Qualifications to Start a Daycare

Many possess the entrepreneurial spirit and aim to have their own business. With the increasing number of children needing some form of childcare, starting a daycare is one opportunity that should be seriously looked into. Although it has a very good potential for profit, it is not for everyone. As with any worthwhile endeavor, a great deal of planning, training and determination is required.

Qualifications vary by state and the type of daycare provided. Most of those that provide home-based care don’t need college training in early child development to be licensed. For larger daycare facilities, a formal course or trainings in early childhood education is necessary, in addition to the years of experience in the field. Further, since running a daycare is a business, extra business courses would be helpful, although this is not a must. Fortunately, these courses are offered online so availing of them is more convenient for those who want to acquire more credentials.

Education and training are not the only prerequisites to be a good childcare provider. More importantly, she must make sure that she herself is suited in this type of career. Firstly, she must love children and possess the patience to be with them. Otherwise, caring for children on a daily basis would become very stressful to the emotions. Secondly, she has to be a people person. Running a daycare means dealing with parents as well and there will be times when opinions differ. This requires resolving conflicts and negotiating compromises in a businesslike manner. Thirdly, she must have a calm temperament to be able to handle the unpredictability of children. A daycare owner who has these qualities will find the business not only financially but emotionally rewarding as well.

With more and more women joining the workforce, an increasing number of families are now entrusting the care of their children to day care centers during working hours. The centers can be in the home of the child minder or a special facility.

There are three types of daycare programs that can be provided, depending on the number of children taken care of. The type that has childcare services for the most number is the day care center, which caters to seven or more children. A group daycare home renders its services to not more than twelve and the family daycare, from four to six children only.

A group daycare home can be a good source of income and the number of children to be attended to is very manageable. However, starting this kind of business is not easy because daycare centers are subject to several rules and regulations of the state where it is located. These have to be familiarized and complied with. Fortunately, the government provides information as well as assistance on licensing through the relevant social service agencies.

After the legalities, the childcare needs of the local area have to be determined, specifically the age group of the children and what time of day or what day of the week is care most needed. This affects the type of daycare program that a business owner will establish – one that could give the best service and at the same time be profitable.

Charge rates for the daycare have to be considered carefully, to strike a balance between having clients and being lucrative. It would be advantageous to know the going rate of daycares in the area and not charge more than this, unless an additional service is made available.

These are but a few matters that a potential group daycare service provider has to consider in advance; but, preparation would go a long way in making the business run smoothly.

For more information see: Qualifications to Start a Daycare