Interested in Becoming a Provider?

Being a child care provider can be a rewarding career. You can make a difference in the lives of children and parents that you serve. It’s also your chance to run and own your own business. Here are some ways that we can help you decide which is best for you when getting your business started.

What’s the difference between an approved provider and being a licensed provider?

Some things to think about before starting your business:

• Do you enjoy spending time and caring for children?

• Is your home suitable ? Is it child proofed?

• Does your home have sufficient space to allow you to care for young children?   (Space is needed for special activies, crafts, naps, etc)

• If you have children of your own, are they accepting of sharing the space with other children?

• Are you good at keeping track of business details?

Contracts and Agreements:

You will need an efficient system to manage the many aspects of running a small business. Keep organized records of all expenses and income. Save receipts and make sure you have written records of client payments.

To avoid potential problems, set clear expectations about payments, and any other fees in the parent-provider contract. Make sure the parents understand your policies for absences, cancellation, payment, etc.

Also, parents should complete and sign release forms for situations requiring emergency medical attention or medicine. Make sure that you have the parent’s name and phone numbers. Keep it all on file, and in a place that is easily accessible in case of an emergency.

It’s also a good idea to keep policies, notices of closures, and other pertinent information, displayed for parents to access. A bulletin board is a great, cheap way to do that. This is a great way to communicate with parents and let them know about what’s happening.