple centers. We afford that opportunity for them to grow within their market and build an empire.”

Opportunities Abound 

Now, fueled by this momentum and growing demand for quality child care services in areas experiencing a surge in young families, Lightbridge Academy is strategically turning its sights to other untapped states, like Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, and Ohio. 

For prospective franchisees, introducing Lightbridge Academy to a new market offers an exciting opportunity to fill a massive need. At the heart of Lightbridge Academy's ethos is the Circle of Care® philosophy, which integrates the needs of children, families, teachers, center owners, and the community. This holistic approach, coupled with innovative programs like ParentView® Internet Monitoring and The Lightbridge Promise® for health and safety, sets the brand apart and is a key driver in its expansion strategy.

To streamline the expansion process and reduce the time frame for opening child care centers in these new markets, Lightbridge Academy is proactively leasing real estate sites at the corporate level before franchise owners are signed. This strategy allows the brand to leverage its development partnerships to secure real estate in new markets while also looking for franchise partners to eventually take over the business.

"Our real estate team is seasoned and well-established, with efficient processes enabling us to open centers more rapidly,” said Chief Development Officer Craig Murray. “The resources we've added to our arsenal over the past year are unmatched in the industry. Plus, as we expand into new states, our national portfolio not only adds credibility but also empowers us to negotiate more favorable rates and rents for construction and property resales."

A Growing Support Team

Another reason the time has never been better to join Lightbridge Academy, DiRugeris says, is because as the franchise network grows stronger, so too does the brand’s franchisee support infrastructure.

“When prospects spend the day with our leadership team, they can really feel that we have a passion for their success,” said DiRugeris. “And we continue to add support resources and invest in our internal team, whether that be marketing, operations, sales, or anything else. We are getting ahead of our growth so new franchisees don’t feel like they are out on an island. That really separates us.”

Schweikert agrees, noting, “We have had many franchisees who come from other brands, and they often say we provide amazing support. A lot of that comes from the fact that we operate a lot of company-owned centers, so we live and breathe this business. We can speak to best practices and can empathize with their day-to-day life.”

With plans to continue its aggressive growth trajectory throughout 2024 and beyond, Lightbridge Academy is poised for even greater success. 

“As we continue to bring the Lightbridge Academy brand to new areas, our franchise network and support infrastructure is only getting stronger,” said Schweikert. “For individuals passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families while building a thriving business, now is truly the opportune time to join the Lightbridge Academy family.”

To find out more information on the costs of this franchise, visit: https://1851franchise.com/lightbridgeacademy.