From Fired to Founder: Building a Childcare Business From the Ground Up

Sometimes getting fired is not the end of the story. It is the beginning.In this episode of the Just Like Angels Podcast, host Janna Johnson sits down with fellow childcare entrepreneur Schlisa Gaines to discuss how both women went from being employees at the same childcare center to becoming successful preschool owners.As single mothers starting from ground zero, their paths to entrepreneurship required determination, sacrifice, and resilience.Schlisa shares the reality of opening her school in 2015 while relying on Section 8 housing assistance and dealing with the repossession of her car. Her experience offers a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship often looks very different behind the scenes than the polished image of “being the boss.”Janna and Schlisa also discuss their unique relationship as childcare business owners located only about a mile apart. Rather than competing against one another, they have created a “childcare sisterhood,” referring families, sharing teachers, exchanging advice, and supporting each other when challenges arise.They reflect on how negative experiences with management shaped the leaders they became and why treating employees with dignity, respect, and emotional support is essential for creating loyal teams.The conversation also explores the realities of business ownership, including variable income, insurance costs, regulatory compliance, and the responsibility that comes with running a childcare center.Schlisa closes by sharing one of the greatest rewards of her journey: seeing her children become part of the business she built, with her son helping with maintenance and classroom support and her daughter serving as director.This episode is an honest look at entrepreneurship, sacrifice, leadership, collaboration, and building a legacy from circumstances that once felt like setbacks.Learn more about Just Like Angels Childcare Center at www.justlikeangelcc.com and subscribe to the Just Like Angels Podcast on your favorite listening platform.