How does one start an in-home child care business?

I am considering starting an in-home child care business. I need to bring in around $300-400 a week and was wondering if in-home can be lucrative, as well as rewarding. I would love to hear how much people charge, how many kids they have alone, with no assistance, and what are the ups and downs of this?

Public Comments

1. The first step is to prepare a business plan. Even if you will not be applying for a bank loan, a business plan helps you to think through your business - what it needs, who it will benefit, how much it will cost, and what is its potential. Here are free business plans on childcare business that you may want to look into:

   http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mp-30.doc

   http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/BPWORKBK.pdf

   http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/CDCPLAN.pdf

   http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/sbic/bplans.htm

   Other articles you may want to read:

   Starting a Child Day Care Business http://www.libsci.sc.edu/BOB/class/clis748/Studentwebguides/ss02/pollack2.htm

   Childcare.net http://childcare.net/indexnew.shtml

   How To Start Your Own Day Care Center http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/daycare.htm

   Starting a child-care services business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,290241,00.html

   HOW TO START A QUALITY CHILD CARE BUSINESS http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mp-29.pdf

   For in-depth information, I suggest checking out the following books:

   - Start and Run a Profitable Home Day Care

   - The Daycare Provider's Workbook

   - Start Your Own At-Home Child Care Business

   - So You Want to Open a Profitable Child Care Center :

   Everything You Need to Know to Plan, Organize and Implement a Successful Program

   It is also important that you learn the tax rules affecting daycare centers, especially if you are going to open one from your home. Here is the IRS page on child care centers: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/industries/content/0,,id=99878,00.html

   As for the licenses and requirements in your state, the Administration for Children and Families provide a state by state listing of contacts for licensing and regulations governing child care businesses:

   http://www.nccic.org/statedata/dirs/regoffic.html

   In Connecticut, for example, you would need http://www.dph.state.ct.us/Licensure/apps/G_C_InitialAppReq.pdf

   - child day care center initial application

   - supplemental application

   - lead testing (for pre 1979 buildings/houses)

   - first aid course certification

   - proof of worker's compensation form

   - verification of experience for head teacher

   - local health department approval

   - fingerprints of staff

   - many more



2. The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

   I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

   Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

   Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

   * Start & Run a Home Daycare by Catherine M. Pruissen

   * Starting a Child Care Center: The Indispensable Guidebook for Starting a Day Care or Child Care Business by Millicent Gray Lownes-Jackson,

   * Opening & Operating A Successful Child Care Center by Dorothy June Sciarra

   * The Business of Child Care: Management and Financial Strategies by Gail H Jack

   There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

   Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!