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Home > Business Plan Templates > Daycare Center Business Plan Template With Examples

Daycare Center Business Plan Template With Examples

Apr 14, 2024 | Business Plan Templates

This template is designed to be flexible. Feel free to modify it to suit your daycare centre’s unique characteristics and needs. Remember, a compelling and well-structured business plan is critical to attracting potential customers and investors, securing funding, guiding your business’s operations, and tracking its progress.

Starting and running a daycare centre requires a perfect blend of a passion for child care, business acumen, and robust teamwork. This business plan serves as a roadmap in this journey, helping you make informed decisions and drive success.

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

This section provides an all-encompassing overview of your daycare centre. Although listed first, writing this part last may be most helpful to ensure every vital detail from your daycare business plan is included.

Introduction

Begin by introducing your daycare centre, including its name and core mission. This information should be presented compellingly and engagingly.

Example: Little Starts Daycare is a childcare centre dedicated to providing a safe, fun, and nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and explore.

Center Overview

Provide an overview of your daycare centre, including the type of services offered and any major initiatives you’ve undertaken or plan to take.

Example: Little Stars Daycare is a licensed childcare provider offering full-time and part-time care for children ages 2 to 5 and after-school services for children up to 12.

Mission and Vision Statement

Define your daycare’s mission and vision statement. This income statement will communicate your daycare’s purpose and strategic objectives and share the commitment to child care and their holistic development.

Example: Our Mission is to provide children with a safe, stimulating, and caring environment. Our Vision is to nurture young minds in their early years by providing a firm foundation for lifelong learning.

Geographic Reach and Accessibility

Explain where your daycare is located, noting the communities you serve and your location’s convenience.

Example: Located in the heart of Springfield, our daycare is conveniently accessible for families in the central city and nearby neighbourhoods.

Program Type

Describe the programs your daycare offers, whether you cater to toddlers, preschool students, or after-school care, providing details.

Example: Our centre provides preschool education with a structured curriculum, toddler programs with an emphasis on social interaction and primary learning, and after-school programs to assist with homework and provide extracurricular activities.

Key Goals and Objectives

Clearly specify what you intend to achieve in the short and long term. Ensure these goals are SMART—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound.

Example: Our short-term goal is to increase our enrolment by 30% in the upcoming year without compromising the quality of our service. In the long term, we aim to establish an exemplary reputation in the area that may allow us to expand to multiple locations.

2. Daycare Services Offered

This section details your daycare centre’s specific services, objectives, and impact on the children and families served.

Service Definition and Themes

Describe the services your daycare provides in detail. Discuss underlying principles or themes guiding your programs and the kind of expertise involved in delivering them.

Example: At Little Stars Daycare, we provide three main services: Toddler Care, Preschool Program, and After-School Service. Each service is designed with a specific age group in mind and tailored to meet their intellectual, physical, and emotional developmental milestones.

Range of Services

Detail the various services you offer under each program in your daycare centre. Highlight significant elements of these services that set your childcare centre apart.

Example: Our Toddler Care program includes interactive playtime, basic etiquette training, and early learning activities. The Preschool program preps children for school with a curriculum focused on cognitive and emotional development. Our After School services provide a safe environment with homework assistance and extracurricular activities.

Beneficiary Profile

Explain who benefits from your daycare services, how they are selected, and why they are the focus of your efforts. This should be detailed, and your target audience and market should be clearly understood.

Example: Our beneficiaries are primarily families with working parents who need reliable, quality care for their children during workdays. We cater to children ranging from toddlers and preschoolers to school-aged kids needing after-school care. Our services are crucial for working families seeking a safe, nurturing environment that fosters their children’s development.

3. Background and Ownership

This portion presents an insight into the establishment background of your daycare centre and its administrative structure.

Legal Status and Organisational Structure

Specify your daycare centre’s legal status. Is it a Sole Proprietorship , a Partnership , a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or a Corporation? Why was this structure chosen?

Example: Little Stars Daycare operates as an LLC due to the liability protection it provides. In this setup, the owner’s personal assets are protected in case of any legal claims.

Board of Directors or Management Team

Briefly introduce your management team, highlighting their backgrounds and roles in the daycare centre. Mention their key contributions to the daycare.

Example: Our management team consists of the owner-director, Mrs Johnson, a former elementary school teacher; our operations manager, Mr Green, who has a background in child psychology; and Mrs Smith, our curriculum coordinator, who holds a degree in early childhood education.

Established Milestones

Exhibit significant milestones in your daycare centre’s history to demonstrate its progress and growth over time.

Example: Little Stars Daycare, established in 2015, started as a small in-home service. Due to growth, we moved to a larger, dedicated facility in 2017. In 2019, we expanded our services to offer after-school programs and currently serve 50 families in the Springfield area.

4. Business Model

This portion management team section outlines how your daycare centre operates and generates income to maintain its functions and services.

Primary Revenue Channels

Discuss your daycare’s central sources of income. This could entail the fees charged for different programs, early drop-off/late pickup surcharges, or any additional services offered.

Example: Our main revenue sources are the weekly fees charged for toddler care, preschool, and after-school sessions. Supplemental income is also generated from optional services like early drop-off, late pickup, and special weekend care services.

Potential Collaborations/ Partnerships

Detail any potential collaborations or partnerships. These could involve other businesses, schools, government institutions, etc.

Example: We are considering partnerships with local schools to offer seamless after-school services. Additionally, we are exploring opportunities to collaborate with nearby businesses to provide daycare discounts for their employees.

Special Programs or Services

If any special programs or initiatives are planned for the future that may bring substantial funds or support to the daycare, mention them.

Example: We are planning to introduce a “Summer Camp” service during school holidays that promotes learning through fun activities. This provides a solution for parents during the break and generates additional revenue for our centre.

5. Market Analysis

This section offers insights into your daycare’s market environment, customer demographics, and your centre’s competitive positioning.

Current Demand

Explain the current demand for daycare services in your area. Use any relevant data, statistics, or examples to support your point.

Example: According to recent data, there are approximately 4,000 children under the age of six in our target area, with 70% of both parents working full-time. This strong demand for daycare services indicates a promising market for Little Stars Daycare.

Customer Demographic Analysis

Detail the demographic information of the families you intend to serve, including their geographical location, socioeconomic status, or other relevant characteristics.

Example: Our primary customers are dual-income families within a 5-mile radius of our facility. Most of these families fall into the middle to upper-income brackets and value high-quality childcare and educational opportunities for their children.

Competitive Landscape and Unique Selling Proposition

Identify other daycare centres or similar service providers in the area and analyse their pricing strategies and features. Highlight what differentiates your daycare centre.

Example: Although there are two other daycare centres in our vicinity, Little Stars is the only one to offer extended hours, catering specifically to working parents with schedules outside the typical 9 to 5. Additionally, our preschool program emphasises developmental learning, unlike the play-based focus of our competitors.

Market Strategic Positioning

Describe how your own daycare industry is positioned concerning the current market demand, customer demographics, and competition. Discuss your plans to deliver your services in a way that meets your customers’ needs and stands out from competitors.

Example: Little Stars is positioned as a high-quality, convenient solution for working families in need of childcare services. Our strategy involves providing academically focused, individualised programs coupled with flexible hours to meet the unique needs of working parents.

6. Public Relations and Marketing Strategy

This section outlines how you plan to increase awareness about your daycare centre and attract families to your service.

Public Relations Approach

Describe your business concept and strategy to achieve visibility and positive recognition in the community.

Example: Our PR strategy involves regular community events like fun fairs, open days, and reading clubs. We also plan to issue press releases announcing milestones or new services in our centre and seek coverage in local news outlets or parent groups.

Marketing Plan

Outline your marketing strategy, including traditional and online channels — and any unique campaigns or promotions you plan to run.

Example: Our marketing strategy consists of the distribution of brochures in local businesses and schools, online advertising on parenting blogs and forums, social media campaigns around enrolment periods, and maintaining a well-optimised website detailing our services.

Community Engagement & Volunteer Programs

Discuss how you plan to engage the community in your daycare’s activities. This could involve organising community events, parent evenings, or volunteer opportunities.

Example: We plan to actively involve the community with events like an annual Family Day Picnic, parenting workshops, and volunteer opportunities within the centre. This strategy serves to strengthen our relationship with the community and increases visibility for our daycare.

7. Operations

This section provides an overview of your daycare’s business plan, outlining daily operational practices, staff recruitment, technology needs, and facility requirements.

Staff Recruitment and Roles

Discuss your approach to staffing your daycare. This includes the necessary roles, the experience or qualifications required, and your future hiring plans.

Example: We plan to staff our daycare with certified childcare professionals for roles like Lead Daycare Teacher, Assistant Teacher, and Cook. We intend to hire additional staff as our enrolment increases. All teaching staff are required to have an associate degree in early childhood education or a related field.

Management Roles

Detail the management roles in your daycare centre, the responsibilities, and the skills required for these roles.

Example: Our management team comprises the daycare centre director, who oversees the overall operations; an office manager, who oversees administrative duties; and a program coordinator, who plans and reviews all daycare activities.

Technology Requirements

Discuss the type of technology your daycare centre uses or needs. This could include scheduling software, communication tools, or child progress-tracking applications.

Example: We use childcare management software for seamless scheduling, billing, and parent communications. We also use a separate application for tracking child progress and activities, accessible to both staff and parents.

Facility Requirements

Specify any facility needs you have. This might include a dedicated daycare building, a playground, classrooms, a kitchen, etc.

Example: Our daycare currently operates from a dedicated centre equipped with well-furnished classrooms, a play area, a dining area, and a kitchen. With our projected growth, we anticipate needing additional classroom space and possibly expanding our outdoor play area within the coming years.

8. Marketing and Communications Strategy

This section discusses how your daycare centre plans to market its services to prospective parents and maintain open and consistent communication with current clients.

Marketing and Community Outreach

Describe your plans to increase your daycare centre’s visibility within your community and potential clients.

Example: We plan to increase our daycare’s exposure by participating in local community events and establishing partnerships with local schools and businesses. We also intend to launch promotional campaigns during key enrollment periods to attract new families.

Online Presence

Discuss your daycare’s online presence. This can include your website, any social media platforms you use, and how you utilise these channels.

