In part one I discussed how I used print ads and mailers to promote my home daycare. These activities where marginal, though the mailers showed much more promise than print ads.

In this section I talk about marketing your home daycare specifically with door hangers. Door hangers are those annoying little flyers that are shaped specifically so that they fit around door handles. You’ve probably had pizza companies or painters etc. put these on your front door and there’s a reason – it works.

They are similar to mailers in that you control the area where the mailers go (i.e. the neighborhood), but due to their odd shape and that they are hung on doors and not just another marketing piece in the mail box, people actually look at them.

The wording/layout on the door hanger is important. First and foremost, you want to show where you are located. You need to have the parent recognize immediately that you are close by. Convenience is a major component in the parent’s decision process to sign up with you home daycare. I think as well, somehow that it feels safer knowing that the child is nearby. I don’t know, can’t really explain it but it seems to be true.

And it terms of the wording it helps a lot to put some urgency into the writing. The best way to do this is to advertise a single vacancy on the door hanger. Don’t just advertise your daycare service, it’s too general. I tried that especially in the beginning when we had a lot of openings and not a lot of references and when all of my slots where open. What we found that really worked was wording like “One Opening for 12-24 Month Old.” It’s odd but I used to get calls from moms all the time that would ask if we still had a vacancy for an opening that I had advertised months before. It meant that they had saved the door hangers… And the fact that they asked that specific question meant that they had some concern or a sense of urgency that they may not be able to get the spot.

In addition, wording like that implies a few things – you have a full roster and that you must be good, maybe a bit of a stretch here but, trustworthy. It also creates the needed oomph for the parents to pick up the phone and call. Urgency and legitimacy… That’s what I found worked best.

Bottom-line the door hangers worked. I highly suggest that you look into this one marketing technique to promote your home daycare. We signed up several kids from this and the costs were minimal at approximately $100 for 2500 to have them printed out. One of the negatives of the door hangers is that you have to have them printed out due to their odd shape and thickness of the paper. We tried a couple of different companies like Kinko’s but they really didn’t have the right equipment. You’ll probably have to go to a traditional printer to get it done.

Last thought, although cheap and effective, door hangers are a pain to distribute. I sent my husband on this chore. He would walk through our neighborhood and hanged these on two hundred or so doors at a time on Saturday’s, taking four to five hours… I even got him to do this one Saturday during the winter – it was twelve degrees out!!! Perhaps you have a trustworthy neighborhood teenager to do this or like me you can engage your slave labor (husband) to get these out.

Stay tuned for part 3 of 4 on Starting a Home Daycare – Marketing

Tania Rauth wrote a book on how to start and run a home daycare. More info at starting a daycare or how to run a daycare

Just in case.

As a new budding entrepreneur, you’re going to encounter a lot of new challenges daily with your daycare center. Protecting yourself from risk, exposure or any liability is a must for you. This will definitely add to your peace of mind as the business owner. Your insurance can cover everything from property damage to child injury. Why should you wait until something like it happens before you get any sort of protection?

There are several kinds of insurance that you need as a daycare owner. The following are the basic types of insurance that you will need as a new business owner and day care operator.

Business insurance – First and foremost, your day care is a business. Getting business insurance will protect you from future losses, as well as protect your future or current employees. Insuring your business protects your investments and in the long run, protects you.

Fire, accident and other basic insurance – These are the kinds of insurance you would get for yourself to protect your home or place of business. Don’t worry; there are many insurance agencies that include this with basic business packages and other special types of insurance.

Daycare Liability Insurance – Your insurance company may cover this as part of your business insurance or separately. The type of insurance that you’d want to get depends on the kind of day care that you own. Don’t be afraid to shop around for the best kind of insurance for you. Your daycare liability insurance will cover everything from loss, bodily injury, even possible legal costs in the future. General liability will normally cover everything from child care, field trips and even child abuse allegations. Daycare liability differs for home daycare centers and commercial daycare centers. Ask your insurance provider now how you can get the best deal from your current coverage.

Errors and Omissions Insurance – This type of insurance gives you maximum coverage for your daycare center. Errors and Omissions is the type of insurance that covers negligence, personal injury, field trips, $50,000-$100,000 for unforeseen circumstances and even medical expenses for the children in your care, including clauses for accidents and accidental death.

These are the basic types of daycare insurance that you should get. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t neglect other areas of insurance, even simple things like auto insurance. These can go a long way towards helping you in the future. Talk to different insurance providers about possible packages and requirements you need to have. Different types of insurance have different requirements and these may vary, depending on where you live. Getting coverage is one way for you to guarantee that you’ll stay in business no matter what happens. That’s one reason to send out your check every month. At the very least, you’ll know that if a crisis comes, you’ll be ready and waiting.

