| Many people feel that getting a daycare or | | | | programs. Food programs are systems set up to |
| childcare license is not necessary for childcare | | | | help educate childcare providers on serving |
| providers. Legally you only need a license if you | | | | healthy snacks and lunches to the children they |
| are going to care for children from more than one | | | | care for. As a provider you must submit a |
| family. It's true that going through the process of | | | | monthly menu of what you serve for monitoring. |
| obtaining your daycare license can be time | | | | It takes a little more work, but you are actually |
| consuming and sometimes stressful. However, the | | | | reimbursed a portion of the cost for each meal |
| truth is that obtaining your childcare license can | | | | and snack you serve! These reimbursements |
| actually help you make more money! There are | | | | aren't huge but they certainly help defray the |
| three ways that a daycare license increases your | | | | cost of feeding multiple children several times a |
| cash flow. They are: 1. Charging higher rates and | | | | day. These food programs are only available to |
| bringing in new clients; 2. Income from food | | | | licensed providers and they can certainly increase |
| programs; and 3. Grant money. | | | | your cash flow! |
| Let's take a closer look at item #1. Charging | | | | Finally, getting your daycare license allows you to |
| higher rates and bringing in new clients. Parents | | | | apply for the many grants that are available for |
| searching for childcare look at both quality of care | | | | home daycare providers. There are a lot of |
| and cost of care when making a decision. Believe | | | | grants out there from local, state and federal |
| it or not, childcare rates can vary greatly even in | | | | government as well as from private sources. |
| the same geographical location. So it pays for | | | | Some grants stipulate how the money is to be |
| parents to shop around. However, most parents | | | | used; for example for play equipment, books, or |
| are willing to pay a little more for childcare if they | | | | facility improvements. Other grants are more |
| know the quality of care will be outstanding. | | | | open-ended and allow you to use the funds |
| Obtaining your childcare license shows your | | | | however they are needed for your childcare |
| dedication to top quality care. Also, many parents | | | | business. These grant monies are like pennies |
| aren't willing to place their child in an unlicensed | | | | from Heaven and can really help financially! But |
| childcare because there are no inspections done | | | | these grants are only available to licensed childcare |
| and no one is monitoring the childcare provider. So | | | | providers! |
| having your license can actually help your bring in | | | | As you can see, getting your childcare license can |
| more business! | | | | really help boost your business financially. Even |
| The second way a daycare license helps increase | | | | though the licensing process may be |
| cash flow is from income through the food | | | | cumbersome, it can really "pay off" in the end! |