| There are two basic ways of beginning day care | | | | refer your day care to their friends and family. |
| services. You can either run the service out of | | | | You may find that having a well equipped day |
| your own home or look for a full scale daycare | | | | care may end up helping you save on advertising |
| center to run. If you being the operation out of | | | | costs due to word of mouth advertising. |
| your own home, you can spend as little as $500 | | | | There are other very important things that you |
| to as much as $5,000 depending upon the | | | | have to budget for no matter if you are running |
| remodeling you need to do, the equipment you | | | | the day care out of your home or you are |
| need to buy and the licensing laws you need to | | | | operating it as an independent business. Just like |
| meet. If you are looking to run a day care center | | | | any other business, a daycare needs permits such |
| that operates from an independent business | | | | as a business license, fire-safety permit, and other |
| location then you are looking at much greater | | | | permits that each state or county may require. |
| start-up expenses that could run around $100,000. | | | | These permits are not cost prohibitive. They |
| These are some of the items that you are going | | | | usually only cost a few dollars a year. A very |
| to want to budget for: licensing fees, first aid or | | | | important issue and every business should make |
| CPR certification, high chairs and booster seats, | | | | sure they have adequate insurance. The |
| nap mats, bedding, playpens or portable cribs, | | | | premiums are a bit pricey, but small day care |
| advertising, liability insurance, safety devices, first | | | | centers will only have to pay a small premium |
| aid kit, computer, software, books, and toys. You | | | | whereas large day care centers will have to pay a |
| also need education materials, arts and crafts | | | | lot more for their insurance. It is best to do some |
| supplies, disposable gloves, disposable changing | | | | comparison when you are going to buy your |
| pads, antibacterial cleaners, good healthy food, | | | | insurance. Purchasing all of the needed equipment |
| child-sized tables and chairs, sanitary storage | | | | for your day care will definitely cost you some |
| containers for used diapers, step stools for toilet | | | | money, but most of these items are a one-time |
| and sink, outdoor play space, make-believe | | | | cost and should serve you for a long time. You |
| clothes, props and costumes for pretending and | | | | may be able to get by with as little as $300 if |
| dressing up, record player or CD player, radio and | | | | you are just running a business out of your home. |
| tape recorder, containers for colors, pencils, | | | | The cost will be considerably more for an |
| markers and other art materials. | | | | independent day care center. |
| But that's not the whole list, you are going to | | | | The cost of starting a day care center may |
| need a few more items in order to make your | | | | seem overwhelming at first but it is far little in |
| day care the talk of the neighborhood and be able | | | | comparison to the potential to make money in |
| to make the parents happy. These parents will | | | | this business. |