Child Care Business Cohorts
Since 1991, First Children’s Finance has been convening groups of family child care owners and child care center entrepreneurs, generally referred to as cohorts. Cohorts bring together similarly sized child care businesses into a peer group and match the group with training, consultation, coaching, and technical assistance.
Contact your state office to learn more about current cohort enrollment!
State OfficesOur Available Cohorts
Cohorts are available for every type and size of child care business, from start-up businesses to cohorts designed to improve specific areas of the business. Cohorts may also focus on a specific issue: increasing teacher compensation, expansion of a business, or creating a comprehensive marketing plan.
Community Conversations for Early Childhood Entrepreneurs is a peer networking and resource group for entrepreneurs of color who currently own a child care business or are interested in starting one. You will meet with your cohort to share experiences, engage with BIPOC community leaders, and work through structural barriers that people of color often face as business owners. You will have the opportunity to participate in discussions about personal finance, access to capital, wealth-building, barriers to child care facilities and housing, and, importantly, facing historical and racial trauma. You will work with a First Children’s Finance consultant to design and implement a Financial Action Plan relevant to your child care business.
The Business Leadership Cohort provides center directors and family child care owners with the opportunity to learn about the basics of business related to their child care program. As a participant, you will learn about the child care business model, the importance of managing enrollment, and developing policies and procedures to improve financial performance. You will have access to a thorough financial analysis of your business operations, with recommendations for improvements. Participants regularly report making significant changes to their business that result in profitability.
Additional Business Support Resources
Trainings & Events
We offer practical, hands-on workshops, professional development, and seminars that address the most critical business topics for family child care owners and child care centers.
Business Consultation
First Children's Finance provides expert child care consulting to help businesses navigate challenges, strengthen operations, and plan for long-term success.
Business Resources
Browse First Children's Finance's library of business resources for child care entrepreneurs — guides, worksheets, and tools covering financial management, board governance, grant budgeting, and business planning.