| There are two basic ways of beginning daycare | | | | - Antibacterial cleaners |
| services. You can either run the service out of | | | | - Good healthy food |
| your own home or look for a full scale daycare | | | | - Child-sized tables and chairs |
| center to run. If you being the operation out of | | | | - Sanitary storage containers for used diapers |
| your own home, you can spend as little as $500 | | | | - Step stools for toilet and sink |
| to as much as $5,000 depending upon the | | | | - Outdoor play space - There should be sand as |
| remodeling you need to do, the equipment you | | | | well as a hard surface for wheeled toys, etc. |
| need to buy and the licensing laws you need to | | | | - Make-believe clothes, props and costumes for |
| meet. | | | | pretending and dressing up |
| If you are looking to run a daycare center that | | | | - Record player or CD player, radio and tape |
| operates from an independent business location | | | | recorder |
| then you are looking at much greater start-up | | | | - Containers for colors, pencils, markers and other |
| expenses that could run around $100,000! | | | | art materials |
| These are some of the items that you are going | | | | Here are some other very important items that |
| to want to budget for: | | | | you have to budget for no matter if you are |
| - Licensing fees, | | | | running the daycare out of your home or you are |
| - first aid/CPR certification | | | | operating it as an independent business: |
| - High chairs and booster seats | | | | 1. Permits - Just like any other business, a |
| - Nap mats | | | | daycare needs permits such as a business license, |
| - Bedding | | | | fire-safety permit, and other permits that each |
| - Playpens/portable cribs | | | | state or county may require. These permits are |
| - Advertising | | | | not cost prohibitive. They usually only cost a few |
| - Liability insurance | | | | dollars a year. |
| - Safety devices | | | | 2. Insurance - This is a very important issue and |
| - First aid kit | | | | every business should make sure they have |
| - Computer | | | | adequate insurance. The premiums are a bit |
| - Software | | | | pricey, but small daycare centers will only have to |
| - Books | | | | pay a small premium whereas large daycare |
| - Toys | | | | centers will have to pay a lot more for their |
| But that's not the whole list, you are going to | | | | insurance. It is best to do some comparison |
| need a few more items inorder to make your | | | | shopping when you go to buy your insurance. |
| daycare center, the talk of the neighnourhood and | | | | 3. Equipment - Purchasing all of the needed |
| be able to keep the parents happy. Happy | | | | equipment for your daycare center will definitely |
| parents will refer your daycare to their friends | | | | cost you some money, but most of these items |
| and family. You may find that having a well | | | | are a one time cost and should serve you for a |
| equiped daycare may end up helping you save on | | | | long time. You may be able to get by with as little |
| advertising costs, due to word of mouth | | | | as $300 if you are just running a business out of |
| advertising. | | | | your home. The cost will be considerably more |
| Other things you may want to include in your | | | | for an independent daycare center. |
| budget are: | | | | The cost of starting a daycare center may seem |
| - Education materials | | | | overwhelming at first but it is far little in |
| - Arts $ crafts supplies | | | | comparison to the potential to make money in |
| - Disposable gloves | | | | this business. What a great opportunity this is! |
| - Disposable changing pads | | | | |