Home Business Opportunities – Starting a Home Daycare

Article Contributed by Amanda Tradwick

Home-based daycare operations present an excellent business opportunity for parents who wish to stay at home with their own children or for any entrepreneur who loves working with kids. It offers the potential to create independent income or a growing small business and it can be started with low capital. If you think starting a home-based daycare might be the right work-from-home idea for you, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Licensing Requirements

Caring for children is a serious responsibility and there are many laws governing professional child care, even for home-based providers. Laws vary by state so be sure to fully research what licensing you will need to start your daycare. Often, this will include a background check and a home inspection. In addition, you will need to make sure that your home meets zoning requirements for operating a home business. Speak with your local Small Business Administration or city office if you need help determining the requirements.

Certification

Some states may require you to become certified as a caregiver or in certain safety procedures. But even if law does not require it, you should consider pursuing these certifications to make parents more comfortable trusting you with the safety and well-being of their children and to make yourself more marketable in a crowded market. Consider becoming certified in basics such as CPR, first-aid care and infant care, then continue to look for ongoing training opportunities.

Insurance

Again, some states will require that you have a certain type of insurance to operate a home-based daycare, but even if law does not require it, you should carefully consider it. You may be liable if children become sick or injured while under your care; and insurance can protect you in case of such incidents. Having the right insurance will also show potential clients that you are a professional who cares about the welfare of their children and will assure them that their children are safe in your care.

Start-Up Costs

Opening a home-based daycare requires few start-up costs. You can open with as little as a few hundred dollars or can spend thousands, depending on the kind of amenities you want to offer and what modifications are required for your home. Basic needs will include toys, child safety equipment such as gates and outlet covers and basic feeding and sleep equipment. More extensive costs can cover: creating a dedicated play space, technology for learning and entertainment
activities, remodeling costs to your home for creating dedicated spaces and much more.

Services

After you have prepared your home and taken care of all your licensing and certification requirements, you can begin to define the services you will offer. What age groups will you accept? Will you provide full-time or part-time care? What will be your hours of operation? These are broader operating questions that you need to answer first, then you should create a more specific day-to-day operating scenario, including what types of activities will be offered, when snacks will be served, and how nap schedules will be accommodated.

Advertising

The final step in getting your home-based daycare started is to advertise your services and find clients. Start with your own circles, including friends, play groups, church members, former co-workers, and so on. Create a Web site for your business, join social-networking sites and consider starting a blog (parents will love being able to check in on their children this way, as well). Buy advertising in your local newspaper or family oriented trade publications.
Starting a home-based daycare business is a great opportunity for stay-at-home parents. The low start-up costs and minimal preparations (no need to hire staff, buy inventory, or create company manuals) make this home-based business more accessible to many, as well.

About the Author:
Amanda Tradwick is a grant researcher and writer for CollegeGrants.org. She has a bachelor’s degrees from the University of Delaware, and has recently finished research on student grants in alaska and student grants in colorado.