How to Start a Daycare & After School Care
Daycare and after school care programs are becoming a popular business choice for adults who have children of their own to care for. Starting a daycare takes a keen business sense, but someone who enjoys working with children and has a good reputation with other parents may find themselves to be very successful in the child care business.
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Instructions
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Check government and state regulations regarding running a day care and any certifications that are required. Many states provide regulations that must be followed in order to legally run a day care or after school program. They include how much square footage is required per child, the number of meals required, and how many caretakers are required per number of children.
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Obtain important certifications such as CPR for infants and children. Many states require day care and after school care workers to possess these certifications, among others, before starting work.
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Write up a business plan that includes these regulations. When looking for financing options, a strong business plan will be required in order to obtain a loan of any kind.
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Determine a location you plan to run your day care and find out how much it will cost to run in this location. Many day cares start out of someones home in order to reduce costs, and eventually transfer to a school classroom, church or other local community center. You will need to know where you plan to run the day care in order to know how much you are able to invest in a loan.
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Purchase tables, chairs, shelves, toys, and other supplies that are required such as a refrigerator, freezer and microwave if you plan to store food for children.
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Advertise your business at local elementary schools, churches, newspapers and community centers. If you have children in school, inform their friends and classmates parents about the business. Offer deals and promotions for new customers. Make sure everyone knows about your certifications and anything else you offer that will attract business.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not have a lot of money to invest in a business, start off running the center out of your home. You may not be able to host as many children at once, but it will give a good idea of how to run the business and whether or not you want to expand.
References
- Photo Credit child image by Vaida from Fotolia.com
