Running a daycare center in a digital-savvy culture has its pros and cons. One of the biggest benefits is the ability to streamline, organize, and improve every operation at your childcare business with the help of apps. From offloading repetitive administrative tasks to keeping track of invoices and tuition, there are several apps available today that make daycare management easier than ever. How do you choose the right one? 

Let’s look at some of the best apps for daycares so you can compare and discover the solution for your business. 

Daycare Apps for Business Management

It’s not easy to run a business and provide top-quality childcare services around the clock. A business management app can significantly relieve some of the workload that you put into your administrative and managerial tasks each day. Here are a few examples that work well for daycares.

Daily Connect

The Daily Connect app is a full-stack childcare management platform that you can keep with you at all times—on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. It includes many useful features, including:

• Classroom management
• Staff-teacher communication
• Daycare calendars
• Custom reports 
• Administrative controls
• Secure document storage
• Child learning assessments
• And more

Since Daily Connect was designed specifically for daycare providers, it has everything you need to make your daycare center more efficient and successful. 

Asana

Asana is a popular project management app that can help small businesses like daycare centers stay on track. In the app, you can create tasks, set urgent deadlines, share daily to-do lists, automate recurring projects, and assign responsibilities to team members. 

The app’s visual “Timeline” feature makes it easy to view progress on business goals at a glance. It’s flexible, easy to use, and integrates with many software applications like Apple and Google.

Google Workspace

Google Workspace is extremely affordable (sometimes free) with multiple productivity apps that businesses use daily. Email, document storage, digital calendars, reminders, Google Drive, and even generative AI tools simplify your business workflows. It also integrates with many different services, making it a versatile and convenient option for everyone on your team.

Best Apps for Parent-Teacher Communication

Phone calls, emails, surprise in-person appearances—parent communication can get a little messy while running a daycare. Fortunately, there are apps that enable secure, instant communication between parents and teachers so everything stays in one app. You no longer have to track down multiple contact lists to get ahold of parents, either.

Slack

Slack is mainly known as a business communication tool but can be effectively adapted for daycare settings. It offers a user-friendly, app-friendly interface for instant messaging, file sharing, and group sharing.

One of the most useful features of Slack is its standard format of organizing different “channels.” Each channel can be set up for specific classrooms, topics, announcements, and even private group updates for staff. Many parents who work in business settings or work from home already use Slack, too, so it could add a level of convenience to their daycare communications.

Remind

The Remind app is a school communication platform designed specifically for educational settings. It facilitates quick and secure messaging between teachers and staff, teachers and administrators, and teachers and parents. 

This app gives you the option to send updates, announcements, and reminders directly to parents’ phones. It also includes features like group messaging and even language translation. It’s a helpful app for daycares with a multicultural focus, empowering you to communicate with everyone in your community no matter the language barrier. 

ClassDojo

ClassDojo is a well-known classroom app designed for behavior management and direct messaging with parents. Teachers can quickly update parents on their child’s behavior and share meaningful classroom moments in real-time. The app can help daycare leaders ensure a positive classroom environment by encouraging good behavior and keeping parents in the loop.

Financial Management Apps for Daycare Businesses

How do you manage the financial side of daycare? There are a few options. It mostly depends on your payment structure, financial goals, and digital preferences. Here are a few daycare-savvy financial apps to consider. 

QuickBooks

One of the most well-known financial and accounting apps is Quickbooks. Daycare providers can use Quickbooks to track payments, tuition, parent invoices, expenses, and financial projections for the coming year. 

This app also includes features that let you create and send invoices, manage payroll, and automate your financial reports. This could be a great option if you want to improve the overall financial health of your business. 

Wave

It’s easy to get started with Wave, an accounting service for small businesses. Its free features include invoicing and financial tracking. However, for the more advanced features like receipt scanning, expense reports, and discounted online payment rates, you’ll have to choose the Pro Plan. 

Wave’s user-friendly desktop interface and mobile app simplify daycare finances without needing extensive accounting knowledge. Plus, it’s easy for parents to make payments online and automatically receive copies of their receipts. 

Expensify

Expensify is another financial management app that daycare centers can use, particularly for managing business expenses. With the app, you can scan business receipts and automatically view expense reports for a clear picture of where your money is going. For daycare centers that lose track of expenses such as food, classroom supplies, utilities, or building repairs, Expensify is a useful option. 

Helpful Education Apps for Daycare Centers

Let’s not forget about education apps you can use for the kiddos. From educational assessment reports to fun lesson planners, here are a few of the most popular learning apps for daycares. 

