Early Childhood Business Made Easy

Kelley Peake
  • 5.0 (7)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Early Childhood Business Made Easy: Preschool, Childcare & Play Cafe Success Strategies Transform your preschool, childcare center, or play cafe from chaotic overwhelm into a profitable, time-freedom business. Host Kelley Peake, former KinderCare executive and owner of multiple seven-figure early childhood businesses, shares proven strategies for enrollment growth, team management, marketing that works, and operational systems that actually stick. You'll Learn How To: ✨ Increase preschool enrollment and retention without expensive ads ✨ Hire and keep great teachers in a competitive market ✨ Grow play cafe traffic and party bookings consistently ✨ Structure your services for maximum profit (without raising tuition) ✨ Build systems that free up your time instead of stealing it ✨ Market to modern parents who value quality over price ✨ Scale your early childhood business without burning out This Podcast Is For: → Preschool owners and directors drowning in daily chaos → Childcare operators struggling with staffing and slim margins → Play cafe and enrichment program owners wanting more bookings → Working moms building early childhood businesses while raising families → Anyone who started their EC business to make a difference—not to work 60-hour weeks Kelley doesn't teach theory. She shares real strategies from 25+ years operating Peake Academy (boutique preschool), Play Boutique (indoor play cafe), and coaching hundreds of early childhood businesses through her Shine Membership and CEO Mentorship programs. Every episode delivers actionable systems you can implement this week. Popular Topics: Early childhood business operations, preschool marketing strategies, childcare enrollment systems, play cafe revenue growth, hiring and retention for early childhood, parent communication frameworks, pricing strategies for preschools, operational efficiency, work-life balance for childcare owners.  Stop sacrificing your family to serve other families. Learn to rewrite the rules of business for early childhood at peakecreative.com.  →New episodes weekly. Subscribe now.

  1. 1D AGO

    168: From Breaking Even to Profitable: The Profit Margin Breakthrough

    Send a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we challenge one of the most damaging myths in the early childhood industry—that 2–5% profit margins are “normal” and unavoidable. 💸 If you’re working 50+ hours a week with full enrollment and timely payments, yet barely breaking even, you’re not failing—you’ve been handed a story that keeps good leaders small, exhausted, and stuck. ⚙️ Confident Early Childhood Operators reject razor-thin margins. They understand the five profit levers that actually move the needle in ratio-dependent businesses and use them to build 10–15% margins without significantly raising tuition or sacrificing quality. ✨ When you stop accepting survival as the standard and start leading with financial clarity, you move from breaking even to building a profitable business that supports both your mission and your long-term security. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.The Shine Membership & CEO Mentorship – Both programs with Kelley Peake and her experienced team are monthly experiences for preschool/childcare/enrichment program business owners, directors, and managers. Operating an early childhood business can often be chaotic and overwhelming. By following our Peake Creative, step-by-step simplified business strategies, you will gain more clarity, time freedom, and confidence to lead a profitable early childhood business.Profit Pathfinder – Inspired by the game-changing Peake Creative CEO Profit Journey Flywheel, this pathfinder is your personal guide to finding out exactly what you need most right now. Are you craving more time to breathe, or do you want to unlock fresh streams of revenue? Let’s find out!Profit Planning Reset – The Profit Planning Reset gives Early Childhood business owners the tools, clarity, and confidence to build a business that finally supports your life. In just two half-days, you’ll learn how to simplify your operations, design your Purposeful Profit Plan, and create predictable profit (without the burnout).Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim yourWe help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    36 min

  2. FEB 6

    167: Know Your Numbers: The Financial Wake-Up Call Every EC Owner Needs

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we tackle the financial blind spot that keeps so many early childhood owners stuck—earning revenue without real clarity on profitability. 📊 If enrollment is strong and families are paying on time, yet you’re unsure whether you’re actually making money or just staying busy, you’re not alone. Most EC leaders were never taught how to read financials built for ratio-dependent businesses. ⚙️ Confident Early Childhood Operators don’t rely on gut feelings or accounting degrees. They use simplified financial clarity systems and track 5–7 key metrics designed specifically for early childhood programs—so they can understand their numbers in minutes, not hours. ✨ When you build your CEO Financial Dashboard and simplify your budget process, you stop flying blind and start making confident, data-driven decisions that improve profit and protect your time. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.The Shine Membership & CEO Mentorship – Both programs with Kelley Peake and her experienced team are monthly experiences for preschool/childcare/enrichment program business owners, directors, and managers. Operating an early childhood business can often be chaotic and overwhelming. By following our Peake Creative, step-by-step simplified business strategies, you will gain more clarity, time freedom, and confidence to lead a profitable early childhood business.Profit Pathfinder – Inspired by the game-changing Peake Creative CEO Profit Journey Flywheel, this pathfinder is your personal guide to finding out exactly what you need most right now. Are you craving more time to breathe, or do you want to unlock fresh streams of revenue? Let’s find out!Profit Planning Reset – The Profit Planning Reset gives Early Childhood business owners the tools, clarity, and confidence to build a business that finally supports your life. In just two half-days, you’ll learn how to simplify your operations, design your Purposeful Profit Plan, and create predictable profit (without the burnout).Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim yourWe help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    33 min