See: How to start a daycare.

Dolson McArt – Author of: Kinds Of Insurance That You Need As A Daycare Owner
Contributing to EzineArticles.com since March 2007.

It really depends on how much money they will gain in this kind of business; there are lots of considerations that should be made in putting up a daycare. If you’re wise enough you’ll consider having a feasibility study before entering this kind of business. Always remember that in just one critical decision it could make or break your plans it putting up a daycare.

You should have considered things before starting up this kind of business; you don’t want to have regrets in the end when you did not succeed. Strong and solid foundation makes this business a success. Think of a strategy on how will you market your daycare, the location on where you will build the daycare, ask if it is accessible, or is it convenient to your target market?

Government permits and forms makes your business eligible, this will help your business known to the public and recognizes the legality of your business. Ask the experts whenever possible, you don’t want to waste money, and don’t be afraid in investing in gaining knowledge, this would be the one of the keys that will help you fulfill in earning much money in a daycare.

When everything is all set up, try to oversee and think of something that will make your daycare different from the others, think of something new or any add on services that you can apply on your daycare, like a one stop shop; in this way it can increase your income. Promos on the opening day will be a good start. And you should also consider customer satisfaction, by giving quality service. Ask customer’s feedback if possible, so that you have the idea on how to satisfy them without sacrificing daycare’s income.

After all of this, you will see a win-win situation, satisfying customer and at the same time increasing daycare’s income every month. As long as you have happy customers you’ll have a strong foundation of the business. And if you have a strong foundation, money will be just easy to come in to your pocket.

See: How to start a daycare center

Dolson McArt – Author of: How Much Money Can a Daycare Make?
Contributing to EzineArticles.com since March 2007

You need to establish structure before you interview applicants, in this way; you can control of the interview and can gain all the information that you to in order to come up with a good decision.

There lots of things that you need to consider in making a structured interview, this is what you need to do, greeting and nonverbal assessment, brief conversation, 5-10 warm up questions, 20 behavioral questions, clarify concerns, ask for references, tell them to weigh things out and call them, make an handshake and say goodbye. Move to the next interviewers until the process is complete.

In order for you to effectively conduct the interview, you need to be prepared ahead of time. There are questions that you need to ask yourself in order to effectively establish a structure interview. Who will conduct the interview? How many applicants will be interviewed? What format of interview will you use (series, face to face, panel, sequential, group)? How much time will you allocate for each interview? What will be the questions that you will ask your applicants?

Yes, an applicant will arrive in time, properly dressed up, that would be great, but of course, you can’t just base it with that. You need to assess their non-verbal cues. Look on how your applicant sits during the interview. Are the applicants taking note or just drawing? Yes, there are applicants who do not pay attention with the interviewer, so you need to check out the behaviors of your applicants.

Ask the experiences of your employees; make sure that they have dealt with kids before. If you are seeking for caregivers, it is best that they have done babysitting before. If you are seeking for teachers, make sure that they have enough experiences and expertise in order to assure that the kids will learn from them.

Clarify and confirm information about the applicant’s education and work history. The applicant should competent enough for the position; you need to see to it that the applicant before hiring him/her is good enough for the position. The applicant must have the patience and compassion for kids.

Learn more see: How to start your own daycare center

Dolson McArt – Author of: How to Interview Potential Employees for Your Daycare
Contributing to EzineArticles.com since March 2007.

That’s certainly no way to go about marketing a business, especially a home daycare business. So before I schedule any interviews, I’ve gotta whip this place back into shape pronto!

Did you know that within a few seconds of a potential client driving up to your home, they have already formed an opinion of your home daycare business, good or bad?

Does “Gone In 60 Seconds” ring a bell? That Nick Cage is so dreamy in a goofy boy next door sort of way… but, I digress. lol

No matter how awesome your daycare space is “inside”, your prospects may have already decided to move on simply based on their first impression of the “outside”.

Bummer, huh?

So how do we get the “outside” of your home daycare business to reflect the quality of care going on “inside”?

Besides the obvious tasks of mowing the lawn & trimming the hedges, here are 10 super simple ways to add a little curb appeal to your humble abode:

1.) Flowerbeds & Shrubs – Boy, what a difference a couple of bags of mulch can make.

2.) Got Spiders? – Yes, spiders do serve their purpose, but it’s time to say goodbye to Charlotte’s Web.

3.) House Numbers – Are they in good condition or should they be repaired, repainted, or replaced?

4.) Litter & Debris – Make sure that your yard, driveway, walkway, etc. are free of all litter, debris, & pesky leaves.

5.) Mailbox – Has your mailbox seen better days? This is another good candidate for a thorough scrubbing, repair job, or replacement.

