| With the New Year now upon us, it is only natural | | | | does exist for a new nursery in a particular |
| that many peoples thoughts will turn to opening | | | | location, you then have the choice of renting, |
| their own business. And whilst the credit crunch | | | | buying or indeed building suitable premises for |
| has hit many businesses hard, the pre school | | | | your nursery. Add to this the costs of toys, |
| childcare sector is still a popular choice for many | | | | equipment, staffing, getting regulated and utilities |
| new start businesses. This article looks at some | | | | and soon the task of setting up a successful |
| points that would be nursery owners should | | | | nursery looks pretty daunting. |
| consider before going it alone. | | | | The 2 main secrets to setting up a successful |
| The first thing to consider before committing to | | | | nursery are therefore to do a thorough job when |
| full time childcare and the stresses and strains | | | | it comes to researching your market. This will |
| that come with employing staff, sorting premises | | | | involve doing a full competitor analysis of other |
| and offering a facility that is likely to open pretty | | | | nurseries, pre schools, childminders and playgroups |
| much all year round is that other options may | | | | that exist in your area. This process will involve |
| exist. You may want to ease your way into the | | | | finding out where and who they are, how much |
| childcare industry by setting up a playgroup or | | | | do they charge, how many children do they have, |
| offering a childminding facility from home before | | | | how much do they make, how many staff do |
| taking the big step that is setting up a nursery. | | | | they employ, how much do they pay their staff |
| However, once you have made the initial decision | | | | and no doubt numerous other questions. |
| and have decided that running your own nursery | | | | If after this extensive market research you feel |
| is what you want, you really need to start to look | | | | an opportunity does still exist then the second |
| at the financial implications involved. | | | | secret to running a successful nursery is to use |
| The truth is that setting up and running your own | | | | marketing better than your competitors to make |
| nursery is not going to be an instant route to | | | | sure parents and other people know about your |
| riches. In fact, if your motivation for running a | | | | nursery for all the right reasons. You could have |
| nursery is based purely on the financial returns | | | | the best nursery in the world but unless your |
| that maybe possible, then it might be worth | | | | potential customers know about it then your time, |
| considering if the childcare industry is right for you | | | | money and hard work could all go to waste. And |
| at all. Owners of nurseries and other pre school | | | | when it comes to marketing your nursery, you |
| facilities are rarely solely motivated by money and | | | | do not necessarily have to spend a great deal of |
| are more often driven by their desire to provide | | | | money doing this. |
| quality childcare. By doing this you may well reap | | | | Generate word of mouth in your local area, get |
| the rewards that a successful nursery can bring | | | | the media involved so they report on your |
| but it is important to remember that hard work, | | | | progress every step of the way, set up a |
| patience, enthusiasm and even more patience will | | | | website so you can promote and showcase your |
| be required time and time again long before you | | | | facilities and make sure when parents are faced |
| start to see any noticeable return on your | | | | with the very difficult question of what childcare |
| investment. | | | | facility should I choose, your nursery is number |
| On the subject of costs, your first task once you | | | | one on their list, or certainly amongst the front |
| have decided to set up a nursery is to find | | | | runners. |
| premises. This search for suitable premises is likely | | | | Setting up a nursery takes time, hard work and |
| to involve doing some market research to see if | | | | effort and setting up a successful nursery takes |
| there is actually a need for a nursery in the area | | | | all of these things plus a little bit of lady luck. |
| you are looking to set up in. The nursery and | | | | However, in the hardest of financial climates, it is |
| childcare sector as a whole is, like most other | | | | still possible to fulfil your dreams and be |
| industries extremely competitive so you need to | | | | successful. If you intend to make 2009 the year |
| make sure there is suitable gap in the market for | | | | when your nursery dreams become reality, then |
| you to establish your new nursery in the face of | | | | do your research, become great at marketing |
| competition from more established nurseries. | | | | and all the very best of luck. |
| And once you have decided that an opportunity | | | | |