Starting A New School

Take Your Vision to Reality

ISPG has been the project lead on over 25 new school start-ups including international schools, boarding schools, language immersion, and faith-based schools from ECE to 12th grade in the United States, Canada and abroad.

ISPG and its Associates provides school start-up services to private schools throughout North America. Our experience of helping numerous other founders form their schools guides us in understanding the critical functions of starting a school and will provide you and your group with the strategies and tactics that will contribute to making your project:

  • Financially viable

  • Void of costly errors and missteps

  • On time and on budget

  • Stay within the financial reach of the founders

  • Exceed the expectations of the community

  • A long-term legacy of the founders’ vision

Some of Our School Formation Projects

  • Full formation services in 2023 for a faith-based school in Florida

  • Business Plan development for a proposed new Christian high school to open in 2023 in Wisconsin

  • Full formation services in 2022 for a special education school in Tampa, Florida

  • Full formation services in 2022 for a 9-12th grade Christian school in Los Angeles, California

  • Full formation services in 2022 for a 6th-12th grade day and boarding school Christian school in Atlanta, Georgia

  • Full formation services in 2021 for a K-8th grade STEAM school in California

  • Full formation services in 2020 for a K-8th grade school in Wisconsin

  • Full formation services in 2018 for a 6th-12th grade IB school

  • Negotiation and purchase for a 25 acre boarding school for a Chinese client

  • Formation services for a Hollywood celebrity couple’s school in Los Angeles, California

  • Location search for a Chinese/Canadian consortium’s high school

  • Full formation services in 2018 for a Mandarin/Spanish immersion school in Miami

  • Business plan development for a faith-based school in Miami

  • Business plan development for a K-12th grade school in Kuala Lumpur

  • Business plan development for a K-8th school in New York City

  • Full formation services for a school in Alabama

  • Business plan development for a school in Austin, Texas

  • Formation services for a fine arts school in Vancouver, BC

Market Evaluation

If you are just starting down the road of investigating how to start a new school, the first step is to request an Introductory Market Evaluation from ISPG.


This report will include:

  1. Specific information around licensing

  2. Accreditation

  3. State requirements

  4. A ballpark estimate of the cost to start the school

  5. Timing of the school opening and

  6. What additional resources you may require to be successful

We will forward to you a questionnaire for you to complete from which we will draw some of the necessary information to complete and deliver the report to you. The cost for this initial investigative step is $2,500.00. To order one for your proposed new school email us at info@ispginc.com

Financial Plan

If you have moved beyond the investigation stage of starting a new school and now want to understand what conditions it would be viable and feasible to do so, the next step is to create a comprehensive Financial Plan. The Financial Plan is the foundational document that will guide you through the first four years of your new school’s life. It includes:

  1. Vision and Mission statement

  2. Start-up costs pre-opening - Equipment, staffing, marketing, educational program resources, facilities expenses, licensing, accreditations

  3. Consolidated financial projections for the first three years’ of operations

  4. A comprehensive market review

  5. Staff and faculty requirements, market researched salaries

  6. Tuition and fees

  7. Student enrollment in specific grades

  8. Detailed list of revenue items that will fund the school’s operations

  9. Detailed list of expenses required to operate the school for the first three years

  10. Detailed schedules for FF&E, capital costs, facility expenses, HR requirements, operating projections

  11. Risks and Limitations

“Mr. Sumida presented as always, a professional appearance and was clear and concise in his presentations to parents.

Urban Academy has since purchased a beautiful heritage building that we will move into in 2007.”

Laura D. Board Chair, JK-12th enrollment 125

“After renting a school vacated by the local school district, our parent board decided to purchase the building as it came up for sale. Great idea, but how to do that with $50,000 only.

Enter Reed Sumida, who led the Board and parent group through the purchase of the school.

I heartily recommend Reed Sumida to you as a person knowledgeable and experienced in such large undertakings involving financial institutions and the commitments involved there.”

Bonnie W, Principal, Montessori School

ISPG Quick Tip – If you want to significantly increase the likelihood of making your school dream a reality, the first stage of your school formation has to have these three vital components:

  1. A vision for the school shared by others who will dedicate their time and energy within your founding group.

  2. Financial resources sufficient to fund the development of your school’s business and financial plan.

  3. A driving passion that will see you through the challenging process of achieving your objective.

Whether you are looking to start a Pre-School, PreK-5th grade school, K-12th grade school or some other configuration, ISPG Associates have real-world experience based in our vast educational and business sector experiences to help you to achieve your vision.

Email info@ispginc.com call 1-800-884-0989, or reach out via our Inquire Now form to discuss your school’s needs or to obtain additional information.