6.) Mold & Mildew – Whether you go with a store bought product or a homemade solution, be sure to try it out on a test area to avoid any major “whoopsies”.

7.) Repairs – Address any flaking or chipped paint, loose screens, shutters, gutters, handrails, steps, etc.

8.) Stow The Stuff – Stow away unnecessary garden goodies & equipment, unsightly garbage cans, lawn furniture or any random item that doesn’t live in your front yard.

9.) Welcome Aboard – Add a homey touch to your entry way with a fresh new welcome mat.

10.) Yard Sign – Wash, repair, or replace your yard sign if necessary. Go a step further by adding some potted plants or flower box at the base to make it smile.

If you want to take this whole idea of creating curb appeal to the next level, stop by your local library to see what they have available on the topics of creating curb appeal, landscaping, home staging and such. (be sure to post some flyers while you’re there).

Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m super excited about the idea of giving my home and business a little Spring Time pick me up.

What have you got planned?

Visit http://www.FamilyDaycareMarketing.com for more articles, tips, and marketing resources for your Home Daycare Business.

There are lots of benefits to a cooperative daycare. For beginners, this one is easier and more affordable than babysitting, than relying on about 1 or 2 carers that at times are not available. But having access for about 10 to 20 families, it would be easier to find someone quickly.

For parents who do not have family nearby, the best option that they can get is to bring their children to the coop, so they can spend few hours without their children without the additional costs of child care of baby sitter.

With the costs that one can have in getting paid baby sitter, some are rather using cooperative daycare to provide regular care. Sharing the tasks among other families can make it much easier in looking up for the children.

If you are putting cooperative daycare, a group of parents should come together with a goal of creating a parent-run daycare. There are lots of principles that should be considered in putting up a coop. Read on.
You have to provide safe and caring home to children. You have to assure the healthy diet for the children such as organic, vegetarian and balanced. Make sure that the place is safe and has a healthy environment and free from pesticides and any toxics that can be harmful to the children’s health. In having a coop, you have to focus on providing the special needs of the children either health, dietary or behavioral matters. Assure that the social and educational level that you would be providing is high. Make sure that the cooperative daycare works not only for the children but for the parents as well. With this, parents can be flexible between caring for their children and as well their careers.

There are factors that can provide you success in putting up a cooperative daycare. In putting up a coop, you have to set all the rules first, so everyone will know how the process will work. How large or small will your coop be? The best is a minimum of 5 and maximum of 25. What will be the starting point of each family? How will they be introduced? How much time should each family provide?

These are few of the good ways that you need to consider in putting up a cooperative daycare.

See: How to start a daycare

Dolson McArt – Author of: How to Start a Cooperative Daycare

Provide them a copy of your handbook, let them sign and understand the rules and regulation before you accept them as your customer. This will lead to no misunderstanding between you and the parents.

Some guideline may help you and you may need to follow regarding rules and restrictions for your daycare center.

Create a sick policy, think of a guideline that you need to use when a child got sick. Set a standard on what to do every time a child got sick. Consider on how you will contact parents and in to what extent you will need to call the parent. There are some cases that a child will have unexplained rash, we don’t want to be reported for a child abuse, make sure when a child was left in your care, have a physical check up and identify if there are any rashes or wounds on child’s body. This will save you from being reported to 911. Have a list of infectious disease that is not allowed in your daycare. Those are just some guideline that you and the parent need to know.

Have a record of relative of a child, this will identify on who is authorized in picking up the child. You should let the parent know about the policy of picking up the child, be strict on this kind of policy. For security purposes, don’t let someone who is not authorized to pick a child even if he or she is a closed relative of the child. Set standards on how and who will pick a child. Be strict to it, because you don’t want to be blamed when a child got kidnapped. There are some cases that parent are not allowed to pick their own child, have legal documents filed stating the agreement by court.

Make an understanding between you and the parent with regard to payment or tuition fee. Also, include on the understanding on how many days will the child be in a daycare. Explain all of the extra charges if there is any when a child is under your care or even the child is not attending your daycare.

There are also instances that you need to anticipate wherein for some reasons your daycare is closing, make sure you have this kind of policy on your handbook. Include holidays on when will your daycare is close.

Lastly, set some rules and regulation in punishing kids with uncontrollable behavior, let the parent have the knowledge about these rules and regulation on who are about to be punished and the grounds for such disorderly behavior.

See: How To Start A Daycare Center

Dolson McArt – Author of: Why You Should Create a Parent Handbook for Your Daycare

Your daycare business plan should incorporate the all state and federal guidelines as well as any licensing requirements for teachers and employees of your daycare. This area has the toughest laws of any business because it deals with children, and each state has their own laws and regulation regarding daycare.

