Owning an in Home Daycare

I have run a successful in home daycare for 9 years now and I really enjoy it. The key is to remember that it is your job and not something you do between household stuff. The most frustrating days for me are when I think I need to something (laundry) while the kids are doing free play... never works = )

I find the hardest issue to be the parents and not the kids. It does take awhile to establish a good group of compatible kids, but it is worth it. The hard part is staying professional and not letting policies slide because you are their friends. Even the best of parents will take advantage of that and then you are the one in a bind.

If you are serious about providing child care, I would ask around to your local providers and ask if you can volunteer for a few days to try it on. I am sorry to hear how cut throat things are in S.L.M's area. I have not found it to be that way here in Colorado. Some of the best resources that I have for both new clients and information are other local providers. We call each other when we cannot help someone and refer them on to another provider that can possible help.

I think that there are pro's and con's to both an in-home center and a commercial center, but I prefer the quieter and more homey atmosphere of a good in-home center.

Every area will be very different. I have friends..fellow daycare providers...who live just a few miles from me who are not as "successful", as per my own definition, as I have been all these years (almost 14) in home daycare.

I have evolved into a pretty good set up..but something expensive always needs doing (right now my playground ground surface needs a major overhaul..spendy! and I want to do more shelving and such in my playroom).

But I have a good group, pretty good set up and good business practices. I never EVER have people owing me money (I do NOT tolerate it and I do all I can to "weed out" those sorts of families as best you can on character/first impression meetings.) My families are on time, and even if traffic holds them up, which is rare, they show up the next morning with a few dollars cash (buck a minute) to cover the late fees. Like I said, I am hard nosed about policies for the most part and it has served me well and I have a good reputation.

My daughter was just turned 3 when I began home childcare. I was a live-out nanny for 8 years before I began home daycare (for the same family that whole time, my daughter was born into that situation). It was a big change for her and we stumbled our way thru it. We did things like, her room was off limits to daycare...she had special plates/bowls and cups, etc. It WAS her house..and she was sharing alot of her toys (special ones were in her room), and most importantly, sharing her Momma. Thats a hard thing.

The isolation is hard..was hard at first. Now I am a bit of a recluse anyways (it was always in me to be that way...LOL...). But I like my work most days, and when I don't..I make some little changes, as I have that control, and I get thru it. All jobs have that rough patch thing...the beauty for me is I have control over it.

For me, however, this is what I have always done, in some manner. I am about to turn 42 and I have never, ever held a job where I was not teaching or caring for children. Ever. I have a degree in Child Development now as well. I am very involved in my local home childcare provider community (helped found a provider association 4 years ago and serve as an Executive Board member and the Referral coordinator for the group)...it all makes a difference in the level of professionalism I feel is very important to set us apart for being "just a babysitter"...or a person who evolved into this as a way to make money and stay home with their kids.

No offense...as I don;t know you or your situation...but just because someone has kids, in my opinion, does not qualify them to be a childcare provider. Its a lot for work and sacrifice for the entire household involved. Alot of safety things in place that normal homes don't have. My hubby must mow and snow plow and maintain outside more diligently due to my job..repair things inside on a different safety level, etc. My teenager must sacrifice having friends over in the summer, etc. lots of things like that.

I wish you luck!

Hi there,
I've been running a successful home daycare for 3 years, and like any job, I think it is what you make it. You can see the benefits of it and enjoy what you're doing or you can see the negative and totally hate it.

If you're a positive person and really love kids AND people in general it can be a good fit. But in my opinion and experience it really a TON of work. It isn't just the hours that you have kids in care... you have to have your house "company ready" every day. You have to plan activities, art projects, disinfect, clean, shop, plan meals, cook , clean some more. You have to be *on* and positive every day, because kids and parents don't need or want to know your problems/ difficulties. You have to take care of your self and be able to engage children every day. You have to have the patience to deal with normal repetitive behaviors and positive interactions that help kids learn things like social skills. You have to be creative. SO much goes into making a quality environment. And the more enriching it is the happier your kids will be.

And like Elboe B said, you have to remember that it's a job. That is important from the respect that even though you work at home, you are *working* and your focus should be taking care of your children in care to the best of your ability... not your own errands, phone calls, housework etc... It also important because your dedication and quality of care becomes transparent to your families and makes for happy kids and happy families that refer you to other families and makes your reputation speak for itself. You have to have good policies in place so that parents don't see you as a babysitter, and they respect you as a caregiver and a business person. Taking care of kids is my priority, but if I can't make a living doing it, then it doesn't work for anyone.

