by Laura Leigh Fields

Created on: August 15, 2008

A family day care business is a great way to make some extra income. The best part is that you can start one in your own home with very little effort or additions. If you know what it takes to run a daycare center, (or care for a child) you are already ahead of the game.

The first thing that you need to do is check with local county and state offices in your area to see what the requirements are. You should go by the books and make sure that everything is legal. This way, there won't be any surprises later on.

If you have no experience with children, it is best to take a course in childcare. You should also read up on popular childcare methods and research the things that work best with children. Another important thing that you should do to prepare for opening your own daycare is to get certification in CPR and first aid. You need to be prepared for any and all possible situations.

As soon as you have the groundwork covered, you need to make some important decisions about your daycare. Will you have help? How many helpers will you have and how competent are they when it comes to childcare? How many children will you be able to watch at once? What are the ideal ages that you will be caring for? Keep in mind that children are active and you shouldn't spread yourself or your workers too thin. Don't take on more than you can realistically handle.

Next, you must decide how much you will charge to care for these children. Think about your expenses that will come with running the business. You need to factor these into the price you will be charging. Decide if you will charge per hour, by the day, weekly, or monthly. Consider wages of an average family and how much would be too much to afford. You can also comparison shop by phoning local daycare centers and comparing their average prices.

Once all the thinking work is done, you need to prepare your house for children. Childproof all areas that children will be in. Secure loose cords, lock up cleaning items, use outlet covers, make sure breakable and dangerous items are out of a child's reach. If the children won't be allowed in certain areas of the house, you should lock them or secure them to keep them out.)

You also need to make sure that there are kid appropriate rooms and items in the house. There should be plenty of room and designated areas for naps and mealtime. If you are caring for babies and small children, you will need baby beds and highchairs. Proper equipment is important and can be bought second-hand at

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