With existing supply scarce and brands expanding, ground-up build-to-suit development is one of the most rewarding — and demanding — strategies in childcare real estate.
Why build-to-suit works now
Growing franchise and platform operators need new, purpose-built centers in strong demographic markets. A developer who can deliver a site to spec, pre-leased to a quality operator, creates a financeable, valuable asset.
Scarcity of existing supply makes well-located new development especially attractive.
The execution challenges
Success hinges on site selection, entitlements, zoning, and construction cost control — and on delivering against the operator's timeline. Childcare carries specific design and licensing requirements that generalist developers often underestimate.
Demographics, traffic, visibility, and parking all factor into whether a site will support strong enrollment.
Partnering with expertise
Matching the right site to the right expanding operator, on terms that work for both, is specialized work. Having developed childcare centers ourselves, we understand the pipeline end to end.
We help developers and investors structure build-to-suit deals that pencil.
Find out what your school is worth.
A confidential, no-pressure valuation from a broker who has owned, operated, and sold childcare centers for 30+ years.
