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20 Best Preschool Business Franchises [Cost, Fees]

Do you want to start a preschool business by buying a franchise? If YES, here are 20 best preschool franchise opportunities for sale and their cost. A preschool business can be very advantageous, lucrative and satisfying. By starting this business you gain gratitude and lessons learned from spending much of your workday with children.

To succeed in this business, you must enjoy working with children and you must be patient. You also must have the proper training or certification for your area. One benefit of starting your own preschool business is that you can care for your own kids.

Also a lot of stay-at-home moms or dads start preschool businesses to earn extra money. The parents may have already committed to putting their career on hold to raise a child. Starting a preschool business allows you to do that while bringing in extra income. It also allows your child to interact with other children, which is good for his social development.

It’s very important to note that starting a preschool business has personal and emotional advantages. Spending most of your work time with children can help you appreciate the simple things in life, like health and friendships, rather than stress out at an office job over filing paperwork or attending meetings. Also, working with kids also teaches you to be patient and improves your ability to communicate.

Another key benefit of starting a preschool is working with kids as opposed to adults. Of course, kids have temper tantrums and are not always well behaved, which can certainly be stressful to their care provider. But, these kids are typically always honest and tell you how or what they feel, which is a nice change from the adult world.

That is why working with kids can also help you understand different human personalities and human development in general, which can be helpful for your career down the road. If you don’t want the hassle of starting a business from scratch, there are several preschool franchises on the market.

Franchises are potentially very lucrative but you must also be prepared to invest a lot of money at the outset. Below are top preschool franchises in the USA.

20 Best Preschool Business Franchise Opportunities for Sale and Their Cost

  1. Tierra Encantada

Tierra Encantada provides quality child care for children ranging from 6 weeks – 5 years of age. It bilingual education program fosters early cognitive development and teaches a respect for diversity. The company also strives to be environmentally friendly by offering cloth diapering for children and providing wholesome, organic foods cooked fresh daily in their on-site commercial kitchens.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $591,250 – $1,055,000
  • Net-worth Requirement: $400,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $178,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee: $50,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee: 7%
  • Ad Royalty Fee: 1%
  1. AcademKids

Known as a private educational establishment for children from 1 to 7 years old with a wide range of additional classes within the program. AcademKids kindergartens create ideal conditions to fully reveal the talents and abilities of each kid.

The educational process is based on the development of personality and skills of a kid. It includes daily English classes, author educational program based on the system of education named “School 2100” and a wide range of additional services which helps prepare a kid for school.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $61,550
  • Initial Franchise Fee: $10,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee: 5%
  1. Childrens Lighthouse

This business franchise’s educational child care centers for infants 6 weeks through 6 years old (and after-school care to 12 years). Founded in 1994, Children’s Lighthouse Learning Centers provides exceptional educational childcare in a private preschool setting. Children’s Lighthouse Franchise Company is accredited by AdvancEd.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $300,000
  • Initial Investment:$694,000 – $5,000,000
  1. The Learning Experience

The Learning Experience® is an industry leader and one of the nation’s fastest growing early education and child care franchises, with a proven track record of success. More than 95% of pre-school graduates read before kindergarten, and more than 70% of their franchisees buy additional units or refer new franchisees.

For more than 30 years, the founders of The Learning Experience®, the Weissman family, have been positively impacting the lives of children by developing and implementing ground-breaking care and early education programs throughout the country.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $495,000 – $4,000,000
  1. Bricks 4 Kidz

As a Bricks 4 Kidz® franchisee, you will own and operate a service business within a defined exclusive territory, providing project-based programs designed to teach principles and methods of engineering to children, ages 3-13+, using LEGO® Bricks. You will provide these programs though after-school classes in preschools, elementary, and middle schools, in-school workshops, camps (during school holidays and summer vacation), and birthday parties.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $34,000
  • Initial Investment: $34,000 – $51,000
  1. Discovery Point

