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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Willowbrae Academy Franchise

Willowbrae Academy is an early childhood education franchise established in 2010, operating brick-and-mortar academy locations across Canada and expanding into the US. The brand serves infants through school-age children under a non-operator CEO model: franchisees hire qualified Academy Directors to manage day-to-day operations while owners focus on strategic oversight and business performance.

Curriculum is built on the proprietary Learning Tree, which integrates Montessori, High Scope, and Emergent teaching methods. Named programs including Young Scholars, Creative Kids, BodyBreak KID FIT, and the School-Ready Program address different age groups and developmental goals. The brand’s proprietary Braeview software connects franchise owners with real-time financial metrics, enrollment data, staff ratios, and parent communications.

The network spans 40+ locations, primarily in Canada, with US territories now opening. Willowbrae is a member of the Canadian Franchise Association and has received multiple CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising, including the Grand Prize for Traditional Franchises in 2024 and Gold awards in both 2024 and 2026.

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Why buy a Willowbrae Academy Franchise?

The non-operator CEO structure is central to the ownership case. Because a qualified Academy Director manages daily operations, Willowbrae is positioned as a business-management investment rather than a childcare role. This opens the model to experienced executives, investors, and entrepreneurs with no early education background, and supports multi-unit ownership by design.

The brand’s curriculum depth is a differentiator. The Learning Tree framework, SEEDS operational standards, and programs like Young Scholars and the School-Ready Program give Willowbrae a more structured educational identity than most childcare providers, supporting local enrollment and parent retention. Braeview gives owners visibility into enrollment and operations without requiring physical presence at the academy. Revenue arrives on a cashless basis, deposited directly to the owner at the start of each month, providing predictable cash flow visibility.

Willowbrae Academy Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      2009

    • Franchising Since

      2012

    • New Startup Cost

      $2,401,500 – $3,987,000

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $75,000 – $85,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      2.50%

      of 12-mo avg monthly Gross Sales

    • Royalty Fee

      8.50%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      0.50%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      0

    • New Units Opened *

      0

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2024 data reported in the 2025 FDD

Willowbrae Academy – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Willowbrae's training covers startup, operations, employee management, and systems implementation, and extends to the Academy Director as well as the franchise owner. Support continues through the Franchise Development Coaching team, delivered via one-on-one calls, group best-practice sessions, and Director process improvement conferences. Braeview software provides CEO-level reporting on revenue, staff ratios, enrollment, and billing exceptions. A Quality Assurance program conducts ongoing reviews at each location against Willowbrae's operational standards. Resale buyers should confirm what onboarding and Braeview access transfers to incoming owners.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Willowbrae Academy targets experienced business professionals in a non-operator CEO role, with no prior childcare experience required. The brand attracts franchisees from corporate, senior management, and portfolio investment backgrounds, all comfortable setting strategic direction through a hired Academy Director. Strong financial management ability and leadership confidence matter more than sector knowledge. Community presence supports local enrollment, and the model is designed to accommodate multi-unit ownership for buyers seeking to grow across territories.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Willowbrae Academy is a consistent performer in the Canadian Franchise Association Awards of Excellence in Franchising. The brand received Gold and the Grand Prize for Traditional Franchises at the 2024 CFA Awards and Gold again in 2026, with additional recognition in 2025. Results are determined by franchisee satisfaction surveys administered by a third-party research firm. Willowbrae is an active CFA member, with sector recognition built around its SEEDS quality standards, proprietary curriculum, and ongoing Quality Assurance program.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US childcare market was valued at $65.15 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $109.88 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 6.02% (Grand View Research). Demand is driven by the growth of dual-income and single-parent households requiring licensed care. Parents increasingly treat childcare as an early education investment rather than basic supervision, which supports higher-fee structured programs. The sector has shown resilience through economic downturns, as working families continue to prioritize care. For resale buyers, local enrollment trends and proximity to working-family neighborhoods are the most relevant market factors.

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