[section type=”Hero”]

ICA Child Care logo

Stronger Together

Business solutions that make child care work for owners and workers

[section type=”Four-Column-Panel” background=”white”]

Child Care Business Resilience Program for Retiring Owners
Learn More

Covid-19 Exacerbates a Looming Crisis in Child Care
Read ICA’s statement


Find out how ICA can support your child care business  

Transition

I own a child care center and I want to sell it to my employees

Retire

I own a child care center and I’m thinking about retirement

Connect

I operate a family child care home and I want to strengthen my business

[section type=”Four-Column-Panel” background=”grey” name=”transition”]

Employee Ownership for Child Care Businesses

Many child care business owners expect to one day sell their business to a family member, employee, or an outside buyer. But finding a single buyer with the resources, skills, and vision to carry the business forward is not an easy feat. Creating an employee-owned cooperative by selling the business to workers offers another path—one that helps owners meet their financial goals while providing lasting benefits for workers, families, and communities.

Drawing of a building

Selling Owners

secure the legacy they’ve built, exit on their timeline, and receive a fair return from the sale of the business

Drawing of people around a table

Employees

retain jobs, build wealth through equity in the business, and gain a seat at the decision-making table

Drawing of adult and child holding hands

Families

are reassured that their chosen child care provider is not going to change its staff, values, or quality of care

Drawing of hands cradling a heart

Communities

retain jobs, build wealth through equity in the business, and gain a seat at the decision-making table

Contact us to explore whether employee ownership is right for you.

[section type=”single-Column-Panel” background=”white”]

Group photo of the worker-owners at Childspace


Employee Ownership Works
Childspace, Philadelphia PA

Employee-owned since 1988, this multi-site business now serves over 200 families. Childspace enjoys half the staff turnover of other child care businesses, and staff earn more than the industry average.

Learn More – see our resources on worker cooperatives in the child care industry

[section type=”single-Column-Panel” background=”grey” name=”retire”]

A Better Option for Retirement

Planning Your Transition to Employee Ownership

What kind of legacy do you want to leave? Employee ownership is a powerful child care succession strategy that offers a fair return and more flexibility than other business transfer options. Through employee ownership, you can ensure the continuation of the quality child care programs and workplace culture you’ve built, while rewarding loyal staff with the opportunity to become business owners that share in profits and decision making into the future.

How can we help?


ICA consultants offer support to 50 child care businesses every year. We partner with owners and employees to guide the process of transitioning to employee ownership by:

[section type=”single-Column-Panel” background=”white”]

Group photo of the worker-owners at Rose Garden


Leaving a Positive Legacy
Rose Garden, Buffalo NY

The Rose Garden transitioned to employee ownership in 2017 and five of seven employees now own the business. Employee-owners serve on the board, set organizational policy, and participate in community events to help grow the business.

Learn More – see our resources on exit planning with employee ownership

[section type=”Single-Column-Panel” background=”grey” name=”connect”]

Strengthening Family Child Care

The ICA Group is working to make it easier and more profitable to operate family child care homes.  We are creating purchasing cooperatives that offer shared services and resources that meet local needs. Through cooperatives, family child care businesses can maintain independence while lowering operating costs and raising profits.

CoRise Cooperative logo on left, person holding a drawing on right

CoRise Cooperative is building a provider-led network to ease providers’ administrative load and reduce other business-related burdens, while lowering their costs, and creating access to new forms of revenue for greater financial security.

Family child care providers in Chicago and Springfield, IL met to co-design digital tools for family child care providers.

Family Child Care Coalition logo on left, person looking at camera on right

The Family Child Care Coalition opens doors for family child care providers by offering unique professional development opportunities and sharing evidence-based practices to provide excellent care and elevate the family child care industry.

Video Profile: Laverne Cheeseboro from the Family Child Care Coalition shares why she’s working to build a network of support for family providers in Philadelphia.

[section type=”Four-Column-Panel” background=”white” name=”eoresources”]

Employee Ownership in Child Care

Go to Worker Ownership: What Does it Mean for Child Care Businesses? PDF
Go to Worker Ownership: What Does it Mean for Child Care Workers? PDF

Go to Six Myths about Worker Ownership for Child Care Businesses PDF
Go to The Rose Garden Early Childhood Center case study

[section type=”Four-Column-Panel” background=”grey” name=”retirementresources”]

Planning for Retirement and Business Transfer

Go to How Valuations Work for Child Care Businesses Part 2 of 3 YouTube video
Go to Exit Planning Options Chart PDF

Go to What's It Worth? Valuation Guide PDF
Go to Business Valuation 101 for Child Care Businesses Part 1 of 3 YouTube video
Go to Ensuring Your Legacy: Exit Planning Guide PDF
Go to Increasing the Value of Your Child Care Business Part 3 of 3 YouTube video
Go to resources

[background=”blue” name=”childcare_contact”]

Contact Us

Newsletter

Sign up for the ICA Group's newsletter to receive updates and learn more about how we advance businesses and institutions that center worker voice, grow worker wealth, and build worker power.

[section type=”Standard-Footer” background=”dark-blue”]