Lightbridge Academy Franchise

Core values and mission

A philosophy centered around a Circle of Care

Lightbridge Academy is The Solution For Working Parents® and so much more than just a daycare. The brand was built on a foundation of family values and provides high-quality educational programs along with nurturing care to all those in its Circle of Care - parents, children, staff, owners and the community.

“We are very careful about the franchisees we select to join our family,” Chief Development Officer Mark Mele said. “Of course, we want franchisees with a strong business acumen but most importantly, they need to be aligned with our core values and believe in our philosophy. Most things can be taught, however, alignment around values needs to exist before you start into a relationship of this type. Ultimately, all business decisions are made through this filter and that is why it is so important.”

Market demand and stability

Constant high demand for child care solutions

No matter what the economy, parents need child care in order to work. It is a “need,” not a “want” service. This bodes extremely well for a business like Lightbridge Academy, and the brand has even seen a high demand for quality child care during weaker labor markets.

“Not only is Lightbridge Academy The Solution for Working Parents®, but it is a recession-resistant franchise opportunity,” Mele said. “Our brand saw an uptick in demand during the ‘Great Recession,’ not a decline. Although there was a higher churn rate than we typically see, new families enrolled, so that’s another good reason to look into a franchise with us.”

A strong return on investment (ROI)

Lightbridge Academy is an excellent investment opportunity for franchisees who want a strong ROI.

“Lightbridge Academy is a five-day-a-week business with a good ROI,” Mele said. “We do compete with other franchise sectors, however, another benefit of child care is that it is not a cash business. This provides owners with a higher degree of security.”

Moreover, the financial burden of a child care franchise is different from those of restaurant or retail concepts. As Mele points out, “There is no food spoilage and there are no inventory requirements.”

Growth and investment opportunities

Availability of prime territories

Lightbridge Academy was first founded in 1997 and currently has a footprint of over 100 centers either open, under construction or in development in markets across the U.S. The brand has a strong presence in and around its home state of New Jersey and is expanding rapidly along the Mid-Atlantic region.

The brand currently has franchising territories available in Florida, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Orlando and Washington, D.C.

Major franchisee lifestyle benefits

Lightbridge Academy franchisees hire experienced Center Directors to support them in the management of day-to-day operations, Mele said. This enables franchisees to focus on the overall running and success of the business.

“Franchisees choose to get involved with Lightbridge Academy for a lot of different reasons, and I always say we are looking for investors who want to become engaged owners,” Mele said. “They are not running the day-to-day, but they are required to be engaged and make sure the center is creating the Lightbridge Academy culture of care, developing healthy relationships and attaining the key performance indicators (KPIs). A lot of prospective franchisees are attracted to that.”

The business model provides an attractive work/life balance. The regular hours of operation of 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday allow Lightbridge Academy franchisees to have evenings, weekends and major holidays off. Such independence and control contribute to overall franchisee satisfaction. Plus, the clientele is wonderful.

“Lightbridge Academy franchisees are all passionate about the care and education of children but supporting the needs of working parents is also very rewarding,” Mele said. “They truly appreciate the level of service and depend on the care that we provide. I truly can’t think of a better business opportunity.”

As a values-based organization that provides franchisees with an enviable work-life balance as well as a strong ROI, Lightbridge Academy is a franchise brand to watch in 2020 and beyond.