Early Childhood Business Made Easy
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.
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Episodes
167 episodes
167: Know Your Numbers: The Financial Wake-Up Call Every EC Owner Needs
🎙️ 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 fam...
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Season 1
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Episode 167
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33:04
166: The 90-Day CEO Action Plan That Actually Works
🎙️ 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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 166
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33:50
165: The Sweet Spot: Which Services Should You Keep, Cut, or Create?
🎙️ 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...
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Season 1
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Episode 165
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37:17
164: Stop Wasting Time on Marketing That Doesn't Work
🎙️ 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, s...
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Season 1
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Episode 164
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35:23
163: The Team Culture Secret Every EC Leader Needs to Know This Year
🎙️ 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 los...
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Season 1
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Episode 163
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28:29
162: Your 2026 Vision: Why You Need More Than Goals This Year
🎙️ 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...
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Season 1
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Episode 162
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28:37
161: Resourceful & Resilient: Making Every Dollar Count in an ECE Business
🎙️ 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...
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Season 1
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Episode 161
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29:17
160: Supporting the Parent Journey: Building Stronger Connections Between Families and Early Childhood Programs
🎙️ 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 question...
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Season 1
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Episode 160
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26:06
159: Balancing Time and Freedom: Designing a Lifestyle That Empowers Early Childhood Educators
🎙️ 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 c...
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Season 1
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Episode 159
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26:24
158: Purposeful Profits: Building a Freedom-Centered Early Childhood Business
🎙️ 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, de...
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Season 1
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Episode 158
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37:37
157: Policy Power: Transforming Parent Partnerships Through Clear Guidelines
🎙️ 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 y...
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Season 1
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Episode 157
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33:25
156: Happiness in Action: Strategies for Thriving Early Childhood Programs
💡 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...
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Season 1
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Episode 156
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26:47
155: Navigating Together: Empowering Parents in Early Childhood Experiences
💡 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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 155
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25:30
154: The Purposeful Profit Blueprint: Leading Your Early Childhood Business to Thrive
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 154
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25:46
153: The Dollar Stretch: Smart Spending Strategies for Childcare Pros
Feeling like there’s never enough left over—even when your classrooms are full? You’re not alone. With most childcare businesses operating on razor-thin margins, every dollar truly counts.💡 In this episode, discover how to make your mone...
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Season 1
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Episode 153
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26:30
152: Unlocking Communication: SOPs That Bridge Gaps Between Parents and Educators
Tired of repeating yourself to parents—or fixing miscommunications that could’ve been avoided? You’re not alone.💡 In this episode, discover how clear, simple Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) can turn daily communication chaos into ca...
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Season 1
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Episode 152
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27:12
151: Nurturing Futures: Crafting Meaningful Experiences for Kids
✨ Growth in your early childhood business isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what matters most.In this episode, discover how to create meaningful, memorable experiences that families can’t stop talking about—without adding ...
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Season 1
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Episode 151
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27:38
150: The Parent Partnership: Nurturing Bonds in Early Childhood Business
🎙️ Struggling with parent partnerships? You’re not alone—and the solution is simpler than you think. 💡In this episode, discover how to build trust, invite collaboration, and turn communication into real connection—without adding to your ...
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Season 1
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Episode 150
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28:40
149: Unlock the Hidden Leaders: The Secret to Building a Team That Thrives With You
🎙️ What if the strongest leader in your business is already on your team—just waiting to be uncovered?In this episode, discover how to spot hidden talent, create growth opportunities, and turn untapped potential into confident leaders wh...
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Season 1
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Episode 149
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31:24
148: Stop the Hidden Costs Draining Your Business: 3 Profitable Pathways That Put You Back in Control
🎙️ Ever feel like no matter how hard you work, the money just doesn’t stretch far enough? The problem isn’t always revenue—it’s the hidden costs draining your profits. 💸In this episode, you’ll discover 3 profitable pathways to stop the l...
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Season 1
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Episode 148
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23:35
147: The Profit Playground: How to Stop Relying on Tuition and Build a Business That Lasts
🎙️ Relying on tuition alone? That’s why your early childhood business feels financially fragile.In this episode, discover how to build your Profit Playground—diverse revenue streams that protect you from enrollment dips, give you ...
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Season 1
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Episode 147
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21:15
146: Lead Smarter, Not Harder: Say Goodbye to Micromanaging for Good
🎙️ Feeling drained from constant reminders—or worse, just doing everything yourself? The real issue isn’t effort—it’s culture. 💡In this episode, discover how to break free from micromanaging by shifting expectations, communication, and s...
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Season 1
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Episode 146
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21:02
145: Streamline or Sink: Simplify Your Services and Watch Profits Rise
🎙️ Full of offerings but light on profit? The problem isn’t your effort—it’s your service structure. 💡In this episode, discover how to streamline your programs so they increase value without draining your energy, confusing famil...
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Season 1
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Episode 145
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23:49
144: Marketing That Works While You Sleep: 3 Simple Moves to Grow Your Early Childhood Business
🎙️ Still chasing families after tours—only to wonder why they never follow through? The problem isn’t your program, it’s the process. 💡In this episode, discover 3 simple moves to create marketing that works while you sleep—from ...
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Season 1
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Episode 144
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26:31
143: Unlocking Team Power: Transform Your Early Childhood Business with These Leadership Secrets
🎙️ What if your biggest growth opportunity isn’t a new strategy—but the untapped potential of your existing team? 💡In this episode, discover how small, intentional leadership shifts can inspire your staff to take ownership, drive results...
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Season 1
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Episode 143
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22:12