How to Manage a Daycare Center
Starting and managing your own day-care center takes a little bit more than just knowing how to raise kids. Before you can even start a day-care business there are several steps you need to take. From meeting state requirements to making meal plans, managing a day-care center can take a lot of thought and effort. If you follow a few essential guidelines, however, you can set yourself up for success.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Getting Organized
-
1
Make a plan. You will need to answer essential questions such as how many children you want in your center and what ages you will accept. Pick a location, whether in your home or another building. Determine your center's hours of operation and whether you will provide snacks or a craft time for the children. If you are providing food, it's best to make a meal plan. Figure out activities for the youngsters based on their ages. While games or story time may be good for some younger children older children may prefer crafts. Determine what you want to charge by comparing rates with other day-care providers. Base your rates on your qualifications and whether you are licensed. You can charge more if you are licensed. You will also need to take into account how much you will be spending to run your business.
-
2
Find out what kind of licenses and requirements you must have for your area. Several states require you to have a license if you have more than a certain number of kids in your home. You will have to meet certain health and safety requirements as well as pass a background check. Any staff member you hire will also have to pass a background check. You will need to determine whether you will need a certificate in CPR or first aid. You can take classes at the Red Cross to obtain these certificates.
-
-
3
Childproof your home or the center site. Cover up any loose wiring and outlets. If you have a playground area for the children, you may need to have it fenced in.
-
4
Market your business. Once you have obtained all the essential information you need as well as made a business plan you now need to put the word out. Put ads online as well as in the local newspaper.
Set up meetings with parents who are interested in placing their children with you. You can either create the documents needed for your day-care contracts yourself or you can find a variety of them online. Have the parents sign the essential forms. Hire any employees you need and train them. A recommended staff-to-child ratio is one caregiver per three or four infants. For older kids, it's one caregiver for six to seven children between the ages of 2 and 5. Therefore, you may need to base the amount of staff you hire on how many children you plan to have in your care. You may also need to hire an accountant to take care of your financial issues such as taxes or paychecks. -
5
Expand your business if you are making a profit. You can even consider opening other locations.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can always start out small and expand later.
You will need to have seed money to start your business, but the amount varies widely depending on whether the day-care center is in your home or you are paying for space elsewhere.
Make sure you meet the legal requirements before opening your day-care center.
Make a plan and stick to it. Taking on too many children at once may be overwhelming for a first time day-care manager.
