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I currently am the sole provider of my licensed child care; however, in the near future I would really love to work with my sister (she is getting her degree in Early Childhood right now). A big downfall about providing child care together, though, would be cutting my income in half!! Is there any way to get around this that I don't know about? Is there any way to have two different licenses but still provide child care together? (I live in Minnesota).
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I would recommend you hire her as staff and NOT do 50/50 split on ownership/leadership/income. This is a business. and the last thing you want to do is create a conflict of interest after all your hard work to become licenses, find families, advertise, buy equipment, etc, etc. why should she just walk in and get 50% of that deal?
as close as you are, nothing is worse than working with your sibling and finding your work ethics and providing style are in conflict and you are stuck with a partner that you can't fire or direct.
I worked with my sister for one year. WORSE mistake of my life. I was stupid and tried to do the 50/50 thing with her even though the daycare was in my house. It was not working out but she was pregnant and I couldn't bring myself to fire my pregnant sister LOL please learn from my mistake! just hire her as an assistant only! -
My sister opened her home daycare about 6 months before I opened mine. After I'd been open for about a month we both thought it would be a great idea for us to just combine forces. We never actually did it because once we started getting into the details of pay, expenses, what we would do during disagreements... it wasn't worth our relationship.
I totally agree with it continuing to be YOUR business and just hire her on as an employee. There's no reason that you should get all of the expenses that go along with an home daycare (home repairs, food costs, equipment, supplies, utilities, etc.)... because after you think about it how do you split the cost of using YOUR home and the cost of using YOUR utilities?
I would just think very, very carefully before going into a business in your own home with someone who doesn't own the home with you, like a spouse for example.
ETA: right around the time we were talking about it she decided daycare wasn't even for her
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It sounds like you are saying you each would have a separate license but do care in the same house. Therefore, you could have twice as many children and both help each other with both sets of children. Is that what you mean?
I don't think that is possible here in Florida. I guess you would just have to check with licensing where you are. We have something here called 'large childcare' where you can have twice the children with two providers but it is still one license.
That is an interesting concept because I would have loved to do that with my daughter at one point.
Let us know what you find out.
LaurelComment
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I think there are some states where you can have both your names on the licenses but you would also both need to split the profits. Not sure what state you are in, but some states don't even allow more than one person on the license- and she would just be your assistant and/or sub. Maybe down the line she can open up her own daycare.
Another option, if she decides to open right away, is that she could open up her own daycare and you two can work out some type of referral alliance. If there is a family that she can't fit in due to space (They have an infant but doesn't have room for another infant; or she only takes toddlers, preschoolers, and/or after schoolers) than she can refer parents to your daycare and vice versa. Maybe if she can, she can see about getting a house close to yours.
If you a want it to feel more you are business partners, you both can try to see if you two can see about sharing a similar daycare schedules, agendas, and even business name (if it's not your first name or she doesn't have her own ideas); Example: Smith Sister's Daycare. I remember seeing a family child care website few years ago, 5 home daycare providers in a city that were like a "chain" (all connected, same everything just different provider and location) the "main" provider had the most publicity on the site because her daycare was the "top priority" to fill, but there was pictures of the other daycare homes (virtual tours). I think all the other providers got paid by hourly (or salary) and she got most of the profit (not 100% sure that is true, that was just how it seems). I don't know what daycare that was and I can't find the site anymore. I'm not even sure if it's legal in some (if not all) states, it kind of seems like a daycare monopoly or some type of weird pyramid scheme (if the other providers did only get paid by the hour or a flat rate salary, it would seem unfair unless they weren't full).
You can share a website that features both your daycares (1 side of the site about your home business and the other about hers). If you do field trips, parties, or preschool graduations you both can look into doing them together (may have some issues due to licensing regulations like ratio/capacity per location).Comment
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I doubt you can each be licensed and get more kids.
In my state there is a daycare home for 6 kids or a group home for 12 kids, so maybe you can do that.
However, I agree with the other posters. I've done a partnership and lost my best friend. Its a very bad idea. She will be mad now if you back out, but she will get over it. it would be better than losing your relationship completely later on.Comment
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I don't think you have 2 different licenses for one location.
Also, I think it would be best to see what the rules are for your county, as each can be a little different. Call or email your licensing department and find out.
I know that after a year in my county, I could apply for a Group Family Daycare license (C1, C2, or C3). C3 license allows for 2 adults and up to 14 children with 10 under school age. At least, this is what I was told by my licensing lady last year...no idea what yours would say.Comment
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