Early Childhood Business Made Easy

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

Ever thought… How to start a preschool or play cafe? How to successfully manage an early childhood business or childcare? How to hire great teachers? How to grow preschool enrollment? How to increase your parties and indoor play traffic? What do today’s busy parents value most? How great would it be to have a business mentor sharing preschool, childcare, play cafe, and other early childhood business success secrets based on years of lessons learned the hard way so you don’t have to? For just that and more - tune in each week to the Happiness Hustle - Early Childhood Business Made Easy Podcast with your host, Kelley Peake, ex-corporate childcare leader turned CEO of multiple million-dollar early childhood businesses. Kelley is on a mission to help other early childhood business leaders, managers, and owners control the chaos, ditch the exhausting overwhelm, and keep the joy as they build a profitable business, making a difference in the lives of others. You will find lots of inspiration, tips, resources, and actionable strategies giving you the step-by-step details you need to create success in your own business. Whether you are a busy parent, a pulled in all directions ambitious mompreneur, or one in the making who's looking to create a preschool, play cafe, or other early childhood focused business that makes a difference, it is our goal to make your life a little easier with every resource, blog post, or podcast. To find out more resources that will help you control the chaos, ditch the exhausting overwhelm, and keep the joy as you grow your successful business, head over to www.peakecreative.com.

  1. 5D AGO

    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

  2. DEC 11

    160: Supporting the Parent Journey: Building Stronger Connections Between Families and Early Childhood Programs

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we’re exploring how to transform parent communication from overwhelming and reactive into confident, connected partnership. 🧡 If you’re sending updates, answering questions, and trying to stay available—but still facing endless concerns and last-minute conversations—you’re not doing anything wrong. Traditional communication strategies simply don’t work in early childhood settings where emotions, routines, and developmental needs shape every moment. 🔍 When you begin supporting the Parent Journey instead of reacting to every message, everything shifts. Parents feel grounded, your team communicates with confidence, and you create a stronger foundation of trust within your program. ✨ This is how Confident Early Childhood Operators replace chaos with clarity—and how you start building the Time+Freedom™ lifestyle your business was meant to support. 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!

    26 min

  3. DEC 8

    159: Balancing Time and Freedom: Designing a Lifestyle That Empowers Early Childhood Educators

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we’re diving into what true balance looks like for early childhood educators and owners—beyond planners, boundaries, or another color-coded schedule. ⏳ If your days feel chaotic, your evenings disappear into catch-up mode, and every “solution” you’ve tried falls apart the moment ratios shift or a parent needs you, you’re not alone. Traditional productivity advice simply doesn’t fit the realities of early childhood. ⚙️ We break down why balance comes from systems—not schedules—and how designing your operations around the unique demands of this industry creates calmer days, stronger teams, and sustainable leadership. ✨ You’ll learn how Confident Early Childhood Operators reclaim their Time+Freedom by leading intentionally, building supportive structures, and designing a life that matches the purpose behind their work. 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!

    26 min

  4. DEC 5

    158: Purposeful Profits: Building a Freedom-Centered Early Childhood Business

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we explore what it really takes to build a profitable early childhood business that doesn’t rely on you being “on” 24/7. 💼 If you’re exhausted from carrying every task, decision, and fire on your shoulders—yet still not seeing the profit you expect—there’s nothing wrong with you. The traditional business advice you’ve been given simply doesn’t fit the realities of a ratio-dependent, relationship-driven industry. ⚙️ We break down how shifting from a hustle-based model to a freedom-centered business strategy allows you to grow sustainably—using systems, leadership, and purposeful planning instead of endless hours and personal sacrifice. ✨ You’ll learn how Confident Early Childhood CEOs create predictability, clarity, and true time freedom—so your business finally supports the life, family, and purpose you built it for. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.🌟BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL🌟Choose Your Bundle - Simplify your days, inspire your team, and create a plan that blends purpose, profit, and peace. Your Time + Freedom lifestyle starts here.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.Join Shine Membership for monthly coaching, accountability, and strategies to stay on track as you grow your early childhood business.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!

