Research library
Child Care Business Resource Library
Choose the decision you need to make: prepare a confidential sale, evaluate an acquisition, understand earnings, or identify the approval questions for a location. Guides explain methods and evidence; they do not advertise available businesses or promise regulatory approval.
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- Nationwide Child Care Center Broker
- About Jason Taken
- Buy a Child Care Center With the Evidence to Operate It
- Child Care Center Valuation
- Contact a Child Care Business Broker
- How the Child Care Business Sale Process Works
- Sell My Child Care Center Confidentially
- Why Use a Child Care Specialist Business Broker?
Preparing to sell
- Child Care Broker Fees and Commission
- Documenting Curriculum and Accreditation for Child Care Buyers
- Documents Needed to Sell a Child Care Business
- Preparing a Franchisor Consent and Transfer Package
- How Long Does It Take to Sell a Child Care Center?
- Daycare Valuation Preparation: Seller Worksheet
- How to Sell a Child Care Center
- Mistakes Child Care Sellers Make Before and During a Sale
- Preparing a Child Care Center for Sale
- Preparing for Platform Buyer Diligence in Child Care
- Seller Financing in Child Care Sales
- Selling a Child Care Center With Real Estate
- Selling a Distressed Child Care Center
- Selling a Private-Pay Child Care Center
- Selling a Subsidy-Heavy Child Care Center
- Selling Confidentially While Protecting Staff and Families
- Selling a Child Care Business for Retirement or Burnout
- Selling a Child Care Center When the Owner Is the Director
- Selling a Child Care Center With a Waitlist
- Selling a Center With Licensing Violations or Complaints
- Selling a Child Care Center With Low Enrollment
- Separating Home Real Estate From a Family Child Care Business
- Structuring a New Lease When Keeping the Child Care Building
- Taxes When Selling a Child Care Center
- Tuition Deposits and Prepayments at Child Care Closing
- When to Tell Staff and Parents About a Child Care Sale
Buying and due diligence
- Analyzing Staffing Grids and Ratios
- Analyzing Subsidy Revenue
- Analyzing the Lease and Facility
- Background Checks and Owner Eligibility
- Building a Buybox for Child Care Acquisitions
- Buying a Daycare as a Teacher or Director
- Buying a Daycare With No Experience
- Buying a Second Center and Building a Group
- Buying With an SBA Loan
- Can You Own a Daycare Without Running It?
- Child Care Due Diligence Checklist
- Closing on a Child Care Center
- First 90 Days After Buying a Child Care Center
- How Much Does a Child Care Center Cost?
- How to Evaluate a Child Care Center for Sale
- Is a Daycare a Good Investment?
- Letter of Intent Guide for Child Care Acquisitions
- License Transfer Timeline for Buyers
- Mistakes Child Care Buyers Make
- Purchase Agreement Explained for Child Care Buyers
- Reading Licensing Inspection History
- Red Flags When Buying a Daycare
- Retaining Staff and Families After Purchase
- Reviewing a Franchise Disclosure and Transfer Package
- Verifying Enrollment and Tuition
- Which Child Care Model Should You Buy?
