A Place to Grow
The total investment to open a A Place to Grow franchise ranges from $56,960 to $315,400. The initial franchise fee is $40,000. Ongoing royalties are 7%.
What is the A Place to Grow franchise?
A Place To Grow operates in the child day care services sector, which supports communities and early childhood development. The brand currently has one operational unit, making it an early stage franchise opportunity for entrepreneurs entering this service industry. That location represents the full A Place To Grow franchise footprint and serves as the brand’s proof of concept. It demonstrates the company’s operating philosophy and service model in an active setting while the business refines its processes and prepares for possible expansion. A Place To Grow is designed to provide child care, educational enrichment, and developmental support during children’s early years. Demand for child day care services is supported by the growing number of parents in the professional workforce, changing views about early learning, and the recognized benefits of structured early childhood education. Within this market, A Place To Grow may distinguish itself through its educational approach, its attention to child welfare and safety, or its connection with local families and communities. The current single location reflects an early effort to build a service that supports families and can operate as a business. For a franchise buyer, the brand’s stage creates an opportunity to develop alongside the company and influence its direction from the beginning of its franchise growth.
Child day care services provide support for millions of families and include care for infants, pre kindergarten programs, and after school enrichment. Demand is affected by demographic changes, high levels of parental workforce participation, and changing expectations for early childhood education. Families continue to seek dependable, high quality care for their children. Providers operate under regulatory requirements at local, state, and often federal levels. These rules address child safety, health standards, and developmental support, while also creating operational and compliance responsibilities for center owners. Industry trends include richer curricula intended to support cognitive, social, and emotional development, the use of technology as an educational tool, and scheduling options that fit the varied work schedules of parents. Providers are also placing greater attention on a child’s overall well being, including nutrition, physical activity, and emotional resilience. A Place To Grow enters this market with a service intended to meet these needs and align with current expectations among parents. Its operation forms part of the broader system that supports child development and families.
An A Place To Grow center would require capital for facility acquisition or leasing and for improvements needed to satisfy licensing and safety standards for young children. Other setup costs can include educational equipment, age appropriate toys, playground structures, safety equipment, and furniture for a child focused environment. Early staffing expenses may include recruiting employees, conducting background checks, and providing initial training. Licenses, permits, and insurance also form part of the opening process. A buyer would generally need access to substantial liquid capital and a minimum net worth when seeking third party financing for these costs and for working capital. Possible financing sources include conventional bank loans and Small Business Administration approved programs. Safety requirements, educational quality, and regulatory compliance make capital spending a significant part of entering this business. The franchise would also likely set facility design standards and educational program requirements, which would affect both opening expenses and ongoing operating costs. PeerSense can introduce franchise buyers to SBA and conventional lenders, but PeerSense is not a lender and does not fund or approve loans.
The A Place To Grow operating model is intended to provide consistent child care while addressing development and safety. A typical center model would use procedures for daily schedules, classroom management, curriculum delivery, facility maintenance, health requirements, and safety practices. Since the brand currently operates one unit, it remains in an early phase of developing its internal support structure. A child care franchise system generally provides initial training in regulatory responsibilities, curriculum delivery, local marketing, family retention, and business management. Support may also include operational guidance, management systems, educational resources, and marketing assistance as owners establish and grow their centers in local communities. These resources can help franchisees address the regulatory, staffing, and service demands of child day care operations. A Place To Grow is positioned to give owners the tools and knowledge needed to operate centers that follow the brand’s approach to child care and early education. The intended result is a consistent experience for children and parents across locations.
The A Place To Grow franchise has a Loan Activity Score of 43. That score reflects an emerging brand with a relatively short operating history and a limited financial record compared with more established franchise companies. The first unit is the primary operating reference as the business develops its model and establishes performance benchmarks. A franchisee’s results may vary based on the center’s geographic location, the quality of local management, market conditions in the child day care sector, operating cost control, and the ability to maintain enrollment. Buyers should conduct their own market research, seek available information from the franchisor, and consult financial advisors before making an investment decision. An early stage franchise may offer room to grow with the brand, but its financial characteristics differ from those of a larger system with a longer operating record.
A Place To Grow currently has one unit, and that location serves as the initial test of the operating model and service offering in the child day care market. Its operation can help demonstrate whether the brand’s systems, services, and business approach can be repeated in additional centers. The company’s potential points of distinction could include an original curriculum, an educational approach that appeals to current parents, strong local relationships, or an efficient operating design that supports care quality and center performance. A defined focus within child care, such as specialized educational programs or extended care options, could provide another way to stand apart. A commitment to measurable educational outcomes may also shape the brand’s position. As a new franchise, A Place To Grow would likely need to choose new markets carefully and select franchisees who fit its vision and values. That approach can support consistent service standards and help protect the brand’s reputation as it expands beyond its first location. Performance at the initial unit will be significant in showing whether the model can be scaled and repeated.
