How Housewives Can Start a Preschool Franchise in India

How Can Housewives Start A Preschool Franchise?

For many housewives, running a business isn't just for the money. This may be a means of self-reliance, to harness pre-existing abilities and to produce something useful to the community. A preschool can provide that opportunity if it becomes a business and an early childhood educator.

Setting up a preschool is more than just playing with children, however. It takes planning, investment, staff management, parent communication and children's knowledge of safety and learning needs.

Why Is A Preschool Franchise A Business Opportunity For Women?

Preschools are crucial in children's early learning. The Ministry of Women and Child Development in India acknowledges the importance of early childhood care and education and offers a national framework as well as play based learning resources for young children.

If women are looking at the direction of women entrepreneurship in education, a preschool franchise could hold a number of advantages:

A structured starting point: If you are starting from a franchise, there will be a curriculum, operating procedures and teaching guidance provided for you.
Training and support: some brands provide training in preschool operation, teaching techniques, admissions and marketing.
Community links: A preschool can establish links with parents and families in your neighbourhood.
Enrichment in business skills: Staff management, budgets, marketing and day to day running can provide good experience in business.
Expand scope: You may consider expansion to other programmes or centres as you have the resources and are in a franchise agreement.

These are possible gains and not assurances. Preschools must be successful because of local demand, the cost of running the school and the quality of the staff and management of the school.

Step 1: Understand How A Preschool Franchise Works

Get a clear idea of the difference between an independent preschool and a choice of a franchise before investing.

An independent preschool provides you with more control over the branding, curriculum and business decisions. But you need to create your own system, teaching materials and marketing strategy.

A preschool franchise for women provides access to a proven brand and can provide:

Curriculum and teaching resources
Preschool setup guidance
Support for teachers' recruitment and training
The brand and marketing materials.
Admission processes
Operational support
Advise on parent communication.

Step 2: Decide How Much Time You Can Commit

The first one that might come to mind is: How much daily involvement are you looking for?

The general solutions are:

Owner-managed preschool

You are actively involved in the daily activities, admissions, staff co-ordination, parent meetings, finances and centre operations.

This might be appropriate for someone who wants to be closely involved in developing the business and who has the time available to do it.

Owner with a centre manager

You hire a competent centre head to run the business and you focus on the finances, business planning, marketing, and periodic reviews.

This is flexible, but it comes at a higher cost for staffing. It will also need a solid management system and a reporting structure.

Both are not totally passive. The owner is still responsible for significant business decisions and supervision even when he or she has a centre manager.

Step 3: Research Your Local Market

The geographical site of a preschool may have an impact on the acceptance of the preschool and on the costs and viability of the school.

Before selecting a house or flat to live in, research the area and ask the questions:

Do there seem to be enough families with young children in the area?
What preschool/daycare services are currently available?
How much do competing centres charge?
Do parents want pre-school programmes or 'extended day'?
Do parents have access to the site at drop off and collection time?
Do you have a suitable property that you can afford?

Don't select a site just because it's convenient. Convenience is important; but not at the expense of meeting demand, competition, rent and property suitability.

Step 4: Plan Your Preschool Franchise Investment

A business plan is essential to the preschool business opportunity. There is no cap on how much you will invest in the franchise.

There are several factors to consider for costs, depending on the brand and property:

Initial franchise fee
Cost of rent deposit or property expenses.
Interior working, preparation of classrooms
Furniture and learning materials
Play equipment for indoors and outdoors.
Safety measures and CCTV.Safety policies and CCTV.
Finding and paying staff.Recruiting and paying staff.
Training
Marketing and launch activities
Enrollments and membership dues.
The initial operating period working capital.

For instance, Makoons mentions in its franchise information that the overall investment range in the franchise is around ₹12 lakh to ₹25 lakh. This amount may fluctuate depending on location, size of the property and other factors. Use this as a reference for price, rather than a standard price for all preschool franchises.

When making an offer, ask for an itemised quotation. Maintain an operating reserve to allow for covering of rent, salaries and other costs as admissions increase.

Step 5: Explore Funding And Business Support

Consider financing options if you do not wish to invest the money personally.

Potential routes include:

Business Loan from a bank.
A loan with a co-applicant (where appropriate)
A joint venture with a family member or business partner.
Government supported entrepreneurship/ credit programmes that are eligible
Higher personal savings and reduced loan amount

The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) has been incubated at NITI Aayog and has been converted to a public-private partnership (P-Partnership), which helps provide access to information and opportunities for support in the form of mentorship, funding-related resources and business networks.

Its resources are available for exploration at WEP.

There are certain rules that need to be followed in order to be eligible for Government schemes, and not all preschool franchises and/or applicants will be eligible. Make sure you verify the prevailing conditions in the official portals or the bank where the loan/ subsidy is offered before incorporating the subsidy/ loan benefit in your business plan.

