Full-day montessori nursery in your own premises
Open a small Montessori nursery in leased premises, with a permanent prepared environment and longer days for working parents.
- £30k-120k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
8,731 UK companies in this field, 12% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 85100 “Pre-primary education”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small Montessori setting in leased or owned premises with a permanent, fully prepared classroom and outdoor space. It usually offers longer days and a wider age range than a sessional preschool.
Your first three steps
- Research local demand and competing nurseries, then build a business plan with realistic fill rates and staffing costs
- Look at suitable premises and check with the council about planning use class and building requirements before signing anything
- Speak to your regulator and local early years team about registration, and line up your manager and qualified staff
Who pays
Working parents of children from babies or toddlers up to school age, plus local authority funding for eligible early education places where you are approved.
How it makes money
Monthly or hourly fees per child, topped up by any funded places. Profit depends on filling places while managing rent, staffing and ratios.
Skills that help
- Montessori and early years qualifications, with a suitably qualified manager
- Leading and managing a small team
- Budgeting, marketing and handling parents' questions
Watch out for
- Premises may need planning permission or a change of use, so check with your council before committing
- Registration with the right regulator, with inspections and ongoing requirements, which differ by nation
- Enhanced DBS checks, safeguarding, qualification rules and staff-to-child ratios
- Public liability and employer's liability insurance, plus fire, food hygiene and health and safety checks
- Large fixed costs such as rent and wages, so empty places early on can put pressure on cash flow
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: full-day Montessori nursery in your own premises
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a Montessori nursery?
Startup costs are typically around £30,000 to £120,000, depending on premises, fit-out and equipment. Monthly revenue is typically around £10,000 to £50,000 as an estimate. Rent and wages are large fixed costs, so empty places early on can put pressure on cash flow.
What rules do I need to check before opening a nursery?
Check whether your premises need planning permission or a change of use with your council. Also check registration with the right regulator, which differs by nation, enhanced DBS checks, safeguarding, qualification rules, staff-to-child ratios, insurance, and fire, food hygiene and health and safety requirements.
What skills and time does running a Montessori nursery need?
Expect at least around 40 hours a week as an estimate. You will need Montessori and early years qualifications with a suitably qualified manager, plus skills in leading a small team, budgeting, marketing and handling parents' questions.
Other ways to run this business
Similar teaching and tutoring ideas
Full-time dance school with its own studio
Rent a studio unit and run a full timetable of classes for children and adults.
- £25k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small day nursery
Open a small, caring nursery in rented premises for babies and under-fives, with a qualified team.
- £30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small private day nursery
Open a small nursery with its own premises, offering full-day care and early learning for babies to 5 year olds.
- £30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Community makerspace with digital tools
Run a membership workshop with 3D printers, laser cutters and electronics benches for makers, students and start-ups.
- £25k-90k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Language school with its own premises
Open a small school with rented rooms, a timetable of classes and a few part-time teachers.
- £20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Small accredited trade training centre
Run your own training workshop offering recognised trade courses to career changers and employers' new starters.
- £20k-80k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Photo: Liza on Pixabay