Valuation methods
- Appraisal vs Broker Opinion of Value for Child Care
- Child Care Valuation Calculator Methodology
- Child Care Business Valuation Methods
- Child Care Valuation Worked Examples
- Daycare SDE and EBITDA Multiples
- How Accreditation and QRIS Affect Child Care Value
- How Enrollment and Occupancy Affect Value
- How Licensing History Affects Child Care Value
- How Real Estate Affects Child Care Business Value
- How Staffing and Director Stability Affect Value
- How Subsidy Share Affects Child Care Value
- How the Lease and Facility Affect Child Care Value
- How Tuition and Age Mix Affect Value
- Daycare Value per Slot and per Child
- Single-Site vs Multi-Site Child Care Value
- Child Care Valuation for Partner Buyouts and Divorce
- Valuing a Family Child Care Home
- Valuing a Child Care Franchise Unit
Interactive calculators
Acquisition financing
- Child Care Acquisition Financing Options
- Child Care Loan Terms and Rates Explained
- Financing a Multi-Site Child Care Acquisition
- Franchise Lending for Child Care Acquisitions
- How Lenders Underwrite Child Care Businesses
- SBA 504 for Child Care Facilities
- SBA 7(a) for Daycare Acquisitions
- Seller Financing in Child Care Acquisitions
- Child Care Facility Funds and CDFIs
- USDA Financing for Rural Child Care Centers
Business models
- Licensed Child Care Center Business Guide
- Buy a Single-Site Licensed Child Care Center With Proof, Not Promises
- Sell a Single-Site Licensed Child Care Center
- Employer-Sponsored Child Care Center Guide
- Buy an Employer-Sponsored Child Care Center by Underwriting the Contract and the Center
- Sell an Employer-Sponsored Child Care Center
- Faith-Based and Nonprofit Child Care Guide
- Buy or Transition a Faith-Based or Nonprofit Child Care Center With Governance Clear
- Sell or Transfer a Faith-Based or Nonprofit Child Care Center
- Family Child Care Home Business Guide
- Buy a Family Child Care Home Business Only After Separating the Home, License, and Operator
- Sell a Family Child Care Home Business
- Child Care Franchise Resale Guide
- Buy a Child Care Franchise Resale With Franchisor and Licensing Approval Aligned
- Sell a Child Care Franchise Resale
- Infant and Toddler Center Business Guide
- Buy an Infant and Toddler Center by Underwriting Staffing and Room Flow First
- Sell an Infant and Toddler Center Business
- Montessori School Business Buyer and Seller Guide
- Buy a Montessori School Business by Verifying the Educational System and the Business
- Sell a Montessori School Business
- Multi-Site Child Care Business Guide
- Buy a Multi-Site Child Care Business by Proving Every Site and the Platform
- Sell a Multi-Site Child Care Business
- Preschool Business Buyer and Seller Guide
- Buy a Preschool Business Without Confusing Tuition Demand With Transferability
- Sell a Preschool Business Confidentially
- School-Age Child Care Business Guide
- Buy a School-Age Child Care Business by Testing Contracts, Transportation, and Seasonality
- Sell a School-Age Child Care Business
Licensing and regulation
- Business Broker Licensing by State for Child Care Sales
- CACFP Food Program Transfer in a Child Care Sale
- CCDF Subsidy Programs and Child Care Sales
- Child Care Change-of-Ownership Approval Explained
- Child Care Licensing by State: Sale Overview
- Child Care Director Qualifications by State
- Family Child Care Home Zoning Rules in a Sale
- Franchise Transfer Rules for Child Care Center Sales
- Daycare License Transfer on Sale by State
- Nonprofit-to-For-Profit Child Care Conversions
- Owner and Director Background Checks in Child Care Sales
- QRIS Ratings in Child Care Transactions
- Child Care Ratios, Group Sizes, and Deal Economics
- Universal Pre-K and Private Child Care Centers
Operating performance
- Curriculum Models and Value for Child Care Operators
- Enrollment and Waitlist Management in Child Care Diligence
- Enrollment Software and Reporting for Child Care Operators
- Facility Standards and Playgrounds for Child Care Operators
- Infant Room Economics for Child Care Operators
- Insurance in a Child Care Sale for Child Care Operators
- Marketing and Parent Acquisition for Child Care Operators
- Staffing Grids and Labor Cost for Child Care Operators
- Teacher Recruiting and Retention for Child Care Operators
- Tuition Pricing and Collections for Child Care Operators
Facilities and real estate
- Child Care Build-Out and Conversion Costs
- Buying the Child Care Building With the Business
- Facility Diligence for Lender Approval
- Lease Assignment and Landlord Consent
- Net-Lease Investor Demand for Child Care
- Owner-Occupied Child Care Centers in a Sale
- Child Care Real Estate Sale-Leasebacks
- Zoning and Conditional Use for Child Care Centers
Transaction terms and transition
- Child Care Sale Timeline: LOI to Closing
- Earn-Outs Tied to Child Care Enrollment
- Employee Transfer and Accrued PTO in a Child Care Sale
- Entity and License Continuity in Equity Sales
- Interim Management Before License Approval
- License Transfer Contingencies in Child Care Deals
- NDA and Confidentiality in a Child Care Sale
- Non-Compete and Key Staff Agreements
- Purchase Price Allocation and IRS Form 8594
- Owner and Director Handoff After a Child Care Sale
- Tuition Deposits and Prepaid Liabilities at Closing
- Working Capital in Child Care Transactions
Practical guides
- Building a Child Care Group Through Acquisition
- Child Care Benchmarks for Enrollment, Tuition, and Labor
- The Child Care Business Model Explained for Buyers and Owners
- Child Care Demographics and Site Selection
- Child Care Exit Planning Two to Three Years Before a Sale
- Child Care Financial Statements Explained for a Sale or Acquisition
- Child Care Industry Outlook: What Owners and Buyers Can Prove
- U.S. Child Care Market Report: A Transaction Evidence Brief
- The Complete Guide to Buying a Child Care Center
- The Complete Guide to Selling a Child Care Center
- Private Equity and Platforms in Child Care
- Universal Pre-K and What It Means for Child Care Owners
Compare your options
- Asset Sale vs Stock Sale for Child Care
- Broker vs For Sale by Owner Daycare
- Buying vs Opening a Daycare
- Center vs Family Child Care Home Acquisition
- Franchise vs Independent Daycare
- Keeping vs Selling Child Care Real Estate
- Montessori vs Traditional Center Investment
- Preschool vs Full-Day Child Care
- Private-Pay vs Subsidy-Heavy Child Care
- SBA vs Seller Financing vs Bank Loan
- Selling to a Platform vs an Individual
- Single-Site vs Multi-Site Child Care Group
Direct answers
- Are online daycare valuation calculators accurate?
