Licensed capacity

Definition

The most children a center may enroll, set by the state from space, rooms, and staffing.

Why It Matters

Capacity is the ceiling on revenue, so read utilization against it before anything else. A center at capacity can only grow on price, which is a real but bounded lever, while one far below it is telling you about demand, reputation, or staffing, and those are different problems with different costs. Ask whether the license could be raised: more capacity usually means more square footage or more staff, both of which arrive as capital you have to find.