Example: We maintain an interactive and informative website detailing our services, staff, and enrolment processes. In addition to our website, we regularly update our social media platforms, uploading images of daily activities and upcoming events at our centre.

Customer Engagement

Explain how you plan to engage with the families of children in your care. This can include parent-teacher meetings, newsletters, social events, and more.

Example: We engage with parents through regular parent-teacher meetings, a monthly email newsletter, and inviting families to participate in our community events like the annual Family Day Picnic. Establishing strong relationships with our parents is integral to our daycare’s strategy.

9. Financial Plan

This section offers a detailed look at your daycare’s financial circumstances and plans, showcasing how funds will be sourced and used.

Startup Budget or Current Annual Budget

Provide an overview of your expected budget, detailing both income and expenses.

Example: Our annual budget for this year is $300,000, with the majority of funds allocated towards staff salaries, facility maintenance, activities, and supplies. The remnant is allocated for marketing, administration, and unexpected expenses.

Proposed Financial Projections

Discuss your predicted financial situation. These should include expected income from fees, any grants or loans, and how you plan to allocate these resources.

Example: We expect our primary income to come from our own childcare business plan, with fees accounting for 90% of our revenues. We also aim to secure a grant for educational toys and supplies, making up the remaining 10%. Our largest expenditure is staff salaries, followed by facilities costs and supplies.

Key Financial Assumptions and Explanations

Clarify any assumptions made about financial statements in your financial plan and explain why these assumptions have been made.

Example: We assume a 10% increase in enrollment for the upcoming year, which we believe is a conservative estimate based on current trends and inquiries. We also expect a steady increase in operation costs due to inflation and potential expansion plans.

10. Appendices

This section includes supplementary documents or materials that support the details of your business plan.

Organisational Chart

Include a visual layout of your daycare’s structure, representing the roles and departments within your organisation.

Example: Our daycare’s organisational chart clearly differentiates among management, full-time staff, part-time staff, and volunteer roles to give a comprehensive understanding of our organisational structure.

Resumes of Key Staff Members

Attach resumes or create a brief biodata of central team members to offer insights into their skills, expertise, and experience relevant to the daycare environment.

Example: We’ve included the resume of our Daycare Center Director, who has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and over ten years of experience in daycare management. This demonstrates her ability to administer our programs effectively.

Detailed Budget

Include a copy here if your financial plan refers to an intricate budget.

Example: We’ve attached a detailed breakdown of our annual budget, reflecting our conscious and effective allocation of resources that ensure the smooth running of our daycare centre and prioritise the quality of child care and education.

Related Market Research

Incorporate any market analysis or research that testifies to the need for your daycare centre’s services.

Example: We’ve incorporated a recent demographic study on our target area, indicating the high number of families requiring reliable daycare services, reinforcing the demand for our centre.

What are the Factors to Consider When Starting a Daycare?

When starting a daycare, there are several critical factors you need to consider:

1. Location: Your daycare should be located in a safe, clean and accessible area that is convenient for parents to drop off and pick up their children.

2. Safety: It’s crucial to ensure your daycare facility complies with all safety guidelines and health regulations and has appropriate safety measures in place to prevent accidents.

3. Licence and Certification: Procure all necessary licences and certifications to operate a daycare centre legally in your region.

4. Qualified Staff: The quality of your staff significantly impacts the quality of your daycare. Recruit staff with appropriate qualifications, experience, and a genuine passion for the childcare industry.

5. Affordable Rates: Your service rates should be competitive, offering good value for your clients while ensuring your business is financially viable.

6. Age-appropriate Programs : It is critical to offer programs that are tailored to different age groups and address their specific developmental needs.

7. Capacity: Check the restrictions on the number of children you can have in your care at any given time in accordance with local regulations.

8. Insurance: Having sufficient insurance is paramount to protect your business from liability claims.

What Elements Make Up a Quality Daycare?

Creating a quality daycare goes beyond meeting minimum state licensing requirements. Here are some elements that contribute to a top-tier daycare:

1. Positive Environment: Your daycare should have a welcoming, warm, and stimulating setting that promotes children’s creativity, learning, and comfort.

2. Well-trained Staff: In addition to having the required qualifications and training, staff should exhibit patience, caring, and passion when dealing with children.

3. Child-Friendly Facilities and Equipment: Adequate, safe, and age-appropriate facilities and equipment aid children’s learning and development.

4. Low Child-Staff Ratio: This ensures each child gets the necessary attention and supervision, thus contributing to more personalised care.

5. Structured Activities: A well-planned curriculum that balances educational, creative, and recreational elements supports child development.

6. Healthy Food and Snacks: Offering nutritious meals fosters the physical health and well-being of the children.

7. Parental Involvement: Maintain active communication with parents and caregivers, keeping them updated on their child’s progress and involving them in the centre’s activities.

8. Security Measures: Implementing rigorous measures such as secure entrances, visitor policies, and child pickup procedures ensures children’s safety.

By following this daycare business plan template above, you’ll be well on your way to setting up a profitable daycare that provides top-quality care for children. Thorough research, careful planning, and attention to detail are the keys to a successful child care business.

Wrapping Up Our Daycare Centre Business Plan Template

In conclusion, this business plan template provides a comprehensive framework to guide you in crafting a business plan for a daycare centre. It covers essential areas like executive summary, services offered, business model, market and industry analysis, financial plans, and more.

By following the structure and accompanying examples, you will understand your own daycare business’s unique selling proposition, target market, and competition and define its goals, strategic positioning, and plans for growth and sustainability.

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How to Write a Business Plan for Daycare and Preschool

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• Running a business

Writing a daycare or preschool business plan is a big task, but due diligence and hard work will help you understand what you’ll need to launch and run a daycare or preschool successfully.

What do daycare investors want?

Your local government will have rules and regulations you’ll need to follow as a small business owner and childcare provider. Start by reviewing the childcare licensing guidelines for your state and city. Once you’re clear on licensing guidelines, you’re ready to start writing your childcare business plan.

The purpose of a business plan is to help secure funding. You’ll likely need financing to launch your preschool or daycare, especially if you want to avoid the monthly repayment of a loan. 

Investors provide businesses with money in exchange for partial ownership. As a result, they expect a larger return on their initial investment. Because many investors work in business, they prefer to invest in an established company.

Most investors look for:

Industry background and experience

Financial performance and promise.

Investors want to make money. Therefore, they are more inclined to work with experienced entrepreneurs and business owners to guarantee a return on their investment. 

This might sound discouraging for those with little experience or without a business management background, but the opportunity doesn’t end there. You could consider bringing on a partner with a business background. Additionally, many investors act as a source of business advice. 

You need to demonstrate that your business will make money. Investors will likely want to see signs of business growth before they give you money. 

Additionally, investors will want to know about your financial stability. Questions an investor might ask are:

• What do you plan to do with the money?
• Has your business been up or down in recent years?
• Is your company losing money? Are there signs of growth for the future?
• How do you plan to repay your investment?

Of course, every investor is different, so they’ll consider various factors. While experience and financial promise are at the top of the list for most investors, they might also look for uniqueness, business readiness, an effective business model, and more.

Writing a daycare business plan

We’ve discussed licensing and investors. Now, you’re ready to begin the framework of your business plan for daycares and preschools. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:

Business description

Needs assessment, insurance policies, operating policies and procedures, marketing strategy.

Start with the basics: what does your daycare do? Detailing the service you’re offering will help you create a clear business plan. Next, you might want to write some goals or even a mission statement outlining your purpose and motivation.

Start by looking at general daycare or preschool industry trends, then narrow your scope to the preschools or daycares in your local area. Next, you’ll need to figure out who your target customers are and confirm that there is a need for a business like yours in your community. 

Are there a lot of young families in your neighborhood? Are you located somewhere convenient for commuting parents? Does your business offer a specific service that your competitors don’t, like early check-in or extended hours? 

Also, check out the competition. Research the existing daycare or preschool options in your community. Look at current preschool or daycare business plan samples. What makes your daycare or preschool unique? 

Developing detailed budgets will help you run your small business. You’ll need to compare your current cash flow and expenditures to determine whether you’ll make a profit.

Build a budget for unexpected costs. For example, how many children do you need to serve to be able to pay your bills and stay afloat? Child Care Aware of America offers some terrific budgeting resources for this process.

Depending on the type and size of your preschool, you’ll need insurance policies of several different types, including liability, property, workers’ compensation, and business insurance. Check the licensing requirements for guidance in building this part of your preschool business plan.

Create a comprehensive handbook for families and staff that includes you center's policies and procedures. For instance, you'll need to develop an emergency plan , daycare sick policy , and other safety protocols according to your local childcare licensing requirements. 

Your staff handbook will be a helpful resource your employees can reference and include all your employment policies including work and pay schedules, benefits, and information about professional growth and development. You can also include information on your center's philosophy and curriculum, classroom procedures, and expectations for working with children and families.

Your marketing strategy is the key to attracting customers. Decide what type of advertising you will use in front of potential customers. For example, list your school in local directories and participate in parenting and kid-friendly community events. Run a social media campaign focusing on your target population.

Another big part of childcare business marketing is differentiating yourself from other preschools. These days adopting daycare software is a surefire way to attract families with young children. A tool like brightwheel's center management feature will streamline your center's admission process, record keeping, and reporting, saving you up to 20 hours per month. 

You can also use brightwheel for recording and tracking daily events and activities, and sending real-time updates to families throughout the day. It also offers secure, digital check-in/check-out and a paperless billing system. This is a great way to keep your families looped in on daily activities and handle all of your administrative tasks in one place.

Your business is ready!

Writing a business plan can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Once you secure the proper licensing, use the information in this article to guide you through creating a solid daycare business plan that drives investors and financing to your business.

These are just the basics to get you started. For further information, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website has detailed instructions on creating each necessary part of a successful business plan. 

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The ultimate guide to starting a daycare business.

Why Start a Daycare?

Advantages to starting a daycare, can you start a daycare from home, how much does it cost to start a daycare, 15 steps to starting a daycare center, resources for daycare owners, bottom line.

Since most parents work outside the home, most preschool aged children receive some form of child care. While many are cared for by nannies, babysitters or other family members, nearly one-quarter (23.4%) of children under age five attend an organized daycare center. 

This presents a world of opportunity for those looking to take the next step and start a child care business of their own. Starting a daycare center can be both personally fulfilling and financially rewarding.

