Thriving Preschool & Nursery, Tompkins County NY Daycare

Full Editorial Writeup

This is an established early childhood education and daycare operation in Tompkins County, New York, serving children from infancy through preschool age. The center runs out of a purpose-built 2019 facility with six classrooms licensed for 81 children, and the programs are described as waitlisted, which is the single most important signal in childcare: demand exceeds capacity. Founded in 2014, the business generates roughly $1.32M in revenue and $502K in owner cash flow, a 38% margin that is strong for the sector.

The operation employs 21 people (17 full-time, 4 part-time), which tells you staffing is in place and the owner is likely more operator than hands-in-the-classroom. Tompkins County is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, which anchors a steady base of professional and academic parents who prioritize quality early education and tend to pay for it. That demographic base supports pricing power and fills seats.

The asking price is $795,000 against $502K of cash flow, roughly 1.58x, with a separate real estate component listed at $850,000 that is NOT included in the asking price. The low multiple reflects that a buyer is acquiring the operating business and will need to either buy or lease the building. That real estate question is the hinge of the entire deal and drives the true all-in cost.