Every Childcare Business Owner Needs a “Phone a Friend”

Every Childcare Business Owner Needs a “Phone a Friend”

By: Nikkie Handy

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Running a childcare business isn't like running a donut shop, a cell phone repair service, or a nail salon. Your customers don't just consume a product — they directly contribute to the culture of your business. You can feel the visibility. It’s almost palpable.

That might sound ominous, but here’s the flip side: there are few industries as deeply rewarding. If you don't love this work with your whole heart, it will scare you off. But if you do? There’s no better place to be.

This unique environment demands intentional decision-making. But where — and with whom — can you externalize your thinking when the stakes are high?

You’ll face tough calls.

● Raise tuition rates in August or January?

● Is the cook stealing food supplies?

● Will parents follow a beloved Pre-K teacher if she leaves?

These are not hypotheticals — they're real-world, business-shaping moments. Even if you're a rock-solid decision-maker, beware: there are three major traps that can take you down if you don’t build the right network.

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Trap #1 – You Are Not an Island

Entrepreneurs are brave, self-reliant creatures. If you run a childcare business, you are, without a doubt, an entrepreneur. And while your gut has gotten you far, gut-only decision-making will eventually lead you into dangerous waters.

To avoid this, you need a framework for thinking. One example is the Vistage Issue Processing Framework, which asks you to break down a challenge into seven precise statements. It forces clarity, expands your perspective, and trains your brain to see solutions you might otherwise miss.

Bonus tip: to use this framework in its true power, you need a peer group — not your onsite team. Which leads us to Trap #2...

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Trap #2 – Don’t Get It Twisted

Your leadership team is not your peer group.

It’s easy to blur the line between "shared decision-making" and "oversharing" with your directors or site managers. Be careful. As Grace Tripathy puts it, "A manager must maintain boundaries with direct reports because they have significant influence over the direct report's professional and financial status — and that's a game-changer" (Tripathy, 2023).

Here’s your checklist:

✅ Encourage participation and leverage your team's expertise (they deserve it).

🚫 Don’t turn brainstorming sessions into gripe sessions (they spiral fast).

🚫 Don’t let collaboration tip into gossip (you’ll break trust quicker than you think).

And remember — sometimes your team simply doesn’t have the background needed to help with business model pivots, compliance risks, or major financial decisions. You’ll need another level of support.

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Trap #3 – You Forgot to Assemble Your Avengers

If your peer group isn’t onsite, where do you find it?

You build it.

You need trusted, equal-level peers to brainstorm with, vent to, and stretch yourself alongside. Lauren Landry reminds us that every decision is an opportunity to empower others — but the empowerment you need for yourself comes from strategic networking and professional peer connections.

So:

● Find your Thor — the SEO wizard who talks Google Analytics like a god.

● Find your Hulk — the business-scaler who pushes for sustainable growth.

● And don't forget your Iron Man — the one who can marry heart and head, helping you become the smart and deeply lovable leader your team deserves.

Childcare business ownership isn’t for the faint of heart. Assemble your team. Build your brain trust. Your future self (and your center) will thank you.

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References

● Vistage. (n.d.). What is the Vistage Issue Processing Framework and why does it work?

● Welch, J. (2005). Winning.

● Tripathy, G. (2023). Striking the Balance Between Manager and Friend. Ambition in Motion.

● Landry, L. (n.d.). The Importance of Team Decision-Making. Harvard Business School Online.

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