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I feel like God is nudging us to make a big shift. Right now I have a 14 month old daughter and both my husband and I work full time. I have not been happy working since she was born, and had a suspicion that I would want to stay home with her when pregnant, but this was never our reality before getting pregnant. We have put ourselves in a lifestyle that requires two incomes. But being away from my daughter just get's harder and harder, instead of easier like I had hoped. So I am considering starting a home daycare. My husband is terrified to say the least, and isn't quite on the same page as me when it comes to the importance of having a parent home to raise the child. I'm taking my orientation on February 8th, and I'm thinking about this so much I've started feeling a little sick. Any insight is helpful! I'm overwhelmed by the things I'll need, the classes, the money (and lack thereof) just starting out. This is a HUGE leap of faith for us.
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I am in Kansas
If I posted in the wrong place I apologize!
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Your orientation meeting will give you tons of info. Depending on what ages of children you plan to keep, you may already have much of what you need. As far as the money for supplies and such, search for used items as much as possible. Facebook yardsale groups, craigslist, thrift stores such as Goodwill.
The biggest mistake I have been seeing lately on facebook groups and such is people feeling desperate to start so not having a contract and handbook. Then they also compound that by taking any family that will sign on. Those things certainly set up new providers for failure. It was the reason I quit doing daycare the first time. People will take, take, and take some more if you let them. So you have to just start out by NOT letting them. Also I highly suggest taking a "deposit" that is applied towards the last two weeks care to start, and make all tuition payable in advance. Those are just the big things I can think of in that department.
As far as the need for two incomes, daycare can be a great income, but it can also be unreliable. It can be hard to find families sometimes, sometimes someone will quit you or you will need to term them. There is nothing worse than feeling held hostage by a bad family if you feel you can't afford to get rid of them. Can you downsize any bills? A few years ago we were forced to get rid of cable, sell our one truck that had payments and buy another with what we could for the cash off of it. Lots of little things when hubby lost his job a few years ago. You can quit eating out, cook from scratch. I am the queen of frugal and getting by with little
I could write a book about it. Those are just things off the top of my head.
As far as feeling a little sick, change is never easy. It is always easier to feel like you know what you have than to jump into the unknown. Especially if your DH isn't on board. If you really want to do this, you may have to sell it to him. What will make things easier for both of you if you are home? One big one is you won't have to pay daycare! Of course there are always bad things to any situation but you have to see if the good outweighs the bad for you.Comment
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Start out small and as you take on more you will have already mastered some of it before.
As for purchasing equipment, toys, supplies, look to CL, thrift stores, yard sales, friends and family cast-offs, FB groups.
Are you able to take on 1-2 kids before becoming licensed? Here we can have 2 and then we have to become registered of licensed by the state.
I think when you're looking ahead to it all, it probably does appear overwhelming but as you go through a bit at a time, it'll get easier.
Good luck!!Comment
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It is a huge leap and there are startup costs. You will learn a lot in your orientation and use that information to make sure that this is right for you. There will be changes that will need to be made to your home, your routine, and your daughter's routine. You are making the leap of becoming a business owner, if you look at it that way, instead of just having the opportunity to stay home with your daughter, you'll do great. You will need to research what are the normal daycare rates in your area and make a plan for how many enrollments you'll need to cover expenses and to make an income as well.
The benefit is that you won't have to spend money on gas for your commute, your morning routine will change a bit but you won't need to get ready to get out the door. The classes are great info and interesting, I learned a lot from them.
Also, don't quit your job just yet, licensing can take a while and you will need to save some money to help you through getting enrollments, it takes a while to become full. Not to scare you, but from my orientation to getting officially licensed took a year. My county dragged their feet, as for me, I made sure all of my stuff was in on a timely basis. I was able to take a family during my licensing process but it definitely didn't pay the bills. Now that I'm licensed I have a couple remaining spots to fill but am happy were I'm at now. I wish you luck in your endeavor.Comment
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I did daycare in Kansas years ago. I am sure some things have changed some, but it wasn't hard to get licensed. Are your planning to get licensed or registered? I did registered first and after a couple of years switched over. Do you live in a city or rural area? That will make a difference how fast you fill up. And then you have to decide if you will take subsidy payments or not. But that can wait you don't have to do it all at once. If you and your DH can pass the FBI and KBI checks, and you have the required space those seem to have been the big things when I did it.Comment
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Katie, I am in Kansas as well! I had a daycare in a rural town for about 3 years, then moved to the KC area and have been open here for about 3 years. What county are you in? The very best piece of advice I can give you is to stay active in this forum. I would have given anything to know about it when I was first starting. The advice you get here will be invaluable to you!
Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about state regs. Welcome to the craziest and most rewarding career ever!Comment
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Thank you all for the fast responses!
Yes there will be no problems with the background checks. My daughter is young so our house is for the most part kid proofed with the exception of installing a few more child proof locks on cabinets, etc.
I can watch 2 without a license; however I think it will be easier to get kids with a license. Also easier for me to get all my ducks in a row so to speak! I know my husband is wanting me to market now so that I don't start off with just one kid, but I don't know if that's possible. Currently with taxes and 401k taken out I clear $550 a week so that (+100)?? Maybe for food, etc is what i'm trying to reach. And yes, there are places we can cut back if it comes to that. I wish I could sell my car but unfortunately we were upside down when we bought it and we can't sell it for what we owe.Comment
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I'll have to second that for this forum! It has given me so much advice and helped me set up my childcare. It is also teaching me to have a backbone and be the boss!!!
Everyone is very supportive as well, and that is so important. This forum is invaluable to your business and it's free!!Comment
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I would take a deep breath and just take it one day at a time. I know it is hard, but I wouldn't try to match your income now. If you can take two legally, without a license, I would start there and work your way up. I TOTALLY understand why you want to do daycare...so you can stay home with your child! BUT, it is not an easy gig and in some cases, you can feel like you spend even less focus on your child because you have to focus on other people's children. There is a lot of liability in daycare, so if your kid gets hurt in your care, it is not necessarily a big deal. If someone ellse kid is hurt in your care, it could be a very BIG deal.
The one thing I will say is that in home daycare affects the entire family, so I would really work that out with you husband first and foremost. There will be kids in his house, toys and kid equipment every where, safety equipment, constant cleaning, ect. I am not meaning to deter you or to sound negative. I did childcare for 17 years and daycare for 6 years, and I loved it! But it is a tough job and very invasive into your family, so I just want to give you a heads up and make sure you and your husband are on board, because I have found it to be a family affair ime
(just to add, in terms of buying equipment, go to resale shops, ask friends if they are getting rid of or donating any of their toys/equipment, ect. Your biggest expense will probably be food, so look into the food program and save some money for that until you can get going!)Comment
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Careful, the rules about watching children without a license are a bit more strict than you think. Here are the rules:
There are four circumstances where licensing is not required in Kansas.
1) when child care is provided for not more than two children unrelated to the provider for 20 hours per week or less and the home has not been closed as a result of enforcement action. Total time is determined by adding the hours each child is cared for weekly.
2) when irregular child care is arranged between friends and neighbors on an exchange basis.
3) when child care is provided in the child's own home.
4) when the child care is provided in the home of the child's relative.Comment
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this was very good, thank you. And I know i cannot/should not really proceed without my husbands blessing. Even if that may never come.I would take a deep breath and just take it one day at a time. I know it is hard, but I wouldn't try to match your income now. If you can take two legally, without a license, I would start there and work your way up. I TOTALLY understand why you want to do daycare...so you can stay home with your child! BUT, it is not an easy gig and in some cases, you can feel like you spend even less focus on your child because you have to focus on other people's children. There is a lot of liability in daycare, so if your kid gets hurt in your care, it is not necessarily a big deal. If someone ellse kid is hurt in your care, it could be a very BIG deal.
The one thing I will say is that in home daycare affects the entire family, so I would really work that out with you husband first and foremost. There will be kids in his house, toys and kid equipment every where, safety equipment, constant cleaning, ect. I am not meaning to deter you or to sound negative. I did childcare for 17 years and daycare for 6 years, and I loved it! But it is a tough job and very invasive into your family, so I just want to give you a heads up and make sure you and your husband are on board, because I have found it to be a family affair ime
(just to add, in terms of buying equipment, go to resale shops, ask friends if they are getting rid of or donating any of their toys/equipment, ect. Your biggest expense will probably be food, so look into the food program and save some money for that until you can get going!)
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