  3. JAN 29

    166: The 90-Day CEO Action Plan That Actually Works

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we break down why staying busy doesn’t always mean your business is growing—and how to finally focus on what actually moves the needle. 📝 If your to-do list feels endless and your days are packed, yet your profits haven’t improved, you’re not failing—you’re reacting. Motion often disguises itself as progress, especially in early childhood businesses where everything feels urgent. ⚙️ Confident Early Childhood Operators don’t try to do everything. They use tools like the 90-Day CEO Action Plan to identify the 3–5 priorities that truly drive profit—and eliminate the rest. ✨ When you shift from reacting to leading with intention, you stop spinning your wheels and start building the profitable, time-free business you originally envisioned. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.The Shine Membership & CEO Mentorship – Both programs with Kelley Peake and her experienced team are monthly experiences for preschool/childcare/enrichment program business owners, directors, and managers. Operating an early childhood business can often be chaotic and overwhelming. By following our Peake Creative, step-by-step simplified business strategies, you will gain more clarity, time freedom, and confidence to lead a profitable early childhood business.Profit Pathfinder – Inspired by the game-changing Peake Creative CEO Profit Journey Flywheel, this pathfinder is your personal guide to finding out exactly what you need most right now. Are you craving more time to breathe, or do you want to unlock fresh streams of revenue? Let’s find out!January Jumpstart – FREE 5-day experience designed specifically for early childhood business owners who are ready to stop operating in survival mode—and start leading like a CEO.Profit Planning Reset – The Profit Planning Reset gives Early Childhood business owners the tools, clarity, and confidence to build a business that finally supports your life. In just two half-days, you’ll learn how to simplify your operations, design your Purposeful Profit Plan, and create predictable profit (without the burnout).Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim yourWe help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    34 min

  4. JAN 22

    165: The Sweet Spot: Which Services Should You Keep, Cut, or Create?

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we tackle why offering more programs doesn’t always lead to more profit—and how to find the true sweet spot in your services. 🧩 If you’re juggling toddler classes, enrichment add-ons, camps, events, and special programs but your margins haven’t moved, you may be confusing activity with profitability. Some offerings quietly drain your time and energy while giving very little back. ⚙️ Confident Early Childhood Operators don’t try to be everything to everyone. They use tools like the Sweet Spot Analyzer to identify which services actually generate profit—and which ones generate exhaustion. ✨ When you focus on high-impact offerings designed for your capacity and ideal families, you stop working harder for the same results and start making strategic decisions that increase both profit and time freedom. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.The Shine Membership & CEO Mentorship – Both programs with Kelley Peake and her experienced team are monthly experiences for preschool/childcare/enrichment program business owners, directors, and managers. Operating an early childhood business can often be chaotic and overwhelming. By following our Peake Creative, step-by-step simplified business strategies, you will gain more clarity, time freedom, and confidence to lead a profitable early childhood business.Profit Pathfinder – Inspired by the game-changing Peake Creative CEO Profit Journey Flywheel, this pathfinder is your personal guide to finding out exactly what you need most right now. Are you craving more time to breathe, or do you want to unlock fresh streams of revenue? Let’s find out!January Jumpstart – FREE 5-day experience designed specifically for early childhood business owners who are ready to stop operating in survival mode—and start leading like a CEO.Profit Planning Reset – The Profit Planning Reset gives Early Childhood business owners the tools, clarity, and confidence to build a business that finally supports your life. In just two half-days, you’ll learn how to simplify your operations, design your Purposeful Profit Plan, and create predictable profit (without the burnout).Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim yourWe help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    37 min

