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Running a child care center is first and foremost
running a very busy small business. But it's much more than
that -- it's making a commitment to be a vital part of the
holistic development of other families' children. The successful
child care manager wears many hats: early childhood educator,
business manager, fiscal administrator, safety and health
officer, and building architect, among others. We understand
that you'll have your hands full with each of these big jobs.
Here's a guide through some of the necessary steps in starting
and running a center.
Understanding
the Community
Business Issues
Facilities and Equipment
Understanding
the Community
Determining Need
The first step in starting a new center is learning if there
is need in the community for child care. First, find out what
types of child care are currently available in your community,
by talking with us, as well as town or city government offices,
or the state licensing office. Informally, you can check your
local Yellow Pages, parents' newspapers, and other publications
for advertisements that will give you an idea of how many
centers are already in business.
When gathering this information, you should focus on:
- Total number of centers in the community, and ages of
children being offered care
- Hours offered by other centers, whether early morning
or evening care is offered, and availability of part-time
or flexible care
- Whether centers have waiting lists or a lot of vacancies
- Location of available centers
- Community Demographics
You can get a good overview of your community from talking
with us, by looking at recent census data, and/or by surveying
local parents. Demographic information can help you estimate
the number of working families with young children in the
community, where they live, and their likely income and child
care tuition payments.
Options in a Competitive Environment
If you discover that other centers have many vacancies --
or, conversely, are experiencing difficulty in hiring qualified
staff -- you may then revise your business plan to address
the competitive environment.
Some options to differentiate your program include:
- Providing care in a different community with higher demand
and lower supply (where centers have a low vacancy rate)
- Providing non-traditional hours of care not offered by
other centers (e.g., evening/weekend care, or overnight
care)
- Providing higher quality care and paying higher wages
than other centers (e.g., hiring well-educated, experienced
staff)
- Offering a type of program or service not previously offered
in the community (e.g., a Montessori or school-age care
program, or mildly-ill child care)
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Business Issues
Every center needs to pay close attention to the business
of child care, even if the center is run as a nonprofit. Good
management is essential to maintaining the center's viability
over time and continuing to offer quality care
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Facilities and Equipment
One of your primary concerns in starting a program will
be determining the location, size, and type of space you need.
Things to think about when looking for a space include child
care needs of the local community; zoning, Americans with
Disabilities Act regulations, fire and health department regulations,
parking needs, and licensing requirements. Contact us for
more information.
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Contact Us
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