Top Reasons to Start a Daycare Franchise in Ohio

December 9, 2025

1. Critical Demand + Supply Gap

Childcare desert problem: Nearly 39% of Ohioans live in a “childcare desert”, where there are too few licensed daycare slots relative to the number of young children. Policy Matters Ohio+2Dayton Chamber+2
Closures are growing: Since 2020, more than 380 daycare centers in Ohio have shut down, largely due to staffing challenges and low profitability. News 5 Cleveland WEWS
Under-investment in infrastructure: Many regions, especially rural ones, lack quality, accessible childcare — leaving an opening for new, well-run operations. Policy Matters Ohio+2Dayton Chamber+2

Because the supply is lagging, a strong franchise brand could scale to fill unmet demand — especially in underserved or expanding communities.

2. Economic & Social Impact

Huge cost to the economy: Ohio loses an estimated $5.48 billion per year due to child- care-related turnover, absenteeism, and lost tax revenue. Spectrum News 1
Childcare as workforce infrastructure: Providing reliable daycare frees parents (especially mothers) to return to or remain in the workforce, which strengthens local economies. The Conference Board+1
Business-friendly climate: Ohio ranks highly among states for starting a small business. Ohio Capital Journal
Community value: Daycare isn’t just a business — it’s a public-good lever. With quality childcare, you contribute to education, child development, and long-term community well-being.

3. Strong Financial Opportunity

Growing willingness to pay: Childcare costs in Ohio have risen — for many families, quality care is a major expense. Spectrum News 1
Revenue potential: Well-run daycare centers (especially under a proven franchise brand) can generate healthy margins when scaling. (Franchisees benefit from brand recognition, operational systems, and marketing.)
Grant / subsidy support: Ohio has various subsidy programs, and government funding can help offset costs or support expansion. MyKidReports Website
Sustainable labor force: While staffing is a challenge, a franchise can offer more competitive wages, training, and career paths — helping to reduce turnover.

4. Regulatory & Operational Support

Existing infrastructure: There are frameworks for licensing, training, and compliance. For instance, 4C for Children offers training modules for childcare providers. Daycare Business Boss
Established best practices: A franchise model gives you access to tested curricula, safety protocols, staffing models, and parent-engagement strategies — reducing risk compared to starting a brand-new independent daycare.
Scalability: Once you build one successful center, franchising gives a clear path to replicate in other Ohio markets (or even beyond), leveraging economies of scale.

5. Social Mission + Legacy Business

Make a difference: Daycare is deeply meaningful — you’re shaping young lives, academic readiness, and social-emotional growth.
Long-term value: A daycare built on quality and trust can become a pillar of the community; parents, schools, and even local governments may see it as part of their educational ecosystem.
Brand loyalty: High-quality daycare franchises can build strong relationships with families, leading to multi-year enrollments and word-of-mouth growth.

6. Risks — And Why a Franchise Helps Mitigate Them

Staffing shortages: Many independent centers struggle to hire and retain quality educators. But a franchise system can invest in recruitment, training, and retention programs more effectively.
Regulatory compliance: State licensing, safety regulations, and reporting can be complex. Franchises often come with compliance frameworks already built-in.
Market risk: While demand is high, not all locations are equal. A franchise’s market research and site-selection support can help minimize risk by choosing neighborhoods with real need.
Capital intensity: Real estate, equipment, staffing — daycare isn’t cheap to launch. But franchisors may offer financing support, bulk purchasing, or preferred vendor relationships that independent operators can’t access.

7. Timing Is Opportunistic

We are at a critical inflection point in Ohio’s childcare system:

Many daycare centers have closed, shrinking supply. News 5 Cleveland WEWS
Costs for parents are rising sharply. Spectrum News 1
Policymakers and business leaders are increasingly talking about childcare as a workforce issue — not just a family issue. Dayton Chamber+1

This creates a first-mover opportunity for a well-branded, professionally run daycare franchise to scale, fill the gap, and become part of the solution.

Conclusion

Opening a daycare franchise in Ohio isn’t just a smart business move — it’s a socially impactful investment. With strong demand, a fragile existing supply, and favorable economic tailwinds, a franchise can:

generate significant financial returns,
support working families,
contribute to the local economy, and
make a positive difference in early childhood education.

If you’re passionate about early learning and are looking for a business with both profit potential and purpose, Ohio’s childcare landscape is begging for leaders — a daycare franchise might be your way in.