ChildCareOwner
CEO Certification
Profitability, and Sustainability in a Fast Changing World.
In the dynamic and competitive world of childcare, the role of an owner, director, or individual who dreams of managing or owning a childcare business is pivotal. They are responsible for making crucial decisions, managing the overall operations, and ensuring the company’s success. For childcare business owners and managers, taking the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification training is not just an option but a necessity.
A solid understanding of financial literacy is essential for any childcare business owner or manager. The ChildCareOwner CEO Certification covers comprehensive financial and business topics, including budgeting, financial reporting, risk management, calculating true cost of care, accurate tuition pricing, marketing, planning for capital expenditures, business valuation, and exit and succession planning. By gaining financial literacy and business acumen, childcare business owners can make better-informed decisions that optimize resources, maximize profitability, and ensure their childcare business’s financial health and stability. And increase the likelihood that they will be able to operate their childcare business for many years to come, meeting the needs for essential, high-quality care and early education in their community.
Lack of financial literacy and limited business acumen create many challenges for small business owners. These challenges make it difficult to address day-to-day business needs and operational changes. The lower the level of financial literacy, business acumen, and experience, the greater the challenges and likelihood of business failure.
- 16% find it difficult to implement and stick to a business budget
- 16% have difficulty understanding financial metrics
- 16% find cash flow management challenging
- 18% lack tax strategies and optimization
- 55% of business owners rate their financial literacy is “high”. (However, half, 50% face financial challenges in their business due to lack of financial literacy.)
- Only 38% have no reserve funds for business emergencies
- 16% have no plan for unexpected business expenses
Childcare business owners, like most small business owners, often lack formal business and financial literacy education. Although 32% of childcare business owners hold a bachelor’s degree, only 22% have a business degree. Most childcare owners and managers have an Early Childhood or Elementary Education Degree. This lack of business, and financial literacy training, leads to challenges in childcare business owners being able to financially manage their business, and create a financially healthy, sustainable business.
The childcare industry is an ever-evolving business landscape, and business owners, leaders, and managers must have the right skills and knowledge to consistently operate at high enrollment and ensure sound, healthy financial management while providing a safe and exceptional learning environment for children, employees, and parents.
The ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program is designed to equip childcare owners and managers with the expertise to thrive during good and bad economic times and all childcare business life cycle phases. This comprehensive program covers a broad spectrum of essential topics for effective childcare business financial literacy and management, cost to deliver care and profitability, cash flow management, addressing human resource challenges, marketing, budgeting and strategic planning, SMART growth, compliance, risk management, and building a valuable, saleable business asset that allows childcare owners to build wealth and plan for the next chapter of their lives or retirement.
Lack of financial literacy and business acumen has constantly challenged childcare owners.
However, the upheaval of the childcare industry associated with the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in high inflation and slowing economic conditions, and more childcare business owners than ever found themselves struggling to manage their businesses financially. Multiple federal and state rounds of grant programs provided much-needed funds to help stabilize childcare businesses in the short term. However, most grant programs have ceased, and childcare business owners are again struggling with low financial performance.
Grant funds 
were a blessing to most but were not a long-term solution. To use a familiar analogy, “Give a person a fish, and they will eat for a day. Teach a person to fish, and they will eat for life.” Grant funds allowed childcare business owners to continue to operate for a short time; however, the funds did not provide childcare owners with the knowledge and skills to manage their childcare business financially, providing lifelong business stability.
Hence, the next chapter of ChildCareOwner is the release of the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Course. Our goal is to “teach childcare business owners to fish” to provide the financial management training and skills necessary to allow them to create a financially viable, healthy business today and continue to operate at financially consistent levels in the future. With the input and expertise of many very experienced individuals in the childcare industry, the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Course will include 60+ hours of training focused on business aspects of childcare and the financial management of childcare businesses.
We are excited about conducting our first in-person session in early 2025 and are committed to making it the best! It will all focus on results, helping childcare business owners acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to create a financially healthy and sustainable business. Below is additional information about the curriculum, upcoming classes, and registration. We hope you will register for the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Course and be part of the continuation of the Why!
What's the Curriculum of the CEO Certification?
When asked to describe the curriculum of the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program, I start by saying, “Adults Learn By Doing.” This contrasts with passively listening to lectures or watching videos, often the key components of workshops and classroom training. Adults’ most effective learning environment includes hands-on activities, problem-solving, and experiential learning activities that allow for engagement.