The ideal A Place To Grow franchisee would have a genuine interest in early childhood development and a desire to participate in the local community. Operating a center requires more than general business ability because owners must understand the effect that quality child care has on children and families. Experience in education, business management, or child care is not strictly required, but it could help an owner manage the responsibilities of the business. A franchisee must follow A Place To Grow brand standards and comply with the regulatory rules that govern child care services. Leadership skills are needed to recruit, manage, and motivate educators and caregivers. Financial judgment is also necessary for budgeting, enrollment planning, and maintaining the center’s financial health. A strong work ethic and a practical approach to solving problems can help an owner manage daily operations and protect the center’s reputation. Child care is local by nature, so territories would generally be designed around an adequate number of target families within a reasonable commuting distance. Territory planning would also seek to support market coverage without creating excessive concentration in one area.
An A Place To Grow franchise offers entry into the child day care services industry while the brand is still at its foundation. Its one operating unit places the company at an early point in its franchise development and gives prospective owners the possibility of growing with a new concept. Buyers should consider how much influence an early franchisee may have on the brand’s future, along with the risks that accompany a company with a shorter operating history. The Loan Activity Score of 43 is one indicator of that emerging position and should be considered alongside the company’s operating model, market plans, and available disclosures. Prospective investors should assess whether A Place To Grow could serve communities that are underserved or experiencing increased demand for quality child care. The opportunity also involves providing educational and developmental services that support local families. Before investing, a buyer should review available disclosures and understand the sector’s safety rules, operating obligations, staffing needs, and regulatory requirements. PeerSense provides independent franchise research and introduces buyers to SBA and conventional lenders. PeerSense does not lend, fund, or approve loans.
Loan Activity Score
43/100
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
Active Lenders
1
According to its Franchise Disclosure Document or public business records, A Place to Grow has 1 location, all owned by franchisees. Public SBA loan records show 1 lender made 1 loan to franchisees of A Place to Grow. PeerSense calculates A Place to Grow's score as 43 out of 100, using public SBA loan performance and recent lending activity.
1 location
$56,960 to $315,400
$40,000
1
1 franchised
Proprietary PeerSense metric
FairDistinct lenders in public SBA records for A Place to Grow
1
Total SBA loans
$913K
Average loan size
Source: public SBA 7(a) and 504 loan records through December 31, 2025
Referral fee at closing
SBA Lending Activity for A Place to Grow
Loan Activity Score Breakdown
New or niche (1 to 2 loans)
Are lenders increasingly or decreasingly funding this brand? Growing trends score highest.
Blended default rate (recent + all time) compared to NAICS sector peers.
Quality lenders actively backing this brand, with penalty for lender pullback.
FDD availability, Item 19 disclosure, and overall data completeness.
Geographic spread of SBA funded locations across states.
SBA Lending Performance
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
vs 3.2% peer avg
SBA Loans
1
Total Volume
$0.9M
Active Lenders
1
States
1
vs. SBA Sector Average
SBA loan default rate vs. all franchises in the same NAICS sector, not limited to direct competitors
Key Highlights
Franchise Financing Resources
Data Insights
Key performance metrics for A Place to Grow based on SBA lending data
SBA Default Rate
0.0%
3.2% below peer avg
SBA Loan Volume
1 loans
Across 1 lender
Lender Diversity
1 lender
Avg 1.0 loans per lender
Investment Tier
Mid range investment
$56,960 to $315,400 total
A Place to Grow: Deep SBA Data
Brand specific metrics derived directly from SBA 7(a) approval records: peak lending year, leading state, average loan size, and lender concentration. PeerSense computes these per brand so capital advisors and prospective franchisees can benchmark this opportunity against the rest of the franchise universe.
Peak SBA Year
2024
1 approval. The best year on record for A Place to Grow.
Top SBA State
North Carolina
1 SBA financed A Place to Grow locations, the densest operator footprint.
Average Loan Size
$913K
Median $913K. Use as a sizing anchor when modeling your own A Place to Grow unit.
Lender Concentration
100%
Concentrated
Share of A Place to Grow approvals captured by the top 3 SBA lenders.
A Place to Grow's SBA lending pipeline peaked in 2024 (1 approval). The last five fiscal years account for 100% of cumulative volume ($913K approved). Operator density is highest in North Carolina with 1 SBA financed locations. Average funded ticket sits at $913K, with the median at $913K. Lender mix is concentrated: the top three SBA lenders account for 100% of approvals. Credit decisions concentrate with a small group of incumbents.
Payment Estimator
Estimated Monthly Payment
$590
Principal & Interest only
Indicative only, as of October 1, 2026. Not a quote, commitment or offer of credit. Final pricing, leverage and terms are determined by the lender at underwriting, after full transaction materials are reviewed. PeerSense sources the file. The lender sets pricing. What these terms mean.
Locations
A Place to Grow, unit breakdown
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Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman