Sell or Partner: Should I Sell My Early Education Business or Seek a Strategic Equity Investment?
For many early education owners, deciding whether to sell your business and real estate or seek a growth partner can be a difficult choice. Your school is thriving, operations are running smoothly, and revenue is strong. Do you cash out and move on to a new venture,or do you continue to grow and expand on your vision?
Sell vs. Partnering: What Each Path Entails
When deciding whether to sell your early education business or bring on an investor, it’simportant to understand what each path involves.
Selling: Transfers 100% ownership of your school(s) to a strategic buyer. This pathallows you to fully step away from your business. You transition out of the day-to-day operations and gain the financial security and freedom to start a new chapter. If you’reseeking immediate liquidity and a clean transition, selling may be the best fit.
Partnering: A strategic equity investment is a growth-focused collaboration. This path involves selling a majority stake in your business to a private equity (PE) partner. You retain partial ownership and remain involved in the operations, but now have access to resources, systems, and capital to expand your brand. Over time, this partnership can lead to greater profitability and a second, often larger, payout when you fully exit.If you’re energized by growth and want to scale with support, a PE partnership could be the right move.
Why ECE Owners Choose to Sell
Selling your early education business outright to a strategic buyer is often the best choice for owners who are:
Ready to retire or step away from daily management.
Focused on liquidity and minimizing future risk.
Looking for a trusted buyer who will preserve their culture and quality of care.
A well-executed sale can deliver immediate financial reward and long-term stability. Strategic buyers often integrate your school into a larger organization, offering operational efficiencies while maintaining continuity for staff and families. It’s a fulfilling way to realize the value of your hard work and leave your business in capable hands.
Why ECE Owners Choose to Partner
Partnering with a private equity firm to grow your early education business is often the best option for owners who are:
Energized about growth but need capital and resources to scale.
Interested in sharing risk while benefiting from future upside.
Seeking infrastructure support in areas like marketing, HR, or finance.
By selling a portion of the business, you reduce personal financial exposure while staying actively involved in the decision-making. With added resources and strategic direction, many owners see accelerated growth and a more lucrative second exit down the road. This option is ideal for owners who want to expand their impact, not retire from it.
Key Considerations for Selling or Partnering
When deciding whether to sell or partner your early education business, make sure to ask yourself:
What are my personal and professional goals? Am I ready to move on, or do I want to stay involved in growing my ECE business?
What’s my risk tolerance? Am I comfortable tying some of my return to unknown future outcomes?
What type of buyer or partner aligns with my culture and values?
How important is control to me? Am I open to sharing decision-making power?
Your answers will point you to the path that best fits your timeline, values, and goals.
HINGE Advisors Can Help
The question for ECE owners isn’t just whether to sell, it’s often what future you want for your business. A full sale may provide closure and financial independence, while a strategic partnership may unlock new growth and shared success.
At HINGE Early Education Advisors, we work exclusively in early education transactions and have strong relationships with more than 650 strategic buyers and private equity investors. Our team can help you evaluate all strategic options for maximizing the value of your school(s) and make the right decision at the right time… for your business, your people, and yourself.
Get in touch with our team of early education transaction experts at 864-664-3877 or contact us online.