Operating a franchise within the confines of a religious building can be an immensely gratifying experience. You’ll find yourself in a faith-based community with which you may share similar values. Perhaps you can even set up in the church you regularly attend. 

Christian franchise opportunities can benefit from operating inside a church, and the churches can benefit from the arrangement.

Let’s examine the process of opening and operating a preschool franchise, what you’ll need to get started, and the benefits of choosing a church as the location of your child care franchise.

Steps

You know you can’t just hang a shingle and magically have business come your way. But knowing what steps you’ll need to undertake can seem daunting. 

Here they are, all in one place:

1. Choose a name and location for your business. With a Neighborhood Kids Church Partnership Model Franchise, we can take the guess work out of this step!
2. Designate a registered agent. This might be you or someone with a stake in the franchise, but it’s critical— a registered agent is the person or legal entity that serves as the point of contact for governmental and compliance agencies.
3. Register your business with your state. Depending on your state, you may not need to register your business, so you’ll want to research how and when to do so .
4. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN). Don’t skip this step; you might miss your taxes and fall afoul with the IRS. Your EIN will be necessary for your taxes.
5. Open a business bank account. Again, this will be for tax purposes, and you don’t want to mix personal finances with those of the business. Also, if you’re operating an LLC, liability issues could arise if you commingle personal and business funds.
6. Apply for and receive the required daycare permits and licenses. These will vary from state to state, so do your research.
7. Hire employees. You can’t do it all, so be prepared to get help and remember to vet your employees well while recruiting. 
8. Register for payroll taxes. Keeping your business in compliance is vital to successfully moving forward.
9. Promote and advertise. Check with the church to see if you can get mentioned in the bulletin or the website, use social media, and consider purchasing ads.

Benefits of Operating a Franchise Inside of a Church

It’s hard to overstate how well a church can work as the location for a child care franchise. For starters, there’s almost certainly a playground on site already. But there are other, more immediate positives surrounding a church location.

Financial Benefits:

Operating a franchise inside of a church can provide significant economic benefits. For example, churches are typically located in prominent areas with ample foot traffic. They’re also often found in or near residential areas, making churches excellent places for a preschool franchise. 

Parents are usually more likely to patronize a daycare near their homes than one far from home. They can move through their neighborhood and find your child care franchise.

Additionally, many churches have access to low-cost resources such as discounted rent or donated materials that can help reduce overhead costs. You’ll also save time and build-out costs since you don’t have to build a physical structure.

Your business will also financially benefit the church by providing an additional revenue opportunity, and you’ll be housed within a faith-based community. Both parties benefit here: people who attend the church will be aware of your business, and your customers may come to be involved with the church. Everybody wins.

Increased Visibility:

Franchises operating inside a church often benefit from increased visibility due to their unique location. Churches tend to draw people from different backgrounds and age groups, allowing businesses to tap into a wider consumer base than they could access through conventional marketing approaches. 

Furthermore, churches often have large online communities and social media followings that businesses can leverage for additional exposure.

Are You Ready To Own A Preschool Franchise?

Operating a preschool franchise inside of a church benefits both parties. If you’re ready to move forward with a Christian franchise opportunity but have more questions, we can help. Contact Neighborhood Kids today or call 1-888-316-KIDS for more information on starting a preschool franchise. We’re here to help you.

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