Now, daycare centers are sought after by parents. If you love children, opening a daycare can be a smart and fun business. Start by opening a small-scale in-home child care, or rent a larger business space to expand the business. This guide explains the requirements needed to open a daycare, how to open a daycare, ideas for finding customers, and how to profit from the business.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparing to Open a Daycare
Step 1. Know the advantages and disadvantages of a child care business
If you want to open a daycare, you may like children. Before starting a child care business, consider the following elements of the business:
- Are you prepared to deal with accidents, child behavior problems, and other emergencies that may occur to your child? Consider attending first aid and CPR training, or early childhood teacher education before opening day care.
- Parents of children will expect a lot when entrusting their children to you. They want their children to be educated and carry out good activities while they are entrusted. An educational degree, teaching experience, or experience working in a daycare can help you a lot.
- After all, daycare is a business. As a business owner, you must manage your employees, do the books, market your business, and take on other business-related responsibilities.
Step 2. Decide what type of child care you want to open from the two types of child care below
When choosing, consider the desire as well as financial and time capabilities.
- Open home child care. This daycare offers a home-like environment for children. Generally, these businesses are small-scale and open to neighboring children.
- Open a commercial daycare. This daycare is located in a commercial location and can accommodate more children, so the benefits are even greater. Therefore, the owner can pay more employees.
Step 3. Know the permits required to open a daycare
To legally open a business, you need a license, which may need to be renewed periodically.
- The permissions you need differ between home and commercial daycare. Find information about the required permissions before starting.
- In order to obtain a permit, the home or child care location may need to be inspected first to prove that the location is eligible.
- Make sure the daycare you open has a carer-to-child ratio in accordance with applicable regulations.
- You may need to attend orientation or training before opening child care.
- Prepare the necessary files, and budget for the licensing process.
Step 4. Choose a daycare location
Before opening a home daycare, make sure the room in your home is large enough for the child you are going to look after. Is the bathroom close to the play area? Is there an outdoor playground protected by a fence? The same is true when choosing a commercial daycare location. Choose a place with an area according to the number of children you will accommodate. Prepare indoor and outdoor playgrounds, comfortable bathrooms, and kitchens for cooking.
Method 2 of 3: Arranging Child Care
Step 1. Create a safe and fun environment for children
No matter what type of daycare you plan to open, make sure that it includes the following:
- Safe play area. Decorate the main playground with attractive decorations. Prepare a break or reading room for children, and a shared playroom. Provide a table so the child can make crafts, and buy a folding mattress for naps.
- Toys, books, art supplies, and other objects of entertainment and educational value. Make sure the items you prepare are child-friendly and age-appropriate.
- Healthy snacks, water and juices. Also prepare plates, napkins, and glasses, according to the age of the child. If you don't provide snacks for your child, ask your parents to bring them from home.
- Bathroom or changing room for children. Buy bathroom necessities according to the child's age. If you accept babysitting, have a changing table, diapers, and other baby essentials ready.
Step 2. Make a schedule
Divide the time of day into reception time, reading time, playtime, mealtime, bedtime, time out, and so on. Pay attention to the age of the child you accept to design an appropriate schedule.
Consider adding basic educational activities, such as reading and arithmetic, as part of your child care service. You may also want to celebrate holidays, change of seasons, or other special events with your children
Step 3. Pay attention to the business aspect
After making sure your business meets the licensing requirements, make sure you prepare your business properly.
- Pay staff. Determine the positions staff need to fill, conduct interviews, and select staff to help you run your business. Consider hiring staff with an early childhood education background.
- Determine business operating hours, reception time, and child pick-up time.
- Determine the service fee. How much will you charge the parents? Contact other daycares in your area for reasonable prices. If you offer a special service, such as reading lessons, you may be able to charge more.
Method 3 of 3: Opening Child Care
Step 1. Disseminate information about child care openings
Place advertisements online, in newspapers, or on bulletin boards for schools, houses of worship, and cafes.
Step 2. Meet the parents
Show parents and children your place of care, introduce staff to them, and explain the schedule and curriculum you offer. Prepare for the administrative needs of accepting a child into your care.
Step 3. Learn as you run your business
After the business is opened, continue to develop the facilities, rules, and program structure that you offer to provide maximum service to the children that your parents have entrusted to you. Child care that continues to grow will also attract many parents to entrust their children.
Tips
- Always have a first aid kit ready.
- If children fight, break up!
- You may want to keep animals that your child might like, such as rabbits or fish.
Warning
- Never neglect to pay attention to children.
- Make sure the staff you choose are trained and educated.
- Check the criminal records of staff and parents.
