Possible Client Is Wanting To Start a Childcare

[daycare]

So today I got a call from a woman who is looking for part time childcare for her daughter. the woman tells me that it will only be temporary and the reason is becuase she is trying to work to open her own family childcare in her home in the same city.
She is in the process of getting her home ready and says that she needs to work a part time job to earn the money to pay for the daycare items she will need before she opens.

we talked for a really long time and she sounds like an amazing person. We even entertained the idea of having her work with me at some point.

We plan to meet tonight to discuss childcare for her child and of course I don't want to go into this blind.

I am feeling a little apprehensive of wanting to work with this person, but also wanting to have someone who I could work with in the future either with my business or their own.


what do you guys think?? what should I do here?? advice needed!!!




oh and please dont cyber smack me.......

[LaLa1923]

I think this is a great idea. A woman across the street from me does daycare! We often work together and help each other. Just go into it with a little apprehension....even if you don't show it..

[EchoMom]

I've been doing daycare a year now, and about a month ago my directly across the street neighbor started providing chilcare for infants. She never talked to me about it, but I assume she got the idea from me or was at least influenced by it since it is obvious that my home is a daycare and all the cars coming and going.

I wasn't mad, wish she'd have talked to me I would have helped her out. There is plenty of business in my area to go around! I did walk across the street and ask if she had any openings for the kid I wanted to term (her hours are longer than mine).

She seemed really nice that I came over and it opened the door to talking with each other if ever the need arises but we've never talked before or since.

If there's plenty of business in your area then I wouldn't worry about it. I would only feel maybe like I was being observed or copied...

[daycare]

I've been doing daycare a year now, and about a month ago my directly across the street neighbor started providing chilcare for infants. She never talked to me about it, but I assume she got the idea from me or was at least influenced by it since it is obvious that my home is a daycare and all the cars coming and going.

I wasn't mad, wish she'd have talked to me I would have helped her out. There is plenty of business in my area to go around! I did walk across the street and ask if she had any openings for the kid I wanted to term (her hours are longer than mine).

She seemed really nice that I came over and it opened the door to talking with each other if ever the need arises but we've never talked before or since.

If there's plenty of business in your area then I wouldn't worry about it. I would only feel maybe like I was being observed or copied...

thats one of the hard things, is that business is soooooo slow. I have had 1 opening for almost 7 months and have spent almost 1grand in advertisment since then, yet nothing still.

We live in a GREAT area, with lots of money, but majority of the families here are stay at home mom's, have nannies, or go to private academy schools. Sometimes they have all 3....

[cheerfuldom]

I would not jump to work with this woman or use her as a back up, especially if she is not full yet. I am sorry but I would be worried she would take my daycare families. I dont personally think that any of my daycare families would leave but you never know....especially if she works for you for awhile and then offers super cheap rates or something else that a family feels like they cannot resist.

I would have no problem providing care for her child but I would be prepared for her to copy all the parent paperwork you provide. Thats very common and many people just change the name on the top to their daycare and then use other peoples paperwork.

just remember that this person is a stranger and tread very lightly....

[daycare]

this is exactly how I feel.... I am worried that she might try something sneaky. I don't know this person and I don't know their intentions either. I want so bad to have somoene to network with, but want to get to know this person before I would want to let them work with me or for me..

We are meeting in a hour, hope it goes well

[Crazy8]

I know I am a cynic but I'd be thinking she only wants to meet to copy what you do and maybe get some of your forms, etc.

I'm envious of the areas where there is enough business to go around, it just isn't like that here with home daycares and I'm a little more protective of the info I give out and the people I meet with.

Good luck though, I hope it works out!!

[boysx5]

My neighbor and I both do daycare and are great friends its so nice to get our kids together plus she and I both understand this job where some others will never get it. We help each other vent and laugh its wonderful

[wdmmom]

No, no, no. My bet is she wants a copy of all your paperwork so she can just copy it and start business.

If she is not currently working outside the home, I wouldn't even entertain it!

[itlw8]

I like to mentor new people. The more people that go into it with their eyes open th better it is for all of us. Bad providers give everyone a bad name and good ones improve it.

paperwork??? heck we all have about the same policies. I will share mine so they can tweak to fit them. heck mine started from a class I took with the kauffman foundation. But out of 30 ladies we ended up with 30 different policies.

[Crystal]

I like the fact that she was honest with you about her intentions. If she were trying to be sneaky about it, I would refuse to help her....with child care for her child or with helping her start her own. But, because of her honesty, I would entertain either idea. And, regarding forms, I really do not care if other people use them. It really is not all that difficult to create contracts and policies, so I don't understand why anyone would care if another provider used them.

How did your meeting go?

[daycare]

I like to mentor new people. The more people that go into it with their eyes open th better it is for all of us. Bad providers give everyone a bad name and good ones improve it.

paperwork??? heck we all have about the same policies. I will share mine so they can tweak to fit them. heck mine started from a class I took with the kauffman foundation. But out of 30 ladies we ended up with 30 different policies.

I have mentored several people in the past, but they lived far from me, so it was not like I was in direct competition with them.

We did not get to meet last night. Her dog got out just as she was about to leave and he got hit by a car. Right infront of her child. So they are coming tonight

[coolconfidentme]

I'm a very helpful, giving person, but I really wouldn't want to help someone take potential business from me. That's just me though...

[LaLa1923]

I'm a very helpful, giving person, but I really wouldn't want to help someone take potential business from me. That's just me though...

What business is another provider taking?

Not to be rude, but this is exactly how a lot of providers around my area act.
Get a grip! there are a LOT of families that need care!!
There's PLENTY to go around ladies...
Providers need to worry about THEIR business, represent YOUR business and your clients WILL come!!

[MamaG]

Google free printable day care forms! Nobody needs to 'steal' your forms. She has presented herself in an honest way so far, maybe she is an honest person. I don't get the cattiness of people, never been a fan of it.