Unique Phoenix Preschool Sold in Record Time
HINGE Advisors is extremely proud to announce the sale of Natural Choice Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. With HINGE's experts leading the process, this transaction closed in a record-setting 46 days from the time of a signed Letter of Intent to the day of closing and funding.
Ted and Genna Batycki founded Natural Choice Academy in 2011 to provide a unique educational experience for their own children. The school's focus on mind, body, and spirit in a natural, organic environment has made it a top preschool destination for hundreds of families and teachers for over a decade.
"Saying goodbye to the 'baby' we built isn't easy. But we knew it was the right time to transition NCA's ownership into new hands so we can focus on our 'babies' at home," says Ted. "We're looking forward to new adventures while our kids are adolescents and still young enough to soak up the world."
The Preschool Sale of a Lifetime
"We knew selling our school, which was so deeply ingrained in our family, would be the biggest transaction of our lives and so much more than a business deal," says Genna. "We talked with several brokers and discovered HINGE really is in a league of its own with shrewd financial acumen and a soft human touch."
The Batyckis approached the sale with the same kind of savvy that built Natural Choice Academy into the thriving school it is today. Knowing the full value of the school as well as the impact of their decision on the future of students and staff, they relied on the HINGE team to navigate an increasingly complex transaction process and ensure a successful deal.
"If I was going to climb Mt. Everest, I'd want help from someone who's done it before. This was our Mt. Everest, and HINGE was our sherpa. They know which paths to take, where you can take risks, where things might get difficult, and how to keep you on track," Ted adds.
Under the leadership of Transaction Advisor Wes Simmons, HINGE took Natural Choice Academy to market confidentially. Positioning the school strategically yielded numerous highly competitive offers. Evaluating these offers against their priorities, Ted and Genna ultimately selected a national early education provider as their successor.
Selling with Speed and Quality
"Finding the right buyer and landing an amazing deal on paper is only half the battle. Most owners don't realize how challenging it can be in today's environment to get to the finish line, let alone quickly," explains Simmons. "Ted and Genna understood this and were prepared to let us do what we do best. Thanks to a trifecta of efficiency and competency on every end — seller, buyer, and broker — we were able to finalize an amazing deal in six and a half weeks."
A full team of HINGE's early childhood education business experts facilitated this transaction, including Simmons, Financial Analyst Marnie Rhen, Diligence Manager Carrie Pergerson, and others.
While every early education transaction is different, it’s not uncommon for transactions industry-wide to close anywhere from 90 to 150 days after the signing of a Letter of Intent, depending on the circumstances. This accounts for a standard due diligence period, including Quality of Earnings diligence and meticulous review of legal agreements, as well as the buyer licensing process.
The Value of an Early Education Transaction Advisor
"You don't get a deal done this fast just because of the buyer and seller. It's because of the people in the middle, too. We could have gone to a buyer directly, and I'm so glad we didn't," notes Ted. "HINGE provided enormous value to every step of the process and supported us in every way imaginable. We were more than happy to pay HINGE's fee after all they did for us. We definitely got our money's worth and then some."
If you're a preschool owner ready to exit or explore your options for selling, contact us confidentially. We're here to help guide you, no strings attached.