Thinking About Partnering with an ECE Investor? Critical Insights for Multi-Site Owners
Bringing in an investment partner can fuel a school’s growth far beyond what cash flow alone will support, but only when the partner is the right fit. In this webinar, Kathy Ligon of HINGE Early Education Advisors sits down with Nan Rikard, founder of Big Blue Marble Academy, who traces how she built a 24-site portfolio on a $100,000 credit line and landlord financing, what she did to prepare for a competitive investor process, and what changed after she sold a majority stake to a quality private equity partner.
Kathy and Nan stress the point that private equity is not one single kind of buyer, which means the diligence you run on a potential partner matters as much as being prepared for the diligence they run on you.
In this session, you’ll learn:
How to tell when organic growth has run its course for a multi-site school and when to bring on an investment partner
What to put in place before you go to market — for example, a deep leadership bench, EBITDA at the threshold investors look for, and operational systems that work cohesively
Which buyers typically compete for multi-site ECE schools, including strategic operators and private equity groups, and why running a process beats accepting the first knock on the door
The questions to ask investors before you partner, including short- and long-term goals, operating style, roles and responsibilities post-closing, and how potential issues would be handled, such as budget shortfalls or disagreements among leadership
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Having closed more than 350 early education transactions and created more than $1 billion in value for childcare sellers, HINGE has helped ECE owners maximize their business and real estate since 2003.
Have questions about selling your childcare business, leveraging your early education real estate, or preparing for a future transition? Contact us to speak with an experienced advisor.