Step 6: Choose The Right Franchise Brand

Avoid choosing a franchise by advertisements, brand or the promise of "quick money".

Use practical criteria to compare brands:

The startup costs and monthly charges.
Curriculum and teaching approach
Training for owners and teachers
Help with site selection, and with setting up the site.
Marketing and admissions assistance
Territory rights
Renewal and termination clauses.
Existing franchisee feedback
Infrastructure and staffing needs

If possible, talk to current franchise partners. Question what assistance they received, if costs were the same as originally quoted, and if they had any problems after they opened.

Step 7: Build A Qualified Team

As a preschool owner, you do not have to be the teacher for all of your classes. But the centre requires trained and appropriate staff.

Your team may consist of (for different sizes and programmes):

A centre head or coordinator
Preschool teachers
Assistant teachers
Helpers
Administrative support
Housekeeping staff

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has introduced the Aadharshila curriculum for children between 3-6 years of age, which emphasizes play-based learning. You can use these official documents to determine the kind of information that a franchise is offering to ask when considering the academic approach of a franchise.

Step 8: Prepare For Safety And Legal Responsibilities

Protecting children need not be left for the end of the process – it must come first.

Consider:

Safe entry and exit procedures
Ensure classrooms and play areas are safe
Furniture and equipment which is appropriate for their age
First-aid arrangements
Emergency contacts and procedures
Staff verification and responsibilities
Hygiene and sanitation
Safe handover and collection of children
Parent consent and record keeping

Step 9: Plan Your Admissions And Local Marketing

A new preschool must gain the confidence of parents. Marketing should make families aware of the useful aspects of the centre, not just rely on promotional offers.

Some of the following practical steps will help to raise awareness:

A properly managed Google Business Profile
Social media pages within the local community
Parent orientation sessions
Open-house events
Community activities
Informative brochures
Referral programmes, where appropriate
Communications regarding programmes, fees and timings

Introduce parents to classrooms, teaching team and learning approach. Be clear on safety plans, what kids will be doing in a day.

Some materials and start-up instructions may be shared with a franchise, but the expenses of the local advertising and execution may be your own.

Step 10: Create A Routine That Works For You

It takes some realism and support for the preschool owner to juggle family commitments and the operation of a preschool.

Establish regular times for business duties, assign suitable duties, employ basic systems for admissions and fee tracking, as well as for the coordination of staff members and communication with parents.

You can also arrange regular visits to your centre manager or teachers to manage all the little problems instead of dealing with them on your own.

Most of all, don't assume that all preschools will have flexible hours. The first few months are a lot of work to recruit staff, develop admissions and develop routines.

Final Thoughts

Opening a preschool can be a good path to women entrepreneurship in education. A franchise could be a convenient option for homemakers that want to become business owners, but are not able to build every system from the ground up.

The secret is to take this opportunity as a business venture. Learn about your neighbourhood, work out the total investment, find out about franchise support, hire qualified personnel and be aware of the legal and safety issues.

Opening a centre is not the only measure of a successful education franchise for women. It is created through regular operations, a nurturing educational setting, and careful financial management and the confidence of local families.

When planned wisely and with realistic expectations of the work involved, a preschool franchise can be a business that meets your business objectives and the needs of children.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it possible for a housewife to start a preschool franchise without any teaching experience?

Yes. While some companies may require that the owner be a teacher, many don't. Owners should still be familiar with the fundamentals of early childhood education and ensure that qualified teachers are put in place to oversee learning within the classroom.

2. How much investment is required to start a preschool franchise?

The investment will vary according to the brand, city, property, infrastructure and services provided. This can contain franchise fees, interior, furniture, staff, marketing and working capital. Get a quote that shows the location and items you'll be purchasing.

3. Is a preschool franchise a suitable business for women?

It is an alternative for female students, interested in education, business and community entrepreneurship. Suitability relates to the amount of capital available, the time available, local demand, support systems and willingness to take on the roles and responsibilities of running a preschool.

4. Can I run a preschool franchise while managing household responsibilities?

With careful planning and a reliable crew, this may be possible. Some owners do their own management of the centre and others designate a centre manager. The owner is responsible for tracking finances, staff, admissions and quality even with a manager.

5. What support should I expect from a preschool franchise?

Support can range from curriculum, teacher training, site evaluation, infrastructure advice, marketing materials, through to the admission process and continued operational support, depending on the brand. Ensure the full services, extra fees and service obligations are detailed in the contract.

6. Are there government schemes for women who want to start a preschool?

Women entrepreneurs can access resources for business information, mentorship and eligible financing from government and institutions. One place to start is the Women Entrepreneurship Platform. Please note that scheme benefits are subject to eligibility and the type of business and check the current rules before seeking support from the scheme.

How Can Housewives Start A Preschool Franchise?