Do you want to open your own daycare center in the U.S.? Follow along with this guide as we reveal the step-by-step process for opening a successful child care business. 

Opening a daycare can be intimidating, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. While there is no blueprint for success, many child care business owners find joy in the journey. So whether it’s your passion for kids or desire to serve parents in your community, there are many valid reasons to open a daycare. 

What’s important is that you also need to consider your own unique reasons for wanting to open a daycare, as these reasons will then motivate you to follow through on your dream. Even though you will face obstacles along the way, the payoff of opening a daycare is certainly worth the struggles.

Starting your own daycare business can be advantageous on multiple levels. For one, you’ll have the personal satisfaction of starting your own care center from scratch. Then, there’s the joy of spending time with children and learning life-changing lessons along the way.

If you’re still on the fence about starting your own daycare, consider these likely advantages:

• Emotionally rewarding: Working with kids teaches you to be patient and enjoy the simple things in life. You’ll also have the flexibility of having your own business versus being confined to a traditional day job.
• Financial freedom: By opening a daycare, you’re in control of your income rather than reliant on a typical paycheck. You can maximize your earning potential and make investments back into your own business.
• Personal child care: If you have your own child, you can care for them while you’re running your daycare. This will save you money and give your offspring opportunities to make friends with other kids. 
• Continued education: Opening a daycare can open the door to new opportunities in the field of child care. You may be presented with another job position or choose to pursue additional education of your own accord. 
• Extra money: Rather than stay home and care for your own children for free (assuming the original plan was to be a stay-at-home parent), why not make some extra money by caring for other children at the same time? 
• Tax deductions: As a business owner, you can write of certain expenses as business expenses, saving you money on your taxes. These expenses can include a portion of your housing payment (if you have an in-home daycare), your cell phone bill, your vehicle, child care supplies and more. See Tax Deductions . 

These are just a few of the many advantages of starting your own daycare center. Now let’s address some common questions you may have about being a daycare business owner. 

Yes, starting a care center from your home is an option and may even be the more affordable option. This is because there are different options at the local, state and federal level that provide grants and funding to in-home daycare centers.

If you already have the space to run a child care business out of your home, it’s worth looking into Small Business Administration (SBA) loans to help you fund your endeavor. Remember, at the end of the day, you may be eligible for tax cuts and other benefits.

According to small business website bizfluent.com , the average startup cost for a daycare center is $10,000 to $50,000. This can vary widely depending on whether you’re opening a home-based daycare or leasing a separate facility for your care center. 

If you don’t have $10,000+ in your bank account, don’t worry. There are many grants and loans available to child care businesses. In fact, some local businesses will offer financial incentives to support budding child care centers. Consider reaching out to your community for support.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff: how to start your own daycare business from start to finish!

Starting a small business in general is always a journey. While we’ve outlined a few steps to getting your business up and running, know that there is no one “right” way to achieve success. You’ll learn many lessons along the way and are likely to pave your own path.

That said, here are 15 steps to starting your daycare center, even if you have zero experience.

1. Learn About Daycare Licensing Requirements

You might have started off as a babysitter or a nanny, but in order to start a full-on daycare business, you need to meet the proper licensing requirements in order to be legal . That way, your daycare will be legitimate and you won’t run into any legal trouble accepting children into your care. 

A good first step is to contact your state’s Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to learn about their specific regulations for child care providers. Another option is your local area’s child care licensing agency. You can usually find this information online. 

To obtain a license to start a daycare center, you’ll also need a current CPR certification, a clean driving record and additional documents that prove your commitment to providing quality child care. Don’t be afraid to ask your local agency questions to ensure you’re satisfying all requirements.

2. Consider Taking Early Childhood Education Classes

While you don’t need to have professional child care experience to start a daycare business, having some understanding of early childhood development is strongly encouraged. You’ll be caring for young lives, so you need to know how to provide the right kind of support and care.

Getting a degree is early childhood education is a good place to start. You can typically find classes in-person at your local community college or online. Through this degree, you’ll gain a greater understanding of how children think and behave, and what they need in order to be properly cared for. 

Beyond that, you’ll have the skills to set your business apart from your competition. You’ll be better prepared to offer the services parents are looking for and keep them coming back time and time again.

3. Create a Daycare Business Plan

In starting any type of small business, it helps to have a business plan. Having a business plan helps you set tangible goals for your business, organize your business structure, outline your services and so much more.

In your daycare business plan, you’ll define your daycare’s mission statement, operations and procedures, staffing and budget. This business plan works to keep you on track and striving toward success. 

Consider how you want your business to be organized for you plan. Will you be solo or hire staff? How will you secure funding? Will you offer services beyond child care (like tutoring)? For help in creating your business plan, check out this detailed guide from the U.S. Small Business Association .

4. Find a Location for Your Daycare

If you plan on running your daycare out of your home, this step should be pretty straightforward. If not, you’ll need to find a location for your child care facility.

Many recreational centers, churches, local businesses and even schools have space available to host a daycare, typically for a monthly fee. Search online, in your local newspaper and within your network to find options in your area. 

Once you’ve found a good fit, you need to check your city’s zoning laws and licensing guidelines to make sure your chosen location is compliant. That way you can avoid some legal headaches down the road. 

Ideally, you’ll need to find a location that’s centrally located, easily accessible and child-friendly. Consider what children and their parents will be looking for in a child care center. You might not find the perfect option, but you can make it work with a little TLC.

5. Get Insurance

Most daycare centers need several types of insurance in order to keep children (and their businesses) protected. These policies typically include liability coverage, property, workers’ compensation and business insurance.

Not sure what type of insurance you need? You can always check with your local child care provider licensing office for guidance.

6. Seek Out Grants and Funding

As we covered already, there are certainly costs associated with starting a daycare. If you don’t have the money you need to cover your initial startup costs, you’ll need to get creative when it comes to acquiring funding.

There are many grants available to help you cover your startup costs. You might also consider taking out an SBA loan or doing community fundraising. Know that the goal is to use these funds as an investment that will yield profitable returns in your business.

Costs Associated with Starting a Daycare

There are several things you’ll need to buy or lease in order to get your business up and running for day one. These expenses include but are not limited to:

• Renting a daycare space
• Indoor and outdoor play equipment
• Art supplies
• Cleaning supplies
• Child care supplies (like diapers and wipes)
• Business laptop
• Licensing fees
• Food (for snacks/meals)
• Bottles, cups, plates, utensils, etc.
• Car or reliable transportation (optional)

You might think of some additional items you’d like to have at your daycare. Over time, you can use the revenue coming in to help cover these expenses and invest in better equipment/supplies. It’s OK to keep things simple and then scale your way up. 

7. Prepare Your Daycare Center

Once you have a location secured and the proper materials and equipment in place, it’s time to prepare your daycare center.

First, clean your facility and sanitize with an effective disinfectant. Then, take the needed steps to childproof your daycare according to the ages of the children you will be caring for. Follow this childproofing checklist for help.

Finally, set up play equipment and lay out toys. You might decide to use storage boxes to keep everything organized. You can always rearrange your layout according to your needs.

Is your daycare ready for service? Give it another once-over and you’re ready to open your doors for day one of business!

8. Draft up a Contract

As a small business owner, having a contract is always a good idea. The parents that come to your facility are essentially your clients, and you want to have a solid contract in place to protect yourself from any legal issues.

We recommend seeking out a trusted contract lawyer to draft up a contract according to your needs and unique business requirements. Your contract will then be used to outline your expectations for your clients and their children.

Here are some important questions to consider when creating your contract:

• How do you expect to be paid?
• How will you handle late payments?
• What time should parents pick up their children?
• Are there consequences for late pick up?
• What services will you provide?
• What is your policy when it comes to sick children?
• Do you offer refunds? If so, under what conditions?
• What happens if a child is injured at your facility?

Whether you seek help from an attorney or write the contract yourself, you should have a contract in place before accepting business. Once signed, you can then send professional daycare invoices to get paid by your clients. 

9. Establish Policies and Procedures

Establish policies and procedures for the families that attend your daycare and your staff. These procedures may include an emergency plan, safety procedures, privacy protocols and rules for your facility.

Having these procedures in place will help you keep the children safe and protect yourself from liability (in some instances). In establishing your policies, be sure to review your local child care licensing requirements to ensure compliance. 

10. Research Possible Tax Credits

If you’re opening an in-home daycare, you may be eligible for certain tax reductions based on the fact that you’re using your residence for business purposes. This means you can essentially write off a portion of your housing cost. This can be the case even if your daycare space serves as a family room after hours. 

11. Hire Staff as Needed

When you’re first getting started, you may just be a company of one, as you might want to save the cost of hiring unnecessary help. But over time, you may need to hire help to take care of the kids during the day.

This is especially true if you find yourself running up against the required ratio of staff to children, as outlined in your local daycare licensing requirements. Be sure to review these to make sure you have enough staff for the number of children you plan on caring for.

Also, make sure all child care staff undergo criminal background checks and provide references to ensure the safety of the children. Make your hiring decisions carefully to keep your facility safe and maintain a stellar reputation.

12. Market Your Daycare

You have your daycare set up and open for business, now how do you get families in the door? As with any small business, you’ll need to market yourself to attract potential clients.

There are many ways to market your daycare. One method is to create flyers and post them around your local community—at businesses, schools and coffee shops. You can also run paid ads on Google or Facebook to draw in families from your local area.

To establish your daycare as a professional business, consider building a website that provides more information about your services. A basic website can cost anywhere from $10 for a WordPress template and set up, to $2,000 or more for a custom design.

With a website, you can then use search engine optimization (SEO) to attract organic traffic from Google. That way, when families search for a daycare near them, your business is likely to show up in the search results.

13. Promote Your Daycare on Social Media

Another effective marketing tool for daycare centers is social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn can be used to promote your business and draw in potential clients.

Create a business Facebook page to post more information about your daycare, collect client testimonials and keep families up-to-date with events at your daycare. You can also post on Instagram and LinkedIn, with targeted hashtags, to attract families in your area.

As your business grows, you might decide to invest in paid marketing services. A digital marketing agency or consultant can help you increase your business’s presence online, outrank your local competitors and attract new clients. 

