If you're considering starting a daycare business in your home, here are five helpful tips to consider as you compare a home daycare to other home business opportunities.
TIP 1: Contact local government regulators early on - you don't want to be surprised by last minute roadblocks or expenses from the government.
Start by contacting your local government to see what the requirements are for a home based daycare.
Many states require a license, as well as an inspection by the health department for your food preparation.
TIP 2: Create a policy handbook for the parents.
You'll find the greatest conflicts don't come with the children, but with the Parents.
What if they're late picking up? What if they don't pay on time? What if they bring their children on a morning that the child is sick? Set the rules up front, to avoid conflict later.
Have the parents sign off on them.
TIP 3: Research other daycares in your area to set your pricing.
Will your business offer something special so you can charge a higher fee? Will you provide some preschool instruction throughout the day so it can be a Preschool/Daycare combo? Look for a way to make your business unique so it stands out from the crowd.
TIP 4: Stop and consider the commitment and hours.
Working parents will need to drop off their children as early as 6:30 or 7:00am, then won't be back to pick them up until 6:00 or 7:00pm.
Will you be hiring assistants to help you do this 5 days a week? Do you have back-up help in case an emergency arises with a child and you need to leave the premises? What's the back-up plan when you are sick? Your parent clients are counting on you to always be available.
TIP 5: Create a security plan.
Have parents sign in and sign out their children.
Require photo ID if someone else is picking up their child.
Think about installing a security camera system.
This is for your business security as well as for the children's security.
If any accusations arise about events at the daycare, you will have the security tapes to clarify what really happened.
Also, you can provide internet streaming of your cameras so parents can check in on their kids from their office.
This could be an extra service that sets your daycare apart from other choices they may have.
There are great opportunities in the Daycare at Home business.
In today's economy, many families have both parents working, so there is a constant supply of customers who need your services.
If you truly love children, this could be the business for you.
TIP 1: Contact local government regulators early on - you don't want to be surprised by last minute roadblocks or expenses from the government.
Start by contacting your local government to see what the requirements are for a home based daycare.
Many states require a license, as well as an inspection by the health department for your food preparation.
TIP 2: Create a policy handbook for the parents.
You'll find the greatest conflicts don't come with the children, but with the Parents.
What if they're late picking up? What if they don't pay on time? What if they bring their children on a morning that the child is sick? Set the rules up front, to avoid conflict later.
Have the parents sign off on them.
TIP 3: Research other daycares in your area to set your pricing.
Will your business offer something special so you can charge a higher fee? Will you provide some preschool instruction throughout the day so it can be a Preschool/Daycare combo? Look for a way to make your business unique so it stands out from the crowd.
TIP 4: Stop and consider the commitment and hours.
Working parents will need to drop off their children as early as 6:30 or 7:00am, then won't be back to pick them up until 6:00 or 7:00pm.
Will you be hiring assistants to help you do this 5 days a week? Do you have back-up help in case an emergency arises with a child and you need to leave the premises? What's the back-up plan when you are sick? Your parent clients are counting on you to always be available.
TIP 5: Create a security plan.
Have parents sign in and sign out their children.
Require photo ID if someone else is picking up their child.
Think about installing a security camera system.
This is for your business security as well as for the children's security.
If any accusations arise about events at the daycare, you will have the security tapes to clarify what really happened.
Also, you can provide internet streaming of your cameras so parents can check in on their kids from their office.
This could be an extra service that sets your daycare apart from other choices they may have.
There are great opportunities in the Daycare at Home business.
In today's economy, many families have both parents working, so there is a constant supply of customers who need your services.
If you truly love children, this could be the business for you.
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