Southeast’s Leading Child Care M&A Advisor Since 1995

The Child Care M&A Advisor Owners Trust When It’s Time to Sell

Thirty years of child care specialization. Honest valuations. Seller-only representation. And the market intelligence to tell you exactly what your business is worth — and who will actually buy it.

Donna S. Dailey

M.Ed., LREB, BEC, SBA, CVA, CBEA

30+

Years of exclusive child care specialization

5

State area with deep market knowledge

100%

Seller only representation – always

Free

Confidential owner initial consultation

Southeast’s Leading Child Care M&A Advisor Since 1995

The child care M&A market is not what most brokers will tell you

You may have heard that private equity is buying up child care businesses everywhere — that early education is the “darling of the PE world.” Some of that is true. Most of it is not, and believing it leads to bad decisions: overpriced listings, false expectations, and years of frustration waiting for a buyer who was never going to show up.

After 30 years of representing child care owners, I know exactly what buyers are actually purchasing and what your business can realistically expect. Here is what the market actually looks like for independent, centers today.

55 - 60%

Individual owner-operators

The largest buyer pool by far. Experienced childcare professionals, directors stepping up to ownership, and career changers. They use SBA financing and require a business with documented profitability.

25 - 30%

Regional operators and small chains

Multi-site operators expanding within a metro. More flexible than PE, willing to consider upside. Still require private-pay dominant revenue and a fundamentally sound operation.

10 - 15%

PE-backed national chains

The buyers most brokers lead with — but the smallest segment. Highly selective: $1,100+/month private-pay tuition, 75%+ occupancy, minimal subsidy, $200K+ EBITDA. No turnarounds.

The bottom line: I estimate approximately 150 independent centers in my five-state territory meet PE acquisition criteria. That is out of 2,000+ large centers on my market list. If yours is one of them, I will position it aggressively for institutional buyers. If it is not — and most are not — I will tell you honestly, identify your real buyer, and help you achieve the best outcome that market actually supports.

WHICH SELLER ARE YOU?

I work with child care owners at every stage — not just those ready to list today

The right path forward depends entirely on where your business stands today and how far you are from your exit. Read each profile and find the one that most closely matches you.

The premium seller — PE and institutional buyer market High private-pay tuition • 75%+ occupancy • $200K+ EBITDA

You are in the top 10–15% of independent centers. A competitive process positioned correctly can produce 4.5–7× EBITDA multiples. You need representation that understands how PE acquisition processes work and what institutional due diligence actually looks like.

The solid seller — individual and regional buyer market 65–80% occupancy • Private pay majority • $120K–$200K SDE (Seller Discretionary Earnings)

PE buyers will most likely not be your buyer — and that is fine. Your market is individual owner-operators and regional chains, and it is real and active. You need honest pricing grounded in comparable sales data, SBA and conventional financing expertise, and a broker who knows how to close these transactions.

The value-builder — preparing for a better exit Occupancy below target • Financial cleanup needed • 2–4 years out

Your business has real value, but it is not ready for the market today. The gap between where you are and a premium sale is closeable — with the right guidance and enough runway. The BetterExits Advisory Program is structured exactly for your situation.

The early planner — 4–5 years out, starting now Business performing • Long runway • Wants maximum value at exit

The owners who achieve the best outcomes start planning 4–5 years before they go to market. You are smart enough to know that. A current valuation, a clear picture of what moves your multiple, and a structured preparation plan are where we start.

TRACK RECORD

Representative transactions

All transactions are confidential by default. The following represents a selection of recently closed engagements.

Georgia Multi Site

Business and real property sold as a combined transaction. Competitive process produced multiple offers above initial direct-buyer inquiry.

North Carolina Single Site

Sold to regional operator following competitive process with multiple qualified buyers. Owner represented exclusively by Donna Dailey.

South Carolina Single Site

To carry on the program and legacy she had built, the owner desired to transfer to a private individual. Owner represented exclusively by Donna Dailey.

Preschool with 30+ year operating history

Owner had received direct unsolicited approach before engaging Donna. Competitive process resulted in materially improved terms and sale price.

Large franchised child care business

Large franchise child care business transferred to buyers looking to buy their first child care business.

Georgia Two Sites

Portfolio sale to PE-backed acquirer. Donna managed full competitive process including buyer qualification, due diligence, and licensing transfer coordination.

ALL CHILDCARE SPECIALTY SERVICES

A complete range of child care business advisory services

Every service is built around one goal: helping child care business owners make the best possible decisions about the most significant financial event of their professional lives.

