Matt
Founder & Director
Co-founded ChildCare Funders to give NZ centres a finance partner that actually understands how Ministry bulk funding works.
A friendlier way to fund your childcare centre
Smooth cash flow for your childcare centre. Get your next Ministry payment early.
Long gaps between Ministry payments shouldn't stress your team. Get up to 60% of your next payment in your account today — friendly, fast, and made just for childcare centres.
150+ NZ centres funded since 2016
Advanced to date$200M+ advanced
Ministry-backed · NZ-owned · No lock-in contracts
Response usually within 48 hours
No hidden fees
Made for childcare centres
Your advance
Ministry-backed funding
$75,000
In your account today
60% of next payment$125,000 total
Made for childcare
Trusted by childcare centres across Aotearoa
$200M+
Advanced to NZ childcare centres
150+
Centres funded across Aotearoa
48 hrs
Usual response to a complete application
Since 2016
Specialists in childcare cash flow
NZ-ownedMinistry-backed advancesNo lock-in contracts
The challenge
Running a childcare centre is hard enough
Looking after little ones takes great teachers, lovely spaces and the right resources. But the way Ministry payments are spread through the year can make day-to-day cash flow really tight — and slow you down when you'd rather be growing.
The long wait between payments
The Ministry pays you in three big chunks a year (March, July and November). The months in between are when rent, wages and bills don't wait — and that pressure can really add up.
Up-and-down enrolments
Numbers change all the time. When children move on or new intakes start slowly, your weekly income drops straight away — but your teachers' wages and overheads stay exactly the same.
Wanting to grow, fast
Upgrading your outdoor area, running a marketing push, or opening a new centre needs money upfront. Banks can be slow and rigid when you need to move quickly.
How we help
A friendly hand when you need it
We're not a bank, and we're not here to lock you in. We just give you early access to the Ministry money you've already earned — whenever you actually need it.
Money in your account today
Get up to 60% of your next Ministry payment — up to three months before it's due. Turn money you've already earned into cash you can use right now.
You're in control
Use it only when you need to. Take just what you need. Pay only for what you use. No monthly fees, no yearly contracts, no surprises.
Quick and simple — no paperwork mountain
Skip the bank forms, valuations and personal guarantees. Our online form takes 5–10 minutes and approved funds land in your account the same day.
The people behind ChildCare Funders
A small, specialist team that knows childcare finance inside out, and picks up the phone when you call.
Laurie
Founder & Director
Leads our lending strategy and brings decades of finance experience to every advance we structure.
Fiona
Client Manager
The friendly first voice for most operators, guiding applications through to funding, usually within 48 hours.
Simple, fast, friendly
Three simple steps. We do the rest.
01
Apply online in 5 minutes
Fill in our short, secure form. Tell us a little about your centre and how much you'd like — no endless bank paperwork.
02
We say yes within 48 hours
Our friendly team reviews it the same day. Once you're approved, we send the agreement and pop the money into your bank account within hours.
03
It pays itself back
Run your centre with peace of mind. When the Ministry pays you, the advance is repaid automatically from that payment. No manual transfers, no lingering debt.
Simple, honest pricing
See your advance and our flat fee — no surprises
One simple flat fee. No interest building up, no compounding, no monthly charges. What you see is exactly what you'll pay back when the Ministry pays you.
TermRate
Up to 1 Month$375 flat / $5,000 advanced
1 to 2 Months$475 flat / $5,000 advanced
2 to 4 MonthsCustom discounted rates
$100,000
$10k$1M
The most you can get (60%)$60,000
$20,000
$5k$60,000
How long do you need it for?
Advance
$20,000
Flat Fee
$1,500
Total
$21,500
Pays itself back from your next Ministry payment.
150+ NZ centres funded since 2016
Advanced to date$200M+ advanced
Ministry-backed · NZ-owned · No lock-in contracts
Real centres, real stories
How other childcare centres use us
Marie
Centre Director — Auckland
Advance: $150,000
Opening a brand new centre in Auckland
The challenge
Marie was setting up a beautiful new childcare centre. Licensing delays, playground build costs and teacher recruitment ran over budget before the first children even arrived.
How we helped
We provided a $150,000 advance against her upcoming Ministry start-up funding.
"We couldn't have done it without them. The money let us finish the build on time and open our doors with a full team of teachers."
