Career Change - sort of About This Page:

[GinaButtrfly]

Hey all,
I was wondering if any of you run a Day Care out of your home???

I am a Special Education teacher currently working in Early Intervention. I am considering converting my 2-car garage and back-room into a Day Care Center. I have so many questions and possibilities running around in my head and I want some testimonials and advice from those who have been there. I love the possibility of owning my own business and being HOME for my kids. I'm wondering how lucrative a prospect this really is/can be. I've taught all levels from Nursery to 8th Grade - general and Special Ed. and now I work with the 0 - 3 year old population one on one. With my experience with Special Education and babies, I'm comfortable taking on special needs children which many places are not.

I'd love some advice!!!

[oldmom]

I would start by finding out about zoning laws and insurance. My city has some strict rules. I did home day care for awhile. NO problem finding people who will drop their kids off and pay to do so. NO one ever asked for a reference or visited before they left their child.

[emtpej]

And i think you also need some sort of certification or business lic. to be a day care center.

My MIL takes care of our boys, so i have no experience with this, personally.

[GinaButtrfly]

New York is pretty strict. I'd have to go through the state and register with them. There are FDNY inspections and fingerprinting regulations, etc etc etc - not a small undertaking. I'd of course comply with everything. I do know a few people who have done this and are now opening a second place - so it's obviously working for them. I'm just very unsure about being my own boss right now.

[oldmom]

around here, whether you're liscensed or not depends on how many kids you keep

[GinaButtrfly]

I'd like 7 - 12, so it's an absolute must.

[Jookiba]

Good luck-I'd love to someday be my own boss but that's kinda hard being an RN.

[DisneyBri]

Gina,

My wife is looking into this in NJ ... we just had our first child and she's been a teacher for 10 years ... she'll be staying home this year, but has been investigating the option of running a day care center out of our home so she won't have to go back to work.

In NJ, the licensing and stuff is dependent upon how many kids you would take in. And I know from talking to other people who have done it, that it's not cost effective to do all of the licensing and repairs and upgrades to get things up to code unless you have over 25 kids.

Since that's way more than she wants ... she is thinking of keeping it under the threshold for needing a license.

I wish you luck as you persue this!!

[CelticChick]

I can't answer your question, but just wanted to wish you good luck.

[Marybeth]

You might want to take a few business courses, maybe through a local community college. Also, visit other daycares to see how they run their businesses, especially dealing with regulatory, helth dept, lic. issues, and most importantly contracts with clients.
Good luck with your adventure!!!!

[GinaButtrfly]

A friend of mine had hers up and running in her living/dining room area in 6 months. Shes caring for 8 kids right now with one assistant. If she hires one more assistant, she can have 12 children because one of them in under 2 yrs old. Its not easy to get started, but its not terribly difficult either. I have the space - it just needs fine-tuning. I have MOST of the toys I'll need in my attic from my own boys, and my nieces' hand me downs. There are start-up grants available here in NY, DisneyBri, for supplies. The going rate around my neighborhood is about $200 - $250 a week per child. Taking 8 - 12 children can be quite profitable. Where in NJ are you?

[Teresa]

Good luck - I have a friend who wanted to do this, but not commit to the 6am - 6pm schedule. She instead opened up her own pre-school, and so only has kids during school days (no holidays or school breaks), and only from 8 to 2 each day, except Friday. It's not as much money - but much, much easier on a mom.

[HiddenMickey]

I agree with Teresa. To me, daycare means really long hours and no breaks for vacation or sicktime for the owner/caregiver. I'd really look into whether a preschool might work better for you.

As some examples of the diversity of preschools in our area: The one my DD went to was open from 7:30-3:30 and closed two weeks a year (Christmas and Independence Day weeks). My son went to one that was open from 8-noon and only ran during the school year.

[Colexis Mom]

[akleos]

Wishing you lots of luck. I would imagine that ti can feel pretty overwhelming at first, but keep the end and all its rewards in sight!!!