- Can an SBA 504 Loan Finance the Daycare Business and Building?
- Can I Buy a Daycare With an SBA Loan?
- Can I Buy a Daycare With No Child-Care Experience?
- Can I keep the building and sell the daycare business?
- Can I sell a center with licensing violations?
- Can I sell a daycare with low enrollment?
- Do I Have to Be the Director if I Own a Daycare?
- Do I Need a Broker to Sell a Daycare?
- Does Infant Enrollment Increase a Center's Value?
- Does Licensed Capacity Determine Daycare Value?
- How do buyers value a daycare when the owner is the director?
- How Do I Calculate SDE for a Daycare?
- How do I sell a daycare without staff or parents finding out early?
- How Do I Verify Daycare Enrollment Before Buying?
- How Do Lenders Underwrite a Daycare Acquisition?
- How Does Enrollment Affect Daycare Value?
- How Does Subsidy Revenue Affect Daycare Value?
- How long does it take to sell a child care center?
- How Much Does a Daycare Business Broker Charge?
- How Much Is a Daycare Business Worth?
- How Much Money Do I Need to Buy a Daycare?
- Is a Daycare Valued on SDE or EBITDA?
- Is a Waitlist Included in Daycare Valuation?
- Is the Daycare Building Included in the Business Value?
- What documents are needed to sell a daycare?
- What happens to tuition deposits when a daycare is sold?
- What Licensing Records Should I Review Before Buying a Daycare?
- What Multiple Do Daycare Centers Sell For?
- When should I tell staff and families that the center is being sold?
Business sale glossary
- Business Valuation Add-Back
- Child Care Asset Purchase Agreement
- Child Care Asset Sale
- Background check
- Blind Teaser for a Daycare Sale
- CACFP
- CCDF Child Care
- Child Development Associate Credential
- Center license
- Change of ownership
- Corrective action plan
- Child Care Director Qualification
- Child Care Acquisition Earn-Out
- EBITDA
- Child Care Enrollment
- Family child care home
- Form 8594
- Franchise resale
- Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment
- Child Care Group Size
- Daycare Acquisition Letter of Intent
- License-exempt
- License transfer
- Licensed Capacity
- Licensing inspection
- Mixed delivery pre-K
- Montessori
- NAEYC Accreditation
- Daycare Occupancy Rate
- Value per Licensed Child Care Slot
- Prepaid Child Care Tuition
- Provisional license
- QRIS Child Care
- Child Care Staff-to-Child Ratio
- Registry check
- Child Care Sale-Leaseback
- School-age program
- Seller's Discretionary Earnings
- Seller Note in a Daycare Sale
- Child Care Staffing Grid
- Child Care Stock Sale
- Child Care Subsidy
- Substantiated complaint
- Franchise Transfer Fee
- Daycare Tuition Deposit
- Child Care Tuition
- Universal pre-K
- Child Care Valuation Multiple
- Child Care Waitlist
- Working Capital in a Child Care Sale
State guides
- Buy a Child Care Center in Alabama
- Buy a Child Care Center in Alaska
- Buy a Child Care Center in Arizona
- Buy a Child Care Center in Arkansas
- Buy a Child Care Center in California
- Buy a Child Care Center in Colorado
- Buy a Child Care Center in Connecticut
- Buy a Child Care Center in Delaware
- Buy a Child Care Center in Florida
- Buy a Child Care Center in Georgia
- Buy a Child Care Center in Hawaii
- Buy a Child Care Center in Idaho
- Buy a Child Care Center in Illinois
- Buy a Child Care Center in Indiana
- Buy a Child Care Center in Iowa
- Buy a Child Care Center in Kansas
- Buy a Child Care Center in Kentucky
- Buy a Child Care Center in Louisiana
- Buy a Child Care Center in Maine
- Buy a Child Care Center in Maryland
- Buy a Child Care Center in Massachusetts
- Buy a Child Care Center in Michigan
- Buy a Child Care Center in Minnesota
- Buy a Child Care Center in Mississippi
- Buy a Child Care Center in Missouri
- Buy a Child Care Center in Montana
- Buy a Child Care Center in Nebraska
- Buy a Child Care Center in Nevada
- Buy a Child Care Center in New Hampshire
