Ivybrook's Playbook: How Relationships Fuel a Preschool Franchise Empire

CHARLOTTE, NC – July 21, 2026 – Earlier this month in Colorado Springs, a community of preschool franchise owners gathered not just to discuss budgets and enrollment, but to celebrate a concept that feels both old-fashioned and radically disruptive: relationships. The theme for Ivybrook Academy’s annual conference, "Relationships: The Heart of Ivybrook," is more than a sentimental slogan; it’s the central pillar of a business strategy that is quietly powering a national expansion and rewriting the rules of profitability in the competitive early childhood education market.

As the half-day preschool franchise prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, it stands at a pivotal moment. The company reports a pipeline of 110 locations now open, in development, or awarded to franchise partners across 22 states—a significant jump from the 40-odd operating schools just a couple of years ago. This accelerated momentum, backed by a recent private equity acquisition, isn't just a story of market demand. It’s a case study in how a company can scale intimacy, turning a network of individual school owners into a formidable, collaborative force.

"The relationships across our network are at the heart of our success," said co-founder Drew McWilliams in a statement following the conference. This gathering, he noted, was a chance to "reflect on our impact over the past two decades and look ahead to the future." For business leaders watching from the sidelines, the real story is how Ivybrook has monetized that relational ethos, creating a franchise model where community is the ultimate key performance indicator.

A Model Built on More Than Blocks

At first glance, Ivybrook Academy's success seems rooted in its unique educational niche. Founded in 2007 by Jennifer and Drew McWilliams in a suburb of Charlotte, the company intentionally sidestepped the crowded full-day childcare market. Instead, it created a premium, half-day program that blends the self-directed, hands-on learning of the Montessori method with the project-based, collaborative inquiry of the Reggio Emilia approach.

This hybrid model positions Ivybrook not as a daycare, but as a dedicated educational institution for children aged 18 months to 6 years. It’s a proposition that resonates deeply with families who may not need all-day care but are seeking a high-quality, structured learning environment to prepare their children for kindergarten and beyond. The results speak for themselves: the company boasts a near-perfect 5.0 Google rating across its locations and an extraordinary 97% Net Promoter Score (NPS) from parents. In an industry where trust is paramount, this level of customer loyalty is a powerful economic asset.

By focusing on a half-day model, Ivybrook also engineered a more efficient business for its franchisees. The operational complexity and staffing requirements are significantly lower than those of a full-day center that must manage nap times, multiple meals, and extended hours. This allows owners to focus on delivering a premium educational experience during peak morning hours, a factor that contributes to both quality control and a healthier bottom line.

The 'Path to Profitability' Paved with Community

The conference session title, "Path to Profitability," was not just aspirational. An analysis of the company's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) reveals a remarkably robust financial picture. The 18 Ivybrook franchises that had been operating for three or more years by the end of 2024 reported average gross revenues of $967,875. More impressively, they generated an average EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) of $213,536, yielding a strong 22% margin. Even units open for just two years showed an average EBITDA of nearly $160,000.

These figures are far from typical. Ivybrook's reported average unit revenue is over 123% higher than the sub-sector average of $433,376. While the initial investment is substantial—ranging from $540,700 to $869,860—the potential return is a powerful draw for entrepreneurs.

This is where the "relationships" strategy moves from the abstract to the balance sheet. The high parent satisfaction and sterling brand reputation, built one local school at a time, directly fuel enrollment and allow for premium pricing. The collaborative network of franchisees, fostered through events like the annual conference, creates a powerful knowledge-sharing ecosystem. Owners aren't isolated operators; they are part of a community that shares best practices on everything from local marketing ("Relationships That Build Your School") to staffing ("Hiring for Relationships"). This peer-to-peer support system de-risks the venture for new owners and helps experienced ones optimize performance.

"The support from corporate and other owners is unlike anything I've seen in franchising," one multi-unit owner shared anonymously. "When we face a challenge, there are a dozen people I can call who have likely been through it. That's the real value."

From Carolina Roots to National Expansion

For nearly a decade, Ivybrook was a local Carolina success story. The decision to begin franchising around 2015 unlocked its potential for national scale. The company’s growth has been methodical, building regional density in the Southeast before expanding into markets in Texas, Colorado, and beyond. Its consistent ranking in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list, where it placed #429 in 2026, has further burnished its credentials.

The most significant catalyst for its current growth spurt was the August 2025 acquisition of Ivybrook Franchising by a subsidiary of Crux I Ivybrook, LP, a Dallas-based private equity firm. This move injected fresh capital and signaled powerful investor confidence in the model's scalability. The founders, Drew and Jennifer McWilliams, retained a stake, ensuring continuity of vision, but the new partnership provides the financial muscle to rapidly award and develop new territories.

The press release's claim of 70 locations "open or in development" plus an additional 40 "awarded" points to an aggressive strategy of securing markets for future growth. While the number of currently operating schools is closer to 50, the 110-unit total pipeline reveals the scale of the company's ambition. They are not just opening schools; they are building a national footprint.

Navigating the Growing Pains

This rapid expansion, however, is not without potential pitfalls. The very essence of the Ivybrook brand—a premium, intimate, community-focused experience—becomes harder to maintain at scale. The greatest operational challenge for any service-based franchise is ensuring consistent quality and execution across hundreds of locations.

While parent satisfaction remains exceptionally high, a review of online forums for current and former educators reveals potential friction points. Some teachers have cited concerns about low pay relative to the premium tuition fees, feelings of micromanagement, and a desire for more classroom autonomy. These are common challenges in the education sector, but they are particularly critical for a brand whose value proposition is built on the quality of its educators.

As Ivybrook scales from dozens to hundreds of schools, its ability to help franchisees attract, train, and retain top-tier teaching talent will be the ultimate test of its model. Maintaining the "heart" of Ivybrook—the positive, nurturing relationships between teachers, children, and families—while managing the financial pressures of a rapidly growing franchise system will require a delicate balancing act. The company's future success depends not only on selling franchises, but on ensuring every single Ivybrook Academy remains a special place for children and a sustainable business for its owner.