How to Start a Day Care

As the number of two-income families increases and waiting lists at day care centers grow, the demand for childcare assistance is rising. If you love children and have been thinking about starting your own business, day care may be for you.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Decide if you will run your business from home or from another location. This will depend on how many children you will be able to handle; most day care centers need 150 to 200 children enrolled before realizing a profit.

2. Check with state and local government agencies, as many states have requirements for facility size, meals, snacks, a ratio of a certain number of day care providers and licensed teachers per number of children. Some may require a licensed nurse onsite.

3. Schedule an appointment with an insurance professional to review the coverage you'll need.

4. Secure financial backing. Go to your local bank and inquire about small business loans. Perhaps a church or labor union might sponsor your business and pay for some startup expenses.

5. Decide on your hours. Most successful day care centers run on a set schedule. Prepare a schedule that works for your clients, and adhere to it.

6. Hire staff. Depending on how many children are enrolled, you will need day care providers. A managing director is also a crucial staff member to hire when you start your own day care business.

7. Market your business. Place ads in local papers and magazines. Hand out fliers at malls and supermarkets. Have a grand opening that will attract residents in the area.

Tips & Warnings

• Start with a small baby-sitting service out of your home before embarking on opening a day care center.
• Playgrounds must be fenced-in.
• Set up client payment schedules. Not getting paid in advance can result in your business quickly getting "in the red."
• Take early childhood education courses. Contact local colleges to find out if they offer such classes.
• Invest in a startup kit. These can be found online.

Who Can Help:

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Resources

• Find a day care start up kit at Child Care Online.

[krismurray]

on 12/3/2008 This is a good overall how-to. For more great articles & a great starter kit, check out www.daycarehotline.com

[sannhardy]

on 3/20/2008 You should visit this site - it's great for a hopscotch stencil for preschools http://www.stencilease.com/db/indexind.asp?catagory=Playground&all=1