    38 min

  5. NOV 20

    157: Policy Power: Transforming Parent Partnerships Through Clear Guidelines

    Send us a text 🎙️ In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we dig into how clear policies and communication systems transform parent partnerships—and why most leaders stay stuck answering the same questions again and again. 📩 If you’re rewriting emails, clarifying expectations, and still feeling like families aren’t aligned, the issue isn’t parent behavior. It’s unclear systems trying to support a relationship-driven business. In this conversation, we break down how to build communication structures that “do the talking for you,” so your team gains confidence, your families gain trust, and your days stop being filled with preventable fires. ✨ You’ll learn how confident operators create clarity that reduces overwhelm, strengthens connection, and gives you back the time and ease your business was designed to provide. 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.Join Shine Membership for monthly coaching, accountability, and strategies to stay on track as you grow your early childhood business.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!

    33 min

  6. NOV 16

    156: Happiness in Action: Strategies for Thriving Early Childhood Programs

    Send us a text 💡 In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we break down what it truly means to build happiness into the operational core of your early childhood program — not as a bonus, but as a strategic advantage. When children feel restless, teachers feel drained, and joy feels fleeting, most leaders respond with more activities, more themes, or more staff-appreciation efforts. But these short-term boosts don’t work in ratio-dependent environments where the system determines how people feel. This episode reveals how to treat happiness as a measurable component of your operations so your program shifts from reactive survival mode to sustainable excellence. You’ll learn how to design environments where children regulate more easily, teachers feel supported and energized, and you lead with calm clarity instead of constant pressure. 👉  If you’re ready to create a business where joy is predictable—not accidental—this conversation will guide you through the operational strategies that make it possible. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.Download your free Purposeful Profit Plan Worksheet + Dashboard Template at kelleypeake.com.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.Join Shine Membership for monthly coaching, accountability, and strategies to stay on track as you grow your early childhood business.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!

    27 min

  7. NOV 7

    155: Navigating Together: Empowering Parents in Early Childhood Experiences

    Send us a text 💡 In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we explore why even the most well-intentioned parent communication can sometimes miss the mark. You’re sending updates, hosting events, and answering every question—yet families still feel disconnected. The issue isn’t how much you communicate, but how you invite parents into the journey. Discover how to shift from simply informing to truly empowering families—so they see you not just as a service provider, but as a trusted partner in their child’s growth. 👉  Learn how Confident Early Childhood Operators turn overwhelm into partnership and transform parent communication into their most powerful enrollment and retention strategy. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.Download your free Purposeful Profit Plan Worksheet + Dashboard Template at kelleypeake.com.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.Join Shine Membership for monthly coaching, accountability, and strategies to stay on track as you grow your early childhood business.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!

    26 min

  8. OCT 30

    154: The Purposeful Profit Blueprint: Leading Your Early Childhood Business to Thrive

    Send us a text In this episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy, we dive into the missing link between passion and profit in the childcare industry. Many owners celebrate full enrollment and packed events—yet still feel the financial strain each month. The difference lies in having a purposeful profit plan that ties your vision directly to your numbers. Discover how to shift from reacting to your finances to leading with intention—so you can build a business that pays you consistently, supports your team, and gives you the Time+Freedom™ to enjoy what matters most. Click HERE to see the Shownotes and Printable.Download your free Purposeful Profit Plan Worksheet + Dashboard Template at kelleypeake.com.Explore Module 1 of the Preschool Business Blueprint course, where you’ll learn how to implement the full Purposeful Profit framework step by step.Join Shine Membership for monthly coaching, accountability, and strategies to stay on track as you grow your early childhood business.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!

    26 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Ever thought… How to start a preschool or play cafe? How to successfully manage an early childhood business or childcare? How to hire great teachers? How to grow preschool enrollment? How to increase your parties and indoor play traffic? What do today’s busy parents value most? How great would it be to have a business mentor sharing preschool, childcare, play cafe, and other early childhood business success secrets based on years of lessons learned the hard way so you don’t have to? For just that and more - tune in each week to the Happiness Hustle - Early Childhood Business Made Easy Podcast with your host, Kelley Peake, ex-corporate childcare leader turned CEO of multiple million-dollar early childhood businesses. Kelley is on a mission to help other early childhood business leaders, managers, and owners control the chaos, ditch the exhausting overwhelm, and keep the joy as they build a profitable business, making a difference in the lives of others. You will find lots of inspiration, tips, resources, and actionable strategies giving you the step-by-step details you need to create success in your own business. Whether you are a busy parent, a pulled in all directions ambitious mompreneur, or one in the making who's looking to create a preschool, play cafe, or other early childhood focused business that makes a difference, it is our goal to make your life a little easier with every resource, blog post, or podcast. To find out more resources that will help you control the chaos, ditch the exhausting overwhelm, and keep the joy as you grow your successful business, head over to www.peakecreative.com.

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