It's a really rewarding job, that I do not regret stepping into. I focus on the positive part of my job and feel like the rewards is in the doing... having said that I do occasionally feel stress about working with certain families. The most challenging families are the ones where the kid is tough and the parents are difficult, and in my (short) 3 years I have asked only one family to leave, and (to my knowledge) have not had any families leave because they were unhappy with the care their child received.

I would recommend looking into the licensing regulations in your state, and considering what benefits and difficulties a home childcare business could present for you and your family. I would also consider the particular area that you're in and the demand for childcare. I'm lucky to live in a very family oriented community, where there are lots and lots of kids.

I'd be happy to share more if you have additional questions... I started my daycare because it sort of fell into my lap at a time when I was looking for a way to work with people and kids and spend more time with my own two children. Prior to me having the daycare, my two kids went part-time to daycare and absolutely LOVED it. Integrating your own children into your daycare is a whole different post, and worth considering.

Good luck!

I guess it depends on defining successful...

If staying in business 25 years, not going bankrupt, still having a number of kids enrolled even in down times, ...If that's successful, then I am mostly.

I do put utilities and food on credit cards when parents move away. It's HARD. The income goes up and down quickly as other people suffer job loss, or life upheavals.

I've had multiple people arrested and lose their jobs. I have had moms lose their licenses and have to send their kids away for awhile as they try and get back on their feet. I've had moms get DUI's and then come in and tell me they don't have any money to pay me and then be surprised when I tell them I can't float them for weeks on end. I've had bad checks every year I've been in business. I've had people purposely lie and cheat me in various ways.

When moms and dads fight and one gets up and leaves, they often stop coming because they don't want the other parent to know where the kids are. That happens at least once or twice per year.

Somehow, we have to keep our heads above water.

On the flip side...I do pay my bills, even if sometimes it's last minute and I skate from one disconnect notice to the other. Nothing has been shut off. I don't borrow money from friends and family and I've never seriously considered going bankrupt and my credit score is 712 for experian and only 633 for Transunion.

I give to those in need. I give to various pastors and charities and food pantries because there are ALWAYS people that are worse off than me.

I enjoy my business. I love my kids. SOMETIMES I love the kids but HATE the business. I'm in a bad place right now with the money end of this and dealing with people...see my post I just made LOL.

One of my mothers has been offered a better job out of state so she can be near her family. That's AWESOME for her. It's terrible for me. I hate the interview process and how many scammers there are out there. I've talked with terrible people and it will take me a few weeks to find the right replacement family. Most people want part-time and that's hard to coordinate and keep the right kids on the right hours.

Other providers check us out, lie to us to gather info about us. Why not just be honest?

I've had people lie about me, pretend to know me and say bad things about me when I never even met them. The competition is STIFF.

Would I send my kids to someone like me? ONLY if they were a deeply dedicated CHRISTIAN--born again and they had been in business over 10 years.

i did not own but prefer my kids to go to home daycares. i figure less kids less sicknesses. seems true as my kids got sick once a yr or so. i also like the education they received and the social experience they had in the small home setting.

our city gave free small business meetings to better educate you in what to expect and what you need for bank loans. see if your city offers the class too. it s worth it for a couple hours.

Google Texas state regulations for in home child care and t=get the regulations downloaded to your computer. They may also have a link to expected costs and other things. IF you google state of Oklahoma regulations you will get to a page that gives several links, one of them is expected costs and what to expect. Even though it is for Oklahomans they have very good information and advice.

My son went to home center when I was still working. I loved it, he was the only infant and got tons of attention she was like a third gramma to him.
My MIL has had a registered home daycare for almost 28 years. It's hard, she doesn't get vacaction, there are always people in her house, her insurance preimums are through the roof and she is always having to fix or relpace something but she loves the kids and that is why she keeps doing it. She keeps saying that she is going to cut back but she always takes more kids, her reputation is so good and people really want her to watch their kids. She now has babies of kids she used to watch. Could I do it, no way! I would not be able to handle having my house turned upside down everyday. If you are considering it talk to someone who does it and check into local regualtions.

My daughter attends one. She LOVES it! She cries when I tell her its Saturday or a holiday and she can't go.

My son switch to the home provider when he went to Kindergarten (now in 4th) and wishes he'd switched sooner. My husband and I wish so too!.
She loves the kids, but at the same time doesn't let them get away with things. She doesn't have a set menu, and lets the kids take a poll as to what they want for lunch, lets them be creative in the kitchen, etc. When my son was at the public center, if he didn't like what was offered he didn't eat. At the home provider, he's able to ask for what he likes.

The neighbor kid is begging his mom to go there this summer instead of the Boys and Girls Club.

M.