Website design By BotEap.comDaycare at home can be a rewarding career. You can be a positive influence in the lives of young children, and parents in your community can rest assured that their children are in good hands, caring, and capable when they are not with them.

Website design By BotEap.comIf you have a genuine and deep love for children, and a lot of patience, kindness, and understanding, a daycare home business may be perfect for you.

Website design By BotEap.comHere are some of the many benefits of this type of business:

Website design By BotEap.comIncreased demand. The demand for child care is projected to increase as mothers and fathers continue to work outside the home.

Website design By BotEap.comEmotionally rewarding. The early years are a crucial time in a child’s life. As a daycare provider, you can have a great influence on the lives of all the children in your care.

Website design By BotEap.comStay home with your own children. This type of career, more than many others, offers you the possibility to enjoy time at home with your own children while taking care of others.

Website design By BotEap.comStarting a home-based daycare business

Website design By BotEap.comWhile it has many benefits, a home daycare is unlikely to generate large financial returns. So when going into this business, it is important that you understand why you are starting this business. And, of course, love of children must be paramount.

Website design By BotEap.comAny parent or caregiver will claim that being around children all day can be incredibly demanding. You’ll want to make sure you have a solid business plan before embarking on this type of career, and that starts with a lot of research.

Website design By BotEap.comHere are some of the questions to consider:

Website design By BotEap.comWill your community support a daycare at home? In other words, does your area need another daycare?

Website design By BotEap.comWill you be able to charge enough in your area to make this a profitable business (or at least to stay financially afloat)? What is the “current rate” per child in your area for daycare?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat are parents in your community looking for in daycare? Interview parents in your neighborhood and find out what characteristics they would like to have. What kinds of unique characteristics could you provide as a caregiver?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat kinds of changes will you need to make to your home and garden for this to work? What effect will this business have on your daily family life?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat are the regulations of your state and local government? You will need the requirements for the caregiver / child ratio, indoor / outdoor space per child, nutrition, and licensing.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat type of financial outlay would be required? As with any business, you will need to start with a solid business plan that specifically addresses income and expenses.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is your philosophy of child care? How will you handle discipline problems? You should have a solid, written policy and procedures manual before you start operating.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat hours will you be open? What will you do when the children are picked up late?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat meals will you serve? What kind of sandwiches will you serve and when?

Website design By BotEap.comWhat will your daily routine be? What type of preschool curriculum will you offer? Start thinking about possible study units, field trips, and special guests now.

Website design By BotEap.comAre you certified in CPR? Regardless of whether it is a state requirement, you will want to make sure you have CPR certification and first aid knowledge so that you are equipped to handle anything that may occur in the course of your day with children.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat type of insurance will you need? Find out about liability insurance, as well as changes to your homeowner’s insurance (for accidents that may occur on your property).

Website design By BotEap.comHow will you market your business? Generally, this business does not require a lot of marketing. That’s partly due to the high demand for quality child care. And, for home daycare, your neighbors and acquaintances are likely your top prospects, so word of mouth is usually enough. Still, it’s a good idea to create a professional brochure detailing the philosophy, curriculum, schedule, and fees for the daycare.

Website design By BotEap.comIn what other ways could you structure your business? Before starting a day care home business, think about all the other possibilities in the child care industry. For example, in my city there is a very successful babysitting service where caregivers travel to vacationers’ homes or hotel rooms. Last time I checked, the service was charging over $ 20 per hour with a 3 hour minimum. Or consider a walk-in daycare that could provide during the times when childcare is most difficult to find (evenings and weekends, for example). If you find a very specific niche and fill it, you can usually charge more per hour.

Website design By BotEap.comIf all this seems overwhelming, you can invest in a business kit with the essentials: forms, policies and procedures, sample business plans, as well as forms that you will probably need but may not immediately come to mind.

Website design By BotEap.comThere is nothing like owning your own business. Enjoy the process of researching and creating your own!