Introduction
Running a daycare in the home may be more cost-effective than a commercial building. However, this type of daycare still requires a well-thought plan for success. You need to make sure parents find you suitable and want to choose your daycare over others.
Step 1
Be honest about your daycare in the home desires. Even if you appreciate children, it is not an easy career decision for everyone. Some people think a daycare will add income without realizing the responsibility. They may have their own children and think adding more is simple. You want to provide a good service from your household. For instance, if you do not enjoy having children playing and touching, you may not be suitable candidate for a daycare provider. Make sure to speak with other successful providers before taking on the responsibility.
Step 2
Run a daycare in the home with hygiene in mind. According to Wonder Kids, a daycare setting requires proactive efforts to limit the transfer of diseases, such as colds. Young children face having immature immune systems and need adults to help protect their bodies. As a daycare in the home provider, you can help with these efforts. For example, have guidelines for everyone about general hygience, such as handwashing. Unclean hands can transfer germs quickly and quietly. It is your responsibity to ensure that soap and hot water is available.
Step 3
Have a system for tracking daycare in the home bookkeeping paperwork. Knowing your finances is critical for business management and success. You require bookkeeping forms to control your income levels and handle tax-related fulfillment. The documents help you recognize how much to charge. Keeping low fees can lead to not meeting expenses. The task of tracking daycare bookkeeping can become difficult. You may need to hire a bookkeeper. Seek a professional with detailed daycare experience. A bookkeeper willl be about to help with reconciling daycare statements and checking the correctness of expense reports.
Step 4
Set-up a marketing plan for daycare in the home. A marketing plan is essential to become known. Few daycares are well-known and do not need marketing. Unlike a large, commercial daycare, you do not need an extensive marketing plan, such as radio advertising. Pay attention to the surrounding neighborhoods when running a daycare. You can hear about parents who may need someone whom they can respect. If many parents are returning to work, you can step in and hand them your business card. Do not forget about other marketing items, ranging from brochures to flyers.
Step 5
Review any child-related requirements and guidelines for daycare in the home. When you start a daycare, you examine guidelines, such as how many children you can watch. Over time, your knowledge about legal requirements can fade. Take the time to keep updated. For example, your home state may expect one adult per 5 children under five. If you accept a sixth child in the age group without adding another adult, you can face legal problems. It is not too difficult to keep up with state-based legal requirements. In some cases, states send notices to registered providers for daycare in the home.
Tips
Pick lawyers and bookkeepers who have knowledge of daycare in the home.
Sources and Citations
Wonder Kids: Hygiene Tips for Child Care Providers
http://www.wonder-kids.ca/daycare-tips/hygiene-tips-for-child-care-providers/