Lets say I was to open a day care......?

Question

how exactly would I do that????

Answer 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
Starting a child-care services business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,290241,00.html
How To Start Your Own Day Care Center http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/daycare.htm
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/publications/p587/ar02.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

Note the education requirements as well as your certifications that your state will require for day care operators

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

Answer 2

Well if you want to open a licensed daycare then you would find out from your state what is required for you to get the license. Of course you can start small and work your way up like starting in your home first.

Rose
Daycare Basics 101
http://members.aol.com/Roseb441702/daycare.htm

Answer 3

you would have to ensure you have the proper credentials to start such a service. you have to also bear in mind that you would be handling lil'tots... so lotsa care and attention is required... you could also check with the local body which administers such services to find out specific details...