Opening a Daycare

Do you want to stay at home with your kids and earn money? It’s not just a dream anymore. It turns out that a lot of moms want to make this dream come true by opening up a home daycare. Of course, the problem is that you have to learn how to navigate the business side of things – getting licensed, figuring out the right insurances, following your state’s rules, etc. This can feel a bit overwhelming!

The good news is that there’s a pre-packaged solution for you – The Daycare Starter Kit.  This full-color, instantly downloadable eBook covers the steps you need to take to get your child care service up and running from step one until opening your doors. It’s almost like having a knowledgeable friend take you by the hand.

In the guide, you will discover:

• Details about licensing in your state
• The rates you should charge parents
• Where to track down clients
• How to deal with problems (and how to keep problems away)
• How to plan out each week at your daycare
• Tips on making meals in an efficient way
• Tips on educational activities
• Tax tips and savings ideas
• And more

The kit also comes with 40 worksheets and forms for your new daycare business (such as policy forms, registration agreements, permission slips, and even menu templates) so you’ll be organized with your paperwork.

The nice thing about this Daycare Starter Kit is that it comes with a 2 month, 100% Money Back guarantee, so if you get it and aren’t happy for any reason, you will get your money refunded within that period. (This guarantee is backed by Clickbank and I read they’re strict about these policies.)

Finally, if you buy today, the author has two free bonuses included –

1. 84 Ways to Grow Your Childcare Biz
2. Twenty Fun and Educational Activities

What do you have to lose? Check out the Kit and see if it helps you take your first steps towards making your daycare dream a reality. In the worst case, just return it within eight weeks. It’s a no brainer. If you don’t want to waste time and effort reinventing the wheel, consider learning from those who put together these home daycare startup steps just for you.

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There are a few schools of thought on coming up with daycare name ideas for your future home care business. One idea is to brand your name into the business. For example, a hypothetical service named “Sarah Ann MacBeth’s Day Care” obviously refers to the owner, but the drawback of choosing your own name is that it might not be such an uncommon enough name to stand out from the crowd.

Another method is to come up with a “sticky” or memorable daycare names like “The Great Indoors Home Day Care” or “Happy Sunshine Family Day Care.”  Integrating what’s unique and marketable about your day care is another way to stand out and be memorable. For example, a hypothetical “Eve’s Eco Family Daycare” could aim towards a niche audience of environmentally-minded parents. The same is true for a bilingual daycare or one that focuses on attachment parenting.

Regardless of your name choosing strategy, try to convey an image or story of your daycare in under four words. It’s best if it is memorable or benefits-focused.  Then, once you decide on a name, run a trademark search on the US Patent and Trademark’s  website to make sure no one else legally reserved it. You can also check with your state’s Secretary of State office to make sure your business name is available before opening a home daycare.

Finally, run an internet domain name search on a site such as GoDaddy or Name.com to see if the dot com address is still available. If so, you can reserve a cheap domain for under $10 and later build a website using your daycare brand.

Overall, coming up with daycare names doesn’t have to be too hard. Consider using your name, a unique marketing benefit, or something descriptive to help form your first impression.

Last but not least, if you’re looking to learn how to start a daycare in a step-by-step fashion, check out the Starter Kit.

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If you’re lucky enough to live in The Evergreen State and want to find more information on child care licensing WA (in Washington State), you’ve come to the right place.  To get started, I suggest you check out the Washington State Department of Early Learning, which hosts a wide variety of information for those who are considering starting a home daycare.   Also, I suggest you read their 12 page handbook for future daycare providers, which discusses how to get started, your rights and obligations, resources to assist you on your journey, and a quick overview of laws.

Next, the “getting started” page discusses the mandatory orientation session, where you will learn about the process and receive support.  Make sure to check out when an orientation is being held near you here.

What’s interesting about Washington State’s daycare system is that they offer child care subsidies for in-home providers as long they qualify.  To find out more about these subsides and the paperwork involved, read this guide.  Also, the child care licensing in WA’s site has an awesome feature – they post template of daycare forms for your to print out at your convenience!  Check them out here.  Having them handy will make the process of starting a home daycare much simpler.