Approved for state-funded Pre-K programs, Discovery Point uses the Creative Curriculum® approach to early childhood development. Designed in partnership with Teaching Strategies®, the curriculum is backed by the latest research and child development theory. Every component of the curriculum is designed to facilitate a child’s intellectual, emotional, and social growth.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $75,000
  • Net-worth Requirement: $1,500,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $500,000
  • Total Investment: $369,000
  1. The Goddard School

The Goddard School is an early childhood education provider with more than 400 franchised Schools in 35 states and hundreds of markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and Portland markets. Goddard Systems, Inc. (GSI) franchises The Goddard School from its headquarters in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

The Goddard School was founded in 1983 by Lois Goddard Haines in an effort to better the lives of children and their families who required childcare.

Each Goddard School is independently owned and operated by franchisees. These franchisees receive training at GSI’s corporate office in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania before opening their Schools. GSI provides franchisees with ongoing support in real estate, site development, operations, IT, marketing, advertising, quality assurance and training.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial investments: $619,900 – $760,600
  • Net-worth Requirement: $750,000 – $2,000,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $150,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee: $135,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee: 7%
  • Ad Royalty Fee 4%
  1. All About Kids

All About Kids franchisee support begins before you even break ground on a new learning center. From leasing and purchasing advice to marketing support, the All About Kids team will help you achieve your goals. All About Kids offers a robust training and support program to ensure every learning center franchise is set up for success from the very beginning.

Every All About Kids franchise operator receives support to ensure every location meets each specifications, because the company operates LEED-certified green childcare centers.

A thorough initial training program for All About Kids franchisees covers everything you need to know for a successful opening including classroom layout, daily schedules, sample lesson plans, parent relations, staff recruitment and retention, and staff training.

Grand opening efforts are further supported with targeted marketing and advertising efforts including website design, pay per click strategy, branded collateral materials and inquiry to enrollment process. Regular onsite visits and operational assistance are all part of the All About Kids franchise training and support initiatives.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $2,677,500
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $25,000
  • Total Investment: $2,677,500 – $3,372,500
  1. Wanna Play Playcare, LLC

Life is indeed unpredictable and it can be a challenge to find quality child care at a moment’s notice. Offering convenient hourly drop-in care, preschool, flexible full-time, after-school care, and camps, Wanna Play helps make balancing the schedule of an active family possible. All playcares are designed to give kids aged 6 weeks to 12 years a safe and entertaining place to play and relax while their parents are away.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $75,000
  • Total Investment: $266,000 – $424,000
  1. Building Kidz

Building Kidz specializes on creating a community where children are challenged intellectually, become empowered, interested in lifelong learning, and engage in the arts to accelerate the development of their Confidence, Commitment, and Character. The company was founded by Vineeta Bhandari in 2003.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $199,000 – $463,500
  • Net-worth Requirement: $200,000 – $1,000,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $100,000 – $250,000
  • Initial Franchise Fee: $50,000
  • Ongoing Royalty Fee: 7%
  • Ad Royalty Fee: 1%
  1. Cresco Montessori School

“Unlock your child’s potential” with a franchise of Cresco Montessori School. Cresco are a Montessori educational service providing Montessori based pre-school, private school, and daycare center.

Financial Requirements

  • Unavailable
  1. Celebree School

This is an early childhood education company. At Celebree Schools, child care franchise delivers a safe, nurturing, friendly, state-of-the-art learning environment that fosters a solid foundation for lifelong success. The company was founded in 1994. As of 2018, the company has 26 corporately owned Schools throughout Maryland and Delaware. Each location serves to protect, educate and nurture children aged 6 weeks to 12 years.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $525,500 to $684,000
  • Ongoing Franchise Fee: $25,000
  1. Little Kickers Holdings

Little Kickers run educational pre-school soccer classes. In addition to providing the under 7’s with a fun introduction to the sport, all classes also promote the development of gross motor skills, balance, coordination and social skills such as taking turns and sharing. They also operate a very popular English language program which enables pre-schoolers to learn age appropriate English language skills whilst having fun playing soccer.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $10,000
  1. O2B Kids

O2B Kids is an “Edutainment” Company for kids zero to thirteen years old offering Preschool, Afterschool and an unprecedented Family Membership Program featuring Karate, Gymnastics, Cheerleading, Dance, Music, Drama, Art, Science, Technology, Sports, Languages and even Birthday Parties. In other words, O2B Kids is a family’s dream come true!