14. Provide Top-Quality Care

The success of your daycare depends on you providing top-quality care to your families. If the kids at your facility are properly cared for, and, even better, enjoy coming to your daycare, you’re likely to attract more referral business.

Positive reviews can work wonders to attract new clients. Ask families to review your business on Facebook, Google, Yelp and other review sites to improve your daycare’s reputation in your community.

Always look for ways to improve your daycare. Ask families for feedback, invest in additional education and hire fantastic staff to make your daycare the obvious choice for families in your area. 

15. Manage Your Business Finances

Many small businesses fail due to poor money management. If you want your business to succeed, you’ll need at least a basic understanding of business accounting and how to manage your expenses.

Staying on top of your business finances is more than just tracking revenue in and expenses out. You’ll need to plan for taxes—typically around 30% of your revenue, after expenses—and make informed decisions when it comes to how you’re going to allocate your funds.

Professional daycare accounting software can help you send invoices, track revenue, manage expenses and more. It can even send reminders to parents for late payment and accept credit card payments with ease.

The more you know, the easier it will be to make smart financial decisions. Stay on top of your business finances so your business is not only surviving but thriving . 

Congratulations on taking the first step to starting your own daycare business—reading this guide! By now you have a general blueprint for how to start your own business and get up and running. 

Need more help getting started? Check out these reliable resources for aspiring daycare business owners:

• Child Care Aware of America: licensing guidelines for child care and daycare providers
• United States Department of Health and Human Services: childproofing checklist
• Early Childhood Training and Technical Assistance System (ECTTAS): child care resource guide
• Office of Child Care: list of state licensing agencies
• Child Care Resources Inc.: early educator training

Starting a daycare business can be challenging but also incredibly rewarding. The process is made easier by having a general roadmap for how to get started. Hopefully, this guide has provided some guidance on how to get started, plus inspiration for you to finally launch a business of your own.

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How to Start a Daycare: The Essential Guide

June 1, 2023

As the demand for quality child care continues to rise, starting a daycare can be a lucrative and fulfilling business venture. However, navigating the complex regulations and requirements can be daunting for many aspiring business owners.

From obtaining the necessary licenses and permits to designing a safe and stimulating environment for young children, there are many considerations to remember. However, with careful planning and preparation, starting a daycare can be a rewarding opportunity to provide an essential service to families in your community.

In this article, we will explore the key steps you need to take to start and run a daycare center successfully.

Why Start a Daycare?

Starting a daycare can be a fulfilling and rewarding career choice for individuals who are passionate about children. Not only does it provide a valuable service to families, but it also allows for the opportunity to impact young children's lives positively.

By creating a safe and welcoming environment, child care providers can help children develop social, cognitive, and emotional skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Additionally, starting a daycare can offer the flexibility to work from home and set your schedule, providing an ideal work-life balance for those needing it.

It may be the perfect choice for those passionate about children and seeking a fulfilling career path.

14 Steps to Start a Daycare Center

1. name your daycare.

Choosing a name for your daycare center may seem small, but it's crucial to start your own business. Your daycare's name will be the first impression for parents and children and the foundation upon which you build your brand.

It should be easy to remember, unique, and reflective of your business values. Think about what image you want to project and what services you plan to offer.

You can choose a name that reflects your values or the family services you offer. Alternatively, you can select something playful and fun that appeals to the children attending.

Your name should differentiate you from other daycare centers in your area and be easily searchable online. So get creative and have fun with it! After all, your daycare's name is the first step towards creating a successful and beloved business.

2. Create a Business Plan

One of the crucial steps is creating a business plan. This plan serves as a roadmap for your business and helps you stay focused.

For a daycare business, your business plan includes important details such as your mission statement, operations and procedures, staffing plan, budget, and more. A well-written daycare business plan sets achievable objectives and predicts potential challenges you may encounter.

It also helps you secure funding from investors or lenders by outlining your business goals and expected financial performance. Creating a robust child care center business plan is essential to your future entrepreneurial success.

3. Secure Funding

For most aspiring daycare owners, securing sufficient funding is a critical step in the process. You will likely need to apply for a business loan or other financing option.

The amount you'll need depends on the scope and complexity of your project. Factors such as purchasing supplies, renovating a space, and hiring staff will all contribute to your start-up costs.

It's important to accurately estimate the cost of starting a daycare to create a realistic budget for yourself and potential lenders. In addition, conducting thorough market research and solid business plans will increase your chances of approval when applying for financing.

You should open a separate business bank account and obtain a business credit card to separate your personal and business expenses.

4. Obtain Licenses and Permits

Researching and understanding the licensing requirements in your state and local area is essential. Each state has unique regulations, so it's important to familiarize yourself with them before starting your business.

Some states require a license from the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, you may sometimes need additional permits, such as a building or food service permit, if you offer meals. You may also need other certifications and credentials related to childcare, such as being CPR-certified or having specialized training in early childhood education.

Ensure you understand all of the legal requirements before you begin operations to stay compliant and keep your business running smoothly.

5. Find an Ideal Location

Finding a suitable location is one of the most important steps in starting your daycare business. You'll need to consider accessibility, affordability, and local regulations.

In some cases, you may decide to rent or purchase an existing building for your daycare. Alternatively, you could also convert a space in your home into a child care facility. Whatever your decision, ensure the space is conducive to childcare and meets all safety requirements.

With careful planning and preparation, you can open a successful daycare business that will serve the community and provide you with financial security.

6. Design the Space

When it comes to starting a daycare, one of the most important aspects to consider is the design and layout of the space. You want to create an environment that is both safe for children and conducive to learning and play.

Start by evaluating your available space and determining how it can be best utilized. Consider factors such as lighting, storage, and furniture and equipment placement.

Creating specific areas for different activities, such as reading, arts and crafts, and nap time. By carefully designing your daycare space, you'll create an environment that children will love, and parents will feel confident sending their little ones to.

7. Hire Qualified Staff

Starting a daycare is a big responsibility. After all, you will be taking care of other people's children! One of the most important steps you need to take is to hire qualified staff.

The teachers and caregivers you hire will be the ones who make a lasting impression on the children in your care. Therefore, it's important to find individuals who are experienced in working with young children and passionate about it.

They should have a strong educational background in early childhood education and the necessary certifications and credentials. Additionally, consider hiring bilingual staff members who can cater to the needs of families in your community who speak different languages.

Investing in this crucial step ensures that your daycare will be staffed with talented and caring professionals who will nurture the children in your care.

8. Set Fees & Policies

Setting fees and policies is essential when starting a daycare, as it sets the expectations for parents and caregivers. Researching and analyzing the market rate for daycare services in your area is vital, as it will help you determine reasonable prices for your services.

Additionally, it is essential to establish clear policies on late pickups, sick children, and other related issues that may arise. To prevent misunderstandings and confusion, these policies must be communicated effectively to parents and caregivers.

Working with a legal counselor to ensure that all policies align with legal requirements and regulations is a good idea. By establishing clear fees and policies, you set expectations with your customers and help guarantee a smooth operation.

9. Market Your Daycare Services

An effective marketing plan can help attract new customers, build relationships with existing ones, and grow your business.

Start by creating a website for your daycare that showcases its features and services. Additionally, explore other marketing options such as networking in the community, participating in local events and festivals, and using social media.

By taking the time to market your daycare business effectively, you will be able to attract more customers and ultimately grow your business.

10. Stay Compliant with Regulations

Child care is heavily regulated, and knowing the licenses, permits, and insurance you must acquire before opening your doors to children is important. Additionally, you must follow state and local regulations for staff-to-child ratios or face potential fines or shutdowns.

Staying compliant may seem complicated, but ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in your care is essential. Therefore, knowing the rules when running a daycare is important. This will help you keep your daycare safe for the children. It will also help you stay out of trouble with the law.

11. Develop a Curriculum that Encourages Creativity and Learning

Young children learn best through play, so provide opportunities for open-ended exploration and group activities that encourage imagination and critical thinking. Your curriculum should be age-appropriate and designed to foster the growth and development of each child.

12. Foster Strong Relationships with Parents

Building strong relationships with parents can make a big difference. You want to create a sense of trust and confidence, and open communication is the key.

You can establish a strong connection with your daycare families by setting up meetings with parents, providing daily progress reports, and scheduling regular check-ins. Building relationships with parents helps put their minds at ease about leaving their children in your care. It can also lead to positive reviews and recommendations that can help grow your business.

Remember, a little effort toward fostering strong relationships goes a long way in the daycare industry.

13. Get Insurance

Insurance is an important investment when starting a daycare business. Accidents and injuries can occur, so having the right insurance coverage in place is essential to protect your business.

Look into different kinds of insurance for your business. Find one that works for you and your needs. Ensure you know what is covered and how much you must pay if something goes wrong.

14. Invest in childcare software

Investing in the right childcare software can make a daycare business run more smoothly and efficiently. Look for an all-in-one solution that can help with billing, attendance tracking, payroll management, parent communication, etc.

This software can save time and money while making it easier to manage your daycare business.

Benefits of Starting a Daycare

Starting a daycare business can be a rewarding experience. You can work with children and help families in your community. Additionally, you will build customer relationships, develop creative curriculum plans, and enjoy the flexibility of running your own childcare business. Here are other advantages to starting a daycare:

Low startup and running costs

Growing industry that continues to expand

Flexible hours

Enjoyable work environment

Emotionally rewarding

Achieve financial freedom

Tax deductions

Personal Childcare(provide care for your own children)

Get extra money

How Much Does It Cost to Start a Daycare?

Are you considering starting your daycare center and wondering about the financial obligation? It's essential to understand the costs before you dive into the venture.

The average cost to start and run a daycare center is around $50,000, although the range can be as low as $10,000 or as high as $100,000, depending on several factors. Therefore, it's important to consider aspects like location, size, the number of children, and staff when determining the costs.

The start-up costs may be less if you plan to go to an in-home daycare center. However, medium to large-sized centers can cost upwards of $50,000, while the most extensive daycare centers can cost over $100,000. Knowing these financial obligations and business expenses beforehand can help you make informed decisions about your daycare center.

Final Thoughts

Starting a daycare business can be rewarding and profitable. However, to ensure your success, it's important to understand the steps involved in starting a daycare center, from creating policies and guidelines to getting insurance, marketing your services, and managing staff.

