7 Steps to Starting Up a Home Daycare

Starting a home daycare is a great business for stay at home mom or someone that wants to work from home and loves to care for children. Moreover, there is a great need for infant/toddler care and a many parents prefer that their young children are in a home setting until they are old enough to go to preschool.

Step 1: Is a Home Daycare The Right Business For You?

Caring for children is a very rewarding and at the same time is very demanding. Also, caring for children in your home could mean working 10-12 hour days. Moreover, if you prefer to work from home and love to nurture and care for young children… starting a home daycare is the right business for you.

Step 2: Licensed or Un-Licensed Care

In most states, you do not need a license to care for 4 or less children and there are less regulations to follow when starting up as an unlicensed childcare provider. If you are going to care for more than 4 children, you may need to apply for a childcare license. Having a childcare license, simply means that your home daycare practices will be monitored by the local childcare licensing division.

Step 3: What Age Group will You Accept

The age groups in your daycare will inspire the type of equipment and material that you will need in your home daycare. If you choose to care for infants you will need 1 crib and/or a playpen for each infant/toddler and a cot for each preschoolers. Some of the other materials needed for infants includes: a high chair, changing table, diaper genie, wash-able floor mats and infant/toddler toys. For preschoolers, you will need: preschool size tables/chairs, puzzles, blocks, pretend play toys, art supplies, books, outdoor equipment, science materials and a preschool curriculum.

Step 4: Establishing your for Childcare Fees/Rates

Your rates for your services will determine the amount of income that you will make in your business. A great place to start with determining your childcare prices is by calling other childcare providers in your area to compare prices. Keep in mind, when you provide high quality care, parents are willing to pay for it. Charging an non-refundable enrollment fee, secures the child’s slot and it assures you that the family will bring their child to your daycare.

Step 5: The Name of Your Home Daycare

The name of your business will compel families to visit your daycare. For example, if you choose to name your daycare, Alphabet Kids, this gives parents the impression that your daycare is all about learning. Your name should also reflect your goals and desires for your daycare.

Step 6: Marketing Your Daycare

Marketing for business owners has become less expensive because of all the free places to advertise online. Some of the places that you can market your daycare for free includes: Craigslist, Facebook, Twitter, your local child resource and referral agency. Also, contact the local schools, to inform them that you are starting up a daycare in your home. Creating a website is also another way that you can market your home daycare. In fact, Websites are very affordable now and in some cases they are free.

Step 7: Holding an Open House for your Daycare

Once you have all of your materials and equipment that you will need for your home daycare, it is now time to hold an Open House and invite families into your home. Telling your neighbors about your open house is a great place to start. When you tell your neighbors about your home daycare, the news will spread from neighbor to neighbor and this is another way to help build your enrollment. Word of mouth referrals, are the best referrals!