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Names: Marissa Pratt and Kristina Ford
Title: Co-Owners
Brands:The Goddard School
Units: 2 (Simsbury, CT, and Farmington, CT)
Years in franchising: 12
We grew up in family-run businesses. Our parents ran a gymnastics school for 45 years, among other ventures, so working together came naturally to us. When the opportunity arose to bring a Goddard School to our area, we recognized a need for high-quality early childhood education in the community and decided to explore it further. With our niece attending a Goddard School at the time, we were familiar with the program and its approach, and we saw an opportunity to contribute positively to the community while pursuing a shared legacy as co-owners.
We have always been the type of family that works together all week and spends time together on the weekends, and owning our Goddard Schools together has made us even closer. It has given us the opportunity to develop different aspects of ourselves and learn how to combine our strengths to identify areas of opportunity for one another. After 12 years of working together, we have a strong understanding of each other’s perspectives, what we individually contribute, and how to effectively leverage one another’s skillsets.
Our parents worked in the service industry for several decades, particularly catering to children, so working with kids has always been a natural part of our lives. Professionally, our goals aligned closely with The Goddard School, especially its focus on community, transparency with franchisees, and its exclusive inquiry-based education program, Wonder of Learning. Combined with our backgrounds in operations, customer service, and programming, this foundation positioned us well for a strong business platform.
Based on our early experiences with the children in our lives, we developed an appreciation for tailored, family-focused early childhood education programs. We were drawn to The Goddard School’s approach that combines play and inquiry-based learning with careful attention to customer service. The early childhood education sector aligns well with the level of service and care we wanted to provide, and it allows us to ensure that the programs we offer reflect the quality and attention to detail we believe families deserve.
The childcare franchising industry is recession-resilient, since parents need to work, and the demand for quality early childhood education remains constant. By collaborating closely with the franchisor, following program guidelines, leveraging mentoring opportunities, and utilizing quality assurance tools that simplify daily operations, franchise owners can position their business for stability across a variety of economic conditions.
Finding a strong partner is key. Trusting your business partner to share your values and recognize opportunities for growth is essential to building an impactful business platform. We have both said that we would only go into business with each other, since we trust one another to deliver a high-quality product and pursue business optimization in the same way we would ourselves.
While we utilize social media to connect with the community, word-of-mouth referrals have been particularly impactful for marketing our schools. By consistently building trust with the families we serve, we have not only attracted new families but also expanded our presence and reputation throughout the community.
Understand your dynamic and leverage your individual strengths to maximize collaboration within your roles. There will be times when you do not see eye-to-eye, but you must be willing to move forward, both as business partners and as family. With a strong relationship and a clear framework for communication and collaboration, families in franchising can build a foundation to grow a brand together while celebrating each other’s achievements.