Child Care Business Brokerage

Seller-only representation for child care business sales. Confidential marketing, buyer qualification, transaction management, and regulatory guidance through closing. Specializing in childcare exclusively since 1995.

Learn More —

Business Valuation

Certified and non-certified valuation reports for child care businesses and real estate. SDE and EBITDA analysis, comparable transaction benchmarking, and value enhancement recommendations grounded in 30 years of market data.

Learn More —

Exit Strategy Planning

Structured preparation for owners 2–5 years from their exit. A clear plan for building value, documenting operations, and preparing the business for a premium sale — built around your specific timeline and goals.

Learn More —

Child Care Real Estate

Sale, purchase, and sale-leaseback of child care special-use real estate. Purpose-built child care facilities often represent the most significant asset in a transaction — they deserve a specialist’s attention.

Learn More —

Pre-Acquisition Analysis

Comprehensive analysis for buyers evaluating a child care acquisition: certified valuation, market and competition assessment, financial review, and due diligence checklist. Do not buy without knowing what you are actually purchasing.

Learn More —

Business Performance Consulting

For owners who need to improve financial performance before a sale. Revenue growth, expense management, occupancy improvement, and operational systems — the work that builds value before you go to market.

Learn More —

CHILDCARE EXIT STRATEGY PLANNING

Certified BetterExits Advisors™

Structured exit preparation with monthly accountability — not just advice

Most child care owners who contact me are not ready to go to market today. Their enrollment may be below target, their financial records need work, or their operations are too dependent on them personally. That is exactly where the right preparation begins.

Through the BetterExits Advisory Program™, I work with you monthly over 12–36 months: tracking your Exit Readiness Score, building your buyer-ready data room, and guiding you through the specific preparation that produces a premium sale. Monthly advisory fees are credited against my brokerage commission at closing.

THREE PROGRAM TIERS

Tier 1 – Readiness

4–5 years from exit • 12-month program

Tier 2 – Value Acceleration

18- 36 months from exit • 12 to 18 -month program

Tier 3 – Transaction

6 -18 months from exit • 6 to 18 – month program

WHY SOLUTIONS 4 CHILD CARE

What 30 years of exclusive child care specialization actually means for you

Childcare only - specialist

I sell child care businesses exclusively. Not restaurants, not dental practices, not franchises. That specialization is the foundation of every advantage I provide: regulatory knowledge, buyer relationships, valuation accuracy, and 30 years of transaction experience in this one industry.

A real, qualified buyer network

Three decades of transactions has built relationships with individual buyers, regional operators, and institutional acquirers who trust my listings. Your business reaches buyers who cannot be found through public marketplace postings or general broker databases.

Confidentiality protection built for childcare

A breach of confidentiality in a child care sale can cost you enrolled families, staff, and significant business value before you ever close. My systems for protecting seller confidentiality are built specifically for this industry and its unique vulnerabilities.

Seller-only representation

I do not represent buyers on some transactions and sellers on others. I never simultaneously represent the buyer who wants to purchase your business. Your interests and the buyer’s interests are always different in a transaction. You deserve an advisor whose fiduciary obligation is entirely to you — not split between both sides of the table.

Honest valuation from the start

I will not inflate your valuation to win your listing. Overpriced businesses sit on the market and eventually sell for less than a realistic listing would have produced. My valuations are grounded in actual child care transaction comparables — not optimistic projections.

BetterExits Certified Advisor

As the founder of BetterExits — a professional credentialing program for exit planning advisors — I bring a systematic, proven methodology to exit preparation that goes well beyond what traditional brokerage services provide.

RESOURCES FOR CHILD CARE OWNERS

Recent articles and market intelligence

Practical, honest information about child care business valuation, M&A, and exit planning — written for owners, not investors.

M&A Outlook

2026: What’s Ahead for Child Care Mergers and Acquisitions

An honest look at the forces shaping child care transactions in 2026 and beyond: enrollment trends, buyer appetite, PE activity, and what owners should be thinking about now.

Transaction Success

Understanding Small Business Transaction Success Rates

Why do so many child care business listings fail to close? The data on what separates successful transactions from ones that fall apart — and what you can do about it before you list.

Transaction Success

Understanding Small Business Transaction Success Rates

Why do so many child care business listings fail to close? The data on what separates successful transactions from ones that fall apart — and what you can do about it before you list.

Ready to find out what your child care business is worth?

The first conversation is always confidential and always free. Whether you are ready to list now, thinking about selling in a few years, or just want an honest assessment of where you stand — this is the right call to make.

Or email Donna directly. donnad@solutions4childcare.com