Last but not least, you can always get in contact with the Washington Department of Early learning by calling toll free 866-482-4325 or writing to P.O. Box 40970, Olympia, WA 98504-0970.  Finally, if you’d like to learn from a daycare owner’s personal experience, here’s the link to the startup kit.

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Curious about setting up a family day care service in the state of Texas?  If so, pay close attention to the tips and resources in this article.  Before opening your doors for business, you will need to learn about day care licensing Texas standards set by the Department of Family and Protective Services.

Below are a few key tips and resources to get you started on the right foot:

1.    The first thing you need to decide is whether you’re interested in starting a home daycare, a daycare center, or a 24-hour residential care provider.  Once you decide upon that part of your business, visit this part of the Department’s website and this page to learn more about licensing.

Indeed, many moms who just want to work from home choose the home daycare option.  For this, you will need to fill out an application and pay an application fee, attend a pre-application daycare class (which may be given online sometime in the future), review the information packet that you’ll receive about the rules, regulations and other important daycare information, and finally create an online account for your application.

2.    To contact the main office directly, write to or call the office below:

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
Child Care Licensing
P.O. Box 149030
Austin, TX 78714-9030
Phone: 512-834-3195
Toll Free: 800-862-5252
E-mail form

(The address above is a mailing address, while the physical building is located at 701 W. 51st Street Austin, TX 78751.)

For regional licensing office and e-application locations, check out this contact page.

3.    For frequently asked questions about texas daycare licensing, check out this page on the Department’s site.

4.    More information about Texas childcare licensing can be found here and here.

5.    Last but not least, check out the NACCRRA’s market research report about the demand for specific types of daycare in Texas.  For example, in 2011, the average annual fees for full time infant care services at a family home totaled almost $6000.  Unfortunately, the data for toddlers is not available on that report, so this is something you might want to ask about at the licensing office or via other means when planning your business.

In summary, you just learned five tips on how to open a daycare in Texas. Indeed, child care licensing in Texas has rules and regulations like many other states, so learn as much as you can about the process and stick to what they require.

For a complete “how to” guide and insider perspective on setting up a daycare, take a look at the startup kit.

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Are you thinking about starting a daycare in the state of California?  If so, this article is for you.  California daycare licensing is highly regulated in this part of the country, so you must take care to find out what is required from you and follow the rules created by the California Department of Social Services.

Here are a few key facts about day care licensing California:

1.    There are two types of family day cares that you can set up – either a small family daycare or a large family day care.  For the small one, you can have a maximum of 8 kids under your care, while for the large one, you can serve 14 kids maximum in your home.

2.    You must attend a daycare orientation session.  If you live in certain towns, you may attend an online orientation session.  (The orientation costs money.)  For more details, check out California’s Child Care Licensing website.

3.    You must be licensed to work in this business, so make sure you get one, otherwise you could be breaking the law.  To apply for a license, call one of the locations closest to you here.

4.    For more information and links for licensees, including forms, financial assistance, educational resources, safety, rights, and more, check out this page on the California Child Care site.

5.    For the most recent California family child care home regulations, check out this page.

6.    To contact the California licensing office directly, go here or contact the address below:

California Department of Social Services
Community Care Licensing Division
Child Care Program Office
744 P Street, Mail Station #19-14-48
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-651-6040

7.    The National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies has a page with statistics about demand for daycare services and average going rates in California.  Click here to read the latest version.  For example, on average, a family with a four year-old pays $6,500 for an entire year of family daycare services.  For an infant at a California family day care, the number is even higher.  If you want to open an after-school program, there is data about fees there for you too.  Overall, you can use this data to estimate the amounts you might be able to charge in your future business.

Wrapping up, you just learned a few things about the nature of child care licensing in California.  The links above should be helpful in getting you started on your path, but if you still want some help, check out the eBook featured on this site.

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Starting a home daycare can be exciting, meaningful, and even highly profitable. It’s a unique chance to work with children and make a positive, lasting impact on them during their critical years of early development. It’s an opportunity to help parents in your community juggle work and family time. And it’s one of the few ways to successfully stay at home and raise your own children while earning a living.  Indeed, it can be worth it if you are the right type of person for the job, plan properly and are located in a town where there’s a need for this service.

