How to open a successful in-home daycare business

With a few tips, you will be well on your way to organizing and launching an effective childcare business right from your home!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Access to the internet
• Telephone
• Newspaper Advertising
• A copy of local and state regulations
• A heart for children

1. Obtain a copy of your state's in-home daycare laws, regulations, and licensing procedures. You should be able to acquire copies of your state's regulations by contacting the Department of Public Welfare via the internet or telephone. Ask for a copy of the state code that applies to in-home childcare operations to be mailed to you as a hard copy. After establishing your in-home business, remember to request updated materials annually from your state regulating agency, as policies and statues change. This will help you remain in constant compliance with state regulations, a requirement for registered in-home caregivers.

2. Contact your local township or borough to obtain appropriate zoning for your in-home daycare business. Failure to secure appropriate zoning permission can delay the opening of your business, or, if not obtained prior to opening, can shut down your business temporarily. Remember, even if you are licensed by your state to operate an in-home daycare facility, you must still comply with local government regulations.

3. Before your opening, decide what age ranges of children you are willing to service. Should your program include infants and toddlers, purchase safe and age-appropriate toys and learning materials for these children. Read books, attend local trainings, and watch videos on the developmental ages and stages of infants and toddlers. Also, take the time to learn about spotting developmental delays. Often, as a caregiver, your input will be of great assistance to parents seeking diagnosis and/or services for children with developmental delays.

4. Should you choose to service children in the pre-kindergarten age range, pre-planning of a kindergarten readiness academic program will give you a competitive edge over other in-home providers who do not supply structured, academically-rich activities. If this seems too daunting a task to complete all on your own, research and purchase a suitable kindergarten-readiness curriculum from a local educational store or online.

5. Get all of your paperwork in order. Create a parent handbook that lists all of your business' standard operating procedures as well as your expectations for clients. Each family should sign a contract that is a formal arrangement for payment for services rendered. You should also inform families of your ill child policy, your non-payment policy and any dates that your facility will not be open for care (religious holidays, family vacation dates, caregiver illness.)

Tips & Warnings

• Before applying for your state license, make sure that you are in compliance will all current state and local regulations.
• Make sure the area in your home in which you are providing care is totally child-proof.
• Get training on basic first-aid and lifesaving techniques from your local Red Cross or its affiliates.
• Advertise your business in the local merchandising newspapers, or hang flyers in business with high family traffic.
• If you intend to operate your in-home daycare as a business, do not begin without checking local and state regulations regarding your area.
• Do not assume that you do not need to obtain a state license if you are merely "babysitting." Most states have laws governing the amount of children one provider is allowed to care for before having to obtain a license.

[pinkdogwood]

on 10/10/2008 I didnt see where it's mentioned to thoroughly child proof the areas where the children will be. Electrical outlets, toilet seats, cabinet doors should have locks or covers. And check regulations one last time before opening to make sure no new changes occurred while you were preparing to open.