Are you thinking about starting a child
care business? Before doing so, you may want to consider a few important
things. Putting up a private child care establishment requires convenient
location, ready market, and special training among other things. Here are some
tips to help you get started:
Know
what you need
As with any other type of business, you
will have to sit down and determine what you need to be able to start your
child care service. Find out how much money you will need, the equipment you
will have to purchase, and the staff or personnel you need to hire.
Choose
a good location
Location is integral in the operation of
your business. Will you set up child care within the premises of your own home
or rent a commercial space in a more accessible area? There are pros and cons
to either option. Setting up shop in your own home saves rental costs and other
overhead expenses. It is also beneficial if your clients live near your house
for this will save them time and money. Setting up shop at home, however, may
limit expansion and clients. On the other hand, renting space in a busy
commercial area may help you with marketing and advertising. The commercial
building can also provide you other amenities which are not available in your
home office setup. Being in a commercial area will also provide a steadier
stream of clients compared to a small neighborhood, on-the-block child care.
Choosing this type of location, however, will require additional costs and
funding. If you still opt for this and you fall short of capital, you may want
to consider getting into a partnership with similar establishments or signing
up for franchise.
Choosing a location may also depend on your
own preferences. Some people want to work from their home, while others want to
travel to their business office.
Obtain
licenses and necessary permits
Before you begin any commercial endeavor,
it is necessary to obtain required licenses and permits. There are legal
conditions that you will have to adhere to before you start operating your
business. Go to your local business
services office and find out what kinds of requirements are needed, how to
obtain them and how much they will cost.
The types of licenses and permits will
depend on your business location. In general, they may include health code
regulations, fire safety regulations, business permit, etc.
Get
certified
Putting up a child care business requires
more than just a business sense and a business capital. You will have to obtain special training and
certifications to successfully operate this type of business. Enroll in certificate courses on child care
and child development. Read about child care laws and industry. Join
associations on child care. You may also want learn about first aid and CPR.
Getting these certifications will further
legitimize your business and improve your reputation among parents and guardians.
Have
your business insured
This may seem unimportant but if you truly
value your assets, you will have to have it covered for any damages or injuries
that might occur during the life of your business. If you have decided to set up the child care
business in your home, it may be wise to increase the limits of your existing
insurance policy. Another option would be to buy a separate policy for the
home-based child care business.
If you’re running your child care business in
an establishment outside of your home, you will need to look into insurance for
that place.
Tap
the market
The current location of your business
should be convenient for your target market: the parents. You can do your own initial market research
by checking out other private child care providers to see if they have more
clients than they can handle. You should
also be able to determine if their businesses are going smooth in that
particular area.
The best way to tap the market, however, is
to set up business in an area with many parents needing child care. If your services are most needed in that
location, then your business will thrive.
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