Navigating the Business of Child Care Without Sacrificing Quality

Running a child care center is more than just a passion—it’s a business. But for many owners and directors, balancing financial success with high-quality early education can feel like an impossible challenge. How do you keep your program developmentally appropriate while also ensuring your center is profitable and sustainable?

At IKS Academy, we believe that child care businesses don’t have to choose between quality and financial success. That’s why we recently hosted an insightful conversation with Evelyn Knight, founder of Child Care Business Professionals, TEDx speaker, and experienced child care center owner. Evelyn has dedicated her career to helping child care leaders build strong, thriving programs that serve children, families, and staff—without burning out in the process.

The Biggest Challenges in Child Care Business

Many child care owners and directors enter the field because they love working with children, not necessarily because they have a background in business. However, success in early childhood education requires a balance of both.

Here are some common struggles child care leaders face:

• Financial stress – Struggling to set rates that reflect the true value of the program.

• Enrollment gaps – Difficulty maintaining full enrollment and managing waitlists effectively.

• Staff turnover – Challenges in retaining qualified teachers while maintaining a strong workplace culture.

• Parental expectations – Balancing developmental best practices with family demands for more structured academics.

  
  

How to Strengthen Your Child Care Business Without Sacrificing Quality

Evelyn shared key strategies that can help child care leaders strengthen their businesses while staying true to high-quality early education.

1. Shift Your Mindset from Educator to CEO

Your child care center isn’t just a classroom—it’s a business. That means:

• Understanding your finances and profitability metrics.

• Setting tuition rates that sustain your business, not just break even.

• Investing in marketing and automation to keep enrollments steady.

2. Educate Families on Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Many parents expect child care centers to mimic elementary school settings, but early childhood learning is different. Instead of changing your program to meet these expectations, focus on:

• Communicating the benefits of play-based learning.

• Hosting parent workshops to educate families on child development.

• Showcasing learning through documentation, portfolios, and progress reports.

3. Retain Staff by Creating a Culture of Growth

Your teachers are the foundation of your center’s success. To retain quality staff, you need to:

• Offer professional development and clear career growth opportunities.

• Provide competitive wages and benefits.

• Foster a supportive work environment that prioritizes teacher well-being.

4. Streamline Operations to Reduce Stress and Save Time

Many child care centers operate with outdated, inefficient systems that lead to extra work and stress. Implementing automated tools can:

• Simplify enrollment and waitlist management.

• Improve communication with families.

• Free up time for directors and staff to focus on quality care.

The Key Takeaway: You Can Have Both!

Watch the video here.

Schedule a demo with IntelliKid Systems here.