Lesson Planner Pro

Lesson Planner Pro is an innovative tool that uses generative AI to enhance your lesson plans and daycare curriculum. With the app, you can brainstorm, create, organize, and share different lesson plans based on your classrooms and educational preferences. You can also customize your own templates to reuse for easy planning month after month, and compare classroom activities with ECE learning standards. 

Khan Academy Kids

Khan Academy Kids is a widely popular learning engagement app loved by teachers, parents, and kids. With its large library of fun educational content, Khan Academy Kids is a helpful resource for gathering developmentally appropriate lesson ideas and online games. Use it as a supplemental tool in the classroom or suggest specific app activities to parents so they can learn with the child at home. 

Planboard

Planboard is another lesson planner tool that daycare directors can use to establish learning assessments, lesson plans, and ideal outcomes. Teachers can customize their own templates as well as document their students’ progress throughout the year. However, its features are limited and users report a steep learning curve within the app’s many features. 

The All-in-One Daycare App: Daily Connect

The right daycare app can help you turn your business into an organized, successful childcare business. Look for an app that includes all of the above features including business management, financial organization, parent communication, and educational support. 

While every app covered in this article has its uses, Daily Connect is the only option that was designed specifically for daycares—bringing you and your community all the digital features you need. Go with the all-in-one solution for total daycare management! Start a free trial of the Daily Connect app at your daycare today. 

Starting an at-home daycare center is a rewarding journey. You get to nurture young minds, help your local community, and create a safe, supportive environment for children. But having a daycare business inside your home can also be challenging. You must balance work and personal life, ensure the safety of children, and maintain the comfort of your own family—all while staying organized in both aspects of your home. 

From sanitation standards to organization and equipment, there’s a lot to consider when setting up your daycare. Here are some fun ideas on how you can maintain balance, ensure kids’ safety and entertainment, and run your daycare business smoothly. 

1. Personalize Your Home Daycare Setup

If you want to make your in-home daycare setup fun, unique, and inviting, consider your personal style in relation to the goals you have for your daycare. While your childcare space needs to foster joy, learning, and curiosity among children, you can do so in a way that stays true to your home.

• What kid-friendly interior design elements can you implement in the daycare area? 
• What would make you (and your students) feel most at ease with having a daycare in your home?
• What color palettes, artwork, and furniture styles blend well with your home and function well with children?

You don’t have to make your space a stuffy, sterile, or generic environment someone might expect in a daycare. Get creative with it and have fun.

2. Divide Spaces Into Clearly Distinguished Areas

Having some kind of border or barrier that distinguishes your personal spaces from daycare spaces draws a clear boundary. Some ideas you can try include:

• Using large, sturdy furniture pieces as room dividers 
• Establishing semi-permanent baby gates to block off personal rooms 
• Having convertible storage spaces that hide childcare supplies during off-hours
• Buying separate child-sized furniture for meal areas, play areas, and activity areas
• Implementing area rugs, color schemes, and lighting to distinguish childcare areas as separate from your home 

You can also use fun, colorful signs that display certain rules for your space, such as “No Child Zone” or “Closed Area.”

3. Rethink Your Main Entrance

Think about where your daycare area is located in your home. If you have a large home that people have to walk through to get to the daycare, it might make you (or some parents) uncomfortable. 

If there’s a way to facilitate an alternative entrance to your daycare area, set up an appealing walkway that guides customers through. For example, you can create a stone path to the side gate, set up a sign at the back entrance, or welcome families every morning through the garage. 

4. Creative Daycare Safety 

Childcare is all about safety. But ideally, this doesn’t involve intense bars on the windows or rigid fixtures that seem out of place.

You can get creative with daycare safety items. For some items, you can even DIY (do-it-yourself). Here are a few examples:

• Hang a framed, aesthetically pleasing emergency exit map in a visible spot on the wall.
• Replace faucets with child-safe knobs that prevent the hot water from being turned on.
• Store chemicals and dangerous objects away from the children’s restroom. Instead, use the under-sink storage for a first aid kit, art supplies, extra toys, or spare clothing.
• Customize a first aid kit in every room.
• Implement safety protocols into the daily schedule so they become a natural part of the learning environment.
• Arrange children’s furniture, equipment, and toys in a layout that flows with the rest of the space.

When setting up your daycare for safety, prioritize multi-purpose furniture and equipment that’s suitable for kids’ dynamic and engaging activities.

5. Your Daycare Nap Area

There are a few ways you can make your daycare nap area fun and functional. 