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $350,000
  • Initial Investment: $993,000 – $2,000,000
  1. Creative World Schools

When you become a CW Franchisee, you join a team of dedicated professionals who have made the exciting decision to bring high quality early education to their community. You do not need a background in education. You will be trained in the company’s proven systems and experts will assist you in hiring experienced qualified educators for your school. If your dream is to own an early childhood learning center, CW can help you make that dream come true. Creative World School Curriculum is not only accredited, it’s a proven foundation for success.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $2,435,300
  • Net-Worth Requirement: $600,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $400,000
  • Total Investment: $2,800,000 – $4,500,000
  1. Montessori Kids Universe

Educators understand how early childhood education greatly influences a child’s success in school and in life, making education-based preschools in highest demand. Take advantage of this movement with a Montessori Kids Universe preschool franchise opportunity, and earn a fruitful living while positively influencing children’s lives.

By opening your own Montessori Kids Universe franchise, you can journey toward professional independence as you change the lives of the children you serve. A leader in the industry; Montessori Kids Universe offers a child care franchise opportunity that is unparalleled.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $301,535
  • Net-worth Requirement: $250,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $125,000
  1. Ivybrook Academy

This academy provides a progressive approach to early childhood education, which values students’ individual voices within their vibrant community and cultivates compassionate citizens who find joy in learning. In 2017, the childcare industry surpassed $49 billion.

Ivybrook Academy was created by a public school teacher who was looking to balance quality of life with owning a business. As a highly involved mom of two very young children, she sought a means of achieving financial freedom that would also allow her more time with her kids.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $385,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $100,000 – $150,000
  • Total Investment: $385,000 – 2,146,600
  1. Kidokinetics

Kidokinetics is an exciting and unique mobile sports and fitness program for children of various ages. Classes are offered at pre-schools, parks and community centers. This company is currently serving 82 locations. All young participants develop coordination, self-confidence and a lifelong love of physical fitness.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $43,000
  • Initial Investment: $43,000 – $57,000
  1. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy

This academy has more than 30 years’ experience in the childcare industry and a proven franchise system for new business owners. Pat and Janice Vinson, the founders, opened the first Kids ‘R’ Kids in 1985. Just three years later, Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy became the first childcare company to franchise.

Since opening their doors, the company philosophy, “Hug First, Then Teach,” has not changed. The company prides itself on being one of the top franchisors in the childcare industry with innovative educational strategies that focus on the overall development of the child.

Financial Requirements

  • Initial Investment: $3,521,900
  • Net-Worth Requirement: $400,000
  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $400,000
  • Total Investment: $5,000,000
  1. Kinderdance

Kinderdance® Offers 5 Programs: Kinderdance® (ages 3-5), Kindergym® (ages 3-5), Kindertots® (age 2), Kindercombo® (ages 6-9), Kinderdance with Me, KD programs and Kindermotion® (ages 3-12). All Programs – 1 Franchise! Rated #1 preschool developmental education through dance, motor-skills, gymnastics, music and fitness program, blended with academics, specifically designed for boys and girls ages 2-12. Taught on-site in childcare centers and other viable locations.

Financial Requirements

  • Liquid Cash Requirement: $15,000
  • Initial Investment: $18,000 – $46,000

These are the top 20 preschool franchises in the United States and they provide adequate support and a comfortable platform for you to grow your business. Consider them before deciding to start from the scratch.