By following these tips on how to start a daycare center, you'll be well on your way to running a successful and profitable daycare business. Check out Simplified Daycares for play equipment and supplies to make your daycare center even more fun for kids.

Good luck in your journey to starting a successful child care business!

Copyright © 2022 Simplified Playgrounds. All rights reserved.

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How to Write a Business Plan for a Daycare Center

Sholom Strick

13 min. read

Updated February 7, 2024

Free Download:  Sample Daycare Business Plan Templates

Working out a business plan for your daycare center can be a challenge. There are many expenses you must calculate—more than you’d think! Projected enrollment growth and market demand can also be tricky to estimate.

From knowing your competition to picking the right place to establish your daycare center, there are a lot of lessons to be learned. As someone who owns eight successful daycares in the Chicago area, I know the strategies and approaches that work when it comes to developing a sound business plan for a daycare center.

A business plan should look about three to five years into the future. It serves as a cornerstone of your vision as you move forward. You want to put a lot of thought and solid analysis into your daycare center business plan, because it will more than pay off in the end.

• What makes your daycare center unique?

First of all, start with a description of your daycare center. You want to review all the different components of your business model. This description should basically be an elevator pitch for potential partners and business investors to get excited about what you’re offering and your unique location, philosophy, and approach.

What’s your curriculum based on? What criteria will you use in hiring staff? Write about the market and how you’re fulfilling demand. Write down particular statistics and characteristics of the neighborhood where you’ll locate your daycare center that make your center uniquely promising. Real estate sites like Loopnet and Zillow often provide helpful demographic analyses of neighborhoods; the most in-depth info is usually on commercial properties. For example, if the area around your future daycare center has 3,000 kids under five-years-old and only two daycare centers serving them, you’re in good shape.

In writing your company description, make sure to pay special attention to what sets you apart. Maybe it’s your prime location, your previous experience starting or helping start a daycare center, connections with top-notch staff willing to work for your daycare center, or other unique tools or services you can offer that distinguish you from your competition.

• Do a focused market analysis

Next up is a market analysis . Study statistics of the childcare industry: how big is it? How much do economists and experts project that it will grow in the next five years?

How big is your target market?

For detailed information on the size of your primary market, there are helpful resources such as this market research guide from the US Small Business Administration .

Who is your target market ? Describe who you’re targeting. Using some of the information from real estate websites can be a good approach, like I mentioned above. For example, is the median age of your daycare center’s neighborhood quite young or more elderly? Are you in a bedroom community of a nearby city? Note down how your daycare is going to help these different kinds of parents.

Also, keep in mind other factors: Are you in an area with large amounts of seasonal work where the workforce and population shrinks during winter or grows massively during summer? Like it or not, this will likely affect your revenue and enrollment, especially if you are offering part-time care.

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• What is your business model?

In addition to analyzing your market, note your pricing structure, gross margin levels, and other nuts and bolts of your business model. Will you offer discounts, or accept government-subsidized or reduced payments from lower-income parents? What employee childcare discount will you offer?

For detailed information on the size of your primary market, there are helpful resources, such as this guide from IBISWorld . This insightful article from Forbes is also a good resource, and notes that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects daycare to be one of the fastest growing industries in the next few years.

• Location and rental agreements

Pay special attention to the obvious: What is the square-foot-per-child requirement in your town, city, and state, and what is the price-per-square-foot of the daycare center you plan to lease? These two facts are absolutely key to putting together a solid business plan. You will generally need more square-feet-per-kid the younger they are (i.e. toddlers get more square feet than preschoolers).

Pro tip: things like the arc of a door’s inward swing and required sinks will eat up square footage, so take them into account. Always leave at least 10 percent breathing room when calculating required square footage for the classroom sizes you want.

Also, aim for using at least 60 percent to 80 percent of your daycare center on classroom size. Other square footage will be used for office space, hallways, required sinks, foyer, and so on, but you want to be using at least 60 percent for classrooms because that’s where you make your money.

Let’s use the example that you need 35-square-feet for every kid in a classroom up to a max classroom size of 20. That means you need a classroom of at least 700-square-feet (20 multiplied by 35). However, as I mentioned above, you want to leave breathing room of between 20 percent to 40 percent (for things like door swing radius, required baby changing tables, required sinks, future building modifications) so you should actually have a room that’s bigger than 700-square-feet.

In noting the lease information on your business plan, aim to negotiate free months of rent with your landlord. Opening a new daycare takes a long time for construction build-outs, permits, licensing and many other factors—sometimes up to a year. Explain this to the landlord. They want a tenant and commitment. Consider agreeing to a longer lease in return for a few months free or a landlord investment in build-outs.

Alternately, the landlord may agree to defer rent in return for a larger security deposit or added monthly payments. Asking for free months shows you’re a competent negotiator who takes his business seriously and has a long-term profit goal in mind.

Another thing to watch out for with monthly rent is all the added costs. Say your price is $20 per square-foot and your building is 5,000 square-feet. This adds up to $100,000. Divide that by 12 to get your monthly rent: $8,333. Make sure to find out if it is a gross or net rate.

Gross includes everything, but net doesn’t include the following:

• Property taxes
• Landlord insurance
• Common area maintenance fees
• Various other charges

Other questions to answer

How many kids are in your daycare center’s neighborhood and how many daycare centers already exist to serve them?

Take an average daycare center in a city that has, say, 100 kids enrolled. If you’re in a neighborhood that has 2,000 kids you still have room for a few daycare centers to serve demand, assuming around 10 percent to 20 percent of parents will enroll their kids in daycare.

There’s a pretty high demand for good childcare in the United States right now and many other countries. Whether you’re urban or rural the chances are you’ll be in demand—but you should still crunch the numbers before the contractors start working.

• Who are your competitors?

How much market share do they have? What makes them strong and what are their weak points? Are there some more general impediments that could get in the way of flourishing, such as increasingly burdensome regulations in your state, or a lack of reasonably-priced leases to choose from?

There are a lot of regulatory requirements in the childcare industry (a lot!), so keep these all in mind when calculating the costs. There’s so much to keep track of!

Things to keep in mind:

• Understanding your building’s zoning details
• Organizing utilities and garbage pickup
• Having the required playground
• Cribs (for infant room)
• Meeting daylight requirements in each classroom
• Two points of exit from the center
• Up-to-code kitchen with three-compartment sink and grease trap
• Fire alarm system hooked up to a central box
• Buzz-in security system
• Parking requirements
• Maintenance and repair fees

You’ll work with a daycare licensing representative from your town or city from the beginning of the process. They will help guide you through the regulatory process (you have to follow both city or town and state regulations), but it is still entirely your responsibility to keep track of all the costs that regulations and requirements.

• Who will run your daycare center?

Next, you want to list organization and management of your daycare center. Who’s the director and assistant director? What are the details of your ownership structure, board of directors, investor list, partners, and so on?

Write down the responsibilities and roles of everyone on your team. List an advisory board if you have one, list all employee salaries, incentives, referral bonuses for recruiting, and all such details. Also in this part of your business plan, you want to be clear about the legal structure of your business in terms of incorporation, type of partnership (I recommend a passive partnership) and other such information.

All percentages of ownership, investor details, stock details, and so on should be listed. Profiles of staff, directors, investors, and board members should include everything from past track record to education and unique skills.

What’s your marketing plan?

Following your organizational details, you should describe your marketing plan. Budget-friendly marketing strategies are the name of the game here.

Reach your target market

There’s no one way to do this, but I recommend thinking specifically about who your customer base is and marketing accordingly. In my case, I had great success with a marketing campaign where I put ads on the baby seat of grocery carts at a grocery store close to my daycare center.

Be specific

Know your target audience and what they’re looking for, and then show them that you fill that need.

Your marketing strategy should look at how to explain the unique strengths of your daycare center, how you’re going to grow, what staff, if any, you’re going to hire in marketing roles, and what methods you will use, from online ads to brochures and billboards. Having a solid marketing plan will help you get clear on your sales strategy.

Have a plan for funding

Finding funding is another area you’ll want to pay attention to when you’re crafting your daycare center’s business plan.

A funding request should list:

• How much you need now and in the coming three to five years
• What the money will be used for
• Any perks such as free months of rent you negotiated with a landlord that show the viability of your model
• Future potential situations such as a buyout, selling the business, and so on

Your financial projections should include forecasted income, expected enrollment growth, balance sheets, cash flow statements and projected/needed capital expenditures.

Projected costs

Keep in mind that as enrollment goes up you will need more staff as well, in order to meet required student-to-teacher ratios. You’ll also need more food and supplies when you have more kids enrolled.

Financial projections need to factor in many things including:

• Registration fees
• Wait-list fees
• Construction cost
• Staff appreciation day costs
• Software costs
• Supply costs
• Training costs
• Utilities costs
• Marketing costs
• Bank service charges
• Monthly nurse consultant costs
• Interior daycare supplies from clocks to filing cabinets to computers
• Accountant and legal costs

When you first start a daycare, you’re going to be in the red. It costs a lot to start a daycare, and it takes time to get going, as I mentioned. This is normal. You should see profits start kicking in after an initial period of six to 12 months of operation.

Capital costs

In terms of capital expenditures, the list is long, from monthly rent and utilities to staffing, construction, repair and supply costs as mentioned above. Digging deeper in these categories reveals even more items. Infants need everything from towels and cubbies to cribs and toys. Preschoolers need crayons, games, tiny chairs, craft supplies, and much more. List everything you can think of and then add more estimated cost.

For construction, you need to calculate the cost of:

• HVAC systems and ductwork
• Baseboards and finishing work
• Interior doors
• Buzzer system

Get a contractor and tradesperson or two to quote you on the job so you have an idea what it will cost. Don’t forget to factor in architectural fees and the cost of heating, electric, and utilities for the months the daycare is empty of students but contractors are working on it.

Securing loans

To get a bank loan for a new daycare center you’ll have to base a loan off the income of another business you own. That said, loans through the SBA can be standalone based on the viability of your business plan, so I recommend looking into them. If you buy a business, an SBA loan can also be a possibility.

For example, if you pay $500,000 for someone’s existing daycare and are required to put a typical 20 percent down ($100,000), you can cover the rest with an SBA loan. You’ll need to show a solid business plan and have good credit, but an SBA loan has the advantage of not drawing on your other sources of income as collateral.

