PBL
PBL (Private Barnehagers Landsforbund) is a Norwegian membership-based employer and interest organization serving approximately 1,900 private kindergartens nationwide, providing collective bargaining, legal advice, HR and accounting tools (PBL Regnskap, Mentor+, Mentor BHT), pension administration, training, and sector advocacy.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersBodø, Norway
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PBL does
PBL (Private Barnehagers Landsforbund) is a Norwegian membership-based employer and interest organization founded in 1993 and headquartered in Bodø, with a secondary office in Oslo. It serves approximately 1,900 private kindergartens across Norway — collectively employing roughly 29,000 people — providing employer representation, collective bargaining with unions (Fagforbundet, Utdanningsforbundet, Delta), legal advice from in-house attorneys, pension and insurance administration (in the process of migrating from Storebrand to SpareBank 1 covering ~5,000 service pension agreements), accounting services (PBL Regnskap), administrative HR tools (Mentor+, Mentor Kidplan, Mentor HMS, Mentor Personal), occupational health services (Mentor BHT), training and events including the annual Lederkonferanse, and political advocacy on kindergarten policy.
PBL's operating model is subscription-based: member kindergartens pay recurring fees in exchange for the full suite of advisory, legal, tariff, and digital services. Revenue is supplemented by fees from operating subsidiaries (PBL Regnskap, Mentor+, Mentor BHT) and by the Barnehagehjelperne collective purchasing program, which channels member demand to vetted commercial partners (Norengros, Ishavskraft, Polar BioMedicals, Lekolar, Jelpr, Servicegrossistene, Stormberg, N3 Løsningen, Phonero) under negotiated framework agreements. Member engagement is reinforced through the Medlemskvarteret content portal and PBL-podden podcast, and PBL maintains an active presence across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Snapchat.
The organization is owned and controlled by its member kindergartens rather than external investors; it is a private, non-listed Norwegian association (org. nr. 970954309). Its competitive position rests on a quasi-statutory role in sector-wide collective bargaining, sector-specific in-house legal expertise, and an integrated member service stack that creates meaningful switching friction. Current sector dynamics include declining kindergarten utilization (~1,800 fewer children in December 2025 vs prior year) and ongoing regulatory reform on private kindergarten subsidies and pension funding.
PBL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PBL
- Legal name
- PBL (Private Barnehagers Landsforbund)
- Website
- https://pbl.no
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- PBL (Private Barnehagers Landsforbund) is a Norwegian membership-based employer and interest organization serving approximately 1,900 private kindergartens nationwide, providing collective bargaining, legal advice, HR and accounting tools (PBL Regnskap, Mentor+, Mentor BHT), pension administration, training, and sector advocacy.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where PBL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bodø
- HQ country
- Norway
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
PBL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership fees: PBL generates revenue primarily through membership fees paid by private kindergartens in Norway. Members pay to access services including legal advice, HR support, accounting services (PBL Regnskap), HR and BHT tools (Mentor+), training events, and sector-specific resources. PBL also sells products and services from partners (Barnehagehjelperne) through negotiated collective agreements on behalf of member kindergartens.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels8 records
PBL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PBL (Private Barnehagers Landsforbund) is a Norwegian employer and interest organization for private kindergartens, providing approximately 1,900 member kindergartens with services including legal and labor-law advice, tariff and salary administration, pension and insurance management, accounting through its subsidiary PBL Regnskap, and HR/occupational health tools via Mentor+ and Mentor BHT. The organization also delivers training, courses, and conferences, sector-specific news and advocacy, and facilitates member benefits through its Barnehagehjelperne purchasing cooperation with vetted commercial partners.
Product overview
PBL (Private Barnehagers Landsforbund) is an employers' and interest organization for private kindergartens in Norway. The organization offers a portfolio of services including PBL Regnskap (accounting), Mentor+ (administrative tools with sub-products Mentor Kidplan, Mentor HMS, Mentor Personal, and Mentor BHT), and Barnehagehjelperne (member benefits through commercial partnerships). Additional offerings include PBL-podden (podcast) and Medlemskvarteret (member content). PBL also provides member advisory services covering tariffs, pensions, labor law, and continuing education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PBL Regnskap: Accounting and bookkeeping services with dedicated advisors familiar with the kindergarten sector
- Mentor+
- Mentor BHT
- Barnehagehjelperne
- Medlemskvarteret
- PBL-podden
Products and services
- PBL Regnskap
Quantifiable outcome
- PBL Lederkonferanse attracts hundreds of kindergarten leaders from across Norway each year.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use PBL
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
PBL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
PBL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Norengros AScoreNorengros AS provides consumable supplies to PBL member kindergartens through collective agreement. As a nationwide chain, Norengros offers all the consumables a kindergarten needs from a single supplier.
- PBL Kraft / IshavskraftcoreThrough PBL membership, kindergartens receive electricity supply from Ishavskraft with spot-price management. This is a collectively negotiated energy agreement.
- Polar BioMedicals AScorePolar BioMedicals supplies environmentally friendly diaper products (changing sheets, wet wipes, towels, washcloths, children's bibs, and bio-bags) to PBL member kindergartens. Products are 100% biodegradable, made from sustainable fibers. This is a long-standing partnership.
- LekolarcoreLekolar is a complete educational supplier for kindergartens, providing toys and learning materials for both indoor and outdoor environments. Offers pedagogical equipment and supplies through the Barnehagehjelperne collective agreement.
