[christeenybeany]

I am going to start keeping 2 babies in January. I have a 3 mo and 2 yo and these two babies are 2 mo. I am looking for advice on the business end mostly. I have worked in a day care with 4 babies by myself before and once I got to know them and their personalities it was a breeze. The child care part of it I can handle. It is the paper work and money and being assertive and basicaly running a small business part of it that scares me. Any advice?

 

[Fieryfly]

I run a home daycare here in California. Contact your local resource and referral agency or the daycare licensing office in your area. Most R&Rs provide training and can give you information on the business aspect of home daycare. Also check out Red Leaf Institute <a href="http://www.redleafinstitute.org" target="_blank">http://www.redleafinstitute.org</a> , it is the place to find information on taxes and other business topics.<br><br>
I try to keep my home daycare as professional as I can. I have a Parent Handbook, a contract we all sign stating the pick up/drop off times and weekly payment, and try to stick to my policies.<br><br>
There are several email groups and message boards dedicated to home daycare, and they are a great support for this challenging yet awesome field of work. PM me if you would like some links.<br><br>
Hope this helps!

 

[madison]

There are quite a few good books out there. I have a great one - but I just moved and I'm not sure where it is! Try out amazon.com and look in their used books, then you can buy several for the price of one new, lol.<br><br>
I was a Preschool Director for 4 years and a teacher for 3 prior to that... I'd love to have a home child care business some day! I tried now, but my apartment management said no way in you-know-where! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:<br><br>
I can say the best thing you could do is to make sure you have a policy handbook covering every situation you can think of and make the parents sign. And stick to it. You are a business, not a free program, lol. I might suggest going to a few childcare facilities and pose as a parent seeking care. Pick up their registration forms and their policy handbooks and use for your own handbook what you like from their forms, using them as a template.<br><br>
See if there is a Child Care Resource & Referral agency in your town. Mine here in Phoenix, AZ is awesome! They help with the licensing procedures, finding liability insurance, planning menus and give suggestions for the business end of it all.... a fantastic resource!!! And call Child Care Licensing and see how they can help you get started, make friends with them, they really do care about helping to create quality child cares!<br><br>
Good luck! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">

 

[christeenybeany]

Well, I've done my homework. I think I'm getting my ducks in a row. I checked out a book at the public library. It has helped tons. We don't have to have a liciense if there is fewer than 5 kids. That redleaf website is great! I did a search and I couldn't find any websites the other day but this one is awsome. I'm getting Liability insurance through homeowners for up to 6 kids including my own. I'm trying to stick to the liceinsing requirements for the state as close as I can even though I don't need one. I am learning about the tax stuff. The thing that makes my situation unique is I am going to hire someone to watch all the children while I'm taking one class per semester. So...I have to do payroll stuff too. I'm small but I have big time paper work. Keep the tips coming!!