Family-Owned Preschool and Childcare Sold in Texas
HINGE Early Education Advisors is excited to announce the sale of Kid’s World Learning Center, a well-established, family-owned early education provider in Texas. Recognized for building a strong community reputation and maintaining the state’s highest childcare rating, owners Nancy and Rick Kodama were ready to pursue their next chapter — and were committed to ensuring the sale was handled professionally.
Laying the Groundwork Before the Sale
The Kodamas’ dedication to continually improving their organization laid the groundwork for a rewarding sale on their own terms. As leaders in the local childcare community, they understood the importance of investing in their business. They took full advantage of industry resources and events to sharpen their operations, including HINGE’s financial analysis and benchmarking insights as well as the SHIFT Childcare Leaders Conference. This ongoing work paid dividends when the time came to sell.
Kid’s World owners Rick and Nancy Kodama happily entrusted the HINGE Advisors team to lead the sale of their childcare business and real estate as they transition their legacy to a new operator.
Choosing the Right Path
As a high-quality program, the school had already attracted unsolicited interest from buyers before Nancy and Rick were ready to think about a transition.
“For years, corporate childcare organizations would reach out to us about acquiring our school,” the Kodamas share. “As we moved toward selling, going back to those buyers felt like the best place to start. They made us offers, and while the numbers looked good, we realized we’d be much better off bringing in professionals to lead the sale.”
Nancy and Rick spoke with various advisors to find the right fit.
“We knew we wanted to work with an advisor who has an excellent reputation in the industry. HINGE was a great match for us. They’re the total package!” they say.
Navigating the Texas Childcare Market
Texas presents distinct challenges for early education sellers. Major metros in the state are experiencing market oversaturation, and the expansion of universal Pre-K has created headwinds for private providers, limiting interest from traditional childcare buyers. For sellers in this environment, choosing the right advisor is critical.
The HINGE team came in with a keen understanding of the Texas childcare landscape — including which schools can be positioned to sell and what it takes to do so successfully.
Drawing on the school’s strengths, its large, purpose-built facility, and HINGE’s robust network of pre-qualified education buyers, the team surfaced interest from multiple groups. Not only did the HINGE team strategically negotiate competing offers to help the sellers land the most favorable deal, they managed the entire transaction process to alleviate the burden on the sellers and safeguard the value they worked years to build.
“HINGE runs like a five-star operation,” Nancy and Rick note. “Having the right people in our corner was a game-changer.”
Thinking About Selling Your Childcare?
As the nation’s leading early education transaction advisor, HINGE has a clear view of what buyers are looking for in Texas and across the country.
“We’re hearing from a lot of Texas childcare owners who are ready to exit, and the reality is that buyer interest is much more selective right now,” explains HINGE Transaction Team Leader Alec Ligon. “The schools attracting serious offers share common traits: a desirable location, large capacity, healthy enrollment, and strong financials. Regardless of your location, knowing where your school stands in the broader market puts you in the strongest position possible as a seller.”
Whether you’re ready to sell or just beginning to think about a transition, start by understanding what your school is worth. Explore our childcare business value calculator and reach out confidentially anytime!