In part 1 of Work from Home series, we talked about mystery shopping and how you can earn a few bucks from that. To read that article, click here.
Today we are going to talk about starting a small business that you can operate from home. Let's focus on one of the most common and profitable ideas, a Home Daycare. If you love kids, have patience and have space in your home, a daycare might be an option for you.
OK, that sounds good...now what? First you should decide what hours you are willing to care for other people's children, what supplies will be included in your care, ex. diapers, wipes, food or drink. Are you going to provide an educational atmosphere as well? Is your home a safe environment for children of all ages? If not, fix that problem. Decide what age group will you be willing to take in. Infants, toddlers or school age kids (if you offer a before/after school option). Do some research and find out the going rate for childcare in your area and then set your rates accordingly.
OK, so you have got all of that decided now you need to get the phone ringing. Put up fliers all over town. Family centers, doctor's offices, laundromats, playgrounds, churches...anywhere and everywhere. Place an ad in your local paper, on craigslist or on kijiji.com. Don't forget about word of mouth. Tell all your family, friends and neighbors. Someone might know someone else who needs a sitter for their child. If you have specialized skills or education that would be a benefit for a parent seeking a caregiver, make sure to list that in your advertising. Were you a teacher? Are you a Nurse's Aide? Do you have a degree in childhood development? Or maybe you have worked at a local daycare previously. All of these things would be appealing to potential clients.
Now the phone is ringing. Offer up your list of personal and work references. If the parent seems interested it is best to arrange to meet with the parent(s) and child prior to agreeing to care for that child. It makes for a better transition if you do decide to care for this child and it gives both you and the parents a sense of who each other is. I can't imagine any parent that wouldn't want to meet face to face with a potential care giver for their child prior.
After the initial meeting, if both you and the parents agree that this will work, I suggest having a service contract made up and signed. Something simple, just stating what you will or won't provide, what hours, how much and when payment is due for services. You might let the parent pay on Friday ending that week. Or you may require they pay on Monday when they drop the child off in advance for that week. That is up to you. Do you accept checks or cash only? Have that in the contract as well. Give a signed copy to the parent and keep one for yourself.
Before you take in your first child for your home daycare, make sure you check with the local government office to see if you need to meet any particular requirements or fill out any paperwork for operating a business from home. Keep in mind that you may be able to deduct some of your home expenses for your business. Ask your local accountant what the rules and regulations are for that. Keep track of all your business expenses. Any food you buy for the daycare, any toys, diapers, etc. Most likely these can be deducted on taxes as well.
It is a lot to think about. But it can be a great option for someone who wants to work from home. If you have a child at home yourself, this can not only generate an income, but gives you an option to save money as well as you won't have any childcare expenses.