Funding from investors

Another funding source, of course, is to drum up investors. Some people turn to family, friends, or colleagues. I would recommend keeping it strictly business and avoiding family or friends. If you do go this route, however, have a strong paper record to refer back to if this turn sour down the road.

Business partnerships

In finding a partner you want to ideally find someone who loves your plan but doesn’t have time or interest in being directly involved. This is called a passive partnership, where one partner supplies an investment and the other operates the business.

In terms of a repayment scheme, this will depend on your unique situation. For example, if an investor or investors give me cash up front for my financial projection that my daycare center will be making $200,000 per year after several years, I will repay 50/50, so one investor would get back $100,000 per year once the income target has been reached or if there are two investors they will get back one-third each, and so on.

After you address funding and costs in your business plan, add an appendix with supporting documentation. Keep this on hand for investors to look over.

Your appendix can include:

• Credit history
• Reference letters
• Backup details and sources of your market analysis
• Licenses and permits
• Legal documents
• Copies of lease agreements
• Building permits
• Utilities, maintenance, construction, plumbing, and other contracts
• List of all individuals associated with your daycare such as accountants, lawyers, and consultants
• Write your executive summary

Lastly, write down your executive summary . If you’re starting a daycare center, there’s only so much you can know before you have been in operation for multiple years. However, you can write down a lot about the purpose and strategy of your company, your own background and motivations for starting the daycare center, and your projections of future growth and customer needs.

At the end of the day, if you provide a great service and have a business plan methodically anticipates the needs of customers and kids, you will be a huge success in starting a daycare center!

• Download your daycare sample business plan PDF

Get started right now by downloading  this  daycare center business plan PDF  for free. You can also view other daycare sample business plans , or visit Bplans’ gallery of more than  550 sample business plans  if you’re looking for more options.

Sholom Strick is a daycare owner and the CEO of Hopping In , a free, web-based app that lets parents earn money when their child is absent from daycare. Hopping In is an easy-to-use, innovative tool that makes it simple for parents to book vacant spots on short notice. He is passionate about developing innovative solutions to improve the childcare industry. You can contact him at [email protected].

Table of Contents

• What’s your marketing plan?
• Have a plan for funding

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The Daycare Business Plan Blueprint (Examples + Template)

April 14, 2022

Adam Hoeksema

Starting a daycare business can be a daunting task. There are so many things to think about and plan for. You need to find the perfect location, get the right licenses and permits, hire qualified staff, and, most importantly, create a daycare business plan. 

Creating a daycare business plan is one of the most important steps in starting your business. A well-thought-out business plan will help you get funding, attract investors, and operate your business effectively. 

The bad news is that there is a lot of advice out there on writing a business plan. With so much information and tons of daycare business plan examples to choose from, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. 

The good news is, we've got you covered. In this article, we'll give you a comprehensive guide on how to write a daycare business plan. We will also provide some examples and a free daycare business plan template to get you started. 

But First...Is a Daycare a Good Business to Start? 

Before we talk about how to create a daycare business plan, let's first answer the question: is starting a daycare a good business to get into? 

The answer is a resounding yes! The daycare industry is growing rapidly. It is one of the few businesses that are not only recession-proof but also thrives in uncertain economic times. 

According to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), the demand for child care services has increased by 26% over the last decade. This demand is only expected to grow in the coming years. 

When it comes to profitability, the daycare industry is very attractive. According to IBISWorld , the average profit margin for a daycare business is around 15%. That's higher than the average for most other industries! 

If you're thinking about starting a daycare business, know that you are getting into a very profitable and in-demand industry. Now let's talk about how to write a daycare business plan that will help you start and grow your business successfully.

How to Create a Daycare Business Plan 

A daycare business plan is as simple as a word document with the following sections:

• Business Description
• Market Analysis

Business Model

• Location and Facility
• Marketing Plan
• Financial Plan

Executive Summary

This article will provide context of what to include in each section of your daycare business plan. As you work on writing your business plan, you will want to grab our daycare financial projection template as well in order to complete the financial plan section.

Your daycare business plan should be an elevator pitch in itself. It should be attractive to potential partners and investors. Basically, it should give them a clear idea of your business, where it is located, what services you offer, who your target market is, and how you plan to make money. 

Creating a daycare business plan doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, the cheapest and easiest approach is to simply start with a blank word document and work through each of the above sections, it can be pretty easy. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to create a daycare business plan: 

Create a Compelling Business Description

Your daycare business's unique selling point (USP) should be the first thing you include in your business plan. What is it that makes your daycare center different from all the others? 

This description should be the foundation of your marketing efforts as well.

There are a few questions you should answer in your company description. They include:

What's your Curriculum Based On?

Potential investors, partners, and even customers will be interested in knowing what your curriculum is based on. This will help them understand the environment children will be in a while under your care. 

When describing your curriculum, make sure to include:

• What age ranges do you cater for?
• The type of care you offer (full-time, part-time, drop-in) 
• Your educational philosophy 
• The activities and programs you offer 

For example, if your daycare is unique by offering a Montessori curriculum, you will want to highlight that.  In fact, you can learn more about how to start a Montessori program here . 

How Big is Your Facility? 

The size of your facility will say a lot about the type of operation you're running. Are you a small, home-based daycare or a large center with multiple classrooms? 

This section of your business plan may include: 

• A floor plan of your facility 
• The capacity of your facility 
• The number of employees you have 
• Type of equipment and furniture you have 

Who Is Your Target Market? 

You can't market to everyone, so you must identify your target market. This will help you focus your marketing efforts and ensure that you're reaching the right people. 

Below is a daycare business plan example that shows how your business description should be:

“ABC Daycare is a small, home-based daycare located in San Francisco, CA. We cater to children aged 0-12 years old and offer full-time, part-time, and drop-in care. 

Our curriculum is based on the Reggio Emilia approach, emphasizing hands-on learning and collaboration. Activities and programs include arts and crafts, music, and outdoor play. 

Our facility can accommodate up to 12 children at a time. We have a staff of four employees who are all CPR and First Aid certified. 

Our target market is working parents in the city who need quality child care but can't afford the rates of larger daycare centers.  We've created an affordable subscription-based pricing model for our target market to fulfill the demand. We generate revenue through monthly subscriptions and have low operating costs due to our small size. 

Our suppliers are local businesses that provide us with food, toys, and other supplies.” 

Do a Thorough Market Analysis

After writing a compelling description of your business, you need to do a thorough marketing analysis. This analysis will help you determine your target market, what type of advertising and promotion will work best, and how to price your services. 

You should also research the competition and see what they are doing right and wrong. This information will be invaluable as you create your daycare business plan.

Keep these things in mind when doing a market analysis:

The Size of Your Market

This is determined by the number of potential customers in your area who need or want your services. 

For example, if you live in a small town with only a few thousand people, there may not be enough demand to support a large daycare facility. 

On the other hand, if you live in a city with hundreds of thousands of people, there may be room for multiple daycare facilities. 

Your target market is the segment of the population that is most likely to use your services. This includes factors like age, income, education, and location. 

After you've identified your target market, you need to show how you plan on fulfilling the demand. This is where your business model comes in. 

Your business model is a detailed description of how your daycare will operate daily. It should include: 

• How do you plan on acquiring customers? 
• What are your pricing strategies? 
• How will you generate revenue? 
• What are your operating costs? 
• Who are your suppliers? 

Your business model should be detailed and easy to understand. It should also be realistic and achievable. 

Here is a daycare business plan example of a business model for a small daycare center: 

“The daycare will be open Monday through Friday from six in the morning to six at night. We will offer care for children ages six weeks to twelve years old. 

Our rates will be $50 per week for one child and $40 per week for each additional child from the same family. We will offer a discount of $20 per week for families who enroll their children for an entire year. 

We will generate revenue by charging weekly rates for our services. Our operating costs will include rent, utilities, supplies, and salaries for our employees. Also, we will acquire customers through online advertising and word-of-mouth.” 

As you can see, a business model is a detailed description of how your business will operate. It's essential to have one in place before promoting and selling your services. 

One thing you should not forget to include in your daycare business plan is the location of your business and your rental agreement. If you are renting a space, including the terms of your agreement and how long you have the space. If you are purchasing a property, include information on the property, such as square footage and any special features that will help your business stand out. 

This daycare business plan example shows you how to include this vital information: 

“The daycare will be located at 123 Main Street in a commercial space currently leased by the owner. The lease agreement is for three years with an option to renew for an additional three years. The monthly rent is $2000, and the security deposit is $3000. 

The daycare will have exclusive use of the main floor, including a large open play area, a small kitchen, two bathrooms, and four classrooms. The daycare will also have access to the outdoor playground.

80% of our space will be used for childcare, with the other 20% used for our administrative offices and staff lounge. 

We have chosen this location because it is close to several residential neighborhoods and has easy access to public transportation. The space is also large enough to accommodate our future growth.” 

There are many daycare business plan templates you can use to help you get started. This is a basic outline of what should be included.

Daycare Marketing Plan

Most daycare business plan templates will include a section for your marketing plan. Most people overlook the marketing aspect of their business, but it is one of the most important pieces of your puzzle. 

In your business plan, you need to outline your target market, your marketing strategies, and how you plan on executing those strategies. 

You also need to set aside a budget for your marketing efforts. Many people make the mistake of thinking that they don't need to spend money on marketing, but that couldn't be further from the truth. 

The following daycare business plan example shows you how you should describe your marketing efforts:

"Our target market is working for families with children between six weeks and five years old. We will reach our target market through online and offline marketing efforts. 

Some of the offline marketing strategies we will use include print advertising, flyers, and word-of-mouth referrals. We will use a mix of SEO, content marketing, and social media for online marketing. 

We have set aside a budget of $500 per month for our marketing efforts."

As you can see from the example above, your marketing plan should be clear, concise, and to the point. Don't forget to include a budget!

Daycare Financial Plan

Your business plan should include a financial plan section. This is where you'll lay out how much money you need to start or grow your business. Be specific and include dollar amounts. If you're seeking a loan, including information on how much you're requesting and how you'll use the funds.

You should also include a detailed budget in your business plan. Your budget should include all of your projected income and expenses for at least the first year of operation. Creating a budget will help you get a clear picture of what it will cost to start and operate your business.