A daycare business plan should be created before you seek funding for your business. The daycare industry is growing and can be successful if your plan offers incentive to parents who need to find affordable daycare. If you plan to accept any type of daycare assistance payments, then you should research the rules and regulations thoroughly and incorporate them into your plan.

Your daycare business plan will also need to cover all of your start up expenses. These expenses include all supplies, materials, and furniture that your daycare will need to operate on a daily basis. You will need office supplies such as computers and software, paper for the printer, desks, file cabinets and any other office supplies you will need. For the furniture in your daycare, the plan should include cribs, beds, playpens, toys table and chairs. You should visit your local furniture store or do an online search for pricing of the furniture.

You will also need to figure into your business plan food menus and snacks. You really need to sit in a quiet place and figure everything into your daycare business plan.

When you seek financing, the lender will review your business plan to determine if it is feasible or not. He or she will suggest changes that will make your daycare more lucrative. You have the option to decline the changes, however the lender may become overly caution and decline your application.

When you are seeking a lender, you have a couple of options. There are many different lending institutions, from banks and credit unions to investors. Each one has advantages and disadvantages and should be researched completely before you make a decision.

A daycare business plan is the first step in creating a successful business. It is important that you include all information before submitting it for review to financial lenders.

Learn more about day care business plan software and opening a day care by visiting: http://www.important-daycare-information.com

Before putting one, you need to gain all the necessary information and set up a creative and great business plan in order for you to determine the steps that you need to take to start up your own business.

If you are decided to put up one, you can start establishing a great business plan. There are questions you need to answer. You need to ask yourself if this is the right business for you and if you have the heart of caring and watching over lots of kids.

You need to bear in mind that in putting up such business, it needs dedication. Indeed, is it in demand business, but you need to do lots of work for it. There are lots of things that you need to consider such as the number of kids you will allow in your facility, if you will hire caregivers or do it on your own.

As soon as you have decided that you will put up such business, you need to make a business plan for your daycare business. In creating business plan, you need to include in there the proposed location, the vision and mission statements, analysis about the funding, and other important information about starting a daycare business.

You need to check out the rules and regulations in your area and abide with it. You need to gain all the information in your area and include it in your business plan. You can also check out the other daycares in your area and gain information about their service and prices and include it also in your business plan. And put the advantage of putting up another daycare center which is yours.

You must know that this business requires insurance, so you need to check out the necessary insurances that you must get for your business. Of course, you know that this can protect you and your clients against injuries and accidents. Do some researching about legal coverage and include it in your business plan.

In having a clear and concrete business plan, you can start up successfully and you can expect great profitable gain.

See: How to start a daycare business

Dolson McArt – Author of: Ideas in Crafting a Daycare Business Plan

Once you have an initial number of kids in your daycare, it is time to ensure that they and, more importantly, their parents, are happy that they’ve chosen your daycare center. Remember the following sentence, because following it basically ensures a successful and growing daycare center business: “Happy children make for happy parents who in turn bring you more customers and more money.”

You need to woo the parents who entrusted you with their children. There’s no other way to put it. You can do so by appealing to the children. You should of course keep the children happy and safe all year around. That’s the basic rule of running a day care. But you can also put in a little more effort on special occasions and get a lot more in return.

Don’t know when and how? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Birthdays – you should make each child’s birthday a special occasion. Either buy a cake or bake one yourself. Make a day of it, or at least an hour or so at the end of the day. Make sure to invite the child’s parents to attend the party about 2 weeks in advance. They will be pleasantly surprised. Make them a part of the celebration. It will connect them more firmly to you and to your daycare.

2. Holidays – each holiday should be preceded by a special day at your daycare. For halloween, you can throw a preliminary costume party for the kids. Again, invite the parents. Make sure they know what you’re doing. They’ll be impressed with your energy and creativity.

3. Arrange a daycare play in which the kids act. Make sure that each kid gets about the same number of lines so that no parent will feel as if his/her kid got the short end of the stick. The children’s families will be the audience.

You can come up with more ideas, I’m sure. Any event that brings the parents to your daycare center in a positive atmosphere, makes them more loyal customers who will recommend your daycare to more people. You will get more customers and make more money. All these events shouldn’t cost much and can be a lot of fun to produce.

To get more ideas and tips on how to start and run a successful day care center, visit this dedicated webpage: Opening a day care center

Lucy Doyle runs a home business and is an expert on starting and operating successful daycare centers.

To read how you can too become a successful businesswoman by starting your own profitable daycare visit Lucy Doyle’s expert webpage on starting daycare centers at this dedicated webpage: http://www.squidoo.com/startingadaycare