Use calming colors in the room. Provide plenty of soft pillows and blankets and encourage kids to bring their favorite stuffed animal for comfort. 

Use soft, dim lighting during nap time such as night lights or filtered light that glows through the curtains. You don’t want the room to be too bright, but you also must be able to supervise as children nap. If your neighborhood is noisy, consider playing a white noise machine or soft lullaby music in the background to drown out distracting sounds.

6. Diaper and Restroom Area 

Ensure the diaper-changing area and restroom are equipped with everything you need to maintain proper hygiene. Make it appealing to children, signaling it’s a safe and welcoming place. Hang colorful, calming mobiles that contain friendly animals. Additionally, you can decorate the walls with nature-inspired artwork or cheerful murals. 

Use fun, toy-shaped containers to store baby wipes and diapers. Place large labels that contain text and cute designs indicating the trash bin, laundry basket, and dirty diaper pail. 

For children who are potty training, secure a portable child-sized toilet seat that’s gender-neutral and easy to clean. 

7. Daycare Meal Area

Snack and lunchtime are two of the most socially exciting moments at daycare. Make the meal area a vibrant and spacious place. To keep things fun and lively, consider trying these ideas:

• Use seasonal or holiday-themed tablecloths that are reusable
• Provide colorful plastic bowls and plates 
• Decorate surrounding walls with friendly food pictures or basic table rules
• Assign each child’s chair with their own name tag to prevent fighting over seating

If you have additional daycare staff, make sure they have access to a list of children’s food allergies. 

8. Outdoor Play Area

Set up an outdoor play area for children so they can be active, socialize, and reap the many health benefits of playing outside. Whether the playspace consists of a small sandbox or a large swingset in the backyard, prioritize safety and sensory play options.

Plan seasonal activities like a water balloon toss in the summer and a local nature walk in the fall. If you don’t have an outdoor play area directly on-site at your home, consider taking the kids on a walk to a local park or nearby soccer field (as long as their parents consent). 

9. Indoor Activity Areas

The indoor play space is the central location of your daycare—it’s where the most activity takes place. Therefore, children need plenty of options to stay engaged, entertained, and educated throughout the day.

• A kids’ reading lounge with many colorful books to read
• An arts and crafts table for guided activities
• An imaginative play area with a dress-up bin, costumes, and props
• A sensory play area with toys of various textures, shapes, and uses
• A builders’ play area with options to set up Legos, blocks, puzzles, and other floor games
• Plenty of multi-player toys and equipment for children to interact with one another

For added structure to playtime, create an activity calendar and a daily schedule. Having a consistent routine helps kids understand what to expect each day, encouraging a more pleasant experience for everyone.

10. Daycare Management System

There’s more to your daycare program than its physical setup. Administrative tasks, expenses, enrollment, tuition, and paperwork are important aspects of running a successful daycare from your home. It’s a good idea to have a digital system that can handle all these important factors—specifically a childcare management platform designed for daycare providers. 

A daycare management software helps you:

• Track attendance 
• Communicate with parents 
• Log learning assessments 
• Receive online payments 
• Automate childcare invoices
• Manage staff
• And more 

When setting up your daycare at home, consider a trusted childcare software like Daily Connect.

Set Up Your At-Home Daycare With Daily Connect

No matter what layout, style, or setup you choose for your daycare center, you have to manage your business effectively. The Daily Connect app for home daycare centers has all the features to support your daily activities, safety standards, child records, parent communication, and more. 

Enhance your daycare setup with convenient technology to oversee every part of your operation. Get started with Daily Connect for free to see how it works!

Efficient childcare enrollment processes are crucial for any successful childcare operation. As important as enrollment is, it takes a lot of work and preparation to manage its ever-changing demands alongside all the other administrative, managerial, and business tasks every day. 

With all the paperwork, waitlist management, communication with families, childcare tours, and marketing strategies that go into enrollment, how can you keep up? Let’s discuss some of the best tips on how to manage childcare enrollment more efficiently.

Creating a Better Childcare Enrollment Process

To have a smoother enrollment experience for you and your customers, it helps if you streamline the process as much as possible. Here are some important points to consider when setting up a more automated process.  

Provide Clear Policies and Procedures

The first step to effective enrollment is to establish clear and transparent enrollment policies. Think of how you can define more specific policies and procedures so families can understand what to expect upfront. 

Parents who are looking for childcare often review these policies carefully to make sure your program aligns with what their child needs. It’s a good idea to make policy documents readily available for customers who are interested in moving forward with the enrollment process so they can make an informed decision promptly.