  5. JAN 19

    164: Stop Wasting Time on Marketing That Doesn't Work

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we break down why so much early childhood marketing feels exhausting—and why “posting more” rarely leads to full enrollment. 📱 If you’re spending hours creating content, showing up consistently, and following online marketing advice—yet your phone stays quiet—you’re not doing anything wrong. Most marketing strategies weren’t designed for early childhood programs where families research for weeks and decide over months. ⚙️ Confident Early Childhood Operators don’t rely on social media hustle to fill classrooms. They build strategic Parent Attraction Systems using the Marketing Made Easy Enrollment Flywheel—designed specifically for how parents actually make child-related decisions. ✨ When your marketing aligns with real parent behavior, you stop wasting time on tactics that don’t work and start filling spots predictably—without turning yourself into a full-time content creator. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.The Shine Membership & CEO Mentorship – Both programs with Kelley Peake and her experienced team are monthly experiences for preschool/childcare/enrichment program business owners, directors, and managers. Operating an early childhood business can often be chaotic and overwhelming. By following our Peake Creative, step-by-step simplified business strategies, you will gain more clarity, time freedom, and confidence to lead a profitable early childhood business.Profit Pathfinder – Inspired by the game-changing Peake Creative CEO Profit Journey Flywheel, this pathfinder is your personal guide to finding out exactly what you need most right now. Are you craving more time to breathe, or do you want to unlock fresh streams of revenue? Let’s find out!January Jumpstart – FREE 5-day experience designed specifically for early childhood business owners who are ready to stop operating in survival mode—and start leading like a CEO.Profit Planning Reset – The Profit Planning Reset gives Early Childhood business owners the tools, clarity, and confidence to build a business that finally supports your life. In just two half-days, you’ll learn how to simplify your operations, design your Purposeful Profit Plan, and create predictable profit (without the burnout).Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim yourWe help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    35 min

  6. JAN 15

    163: The Team Culture Secret Every EC Leader Needs to Know This Year

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we uncover the real reason so many early childhood programs stay stuck on the hiring hamster wheel—and why traditional retention advice keeps falling flat. 👥 If you’re losing great teachers every few months and starting to wonder if “no one wants to work anymore,” you’re not wrong—but you are being given solutions that don’t work in ratio-dependent businesses with razor-thin margins. ⚙️ Confident Early Childhood Operators know that strong team culture isn’t built through bigger paychecks or flashy perks—it’s built through strategic empowerment systems that help staff feel trusted, capable, and valued without breaking your budget. ✨ When you professionalize your leadership structure using frameworks designed specifically for early childhood businesses, you stop constant rehiring and start building a team that stays, grows, and drives your business forward—so you can lead with confidence instead of spending weekends interviewing. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.The Shine Membership & CEO Mentorship – Both programs with Kelley Peake and her experienced team are monthly experiences for preschool/childcare/enrichment program business owners, directors, and managers. Operating an early childhood business can often be chaotic and overwhelming. By following our Peake Creative, step-by-step simplified business strategies, you will gain more clarity, time freedom, and confidence to lead a profitable early childhood business.Profit Pathfinder – Inspired by the game-changing Peake Creative CEO Profit Journey Flywheel, this pathfinder is your personal guide to finding out exactly what you need most right now. Are you craving more time to breathe, or do you want to unlock fresh streams of revenue? Let’s find out!January Jumpstart – FREE 5-day experience designed specifically for early childhood business owners who are ready to stop operating in survival mode—and start leading like a CEO.Profit Planning Reset – The Profit Planning Reset gives Early Childhood business owners the tools, clarity, and confidence to build a business that finally supports your life. In just two half-days, you’ll learn how to simplify your operations, design your Purposeful Profit Plan, and create predictable profit (without the burnout).Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim your We help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    28 min

  7. JAN 2

    162: Your 2026 Vision: Why You Need More Than Goals This Year

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we’re rethinking what it really means to plan for the year ahead in a ratio-dependent early childhood business. 📋 You didn’t fail at your goals—and you’re not disorganized. The truth is, most goal-setting frameworks weren’t built for people-powered programs where staffing, parent needs, and licensing realities can shift everything in a single day. 🔭 When you move beyond isolated goals and build a clear, protected vision for your time, energy, and leadership, everything changes. Your days feel calmer, your team steps up with confidence, and your business starts supporting the life you’re actually trying to create. ✨ This is how Confident Early Childhood Operators step into 2026 with clarity, intention, and a Time+Freedom™ vision that finally works in the real world. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.The Shine Membership & CEO Mentorship – Both programs with Kelley Peake and her experienced team are monthly experiences for preschool/childcare/enrichment program business owners, directors, and managers. Operating an early childhood business can often be chaotic and overwhelming. By following our Peake Creative, step-by-step simplified business strategies, you will gain more clarity, time freedom, and confidence to lead a profitable early childhood business.Profit Pathfinder – Inspired by the game-changing Peake Creative CEO Profit Journey Flywheel, this pathfinder is your personal guide to finding out exactly what you need most right now. Are you craving more time to breathe, or do you want to unlock fresh streams of revenue? Let’s find out!January Jumpstart – FREE 5-day experience designed specifically for early childhood business owners who are ready to stop operating in survival mode—and start leading like a CEO.Profit Planning Reset – The Profit Planning Reset gives Early Childhood business owners the tools, clarity, and confidence to build a business that finally supports your life. In just two half-days, you’ll learn how to simplify your operations, design your Purposeful Profit Plan, and create predictable profit (without the burnout).Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim your time.We help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    29 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    161: Resourceful & Resilient: Making Every Dollar Count in an ECE Business

