| My wife owned and operated her own home | | | | can let there child enroll. |
| based daycare business for many years. This is | | | | 6. You need to think about how much you are |
| her post- | | | | going to charge and what age groups you are |
| Starting a home based daycare business: | | | | going to take. This is another business descision. I |
| I will tell you it is a lot of work, but very | | | | called big daycares and home day cares to check |
| worthwhile and gratifying. There are very | | | | out what they were charging, don't tell them who |
| important things you must know before thinking | | | | you are, just pretend you have a child you want |
| of starting a home daycare, here are 10 things | | | | to enroll there. Great way to find out what the |
| you should know: | | | | rate is. |
| 1. Licensing requirements- For a home daycare | | | | 7. Think about the things you will need and where |
| some states and counties do require licensing, but | | | | you can get them. You don't have to purchase all |
| most don't. If you live in an area without licensing | | | | new items, garage sales or good wills are great, |
| requirements, but most states require or want | | | | just make sure to clean and sanitize them really |
| you to be at least certified. I was certified. It is | | | | well before giving them to the children. |
| rather easy, you just need to find a place that | | | | For example: |
| certifies you, lots to choose from, just look online | | | | * child-sized table and chairs |
| for child care information in your state. Here is a | | | | * individual sleeping places |
| great site | | | | * diapering area |
| But where I lived in Wisconsin, because I was | | | | * art materials |
| certified, not licensed, I could only have 3 children | | | | * assorted toys and blocks |
| at one time, that is including yours. | | | | * children's books |
| 2. Only take as many children as you can handle | | | | * games, puzzles, vehicles, dolls |
| realistically. I took part time, full time, short time, | | | | * props for pretend play |
| everything, and I will tell you, from my | | | | * music |
| experience, do not take part time kids, it only | | | | * baby furniture |
| makes it harder, unless you are only going to | | | | * storage area |
| have 3 or 4 kids. I mean if this is a source of | | | | 8. Another thing to consider, have the parents |
| income, it's hard to make up for the few hours | | | | bring, and supply you with items, like diapers, |
| you get from them. | | | | wipes, food, (unless you want to include this in the |
| 3. There are many ways to find children. This is | | | | price). That's what I did, so much easier, because |
| the fun of ruining your own home based business. | | | | you might have different age groups and lots of |
| The number one way for me was to make really | | | | different wipes and diapers, that can get |
| catchy, cute fliers, I made lots of copies and took | | | | expensive. As far as the food, its up to you. I |
| them to grocery stores, post offices, door to | | | | had the parents bring there food, they know |
| door, put them on cars, anywhere you can | | | | what they will eat more than we will. |
| people to see them. The most popular place that | | | | 9. Remember if you have children of your own, |
| people saw them was at the grocery store. | | | | this would be a great opportunity for you and |
| 4. There are lots of things to take into | | | | them, you can be a stay at home parent and |
| consideration before starting a daycare. As a day | | | | have friends for your kids to play with. You will |
| care provider you will not only be the manager, | | | | never have to worry about where your children |
| but the secretary, bookkeeper, accounts | | | | are or what they are doing. |
| receivable collector, bottle washer (literally!), | | | | 10. Make sure to review everything and make |
| organizer, planner, referee, teacher, and counselor, | | | | sure you are ready to make the investment. It is |
| to mention just of few of the roles. You must be | | | | really a life changing opportunity, but again worth |
| patient! | | | | while. I loved every minute of every day. I would |
| 5. There are so many forms you need to have | | | | do it all over again... |
| ready on hand for when you start to except new | | | | Here is a great daycare kit, its rated #1 on |
| clients. For example, you must have forms that | | | | clickbank. It Includes: |
| parents sign ahead of time, like prescriptions, you | | | | * what is required to start the business |
| can not give prescriptions to kids unless it is on | | | | * determining what to chargesetting |
| paper signed from the parents. Just think of what | | | | * policies and procedures |
| you would be in if something happened to the | | | | * attracting clients |
| child, they might be allergic, might give the wrong | | | | * establishing your daily scheduleplanning |
| dosage, might have more than one child taking | | | | * activities for children |
| the same medication and give it to the wrong | | | | * billing and accounting |
| child, things like that. I have a daycare kit that I | | | | * managing your cash flowrecord |
| am selling that has all the information you need to | | | | * keeping your clients happy |
| have and know even before starting to think | | | | * growing your business |
| about running a daycare, I also include many | | | | * plus much, much more!!! |
| forms that parents will need to sign before you | | | | |