This section should include projected costs for:

• Rent or mortgage payments
• Advertising and marketing
• Operating expenses such as utilities, supplies, and more. 

Startup costs are another vital item to include in your business plan. This is the money you need to purchase equipment, furniture, or any other items to get your business up and running.

If you plan to secure a loan, your lender will want to see a detailed business plan with information on how you plan to use the loan funds. Ensure you include this information in your business plan to increase your chances of securing funding.

If you're seeking funding from investors, you'll need to include information on how they will be compensated. This is typically done through equity, a percentage ownership stake in your business. 

For example, if you seek $100,000 in funding and offer a 20% equity stake, the investor will own 20% of your business. 

Make sure you use a daycare business plan template that includes a section on funding to ensure you include all the necessary information. If you’re planning to get a loan or seek investment, you’re going to need full financial projections. Our daycare financial model will provide up to 5 years of projected income statements, cash flow and balance sheet forecasts.

Next I want to answer some key financial questions for you as you consider how to forecast your daycare financials. I am going to hit on:

• Daycare Startup Costs
• Daycare Revenue 
• Daycare Facility Operating Expenses
• Daycare Profitability

Let’s dive into some key questions. 

How much does it cost to start a daycare? 

It costs between $10,000 and $50,000 to start an in-home daycare business according to Bizfluent . 

It costs between $59,000 and $3 million dollars to start a daycare facility according to Bizfluent . 

So obviously this is a huge range in startup costs.  The main thing that will determine your startup costs is your daycare facility.  Depending on how large your daycare is, whether you are buying, building, or leasing the space, and how much renovation needs to be done, your startup costs can vary drastically.  

Some tips to help you estimate a cost of a daycare facility:

• A daycare facility should have 35 square feet of open floor space indoors per child. 
• So if you wanted a facility that could care for 100 children you would need 3,500 square feet of indoor space for children, plus additional space for offices, kitchen, bathrooms, etc.  Let’s assume that you would need at least 5,000 square feet of space for a daycare facility that served 100 children.  
• A daycare center would cost at least $295 per square foot to construct in the U.S. based on data from Levelset . 
• Constructing a new 5,000 square foot daycare center would likely cost at least $1,475,000 based on $295 per square foot.  
• Now you might not be constructing new, rather you might rent an existing facility which could require renovations.  You will need to get a specific quote for the specific renovations that you need for your space. 

How much revenue can a daycare business make?

A daycare facility can generate $17,680 in revenue per year per child according to Zippia .  

A daycare business with 100 children can generate over $1.75 million per year in annual revenue based on our average revenue per child of $17,680. 

How much does daycare cost?

The average cost of daycare is $17,680 per year, per child in the U.S. according to Zippia . 

This means that the average monthly cost of daycare in the U.S. is roughly $1,475.

What is the typical child to staff ratio for a daycare? 

The typical child to staff ratios for a daycare are:

• 1 adult staff for every 4 infants (age 0 to 12 months)
• 1 adult staff for every 6 toddlers (age 1 to 3 years)
• 1 adult staff for every 10 pre schoolers (age 3 to 5 years)
• 1 adult staff for every 12 school aged children (5+ years old)

Source - Childcare.gov

These ratios will help you estimate how many staff members you will need.  Our financial projection template makes this easy.  Just enter in your ratios and the number of children you expect to have in each age group and the model will automatically calculate the number of staff required to maintain your ratios.  See the input daycare staffing table below:

What are the typical operating costs for a daycare? 

Your largest operating expense for a daycare facility is likely to be your rent. 

It should cost between $20 and $30 per square foot to rent a daycare center space based on available spaces on Loopnet . 

Other operating costs for a daycare center include:

You can see how you can enter in your operating costs into our financial model below:

How much profit can a daycare make? 

The average daycare profit margin is 6.5% according to Daycare Business Boss . 

Once you complete your projections you will want to take a look at our At a Glance tab to make sure that your projected profit margins aren’t way out of line with the industry norms.  You can find projected profit margins for your daycare below:

This is an important aspect that you may not find in most daycare business plan templates, but it's still essential. An appendix includes any additional information to help you understand your business plan. This might include things like your:

• Business licenses 
• Insurance policy 
• Lease agreement 
• Sample contracts 
• Staff bios 

This section adds credibility to your daycare business plan and shows that you've done your homework. Including all of the necessary details in your appendix will give investors peace of mind and show that you're serious about starting a daycare center.

An executive summary is a brief overview of your business plan and is often considered the most important section. It should be two pages long, with a clear description of your business, your goals, and why you will achieve them.

There are several key elements to include in your executive summary:

• Business Name: This is the name you have chosen for your business.
• Location: Include the city, state, and country where your business will be located.
• Business description: Describe what type of business you will be operating.
• Target market : This is the group of people you will be targeting as customers.
• Competition: Who are your competitors, and how will you compete with them?
• Product or service : What product or service will you be offering?
• Sales and marketing: How will you generate sales?
• Financials: Include a five-year income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
• Management team: Introduce your management team and their experience.
• Exit strategy : This is the plan for how you will eventually sell or otherwise exit the business in case you decide to retire or move on to other projects.

The executive summary is the most crucial section of your business plan because it gives investors and lenders a quick overview of your company and its prospects. Be sure to include all of the key elements listed above, and keep it under two pages in length.

What Are The Benefits of Creating a Daycare Business Plan?

Research shows that a business plan helps business owners make better decisions, turn abstract goals into tangible objectives, and track progress over time. But what does this mean for those who want to open a daycare? 

Creating a business plan forces you to think through every step of starting your company. It's a valuable exercise that can save you time and money in the long run. Even if you don't end up following your business plan to a tee, the process of writing it will help you better understand your business and what needs to be done to make it successful. 

There are many benefits to creating a daycare business plan, including: 

Gives You a Roadmap to Follow

As with any journey, it's always helpful to have a map. A business plan is that map for your daycare business. It will give you a clear idea of where you want to go and how you can get there. 

Helps You Secure Funding

A business plan is essential if you're looking for investors or loans. It will show potential lenders and investors that you've put thought into your business and have a solid strategy for making it successful. 

Ensures Your Daycare Business is Feasible

When you're starting a business, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and overlook potential problems. A business plan forces you to take a step back and assess whether your business is truly viable. It also helps you identify any areas where additional research is needed. 

Final Thoughts

A daycare business plan is a valuable tool to help you make your business successful. 

It is worth noting that your business plan is not a one-time exercise but should be updated regularly as your business grows and changes. This document is meant to be a living document that evolves as your business does. 

If you're unsure where to start, there are plenty of resources available to help you, including daycare business plan examples online, books, and daycare business plan templates. 

You can also use our daycare projection template to get your financial plan ironed out and ready for your business plan.

The most important thing is just to get started. The sooner you create your business plan, the better prepared you will be for success.

You can get the Daycare Facility financial projection template here!

The template is simple to use and will save you loads of time while still producing professional looking daycare projections. ProjectionHub has helped more than 50,000 businesses create financial projections so you can be confident that you can do it too.

The daycare business projection template includes:

5 Year Daycare Facility Pro Forma Financial Statements

CPA Developed & Completely Customizable

Free Support & Projections Review

Compatible with Google Sheets

Free expert review of your completed projections

The template is easy to use and you do not need to be an excel wizard to fill it out. Editable cells are highlighted in blue, a video guide is included, and our team is available to answer any questions you have.

You can see the complete walkthrough and demonstration of the daycare business forecast template here:

Get the template today for just $79

If you have any questions before purchasing, please feel free to begin a live chat or email us at [email protected]

100% money back guarantee in accordance with our terms and conditions

‍ Photo by Pixabay

About the Author

Adam is the Co-founder of ProjectionHub which helps entrepreneurs create financial projections for potential investors, lenders and internal business planning. Since 2012, over 40,000 entrepreneurs from around the world have used ProjectionHub to help create financial projections.

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We provide the perfect opportunity for your  child to develop in a safe, familiar and loving environment. in a homely atmosphere we encourage natural curiosity and give children individual attention..

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Our Toddlers’ day is filled with a variety of purposely planned activities: story, music, movement, outside play, cooking, and art. Our experienced teachers give individual attention to each child to make sure they are safe, happy and also learn at their own pace.

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Our approach is influenced by a variety of philosophies, including, but not limited to: Montessori, Waldorf,  Reggio Emilia, HighScope... and more. Above all, we believe in supporting the unique and individual learning process of each child while fostering independence, curiosity, and a life-long love of learning about ourselves and the world we live in.

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Daycare Business Plan PDF Free Download | Child Care Business Plan PDF

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Are you considering starting a Daycare Business and you’re in need of a daycare business plan PDF? if yes, you'll find this free book to be extremely helpful.

This is a practical guide that will walk you step by step through all the essentials of starting your business. The book is packed with guides, worksheets and checklists. These strategies are absolutely crucial to your business' success yet are simple and easy to apply.

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Success Tip: Setting Goals

Good management is the key to success and good management starts with setting goals. Set goals for yourself for the accomplishment of the many tasks necessary in starting and managing your business successfully. Be specific. Write down the goals in measurable terms of performance. Break major goals down into sub-goals, showing what you expect to achieve in the next two to three months, the next six months, the next year, and the next five years. Beside each goal and sub-goal place a specific date showing when it is to be achieved.

Plan the action you must take to attain the goals. While the effort required to reach each sub-goal should be great enough to challenge you, it should not be so great or unreasonable as to discourage you. Do not plan to reach too many goals all at one time.

Establish priorities. Plan in advance how to measure results so you can know exactly how well you are doing. This is what is meant by "measurable" goals. If you can’t keep score as you go along you are likely to lose motivation. Re-work your plan of action to allow for obstacles which may stand in your way. Try to foresee obstacles and plan ways to avert or minimize them.

