Start your own child-care service
Subtitle: homebased, commercial transportation
By: the staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. & Jacquelyn Lynn
Contributors: Entrepreneur Media, Inc
Edition: Fourth edition.
Series: Entrepreneur Magazine's startup; Entrepreneur magazine's start up
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 207
ISBN-13: 9781599185675
Subjects: Child care services; New business enterprises; Handbooks, manuals; Day care centers
Description: "As the number of single-parent families and dual-income families grows, the need for quality child care grows along with it. This revised guide presents the latest trends, resources, and tools, along with sound advice from practicing child-care business owners to get them started on the path to success"--

"The experts at Entrepreneur Press guide readers through the steps of planning, starting, and running a successful child-care business. This guide has been revised with the latest trends, facts, and figures, along with an updated list of resources to help readers create a stable and enriching environment for child development, as well as a sound and profitable business. Readers learn how to: choose the type of child care program and services to offer; acquire the right licensing, permits, insurance protection, and state-specific child care licensing; analyze the market, asses the needs of the community, and match services to fit those needs; find the right location, or decide to operate from home; comply with safety regulations and child-care provisions of the Disabilities Act; consider zoning laws, space requirements, and legal determinations of offsite properties; calculate startup costs, get funded, manage finances, create a business plan, and account for the day-to-day operating costs; stay competitive in the market with low-cost marketing tactics; find, hire, and keep good employees in a high turnover industry; set policies, hours, and staff responsibilities; plan a program, communicate rules and policies to parents, and integrate nutrition"--
Notes: Previous edition: 2011 by Jacquelyn Lynn.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-190) and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction. How did they start? ; Who's running the centers? ; Who is your market? ; Before 9 and after 5 ; First things first ; Buying an existing child-care service ; Evaluating a company ; Outlook for the future; title: Services and policies. Confidentiality and access to records ; Fees ; Hours of operation ; Holidays ; Vacations ; Absences ; Transportation ; Chronic misbehavior and other adjustment issues ; Care of sick children ; Late pickup ; Meals ; Emergencies ; Health issues ; Smoking, alcohol, and drugs ; Release of children ; Cell phones ; Other policies ; Admission procedures ; Safety standards and policies ; Children with special needs ; Administering medication; title: Running your child-care business. Children's records ; Incident reports ; Management records ; Purchasing and inventory ; Are you on a mission? ; Programs ; Accreditation for family child-care centers; title: Structuring your business. Naming your company ; Choosing a legal structure ; Licenses and permits ; Trademark and copyright issues ; Insurance ; Accident insurance ; Liability insurance ; Professional advisors ; Create your own advisory board; title: Startup economics and financial management. Startup costs ; Building banking relationships ; Setting prices ; Labor and materials ; Revenue ; Forms of payment ; Collection ; Keeping records ; Getting free supplies and services; title: Locating and setting up. Choosing a commercial location ; Improving an existing facility ; Indoor space and equipment ; Playground and outdoor areas ; Walkways, stairs, and railings ; Health, safety, and sanitation ; Setting up a homebased center ; Childproofing your home; title: Furnishing and equipping your center. Specific rooms ; Lobby/reception area ; Office ; Classrooms ; Choosing the right toys ; Toilet-training equipment ; Playground equipment ; Audiovisual and computer equipment ; Inventory ; Classroom supplies ; Cleaning supplies ; Health and safety standards; title: Kitchen and laundry facilities. Kitchen ; Ventilation ; Food and beverage supplies ; Good nutrition and mealtime behavior ; Laundry ; Design and equipment ; Buying used equipment; title: Office equipment. Telecommunications ; Keep your customers out of voice-mail jail ; Office supplies; title: Transportation services. Driver requirements ; Vehicle requirements ; Training ; General policies ; Setting prices ; Children will be children ; Starting a transportation service ; Setting prices ; Hiring and keeping drivers ; Before the first ride; title: Parent relationships. Parental involvement ; Keeping parents informed ; Helping parents understand your bond with their children ; If you have a problem ; When a parent has a problem ; When parents are chronically late; title: Marketing. Direct mail ; Make your grand opening truly grand ; Plan ahead ; Media kits that get results ; Referrals are essential ; The deal on discounts ; Your logo ; Your sign ; Going online ; Social media marketing; title: Staffing. When to hire ; Deciding what you need ; Where to look for candidates ; Positions ; Evaluating applicants ; Caregiver characteristics and qualifications ; Background checks ; Once they're on board ; Temporary employees ; Employee benefits ; The high cost of turnover ; Maintain adequate personnel files ; Child-to-staff ratios; title: Facility maintenance. Building maintenance ; Exterior maintenance ; Equipment maintenance; title: When things go wrong. Security ; Preventing and dealing with injuries ; Evacuation plans ; When you suspect abuse ; Bicycle safety ; Reacting to a crisis; title: Tales from the trenches. Invest in yourself ; Reach out to the community for enrichment ; Find out how you're doing ; Differentiate your service ; Earn and demand respect ; Get commitments from your customers ; Follow up on everything that you do ; Keep a professional distance ; Be prepared for the bad days ; Enjoy the rewards; title: Appendix. Child-care service resources. Associations and online resources ; Books and publications ; Consultants and other experts ; Credit card services ; Equipment and supplies ; Government agencies and related resources ; Successful child-care and transportation service providers.