It’s important to understand that opening a daycare and operating one is both a personal and business decision. Working with children isn’t for everyone, and not everyone has what it takes to run a business. But if you love working with kids, are responsible, kind, assertive, willing to learn and take action – a home day care business could be a perfect fit. While it’s not rocket science, there’s plenty to learn to successfully start a family day care business in your home.

Just like in any other small business, you need to take the right steps to make your business profitable and sustainable.  Starting a daycare means knowing and abiding by federal, state, and local regulations and standards, and guaranteeing a healthy and safe environment for children. And those are only the basics.

On top of attending to their basic needs, you will play an important role in childhood development through activities that stimulate intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth. Many moms who want to start day cares are completely lost and don’t know where to begin.

Before you go, check out the Daycare Starter Kit.  It’s meant to be your road map, helping you get from where you are now towards your desired destination – opening a daycare in your home.

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Some aspiring day care providers wonder if they should start a day care at home or rent space outside of the home. Starting big by opening a daycare away from home may sound fancy and exciting, but it is usually not the best path for new day care owners. Instead, opening a day care is the right way to go for you if you’re completely new to the business for the following reasons:

1. It’s much cheaper and more convenient to run one at home.

There’s no need to rent out space, pay large overhead costs (which often includes expensive remodeling), hire an army of assistant teachers, and spend time and money commuting. Costs for centers outside the home quickly build up and it can be hard for even a popular one to break even. Instead, you can run a small or large family day care at home by yourself or with only an assistant (depending on the number of kids you accept to your program). Your rent or mortgage payments remain the same. Many overhead costs can be deducted later as business expenses. Commutes are limited to walking downstairs for those interested in opening a day care.

2. A home day care is less stressful and more flexible.

Centers outside the home usually have to care for many more children than a home day care in order to be financially worthwhile. You, on the other hand, can start off caring for only a few children and grow from there later if you prefer. Also, centers outside of the home usually have to stick to rigid schedules, which decreases your flexibility. When opening a home day care, you can adapt the daily schedule “on the fly” according to the children’s moods, like bringing up lunch time or spontaneously having an outdoor activity on a beautiful afternoon. Unlike a bigger outside daycare center, you’ll have more time and opportunities to make each day more meaningful and customized to the fewer kids under your care.

3. Opening a daycare center at home can be better for the children under your care.

Young children sometimes feel “lost in the crowd” among lots of other toddlers and teachers at the big day cares. In fact, many parents appreciate a home environment for their kids, so by opening a daycare, you can solve this problem for them. Your family day care can provide a more comfortable, supportive and personalized interaction with each child and their parents. The children under your care will learn and develop together in small, tight-nit groups, which may give them an advantage over the bigger outside day cares when they start school.

Overall, opening a daycare at home is better than one away from home for several significant reasons. To learn more about the process of starting your own child care business and to benefit from lots of home daycare tips, check out this complete system when starting your own home business.

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You might be in the planning stages of opening a daycare at home or you might already have just opened your doors, but either way it’s time to figure out how to get clients quickly. This article will focus on the top five daycare advertising methods for a new daycare owner:

1. Fliers

Simple to make, well-placed fliers can be an effective way of reaching your target audience. All that’s needed to make a professional flier is access to a computer, word processing software, printer, and paper. Before running around town and posting them everywhere, think hard where your ideal parents hang out.

2. Business cards

You can get hundreds of business cards printed affordably by using a professional service. If you are good at graphic design and want to save money, you can make your own cards at home. Just make sure to take plenty with you everywhere and hand them out liberally.

3. The web

The internet has a few sites dedicated to matching parents with childcare providers. Take some time to answer some ads and consider posting your own ad for your service too. The advantage of using these sites on the web to find clients is that they are usually free and provide quick results.

Another idea is to create your own website or blog showcasing your daycare that is optimized for local searches. This is definitely a more intensive and time consuming strategy, but it could bring in a constant trickle of leads for your daycare and waitlist over time.

4. Referral system

Set up a referral reward system. Let your customers, friends, and other acquaintances know about it. Consider including it in your fliers or business card or other marketing materials. Word of mouth is considered to be a very powerful form of marketing, and since you only need to fill in a few slots, this method may be enough.

5. Local paper

Your local newspaper is an ideal place to reach parents. See if you can advertise there. Another idea is to write a childcare related article and try to get it published in a local paper. Make sure to include your daycare contact information at the bottom of the article.