In short, the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program involves lots of “learning by doing”! Once a student registers for the program, as part of the pre-class assignments, we have each person compile an extensive list of information about their specific child care business (financial information, enrollment, tuition rates, building square footage, room layouts, market area competitors, and many more things). As each concept is covered in the training, it is followed by an activity designed to apply the information learned by each student directly to their child care business.
The ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program aims to help individuals build a successful, profitable, financially sound, and sustainable child care business. What better way to do this than to have the opportunity to apply what is learned to their business immediately? We want attendees to return home with not just some notes scribbled in the margins of their workbook, not a long list of great ideas heard, but no clear understanding of how to implement. We want each student to understand what changes, listed by priority, they need to make, and exactly how to make those changes that will improve their child care business the most.
Everyone’s confidentiality is respected, and business information is never required to be shared with other students or the class. Students can share as much or as little as they are comfortable with. However, much can be gained from seeing firsthand how other child care owners and managers plan to implement the knowledge learned in their child care business.
Below, we share an outline of the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program curriculum and key knowledge our expert child care business instructors share during the training.
Planning, Budgeting, Calculating Cost of Care and Setting Tuition, Forecasting, and Tax Planning
Child Care Accounting, Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Ratios, Benchmarking & KPIs.
Cash flow management during good and back times. Increasing and maintaining cash flow.
An essential part of financial management is creating a profitable, sustainable business.
Managing business debt. Too much debt is a burden and a risk to a child care business.
Financial Risk Management. Poor financial risks management can lead to child care business failure.
A large percentage of the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program training focuses on helping childcare owners and managers with sound financial management, knowledge, and skills that will lead them to create a profitable, financially sustainable childcare business. Yes, we do math – but anyone who can add, subtract, divide, and apply common sense principles can successfully implement sound financial management in a child care business.
The ChildCareOwner experts make the application activities engaging and fun. After the program, each student has a more thorough understanding of the importance of financial management and the necessary skills. These financial skills can be followed daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly – no matter how long they own or manage their child care business. The financial knowledge and skills learned keep providing a return long after the training program has ended.
Expanding a child care business can be very exciting. However, following SMART Growth Guidelines is essential to success.
Effective risk management is 
often overlooked when achieving a successful child care business. In the dynamic landscape of child care services, unforeseen challenges and risks can arise, threatening the stability and growth of the business. Whether it’s regulatory changes, economic downturns, staff shortages, or unexpected emergencies, having a clear risk management strategy is essential to navigating uncertainties with resilience. Not effectively managing risk can lead to a crisis, business losses, and even business failure.
- Risk Management Strategies
- Identification of Key Risks
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Mitigation
- Risk Contingencies & Controls
- Monitoring and Review
Policies, procedures, and systems are essential to all well-operated businesses. Unfortunately, many child care businesses have limited policies, procedures, and systems in place other than those required by state licensing. We explore the importance of designing, implementing, and enforcing policies, procedures, and systems in all aspects of a child care business, which leads to better organization, profitability, consistency, and sustainability.
Human resource management in child care is more than hiring qualified professionals; it’s about nurturing their growth and ensuring their satisfaction and retention. This involves creating clear job descriptions, offering competitive wages and benefits, and maintaining open communication channels. Ultimately, investing in human resource management is an investment in the overall excellence and sustainability of the child care business.
Increasing profits and business value is the goal of most child care business owners. Your child care business is likely your largest investment and a substantial portion of your net worth. Therefore, it is important that you actively manage your business profits and its value.
Unfortunately, most childcare owners struggle with increasing business profits and often do not know the value of their childcare business or how to increase business value. Efforts to increase profits often only include focusing on increasing Gross Revenues, which may not be enough to increase profits. Increasing profits and business value requires focusing on the right things, which will impact maximizing profits.
Our Child Care Business Value Acceleration Program™ is a systemic process designed to improve profitability and value. A financially stronger and more valuable business will provide you with an asset you can sell, transition to the next generation, or continue to earn a high personal income.
DID YOU KNOW...50—90% OF YOUR PERSONAL WEALTH COULD BE TIED UP IN YOUR CHILD CARE BUSINESS?