- JelprcoreJelpr provides a staffing solution allowing kindergartens to build their own resource pool of substitute workers. PBL members receive a 20% discount. The platform enables kindergartens to share substitute workers across multiple locations, improving staffing coverage.
- PhonerominorPhonero provides mobile subscription services to PBL member kindergartens, offering solutions tailored to kindergarten needs.
- ServicegrossistenecoreServicegrossistene supplies food and groceries to PBL member kindergartens through a single ordering platform, saving time and money on food procurement.
- Renholdssoner og N3 LøsningenminorN3 Løsningen is a complete and flexible cleaning package for kindergartens, offering better indoor climate, reduced daily stress, and smarter cleaning routines.
- StormbergcoreStormberg became a new collaboration partner for PBL in 2026, providing work clothing for kindergarten staff. All clothing is adapted for an active and varied workday, keeping employees warm and dry.
- SpareBank 1 ForsikringcoreFollowing a competitive tender process, PBL is moving its collective pension agreements (service pensions — hybrid and defined benefit — covering approximately 5,000 pension agreements) from Storebrand to SpareBank 1 Forsikring. This is the result of an organizational procurement process to secure better terms for member kindergartens.
- StorebrandminorStorebrand previously served as the pension provider for PBL's tariff area. PBL is in the process of moving approximately 5,000 pension agreements to SpareBank 1 Forsikring following a tender process.
- Mentor+ (Mentorpluss AS)coreMentor+ provides a range of administrative tools for kindergartens including Mentor Kidplan (scheduling), Mentor HMS (health and safety), Mentor Personal (HR), and Mentor BHT (occupational health services). Mentor BHT is Norway's BHT provider with the greatest expertise in the kindergarten sector.
- Fagforbundet, Utdanningsforbundet, DeltacoreThese are the trade unions with which PBL negotiates collective bargaining agreements (hoved- og hovedtariffavtale) covering approximately 29,000 employees in 1,600 private kindergartens. PBL and the trade unions also jointly advocate for policy positions, such as on pension funding.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PBL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NHO (Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon): Norway's largest confederation for employers and businesses, offering advocacy, advisory services, and collective bargaining infrastructure. It is structurally comparable to PBL as an employer organization, but serves the broader Norwegian business community rather than specializing in private kindergartens.
- KS (Kommunesektorens organisasjon): Norwegian municipal sector employers' organization representing municipalities and county authorities. Comparable as a counterpart employer organization negotiating tariff agreements in Norway, though KS represents public-sector municipal employers rather than private kindergartens.
- Spekter: Norwegian employers' association for health, education, and other publicly-funded enterprises. Comparable as a Norwegian sectoral employer organization engaged in collective bargaining, though Spekter focuses on enterprises with public-sector ownership or funding characteristics.
- Virke: Norwegian trade and service enterprises organization that negotiates collective agreements and provides member services to private-sector employers. Comparable to PBL as a sector-specific employer and interest organization, though Virke operates across the broader private services sector.
- Bankers Association (Finans Norge): Norwegian industry organization for the financial sector that provides member services, advocacy, and collective bargaining. Comparable to PBL as a Norwegian sectoral employer and interest organization, though focused on financial rather than kindergarten services.
- Norsk Industri: Norwegian industry association representing manufacturing and process industries, providing member services including collective bargaining. Comparable to PBL as a Norwegian sectoral employer and interest organization with collective bargaining functions, though focused on industrial rather than service-sector employers.
Others
- Fagforbundet: One of the largest Norwegian trade unions that is the direct bargaining counterpart of PBL in tariff negotiations covering private kindergartens. Comparable as a counterparty institution in the Norwegian collective bargaining system, though operating on the labor rather than employer side.
- Utdanningsforbundet: Norwegian trade union for education professionals that negotiates tariff agreements with PBL covering approximately 29,000 private kindergarten employees. Comparable as a counterparty institution in collective bargaining, though focused on representing education workers.
Regional players
- NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children): Large US-based professional association for early childhood educators that provides advocacy, accreditation, and member services. Comparable to PBL as a sectoral interest organization serving early childhood education operators and educators, though operating in the US rather than Norway.
- PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years): UK professional association supporting childcare providers with advice, training, and advocacy. Comparable to PBL as a member-based interest and service organization for early years providers, though operating in the UK rather than Norway.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
PBL social profiles
Digital presencePBL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PBL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
PBL subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
PBL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PBL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PBL
What does PBL do?
PBL (Private Barnehagers Landsforbund) is a Norwegian employer and interest organization for private kindergartens, providing approximately 1,900 member kindergartens with services including legal and labor-law advice, tariff and salary administration, pension and insurance management, accounting through its subsidiary PBL Regnskap, and HR/occupational health tools via Mentor+ and Mentor BHT. The organization also delivers training, courses, and conferences, sector-specific news and advocacy, and facilitates member benefits through its Barnehagehjelperne purchasing cooperation with vetted commercial partners.
Is PBL a public or private company?
PBL is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was PBL founded?
PBL was founded in 1993. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is PBL based?
PBL is headquartered in Bodø, Norway, in the Europe region.
How does PBL make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership fees.
Who are PBL's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NHO (Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon), KS (Kommunesektorens organisasjon), Spekter, Virke, Bankers Association (Finans Norge) and Norsk Industri. Others are Fagforbundet and Utdanningsforbundet. Regional players are NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) and PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years).
Does PBL have an API?
No public API is recorded for PBL.