Click here! to download your Daycare Business plan PDF book for free

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Here's a Sample 'Executive Summary' for a Daycare Business plan :

COMPANY NAME is an organization that provides day care services to Irvington, NJ.  This mid-sized child care facility serves children from infancy to twelve years of age. Their services are safe and secure, providing the parents with an excellent place where their children can be taken care of. The Market The market is quite competitive. COMPANY NAME will employ two strategies to differentiate them. The first is a pricing structure where COMPANY NAME services will be priced at 5%-10% less than the larger commercial run facilities. The second differentiating effort will be benchmarked customer service. A customer-centric philosophy will be infused within the entire organization. COMPANY NAME will spend extra money to attract and train the best employees. This is especially important because it is the employees that interact with both the children and parents and will have the best chance to impress them enough to turn them into a loyal customer as well as to be vocal in telling their friends about their positive child care experience. The Customers COMPANY NAME will be concentrating on two different target customer segments. The first is full-time working couples. This group is forecasted to account for 80% of the company's business.  The second group of customers are drop in, customers who use COMPANY NAME sporadically, whenever the need arises. This group is growing at 20%. The purpose of this plan is to attain $650,000 in grant funding to build a new facility, upgrade equipment and furniture and hire new employees.  The new facility will house special needs classes for children, a recreation room and administration offices.

1.1 Objectives

The company's objective is to build quality, full-service that will command the approval of the predominate community which it serves. Our goals include:

• A 10% market share in the first year of this plan.
• An ability to construct a building to house special needs classes and expand the facility.
• An increase in our market share by a minimum of 10% for each of the first five years of this plan.

Currently, there are no quality child care and schooling centers in Irvington, or the surrounding areas (for a radius of 50 miles).  The company believes that by progressing in the marketplace first and by establishing quality facilities, it will become, and remain, a leader in the educational and community services in Essex County.

1.2 Mission

COMPANY NAME aims to offer safe and secure child care at all times. Close personal attention to each child is essential to providing a quality experience for all children; therefore, adequate personnel will be hired at all times to ensure each child has the proper supervision will in the company's care. COMPANY NAME seeks to construct a building to create seven Special Needs classrooms, a recreation room and additional administrative offices.

1.3 Keys to Success

Keys to success for the company will include:

• Maintaining a reputable and untarnished reputation in the community. 
• Quality care. 
• Competitive pricing. 
• Flexible hours.

COMPANY NAME is a company owned by OWNER’S NAME. OWNER’S NAME has extensive experience in the child care industry, and has maintained excellent reputations in this same industry. OWNER’S NAME is capable of handling the sales/management and finance/administration areas, respectively. [LIST OWNERS]

2.1 Company Ownership

This business is a C Corporation organized in the State of New Jersey, owned by OWNER’S NAME.

2.2 Company History

COMPANY NAME was established in 1999 by OWNER’S NAME.  COMPANY NAME   is a community-based organization that provides integrated and comprehensive services, in a sustained way, to the children and families of Irvington, New Jersey. The company's goal is to design and provide effective programs throughout the lives of families. COMPANY NAME's services touch on every aspect of a healthful, positive, and successful life—including education, family, community, health, arts, culture, and recreation—and are designed to sustain young people as they progress into adulthood and independent lives of their own. COMPANY NAME hopes to create a wellspring of community engagement and pride to break with the corrosive and desperate culture of street violence that, for decades, has been destroying lives and community in Irvington.  Irvington is a town dispirited by poverty, violence and apathy. COMPANY NAME brings quality services and mobilizes individuals and resources to create the necessary conditions to help people help themselves and their neighbors. The company also takes an integrative approach to strengthening the community by organizing neighborhood institutions from the bottom up. COMPANY NAME philosophy is to find the best practices and program models that address urban poverty and violence and adapt them to Irvington’s needs and particularities. The organization seeks to partner with other organizations, when possible, to maximize resources. COMPANY NAME has not had activity in the last few years and has not claimed any assets or liabilities.  COMPANY NAME still files tax returns each year although there has been no reported activity.

3.0 Services

COMPANY NAME offers child care services and community services for ages from infants to 12 years old. Hours of operation are from 6:00 A.M. to Midnight, Monday through Friday.

How to Motivate Employees in the Workplace

Supervising people involves more than telling them what to do. Effective supervision involves motivation from within the individual, not by externals.

1. Treat them as individuals, not merely as necessary cogs in a wheel. Remember their personal problems, find appropriate times to ask how they or their families are, how the big event went, whether the plumbing problem got fixed.

2. Acknowledge their contributions. Let them be confident that when you pass their suggestions and contributions up the chain of command you will acknowledge the members of your team as the source.

3. Back them up. When things go wrong, the buck stops at your desk. Do not deal with problems by telling your superiors how awful your supervisees are. Tell how you will go about preventing a re-occurrence.

4. Take time for them. When a supervisee comes to you, stop what you are doing, make eye contact. If you can't be interrupted, immediately set up a later time when you will be able to pay full attention to them. Otherwise people may feel that they are bothersome to you, and you may someday find yourself wondering why no one tells you what is happening in your own department.

5. Let them know that you see their potential and encourage their growth. Encourage learning. Help them to take on extra responsibility, but be available to offer support when they are in unfamiliar territory.

6. Explain why. Provide the information that will give both purpose to their activities and understanding of your requirements. Providing information only on a need-to-know basis may work for the CIA, but it does not build teams.

7. Don't micro-manage. Let them know the plans and the goals, that you trust them to do their best, and then let them have the freedom to make at least some of the decisions as to how to do what is needed. Morale and creativity nosedive when the flow of work is interrupted by a supervisor checking on progress every two minutes.

8. Let them work to their strengths. We all like to feel good about our work. If we can do something that we do well, we will feel proud. If you believe supervisees need to strengthen areas of weakness, have them work on these, too, but not exclusively.

9. Praise in public, correct in private. NOTHING undermines morale as effectively as public humiliation.

10. Set reasonable boundaries, and empower your supervisees to set theirs. Once set, respect them. This is not a challenge to your power, it is their right as human beings.

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Urgent humanitarian assistance is needed by millions across Gaza as families flee attacks in Rafah and famine looms.

For working mothers in Ethiopia, a better life starts with affordable daycare

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Tirungo struggled to find work while caring for her young child.

In the same city, Emebet struggled to keep her affordable daycare afloat.

Both women knew there had to be a better way, but overcoming both economic and social challenges seemed overwhelming, if not impossible.

Challenges for working mothers in Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia is one of the largest cities in Africa. Its population is growing quickly, exceeding more than 4.6 million people in 2019. Thousands of Ethiopians are flocking to the capital in search of a better life and, particularly, better jobs.

Despite the growth and wealth of Addis Ababa, there are a significant number of people being left behind, specifically mothers. Traditionally in Ethiopia, mothers are not meant to work — they're expected to stay home and raise their children. This discrimination stems from traditions that date back centuries, leading to many mothers who want to work being disadvantaged within the workforce of Addis Ababa.

Even once they find work, getting affordable and accessible childcare is yet another hurdle to overcome.

Emebet saw this struggle first hand among mothers in her community.

“Daycare is very expensive. Poor people can’t afford daycare — most Ethiopians can’t afford daycare,” Emebet says.

A different type of daycare

Emebet is an Addis Ababa native and a mother who knows just how hard it can be to work and care for children. That’s why she left her job as a social worker and decided to start her own daycare, Sitota Daycare. “Sitota” means gift in Amharic.

Emebet started Sitota Daycare in 2018 after borrowing a loan from the government for more than 100,000 birr, equivalent to roughly $3,000 — a huge sum of money for the average Ethiopian. Emebet risked everything she had to start Sitota Daycare — the first affordable daycare service in her community. Despite meeting all the government requirements to open it, Emebet struggled to keep Sitota Daycare open.

Because she was providing affordable daycare to working mothers in her community, Emebet was not making a profit and failed to pay rent for one year. As the situation worsened, Emebet lost hope in ever achieving success.

Keeping the daycare dream alive

Emebet urgently needed help. The LI-WAY program approached her just in time. (Mercy Corps is one of the implementing partners of the LI-WAY program.)

LI-WAY was interested in learning more about Sitota Daycare because it was not only the sole daycare in the community, but also because it offered an affordable option. Emebet explained that there were hundreds of mothers struggling to find work because of this need.

“I didn’t want materials to make my daycare look nice. I don’t want to become rich,” Emebet declares. “I wanted subsidies to allow the working women in my community to bring their children here at a low cost.”

After completing an assessment and better understanding the need for affordable childcare services, the LI-WAY program committed to supporting Emebet through subsidizing childcare for mothers who need it most.

“As soon as the LI-WAY program said they could provide subsidized payments, I called back the mothers that had initially come to my daycare but could not afford the monthly payment. I asked them if they were still interested. They all came running,” recalls Emebet.

With the support of the LI-WAY program, Emebet has paid off her loan completely and now has seven full-time workers at Sitota Daycare — six nannies, one nurse and 35 children.

Starting over in Addis Ababa

Tirungo is one of those nannies. She’s been a part of the Sitota Daycare family for three months. She’s also able to keep her two-year-old daughter Dana at the daycare for a subsidized monthly payment of 200 birr per month, about $6 — a fraction of the cost that Emebet could previously offer without the support of the LI-WAY program.

The job opportunity arrived when she needed it most.

Tirungo returned to Addis from Dubai, where she was abused and imprisoned while working as a domestic worker. When Tirungo finally moved back to Addis Ababa, now with a child, she was unemployed for a year, as she had no place to keep her daughter while working.

“I looked for work for one year but no one would hire me with my child on my back,” Tirungo recalls. “As I was crying because I couldn’t find work, a neighbor told me about Sitota Daycare. I came and Emebet let my daughter in despite the daycare being full. I found a job that same afternoon that my daughter started staying at the daycare.”

Tirungo now works as a part-time laundry woman in the morning and as a nanny at Sitota Daycare in the afternoon. With her income, Tirungo says she is able to pay for rent and save money for her daughter’s future.

“God willing, in the future, I hope to one day open a daycare like Sitota Daycare in other parts of the city,” says Tirungo. “Now I realize how important daycares are for working mothers in Ethiopia.”

Looking ahead

Despite the success of Sitota Daycare through the support of the LI-WAY program, there are still difficulties ahead.

“Some challenges that we face at the daycare is the lack of diapers,” Emebet says. “Diapers are very expensive — about 800 birr per day.” That is more than what most of these mothers make in a month.

“This is too expensive for mothers. We are using traditional diapers right now, but are struggling to maintain this.”

But despite these challenges, Emebet is hopeful for the future of daycares in Ethiopia.

“I want this daycare to continue to spread,” Emebet says. “I want other mothers to open more daycares in the future.”