Twenty-two years ago, Cheryl Carrier started watching her neighbor’s children. That simple beginning has grown to a business that takes care of about 1,000 kids in seven different day care centers in Maine, with more in the works.

Carrier has run the Toddle Inn headquarters in Scarborough and all its branches throughout Maine for over two decades. Recently she decided to franchise Toddle Inn, selling the first franchise to long-time employee Kathie Murphy.

“I’d always planned on working for Toddle Inn for as long as I would work,” said Murphy. “This, to me, is the best of both worlds, though I will miss Scarborough and all of the wonderful families here so much.”

Murphy has worked for Carrier for 13 years and has lived in Scarborough for three-and-a-half with her husband and three children. She will commute to Kennebunk, the location for the newest Toddle Inn. Like most Toddle Inn centers, it will have an indoor gym for children that range from infants to school age. The Kennebunk Toddle Inn will take care of 220 kids, up from the 162 Murphy now oversees.

Though Carrier, last year’s Maine Woman Business Owner of the Year, was initially concerned about losing quality control if she franchised, she said she trusts Murphy to run a Toddle Inn.

“She’s a long term, wonderful employee,” said Carrier. “I have a lot of employees like her right up there with family members. It’s hard for me to differentiate between family and employees.”

Since Toddle Inn also provides nursery school and kindergarten classes, part of Murphy’s job will be to hire and manage both day care staff and teachers. Murphy said that this is nothing new to her and that she’s confident that she can handle all the business aspects of the job.

With the first franchise successfully on its way, Carrier said she is planning six more franchises. On top of those plans, Carrier continues to serve on the Mercy Hospital board to raise money for a new wing and also participates in numerous charity events such as the March of Dimes WalkAmerica, which raised money for premature babies. She is also busy securing a patent for her children’s furniture designs she’s used at all her centers.

“It might be too much to actually manufacture furniture, so we’ll just sell the ideas,” said Carrier.

As the first franchise is getting ready to open, Carrier will be moving her Scarborough headquarters into a new, 3,000 square-foot building in Dunstan Corner. While the company has grown to include centers ranging from Kennebunk to Auburn, Scarborough will continue to serve as Toddle Inn’s main office.

Carrier said her plans for Toddle Inn also include possible expansion outside of Maine. “I’ve had inquiries from out of state,” said Carrier. “We’ll see, maybe someday Toddle Inn will be up and down the coast.”