Putting Together Your Own Childcare Business

Childcare is something in frequent demand in the modern era. More and more people are working, and the workplace doesn’t tend to be all that child-friendly! But if you’re someone who loves working with kids, have you ever thought about offering childcare services professionally?

If you’ve got the time, and If you’re also someone with bundles of energy and want to work knowing you can use it, starting a childcare business of your own could be the next great career step! So, with all that in mind, here are the steps to take to put together your own childcare center. 

Talk to Local Parents

What’s the need for childcare in your area? You’re going to be mostly serving local parents and families from maybe 10 to 20 miles away, so you need to find out what they want from a center like yours. 

Conducting this research will inform you on what space you’ll need, what working hours will suit you best, and what price range they’ll be willing to pay. Get out there and talk to other parents in the playground, in groups, and be sure to put together a survey for parents to fill in that you can post on social media. 

Know Your Regulations

Before putting your business plan together, make sure you find out what regulations will guide how you run your childcare center. In the US that means getting in touch with the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the state department relevant to you. They’ll be able to help you become licensed, as well as put together the list of rules all parents and workers must follow while on-premises. 

Put Your Budget Together

Now it’s time to budget for your childcare needs; depending on the intake per day, you could be looking at thousands per month in terms of supplies. You’ll also need to outfit your center with daycare furniture, toys, care equipment, and storage for it all. 

Be sure to check your local licensing regulations for the minimum standard for all of these categories in your area and then work up from there. Don’t worry, childcare can be a lucrative sector, and you should be able to make back these costs in full from day one. 

Put Your Policy in Writing

Once you’ve figured out how you’re going to run your childcare business, you’ll then need to put it all in writing. Not only will this help you to commit to good practice, but it’ll also form the basis of the contract you draft for all parents to agree to. In doing so, you protect yourself legally from being accused of neglect or other misconduct, and you ensure your own working boundaries are respected by anyone who uses your services. 

Putting together your own childcare business takes time, but it’s a job that’s suitable for those with high energy and a passion for nurturing the youth. Could it be the right career for you in the near future?