Transitioning from a tech career

The cuts in the technology sector keep coming. In December 2022, we wrote about the mounting layoffs in the industry as the year ended. Unfortunately, the new year hasn’t brought relief. According to the tracking site, layoffs.fyi, nearly 400 companies have laid off more than 100,000 employees before the end of the second month of 2023. It’s not just small companies and start-ups that are affected. The list includes Amazon, Meta, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, too.

If you’re one of those impacted by these reductions or are simply exhausted from living day to day with the threat of losing your job, maybe there’s no better time to take control of your career by owning your own business. Maybe it’s time to consider owning a Kiddie Academy^® Educational Child Care franchise.

“The skills you learned in your technology career – things like time management, teamwork, management of staff, communication – are many of the key experiences that will directly apply to your time as a business owner,” said Jeff Brazier, Kiddie Academy’s Chief Development Officer. “These skills are all transferable and they put you in a great position when you’re ready to run your own business.”

Many of our existing Franchisees had successful careers in the information technology field and other industries outside education before opening their Academies. Among them are Vijay and Deepika Ilavarasan, who own multiple Academies in Washington and Oregon. Vijay was a marketing technology director and Deepika was a software engineer before opening their first Academy in 2017. “Our technology backgrounds have been instrumental in a lot of things we do,” said Vijay. “I use a lot of Agile principles and continuous processes like Kaizen which I learned in my previous job. Being able to apply previous experience is not only helpful, it also speaks to the flexibility Kiddie Academy allows that helps us participate in innovation and contribute creatively as opposed to franchises that are rigid. We knew with the support from corporate, our background and ambition and the Kiddie Academy community behind us, we could thrive, and we have. It’s been the best decision for our family.”

The corporate support Vijay mentions is something we’re very proud of. We understand that running a successful business requires expertise in many different areas, from accounting to marketing. We make it easy for you to focus on the entrepreneurial mindset you need to be successful. Our team of corporate experts are there to assist Franchisees year-round in taking the legwork out of many of the more time-intensive processes.

Here are ways our team helps you:

Financing: Small business owners recognize how critical their ability to secure funding and keep an accurate account of spending is. Kiddie Academy has developed strong relationships with several national and regional lenders to help facilitate and secure financing for new Kiddie Academy franchise locations. Company experts supply training and templates to develop loan packages, will review your business plans and see the process through to completion.

Real Estate and Construction: Location is a key driver for any successful franchise. Prospective Kiddie Academy franchise owners can tap into a professional real estate team with years of experience selecting optimum locations throughout the country. We utilize sophisticated market demographic software and site-selection strategies, as well as market and site tours/inspections, to help you select the most suitable site available. We also offer a full spectrum of construction-related support, including building design and development, along with guidance on securing regulatory approvals for building, zoning and child care licensing throughout the construction phase.

Training and Education: A business is often only as good as its people, and training can be the trigger for great customer service for your clientele. Make sure you consider both classroom training and hands-on experiences that spotlight your business values and philosophy. Owners who come to Kiddie Academy will always benefit from a host of ready-to-use marketing, operations and financial tools. We pride ourselves on keeping up with the latest developments in education, striving to be the best in the industry. Our franchise owners, as well as the educators and students within their community, also reap these rewards.

Operations and Business Analysis: When running a business, you need a strong infrastructure that affords peace of mind. To ensure the best possible service, every Academy receives a high level of operational support at the corporate level via a dedicated Franchise Business Consultant, who provides consistent educational and operational analysis, as well as advice and support to all franchise owners.

Marketing: Getting your business on people’s radar is tantamount, so if you’re not promoting your company on a regular basis, rethink your game plan now. Prospective franchise owners will thrive if they work with a network that offers turnkey marketing and public relations programs designed to help generate awareness and interest for their business. From groundbreakings and grand openings to community events, marketing promotions via local news outlets and social media channels should be integrated into your business plan as a means to drive buzz and to help generate new enrollees.

Vijay offers this advice to anyone considering making the leap from technology to owning a Kiddie Academy franchise: “Trust yourself, trust your abilities. There are a lot of people to help you. People like us are there to help you. You have all the wonderful people at Kiddie Academy to help you. With each passing month, you become more and more confident, and you’re happier with the decision you made.”

If you’re interested in learning more about starting a journey to Kiddie Academy franchise ownership, take the first step by completing this no-obligation confidential questionnaire and a member of our team will be in touch with you soon!