Designing an Exit Strategy provides a transition plan for when you will leave your child care business and a plan for your financial future. As a child care business owner, you spend years, maybe even decades, growing your business. Moving on or selling it may not be on your mind currently, but considering an exit strategy and succession plan now will help you in the future. This training will provide a comprehensive transition strategy to support the best outcome for you and your business – no matter when you plan to exit your child care business.
- Business and Personal Assessments
- Define Goals and Objectives
- Explore Exit Options
- Transition Plan
- Address Legal, Financial & Tax Issues
Who should take this course?
Child Care Business Owners, Directors and Entrepreneur Dreamers
In the dynamic and competitive world of childcare, the role of an owner, director, or individual who dreams of managing or owning a childcare business is pivotal. You are responsible for making crucial decisions, managing the overall operations, and ensuring the company’s success. For childcare business owners and managers, taking the ChildCareOwner CEO Certification training is not just an option but a necessity to stay ahead and lead their enterprises to new heights.
1. Improving Strategic Thinking
One of the primary benefits of the ChildCareOwner CEO certificate training is enhancing strategic thinking. Childcare business owners and managers often get entangled in day-to-day operations, losing sight of the bigger picture. The ChildCareOwner CEO training programs are designed to refine strategic planning skills, helping childcare leaders think long-term, anticipate market trends, and devise innovative growth strategies.
2. Enhancing Leadership Skills
Corporate governance involves the systems, processes, and policies by which a childcare business is operated. Understanding corporate governance is vital for CEOs to ensure compliance with legal and licensing requirements, uphold ethical standards, and maintain stakeholder trust. The ChildCareOwner CEO training delves into corporate governance principles, equipping business owners with the knowledge to implement best practices and safeguard their organization’s integrity.
3. Building Financial Acumen
A solid understanding of financial management is essential for any childcare business owner or manager. The ChildCareOwner CEO Certification covers comprehensive financial topics, including budgeting, financial reporting, investment strategies, and risk management. By gaining financial literacy, childcare business owners can make informed decisions that optimize resources, maximize profitability, and ensure the financial health of the childcare business.
4. Expanding Knowledge of Corporate Governance
Corporate governance involves the systems, processes, and policies by which a childcare business is operated. Understanding corporate governance is vital for CEOs to ensure compliance with legal and licensing requirements, uphold ethical standards, and maintain stakeholder trust. The ChildCareOwner CEO training delves into corporate governance principles, equipping business owners with the knowledge to implement best practices and safeguard their organization’s integrity.
5. Networking Opportunities
The ChildCareOwner CEO Certification attracts a diverse group of childcare professionals nationwide. Participating in such programs provides childcare business owners with valuable networking opportunities, allowing them to connect with peers, mentors, and industry experts. These connections can lead to collaborations, partnerships, and exchanging ideas, further enriching the childcare business owner’s and manager’s knowledge and experience.
6. Enhancing Crisis Management Skills
In today’s ever-changing childcare business environment, crises are inevitable. How a childcare owner or manager handles a crisis can make or break a business. The ChildCareOwner CEO training includes crisis management training and teaching business owners how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected events. Effective crisis management skills enable CEOs to mitigate risks, maintain business continuity, and protect their company’s reputation in the community and licensing agencies.
7. Improving Communication Skills
Clear and effective communication is a hallmark of successful leadership. The ChildCareOwner CEO training programs emphasize the importance of communication skills, providing techniques for articulating vision, negotiating deals, and resolving conflicts. Childcare business owners and managers who master these skills can foster transparency, build strong relationships with stakeholders, and create an environment of trust and collaboration.
Some things you will master during our course:
Financial Management and Analysis. How to accurately calculate the true cost o to deliver care in each classroom and program. Providing a firm financial framework for developing tuition rates to cover all cost of care plus a return on investments and profits for savings and future expenditures.
Strategic Thinking and Planning. Learn a strategic framework for planning, minimizing risk and developing both short-term and long-term plans for maximzing childcare business performance.
Leadership and Team Management. Leading a team of often diverse individuals requires extensive people skills. You'll learn how to effectively communicate with individuals, teams and groups of employees. How to inspire, resolve conflict and gain buy in and support.
Corporate Governance. Business ownership and management requires set operating procedures and policies to minimize risk and legal issues. Compliance and following proven procedures is essential in a childcare business.
Increased Confidence. We often Don't Know What We Don't Know. Knowing, learning, understanding, developing new skills increases confidence and professional and personal development.
Problem Solving. Childcare is a dynamic, ever changing industry and business. You'll learn techniques for help you quick access, adjust and adapt. Our training uses real world examples and case studies that will develop your ability to address complex business problems.
ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program Sponsor
Little something about the creators, instructors and guest experts of the program.
Donna Dailey M.Ed., LREB, SBA, BEC, CVA – Founder & CEO of ChildCareOwner.com
Donna has 30 years of experience in child care mergers and acquisitions, and commercial and child care real estate. Donna has been helping people buy, sell, and improve child care businesses since 1995.
As a business analyst, Donna has helped hundreds of childcare owners improve their child care businesses’ profitability, financial health, and value.
Donna focuses on creating more ChildCareOwner.com resources and training programs that support the creation of more independent childcare business success stories. And the continued growth of the specialized childcare advisory services available through ChildCareOwner.com
Former Multi Location Child Care Owner
Business Consultant
Cindy Gibbons is a recently retired childcare business owner. She has over 40 years of experience in the early education field. Starting as a classroom teacher, her desire and love for the field led her quickly to a management position and then to her dream of ownership. In 2005 she opened her first childcare center location with a passion to provide a quality early learning center that best supported the families of the community. After years of successful ownership and community support, she opened her second center in 2013. With her and the support of her staff, both facilities received state-level recognition and program awards.
After 40 years in the field of early education, it is now time to support the future leaders of early childhood education by sharing her knowledge and real-life experiences of efficiently managing financially secure childcare businesses.
Cindy Lehnhoff
Director of NCCA
Advocacy, HR & Leadership
Cindy Lehnhoff has been a leader in the child care industry for nearly 40 years, with extensive experience in early childhood education, accreditation, and advocacy. She began her career in 1980 as a Preschool Teacher for La Petite Academy (LPA) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Over the next 36 years, she advanced through multiple leadership roles, including Center Director, District Manager, Division Director, and ultimately Division Vice President for Learning Care Group (LCG), overseeing operations across 12 states. She retired from LCG in 2016 as Division Vice President for Georgia, Florida, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
Cindy has a deep passion for improving the quality of early care and education. She played a key role in guiding numerous child care centers through state Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS) and national accreditation processes. Under her leadership, over 100 centers achieved accreditation from the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA).
Her commitment to advocacy and policy is evident through her long-standing involvement with several national and state organizations. She has served on the boards of:
- Oklahoma Child Care Association (1995-2009)
- Governor’s Advisory Board in Oklahoma (2000-2009)
- National Child Care Association (NCCA) (1995-2000; 2019-present)
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA) (2001-present)
- Frog Street’s Early Childhood Curriculum Advisory Board (2022-present)
- The Compliance Alliance Advisory Board (2024-2025)
Since August 2019, Cindy has served as the Director of the National Child Care Association, where she has been instrumental in revitalizing its advocacy efforts on behalf of child care owners, providers, and educators. Additionally, she continues to serve as a Policy Advisor for NECPA, furthering her mission to elevate early childhood education standards nationwide.
Donna Marcus, CIC
Child Care Insurance
Donna Marcus-Doughten, CIC is the CEO of Phoenix Associates Insurance Agency a family-owned company in business for over 40 years!
Donna specializes in insurance programs for Private Schools & Child Care Centers throughout the state of Georgia and the Southeast.
Ann Nonemaker
VP Business Development – Celtic Bank
National SBA Lender
Ann has a significant banking background, 20 years of which have been in SBA lending. Ann offers insight-driven perspective and solution-focused expertise
with business acquisitions, commercial real estate purchases, construction & renovation, and expansion capital for business growth.
She supports clients nationwide and has been instrumental in helping clients achieve financial success.
Industry Guest Experts
2025 Session Dates
July 21st - 25th, 2025 Atlanta, GA
Sept. 15th - 19th, 2025 New Orleans
Nov. 10th - 14th, 2025 Coming Soon
First Qtr 2026 Coming Soon
Tuition is $2,950.00
Tuition includes 20+ hours of pre-class and post-class online training modules, plus 40+ hours in class, live instruction, all workbooks, handouts, case studies, training materials, quizzes, and the final exam. Tuition does not include travel, hotel, meals, or other expenses. Participants are responsible for scheduling all travel, transportation, lodging, and costs. The ChildCareOwner CEO Certification Program is available to qualifying owners and managers of independent and franchised childcare businesses. Additional information and an application for admission can be found on the ChildCareOwner.com Website.
