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I feel stuck, and frankly scared to death right now. I've been getting things in order to open my daycare for about a year now. Right now I am dealing with the city (zoning, inspections, business license, etc.). I've been advertising for almost a month, and have gotten lots of inquiries, but still only have 1 child who is definitely starting with me in March. I have already put in my notice at both my current jobs. The good news is I won't have the almost $500/month child care tuition for my own daughter. The terrifying part is that even with the 1 child my income will be cut in half! AHHHHH!
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Exciting isn't it!!
. It will all work out, just trust the process and you will find that you need a lot less $$ than you thought!
Good luck
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Welcome to the wonderful world of daycare! Expect inconsistent income and prepare/plan for it. I try to set aside at least a MONTH's worth of full ratio daycare income in my business account in case I lose a client and have a hard time replacing. It has yet to happen, but I'm sure it will eventually.
It's also not the greatest time of year to open. I get a lot of calls in spring/summer/fall. Winter is definitely not a time when the phone is ringing.
Can you host an open house and advertise for that? Hand out brochures at the library? Start a facebook page, offer an enrollment incentive. GOOD LUCK!Comment
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The first few months were so scary. It gave me so much courage to walk up to neighbors that were pregnant and 'plead my case'... I'm a new home daycare and I'd love to watch your little one. Either they'd be thrilled to have someone close by, or creeped out. Lucky for me, they were thrilled. I got a lot of my original clients by offering my services word of mouth (library, neighbors, nice ladies at target)... don't be afraid to get a little unconventional. Sometimes seeing the person is much easier to relate to than just a website, or ad on craigslist. Good Luck!Comment
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I agree with making yourself known. I tell everyone I do daycare. DH delivers milk to the local schools and centers so he's always throwing my name out to anyone that mentions looking for daycare or being pregnant
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I tell people in target, restaurants, the post office. Anywhere I go, I try to tell people I do daycare somehow through out the conversation. I've gotten a LOT of referrals that way!Comment
This is so true. I met too future dcfs at the park and the dog park. I am a chatty lady 
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