| So, you think you’d like to start a day care | | | | a great opportunity to absorb as much child care |
| or some form of child care service but where to | | | | knowledge as possible. |
| start? Let’s assume you know nothing about | | | | When I was researching my day care business I |
| the child care industry except that it involves | | | | received some of the best tips, hints and advice |
| children!!! That’s pretty much the position I | | | | from other child care providers, in fact, I still |
| was in when I started my day care 10 years ago | | | | make ‘day care information gathering |
| and I spent a year and a half researching and | | | | visits’ once a year and learn something new |
| learning within the child care world including day | | | | everytime from my child care counterparts. |
| care centers and home day cares before I got | | | | Existing daycare owners are an invaluable |
| going. Before you go running for the hills in dismay | | | | resource for practical child care advice. Call up a |
| allow me to cut short the research time a little | | | | couple of established day care providers |
| with some pointers on how best to prepare for | | | | (preferably not too close to your proposed child |
| the exciting adventure that is ‘Starting a | | | | care venture – they might not be too |
| daycare business’. | | | | enamoured of the impending competition!), explain |
| Every successful venture starts with a well | | | | your situation, desire to start a child care service |
| thought out business plan thus enabling the | | | | and set up a day to go visit. People are usually |
| entrepreneur (you) to get a clear, overall picture | | | | delighted to help aspiring entrepreneurs and love |
| of what your child care business will entail. This is | | | | discussing their own day care business. There is |
| the vital, unavoidable first step if you are to have | | | | nothing quitelike the advice of people who are on |
| any chance of understanding what it takes for | | | | the ground, operating successful daycares and |
| your day care idea to succeed. Many people get | | | | doing the day to day child care business. |
| to the business plan stage of their day care and | | | | Bring a clipboard and pen so you can jot down |
| no further due to a realisation that a child care | | | | child care related notes and ideas before they |
| project isunfeasible for whatever reason. So, use | | | | vacate your head (as they do mine). Ask |
| your day care business plan as the first step in | | | | questions of the day care workers, listen and |
| your research to figure out if your child care | | | | observe. Notice daily child care routines, day care |
| business will be viable. | | | | room layout and child care equipment, methods |
| Introduction/description,benefits, market research, | | | | for dealing with behaviours, day care staff and |
| key financials and conclusion. These are the vital | | | | child interaction, health and safety procedures, day |
| elements of starting any business and are | | | | care hygiene practices, peruse child care |
| covered by your day care business plan. I found it | | | | paperwork (ask for copies of the paperwork to |
| to be a great ‘checklist’ of things to do | | | | help guide you when formulating your own day |
| towards starting my child care business as I | | | | care versions). Find about the best methods of |
| worked my way methodically through each of | | | | advertising, what suppliers you should use for day |
| the required steps. Areas I might have omitted or | | | | care products and the range of child care fees |
| glossed over were covered leaving me with | | | | locally. Try to speak with the day care owner or |
| thorough and accurate vision of my day care | | | | manager, the child care staff and the cook and |
| business. Like a good teacher it provided the | | | | get afeel for each unique role. Don't just ask |
| questions and ensured I filled in the blanks. | | | | them what they do at the day care but also ask |
| Business plan templates abound but here a few | | | | for their opinion on how things could be better. |
| that I quite like. USA UK Ireland | | | | You will gain an immense wealth of practical child |
| Next, talk to the day care experts. Arrange a | | | | care knowledge simply by asking these open |
| meeting with your local child care licensing | | | | questions. |
| representative, have them visit your potential day | | | | These are just three steps you can take in |
| care premises and find out what they will be | | | | pursuit of your dream to start a day care |
| requiring in terms of premises layout, contents, | | | | business and they will provide you with a |
| child care play area and general day care health | | | | tremendous amount of information and guidance |
| and safety issues. Get them to give you | | | | on all things child care. Your confidence in yourself |
| guidelines and tips on day care policies and child | | | | and your ability to achieve your day care vision |
| care business paperwork. Don’t be afraid to | | | | will peak and you will be propelled into further |
| askquestions – remember this is the child care | | | | positive action towards your child care service. It |
| expert, the person who will be granting you a day | | | | costs nothing but time and if you can get yourself |
| care license so best to have a heads up on what | | | | to this point there’s no looking back. What |
| they will expect from you. Prepare in advance of | | | | are you waiting for? Your day care business |
| this meeting and come armed with a list of | | | | awaits. |
| comprehensive questions so you don’t waste | | | | |