Get funded like Marie
150+ NZ centres funded since 2016
Advanced to date$200M+ advanced
Ministry-backed · NZ-owned · No lock-in contracts
Featured Story
Ko Aroha Kids
Standalone ECE · 30+ years
30+ yrsOperating in
$120kAdvanced in
5 yrsChildCare Funders
KW
Karen Warren
Owner, Ko Aroha Kids
"Such an easy service — a genuine lifesaver for our centre. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't be here."
How Ko Aroha Kids survived a cash-flow crisis — and avoided bankruptcy
30+ yrs
Operating in community
$120k
Advanced in hours
5 yrs
ChildCare Funders customer
1 centre
Saved from closure
The challenge
After 30+ years of full rolls, the sector shifted. A corporate chain opened just down the road and enrolments turned volatile — one family moving, five children starting school, and the funding maths stopped working. Karen made the difficult call to close her second centre, with advance funding to repay and a bank that wouldn't move.
The solution
Karen had been with ChildCare Funders for around five years. When the squeeze hit, she budgeted $100,000 to get through — the real number turned out to be $120,000. ChildCare Funders simply made it work, advancing against her next Ministry of Education bulk funding payment without the paperwork, the waiting, or the lock-in.
The result
Karen consolidated into her stronger centre, wound the second one down on her own terms, and steadied the ship. Today rolls are back up, funding looks healthier, and she's on a path to needing less lending over time — exactly the flexibility the service is built for.
Centre is still trading — through a downturn that could have ended it
Rolls are back up and funding is looking far healthier
Wound down the second centre on her own terms
Safety net is there for the next inevitable dip
"Without ChildCare Funders, we would have been bankrupt. When our numbers dropped and we had to close one of our centres, the bank wanted 15,000 pages and weeks of waiting — these guys just got it sorted. If we didn't have them, we wouldn't be here."
Why centres choose ChildCare Funders
Approval time
- ChildCare Funders
- Usually within 48 hours, often just a few hours
- Bank overdraft
- Timing varies by bank and application
Security required
- ChildCare Funders
- Secured against your next Ministry payment; no personal property charges or asset valuations
- Bank overdraft
- Security requirements vary by bank and facility
Understands Ministry bulk funding
- ChildCare Funders
- Exclusively works with licensed ECE centres and home-based providers
- Bank overdraft
- Specialist ECE knowledge varies by bank
Contract lock-in
- ChildCare Funders
- No annual fees or long-term commitment
- Bank overdraft
- Terms and fees vary by facility
Who you deal with
- ChildCare Funders
- A small NZ-based team; no offshore call centres
- Bank overdraft
- Service model varies by bank and branch
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions childcare centres ask us most.
How long does approval take?
Once we have your online form and a few basic documents, our friendly team reviews it straight away. Most centres are approved and funded within 48 hours — often just a few hours.
Can any childcare centre use this?
Yes. Any licensed childcare centre or home-based provider in New Zealand can apply, as long as you receive Ministry funding payments.
How much can my centre get?
Anywhere from $5,000 to $500,000. You can take up to 60% of your next Ministry payment as an advance.
Do I need to put up security or assets?
No. Unlike traditional banks, we don't require personal property charges or asset valuations. The advance is secured against your upcoming Ministry payment.
Am I locked into a long contract?
Not at all. No annual fees, no setup costs, no long-term commitment. Use us only when you need to, and pay only for what you take.
Why use you instead of a bank overdraft?
Banks are slow, want personal guarantees, and don't always understand how childcare funding works. We do — that's all we do. You get a same-day yes, no red tape, and one honest flat fee.
Apply now
Get Funded in 48 Hours
Tell us a little about your centre and we'll come back today with a friendly, no-obligation answer. Most centres complete the form in about five minutes.
Secured by ChildCare Funders · industry-standard encryptionTrouble loading? Open in a new tab
150+ NZ centres funded since 2016
Advanced to date$200M+ advanced
Ministry-backed · NZ-owned · No lock-in contracts
A friendlier way to fund your centre
Join the New Zealand childcare centres who use us to smooth their income, look after their teachers, and grow with peace of mind.
150+ NZ centres funded since 2016
Advanced to date$200M+ advanced
Ministry-backed · NZ-owned · No lock-in contracts