Lightbridge Academy® Ranks 192nd on Entrepreneur’s 2023 Franchise 500

Lightbridge Academy, the leading early education and child care franchise, was recognized as one of the top 500 franchises in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500®, marking the brand’s eighth consecutive time achieving this highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry. The 2023 Franchise 500® ranks Lightbridge Academy at No. 192 on the list.

“We are extremely proud to be ranked as one of the best franchise opportunities in the world,” said Lightbridge Academy CEO Gigi Schweikert. “Lightbridge Academy’s business model, strong support infrastructure and growing demand explain not only why new owners are joining but also why existing franchisees continue to invest in the brand and expand to multiple territories. We are excited to build on the momentum we’ve experienced this past year and continue to support children, parents, team members, franchise owners and the communities we serve.”

There are several factors Entrepreneur takes into account when performing a thorough evaluation of a franchise concept, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order.  

Lightbridge Academy, established in 1997, 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. 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, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. In 2022, the franchise sold 27 units and expanded into several new markets, including Michigan, Ohio, and Texas, allowing entrepreneurs to introduce an essential service to their local community. 

Learn more about franchise opportunities at https://lightbridgeacademyfranchise.com/.

About Lightbridge Academy: 

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 & 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. In 2022, Lightbridge Academy was featured for the 8th year on Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500 and for the 2nd year on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies.