How can I start a child care center?

I live in Illinois, where can I find the funding to finance my venture? I have two semesters until I finish my bachlors in sociology but I am thinking of sitting out and starting my business. I have three children,single parent and good child care is always an issue for me to work traditional hours. I am always told I am good with children and my ultimate college and career goals is to work with women and children. Where can I find help to start a business and is this a good idea?

Public Comments

1. Call the Department of Children and Families. Located in the blue section in the front of the white pages. You will have to attend seminars, take exams, get a background check and have your home inspected. Your home has to meet particular requirements as well as the capacity of children in your care.

   Good luck!



2. In order to start a business, you need the following things.

   1) Unique Idea

   2) Funds

   3) Domain Expertise

   4) Management Experience

   I could go on and on. But it seems you have neither of those. I suggest you give that up. If you are really passionate about doing that, the money will somehow appear. But I seriously think you should drop the idea because you need another 50 odd components in order to make the business succeed.

   What the heck...I might as well just list them down to make you give up the idea.

   5) Passion

   6) Hardwork

   7) Drive

   8) Learn to design your own website

   9) Branding

   10) Marketing

   11) Creating your USP (Unique Selling Propositions)

   12) You must love to sell. Even CEOs are sales people.

   13) Financial knowledge.

   ......

   100) Luck

   So you get it. It's easy to register a business but in order to make it, it takes lot's of effort and commitment. You already have to take care of so many people, I don't know if you could find the time.

   But the most important thing is HUNGER!

   You must have the HUNGER to succeed.

   Let me give you a quote from yours truly.

   'You Are What You Want To Be' - Edmund Ng

   You are a waiter because you chose the job. Bill Gates is rich because he chose to spend time in the garage to write software when all the other kids were having a good time and enjoying themselves.

   What do you want to be? You need to ask yourself. You need to believe in yourself. Of course there will always be barriers.

   Let me share my experience. I drop out of school when I was 16. Didn't take up any further education because I was married at 21 and became a father at 22. But I eventually ran the SAP Academy, broke all sales records and started many companies. I seriously started reading at the age of 28!

   If you're thinking of roadblocks ahead, just think of what I went through. If there's a will, there's a way. If you try hard enough, you will make it. :-)

   Regards,

   Edmund Ng

   CEO, Founder

   Infinique Technologies

   http://www.infinqiuetech.com

   http://www.itjobs.com.sg

   http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SG_IT_Jobs

   http://www.purchaseresume.com



3. 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

   * How to Start a Business in Illinois: With Forms by Edwin T. Gania, Mark Warda

   * How to Start a Business in Illinois by Entrepreneur Press

   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!



4. The first step if you are thinking of starting a child care center 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 IL, contact this agency

   Department of Children & Family Services

   Office of Licensing

   406 E. Monroe Street, Station 60

   Springfield, IL 62701-1498

   Phone: 217-785-2688 ; 877-746-0829

   Fax: 217-524-3347

   Web site: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/ts/ccfs/ccd/indexbackup10-28-03.asp

   Email: cfpolicy@idcfs.state.il.us

   Requirements: http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/library/com_communications_sumlicen_dch.shtml

   To help you with the funding of your business, I suggest you consult with the Small Business Development Centers in IL

   http://www.commerce.state.il.us/dceo/Bureaus/Entrepreneurship+and+Small+Business/Small+Business+Development+Centers/ - they may be able to direct you where you can apply for financing or get support for your business