Starting and Operating a Child Care Business
In our May eNews we outlined the Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) Child Care Licensing unit’s step-by-step list for groups interested in opening a new center. Even before you get to the point where you would engage DCYF, it’s a good idea to spend some time in advance really planning out how the business of your child care will operate.
Child care can be an exciting and rewarding field. It provides a wonderful opportunity to impact the lives of children and their families. Regardless of one’s individual motivation for entering the early care and education field, starting and operating a child care business is both a personal and a business decision. As is true for all small business owners, prospective child care providers must take the right steps to ensure that their businesses are profitable and sustainable. Providers must follow federal, state, and local regulations and standards, and they must ensure they have healthy and safe environments for children. In addition to meeting children’s basic needs, providers encourage children’s development by providing activities that stimulate physical, emotional, intellectual, and social growth.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families has created a resource guide that presents some basic steps to consider as you plan to start and operate a child care business. The information is an overview and is not intended to be all inclusive. Additional resources are provided to help you explore child care as a business opportunity. Other steps may be suitable for your specific type of business, depending on your local requirements and regulations.
In This Issue
Supportive Learning Environments for Infants and Toddlers
Coming Soon – New Online Module on Child Care Center Equipment and Furnishings