- Buy a Child Care Center in New Jersey
- Buy a Child Care Center in New Mexico
- Buy a Child Care Center in New York
- Buy a Child Care Center in North Carolina
- Buy a Child Care Center in North Dakota
- Buy a Child Care Center in Ohio
- Buy a Child Care Center in Oklahoma
- Buy a Child Care Center in Oregon
- Buy a Child Care Center in Pennsylvania
- Buy a Child Care Center in Rhode Island
- Buy a Child Care Center in South Carolina
- Buy a Child Care Center in South Dakota
- Buy a Child Care Center in Tennessee
- Buy a Child Care Center in Texas
- Buy a Child Care Center in Utah
- Buy a Child Care Center in Vermont
- Buy a Child Care Center in Virginia
- Buy a Child Care Center in Washington
- Buy a Child Care Center in West Virginia
- Buy a Child Care Center in Wisconsin
- Buy a Child Care Center in Wyoming
- Sell a Child Care Center in Alabama
- Sell a Child Care Center in Alaska
- Sell a Child Care Center in Arizona
- Sell a Child Care Center in Arkansas
- Sell a Child Care Center in California
- Sell a Child Care Center in Colorado
- Sell a Child Care Center in Connecticut
- Sell a Child Care Center in Delaware
- Sell a Child Care Center in Florida
- Sell a Child Care Center in Georgia
- Sell a Child Care Center in Hawaii
- Sell a Child Care Center in Idaho
- Sell a Child Care Center in Illinois
- Sell a Child Care Center in Indiana
- Sell a Child Care Center in Iowa
- Sell a Child Care Center in Kansas
- Sell a Child Care Center in Kentucky
- Sell a Child Care Center in Louisiana
- Sell a Child Care Center in Maine
- Sell a Child Care Center in Maryland
- Sell a Child Care Center in Massachusetts
- Sell a Child Care Center in Michigan
- Sell a Child Care Center in Minnesota
- Sell a Child Care Center in Mississippi
- Sell a Child Care Center in Missouri
- Sell a Child Care Center in Montana
- Sell a Child Care Center in Nebraska
- Sell a Child Care Center in Nevada
- Sell a Child Care Center in New Hampshire
- Sell a Child Care Center in New Jersey
- Sell a Child Care Center in New Mexico
- Sell a Child Care Center in New York
- Sell a Child Care Center in North Carolina
- Sell a Child Care Center in North Dakota
- Sell a Child Care Center in Ohio
- Sell a Child Care Center in Oklahoma
- Sell a Child Care Center in Oregon
- Sell a Child Care Center in Pennsylvania
- Sell a Child Care Center in Rhode Island
- Sell a Child Care Center in South Carolina
- Sell a Child Care Center in South Dakota
- Sell a Child Care Center in Tennessee
- Sell a Child Care Center in Texas
- Sell a Child Care Center in Utah
- Sell a Child Care Center in Vermont
- Sell a Child Care Center in Virginia
- Sell a Child Care Center in Washington
- Sell a Child Care Center in West Virginia
- Sell a Child Care Center in Wisconsin
- Sell a Child Care Center in Wyoming
City guides
- Buy a Child Care Center in Atlanta, GA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Austin, TX
- Buy a Child Care Center in Baltimore, MD
- Buy a Child Care Center in Birmingham, AL
- Buy a Child Care Center in Boston, MA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Buffalo, NY
- Buy a Child Care Center in Charlotte, NC
- Buy a Child Care Center in Chicago, IL
- Buy a Child Care Center in Cincinnati, OH
- Buy a Child Care Center in Cleveland, OH
- Buy a Child Care Center in Columbus, Ohio
- Buy a Child Care Center in Dallas, Texas
- Buy a Child Care Center in Denver, CO
- Buy a Child Care Center in Detroit, MI
- Buy a Child Care Center in Fresno, CA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Buy a Child Care Center in Houston, TX
- Buy a Child Care Center in Indianapolis, IN
- Buy a Child Care Center in Jacksonville, FL
- Buy a Child Care Center in Kansas City, MO
- Buy a Child Care Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Buy a Child Care Center in Los Angeles, California
- Buy a Child Care Center in Louisville, KY