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we’re diving into what it really takes to build financial stability in a ratio-dependent early childhood business—without sacrificing quality or burning yourself out. 💸 If you’re cutting expenses, monitoring every purchase, and still feeling like the numbers never quite work, you’re not alone. Traditional budgeting advice wasn’t designed for ECE businesses where revenue is tied to staffing ratios and flexibility is limited. 🔍 When you start leading your budget like a CEO—with systems built specifically for early childhood programs—every dollar begins to work with intention. Your finances support your mission, strengthen your team, and create breathing room instead of stress. ✨ This is how Confident Early Childhood Operators become resourceful and resilient—and how you build a business that fuels both impact and the Time+Freedom™ lifestyle you’re working toward. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.EC Focused Leader Quiz - Shine as a Difference Maker, Chaos Coordinator, or Magic Maker: Boost success and rewrite the rules of business.Work + Life Bundle - Discover 5 steps to grow your early childhood business while spending less time dealing with all of the little fires that consume you and more time moving your business forward.Be Goalden Annual Planning Party - Join us 🌟 December 9–13 🌟 for the Be GOALden Annual Planning Party — where overwhelmed early childhood operators transform chaos into clarity and set themselves up for more time, freedom, and profit in 2026.Magical Moments Month -This FREE printable calendar is filled with easy, age-appropriate experiences designed to bring magic and meaning to your preschool classroom or home.Visit https://kelleypeake.com/freebies - Grab these amazing resources and tools to grow your knowledge, control the chaos, and become more stress-free!Early Childhood Business Operations Framework Flight Plan. It goes over the 6 Operations Profit Boosters that are essential to operating an EC business. Be sure to set aside uninterrupted periods, you can optimize your concentration and accomplish more in less time. Here you will find an easy-to-implement tool to help you with this first strategy to help you reclaim your time.We help early childhood business owners ditch the chaos and lead with confidence. With actionable strategies and time-saving tools, you can grow your revenue, inspire your team, and create a thriving business—without sacrificing the life you love. Ready to make it happen? Visit kelleypeake.com and take the first step toward your dream business today!

    29 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Early Childhood Business Made Easy: Preschool, Childcare & Play Cafe Success Strategies Transform your preschool, childcare center, or play cafe from chaotic overwhelm into a profitable, time-freedom business. Host Kelley Peake, former KinderCare executive and owner of multiple seven-figure early childhood businesses, shares proven strategies for enrollment growth, team management, marketing that works, and operational systems that actually stick. You'll Learn How To: ✨ Increase preschool enrollment and retention without expensive ads ✨ Hire and keep great teachers in a competitive market ✨ Grow play cafe traffic and party bookings consistently ✨ Structure your services for maximum profit (without raising tuition) ✨ Build systems that free up your time instead of stealing it ✨ Market to modern parents who value quality over price ✨ Scale your early childhood business without burning out This Podcast Is For: → Preschool owners and directors drowning in daily chaos → Childcare operators struggling with staffing and slim margins → Play cafe and enrichment program owners wanting more bookings → Working moms building early childhood businesses while raising families → Anyone who started their EC business to make a difference—not to work 60-hour weeks Kelley doesn't teach theory. She shares real strategies from 25+ years operating Peake Academy (boutique preschool), Play Boutique (indoor play cafe), and coaching hundreds of early childhood businesses through her Shine Membership and CEO Mentorship programs. Every episode delivers actionable systems you can implement this week. Popular Topics: Early childhood business operations, preschool marketing strategies, childcare enrollment systems, play cafe revenue growth, hiring and retention for early childhood, parent communication frameworks, pricing strategies for preschools, operational efficiency, work-life balance for childcare owners.  Stop sacrificing your family to serve other families. Learn to rewrite the rules of business for early childhood at peakecreative.com.  →New episodes weekly. Subscribe now.

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