Overall, there are countless daycare advertising tactics to try. Keep in mind that consistency is important, so pick only a few ideas and do them well until you fill up your home daycare.

To learn more about opening a daycare business at home, check out this childcare business system.

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Who wants to open a daycare? There are several types of people who might want to open a daycare at home for different reasons. Listed below are a few examples of women who might be interested in this quality home business:

1. New mothers who want to stay at home for economic and family reasons

New moms are a common example of those who open a daycare at home. Many moms choose this because they want to stay at home and earn an income, raise their child, and save on external child care costs. A subset of this group are new single moms, who may discover that opening a home daycare is a decent way for them to juggle work and family as the sole breadwinner.

2. Moms who love working with children

Some moms wish to stop working outside the home for various companies and prefer to work with children. Essentially, climbing the corporate ladder doesn’t speak to them anymore. Instead, they prefer to teach and care for kids and help them get through the crucial years of early childhood development. Even considering some of the challenges, many of these moms find this field to be very meaningful.

3. Mother teams

Often, moms team up with another stay-at-home mom in town or even with their own mothers to start a home daycare. Teams make running this business easier and allow caring for more kids at one time if necessary. This setup also allows for more adult interaction, mutual support, and sharing of some business expenses.

4. Kindergarten teachers

Kindergarten teachers are well positioned to become home daycare providers. During college, they take courses in early childhood development and obtain years of practical experience in the classroom. A teacher who wants a change of pace can quickly open a daycare at home and apply her vast experience towards helping those under her care.

5. Former day care employees

Sometimes a talented and ambitious former day care employee wants to open a daycare and leave the salaried world behind. Her valuable day care experience can only help when going into business for herself.

Overall, these are the five main groups of people who could be interested in opening a daycare in the home. Many of them, with the right preparation, can succeed in this important service.

To learn more about the strategies and tactics when opening a daycare at home, take a look at this daycare system.

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Starting your own daycare can be an exciting process, but there are many things to know before opening your doors for business. The following list contains several tips for you to consider:

1. You are not a babysitter

A home daycare is not a babysitting service, which is considered to be a low-value service. You will offer much more than watching over the kids – you will be educating them and nurturing their physical, mental, and emotional development.

2. Safety first

When starting your own daycare, you must be safety-minded. Every parent wants to send their child to a safe environment, and therefore safety must be your top priority.

3. Keeping the books

As a business owner, you are going to have to keep good records of all the money going in and out of your business. You will also need to have on hand various forms and records pertaining to the kids under your care.

4. Minimizing risk

As a child care provider and business owner, you will need to minimize your risks in several areas. This includes setting up the right insurances and legal business entity, making sure you follow state rules and regulations, keeping the environment safe and clean, and of course, keeping an eye on the children under your care.

5. Activity planning

When opening a daycare, you will need to plan for daily activities. Such activities may include arts and crafts, reading time, singing, and hundreds of other classic learning activities. It’s a good idea to do some research at your local library and bookstore to find activities that will both interest and educate the children under your care.

6. Nutrition

As a home daycare provider, you will be expected to prepare meals and snacks for the children. It is important to choose healthy and age-appropriate foods and avoid any choking hazards or food allergies.

7. Keep your clients satisfied

It is important to treat the parents well, since they are your official clients. Keep them in the loop about the happenings at your day care. One idea is to send them a weekly newsletter via e-mail or send a printed version home with the child.

8. Know your state’s requirements

In most places, you can’t just put out a shingle and declare you’re open for business. The day care field is regulated by each state and you should be adhering to their laws and regulations.

9. Avoid burnout

Starting a daycare at home can be a great solution for many moms, but it is important to avoid burnout. One way of doing this is to pre-schedule vacations days in your yearly calendar and daycare contract.

10. Make a difference

If you’ve committed to starting a daycare at home, then try to do the best job you can possibly do. You have the unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the kids under your care and help your community. Don’t take this responsibility lightly.

Overall, there are plenty of things to know about before opening a daycare. I hope these ten tips help you start your journey.

To learn more about the important things to know when starting a home daycare and what to avoid, check out this step-by-step daycare business guide.

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