Children's Lighthouse Rises to No. 267 on Franchise Times Top 400 List

Children’s Lighthouse, the early learning franchise, recently earned the No. 267 spot on the 2025 Franchise Times Top 400 list — a notable rise from its No. 292 ranking last year. The brand has steadily advanced year over year, underscoring its strong unit growth, impressive systemwide sales, and continued leadership in the early education space.

The Franchise Times Top 400 is one of the most trusted and data-driven rankings in the franchise industry, recognizing the largest United States-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales. According to Franchise Times, combined annual sales for all 400 companies grew by 1.2% in 2024, reaching $738.5 billion, with personal services — including early education and childcare — among the top-performing categories. Children’s Lighthouse reported $148.4 million in global sales, marking 12.9% sales growth and 8.7% unit growth.

Children’s Lighthouse was founded in 1997 by brothers Mike and Pat Brown in Fort Worth, Texas. The brand began franchising in 1999 and has since expanded to 75 franchised locations nationwide. Each school offers care for children from six weeks to 12 years old, guided by the brand’s proprietary curriculum designed to foster academic, social, and emotional growth.

As Children’s Lighthouse continues expanding across the U.S., its momentum — highlighted by this latest recognition — positions the brand as a premier choice for entrepreneurs seeking to invest in a recession-resistant, mission-driven, and community-focused franchise opportunity in the booming early education sector.