- Buy a Child Care Center in Memphis, Tennessee
- Buy a Child Care Center in Miami, FL
- Buy a Child Care Center in Milwaukee, WI
- Buy a Child Care Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Buy a Child Care Center in Nashville, Tennessee
- Buy a Child Care Center in New York, NY
- Buy a Child Care Center in Oklahoma City, OK
- Buy a Child Care Center in Orlando, FL
- Buy a Child Care Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Buy a Child Care Center in Phoenix, Arizona
- Buy a Child Care Center in Pittsburgh, PA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Portland, OR
- Buy a Child Care Center in Providence, Rhode Island
- Buy a Child Care Center in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Buy a Child Care Center in Richmond, VA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Riverside, CA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Sacramento, California
- Buy a Child Care Center in Salt Lake City, UT
- Buy a Child Care Center in San Antonio, Texas
- Buy a Child Care Center in San Diego, CA
- Buy a Child Care Center in San Francisco, California
- Buy a Child Care Center in San Jose, CA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Seattle, WA
- Buy a Child Care Center in St. Louis, Missouri
- Buy a Child Care Center in Tampa, Florida
- Buy a Child Care Center in Virginia Beach, VA
- Buy a Child Care Center in Washington, DC
- Sell a Child Care Center in Atlanta, GA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Austin, TX
- Sell a Child Care Center in Baltimore, MD
- Sell a Child Care Center in Birmingham, AL
- Sell a Child Care Center in Boston, MA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Buffalo, NY
- Sell a Child Care Center in Charlotte, NC
- Sell a Child Care Center in Chicago, IL
- Sell a Child Care Center in Cincinnati, OH
- Sell a Child Care Center in Cleveland, OH
- Sell a Child Care Center in Columbus, Ohio
- Sell a Child Care Center in Dallas, Texas
- Sell a Child Care Center in Denver, CO
- Sell a Child Care Center in Detroit, MI
- Sell a Child Care Center in Fresno, CA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Sell a Child Care Center in Houston, TX
- Sell a Child Care Center in Indianapolis, IN
- Sell a Child Care Center in Jacksonville, FL
- Sell a Child Care Center in Kansas City, MO
- Sell a Child Care Center in Las Vegas, Nevada
- Sell a Child Care Center in Los Angeles, California
- Sell a Child Care Center in Louisville, KY
- Sell a Child Care Center in Memphis, Tennessee
- Sell a Child Care Center in Miami, FL
- Sell a Child Care Center in Milwaukee, WI
- Sell a Child Care Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Sell a Child Care Center in Nashville, Tennessee
- Sell a Child Care Center in New York, NY
- Sell a Child Care Center in Oklahoma City, OK
- Sell a Child Care Center in Orlando, FL
- Sell a Child Care Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Sell a Child Care Center in Phoenix, Arizona
- Sell a Child Care Center in Pittsburgh, PA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Portland, OR
- Sell a Child Care Center in Providence, Rhode Island
- Sell a Child Care Center in Raleigh, North Carolina
- Sell a Child Care Center in Richmond, VA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Riverside, CA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Sacramento, California
- Sell a Child Care Center in Salt Lake City, UT
- Sell a Child Care Center in San Antonio, Texas
- Sell a Child Care Center in San Diego, CA
- Sell a Child Care Center in San Francisco, California
- Sell a Child Care Center in San Jose, CA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Seattle, WA
- Sell a Child Care Center in St. Louis, Missouri
- Sell a Child Care Center in Tampa, Florida
- Sell a Child Care Center in Virginia Beach, VA
- Sell a Child Care Center in Washington, DC