Here are our best do’s and don’ts when opening a home daycare. Save yourself a lot of headaches, and browse our recommendations below. If you have any you want to add, write a comment below and help a newbie home daycare provider out.
- Don’t undersell yourself to get clients. Decide on a rate, hours of operations, and the ideal client you want to have. Don’t bend your rules. Read more on setting your home daycare rates here.
- Do have a contract before you take on clients. Don’t get pushed around by parents.
- Don’t provide a service that doesn’t work for your lifestyle. If offering weekend hours don’t work for your family, don’t offer it.
- Do follow the lead of the children when it comes to free playtime. You don’t need to have a ton of activities and crafts planned.
- Do keep meals simple. Start with small portions and then give more if kids are still hungry. This will help to avoid food waste.
- Do keep all receipts for your taxes. Find a system for recording tax information and stay on top of it. Nothing worst than rushing to get it done before the tax deadline. Read more on Home daycare taxes here.
- Do follow your gut when it comes to interviewing families. The fit has to be right for both parties involved. It is harder to terminate a client than it is to say that you don’t think the fit is right for your home daycare.
- Do clean up your home daycare area before a meet and greet.
- Do create a parent handbook and have a communication system in place before you open your doors.
- Don’t forget to put your family first and remember to take vacations. Avoid daycare provider burnout. Read more on home daycare provider burnout here.
It can be a stressful time when opening a home daycare but don’t forget to have fun! Do the crafts with the kids, play at the park, or even read your favorite childhood books.
Need help with a home daycare business plan? Check out this post to get started.
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