Here are some examples of policies you can include in your enrollment forms:

• Age requirements
• Documentation requirements 
• Tuition requirements
• Enrollment/Payment deadlines
• Childcare schedules 
• Learning frameworks 
• Teaching philosophies
• And more 

With these clear expectations stated in the beginning, you encourage a smooth and organized enrollment for all. 

Prioritize Communication With Families 

Consistent communication with families and enrollees is essential as you welcome new children into your program. 

For communication during this crucial time, remember to:

• Provide regular updates on the family’s enrollment status
• Update families as waitlist positions change 
• Provide necessary documents on time
• Send follow-up emails or phone calls within 24 hours 
• Respond to inquiries 
• Keep families informed 

This type of proactive communication builds a sense of trust between you and children’s parents. It also keeps you top of mind so that parents remember to continue the enrollment process through to completion. 

Streamline Enrollment Paperwork

One of the most overwhelming parts of enrollment is the heavy amount of paperwork involved—for both providers and parents. 

If you haven’t already, switch to a digital platform that handles online forms. This not only minimizes the risk of both parties losing important documents but also automates a lot of the delivery and signing activities required.

Electronic signatures are a secure alternative to physical signatures, which saves time. More importantly, secure cloud storage equips you and your business with quick, easy access to records while ensuring confidentiality.

Leverage Childcare Technology

Technological tools designed specifically for childcare businesses not only improve your enrollment strategies but also simplify everyday business processes. Childcare management software includes helpful features like contactless sign-in, online billing, learning assessment tools, staff management, and more. 

Enrollment Features to Look for in a Childcare Management App

If you’re ready to adopt a new childcare management app to optimize how your business runs, look for the following enrollment features in addition to daily capabilities. 

Online Storefront and Waitlist Management 

A childcare software that includes an online shop where parents can fill out applications, send advanced payments, and monitor their placement on the waitlist simplifies enrollment year-round. 

Having an online platform where people can submit their documents and you can receive enrollment payments creates an automated flow of income for your business. It’s also convenient for busy parents who prefer to pay online. 

Shared Onboarding Forms

The ability to customize and manage enrollment onboarding forms online gives families an easy way to complete required forms at any time. If there are any mistakes or missing information in a document, you can inform parents so they resolve the issue digitally. 

Additionally, an online onboarding process gives families a good first impression of your business. Instead of being limited to paper forms, snail mail, or in-person transactions, parents see that you’re serious about serving your customers and making their lives easier. 

With the option to access their documents online at any time during their child’s enrollment, parents likely feel a sense of transparency and confidence in your childcare services. 

Digital Signatures and Contract Management 

Contracts are what clearly state the expectations between you and your customers, and legally bind both parties to the stated agreements. With a childcare management app like Daily Connect, you can create and share important documents with families who need to complete specific items. 

In addition to managing contracts based on family enrollments, a secure online platform also keeps track of signatures and reduces time spent on sifting through the filing cabinet. It also reduces your business expenses of paper and ink, which are two of the most costly products companies spend money on annually. 

Online Payments and Enrollment Fee Collection 

A secure online payment system collects deposits, onboarding payments, tuition costs, enrollment fees, and other forms of payment. 

With enrollment features from Daily Connect, you can customize the user interface with your childcare center’s branding, making the experience more professional for customers.

Online payment collection allows parents to choose a payment method including credit card, debit card, ACH payments, and autopay options so they never miss a payment.

Daily Connect: Improve Enrollment at Your Childcare Center

With clear enrollment policies, effective communication, and the right software system in place, you can streamline your childcare enrollment process to make everyone’s lives easier at your childcare center. Additionally, you open up opportunities for your business and for local families who need your services. 

With enrollment features like online payments, waitlist management, custom onboarding forms, and digital contracts, the Daily Connect app provides comprehensive solutions to childcare centers that need more streamlined processes. 

To see how our childcare management app can benefit your enrollment and your entire operation, download the Daily Connect app for free today.

Opening a daycare is an ambitious and rewarding career choice. In the U.S., we need more childcare professionals to provide the essential care families need for their kids. But how do you start a childcare business safely, legally, and affordably?

First, you need to know which certifications you need to run a childcare business. What certifications and requirements do you need to meet first?

It depends:

• What type of daycare are you opening?
• What educational background do you have?
• Where are you located?
• What are your business goals?

All these things affect what you need to open a daycare business. Let’s look at the requirements and certifications you should consider when opening a daycare in 2024.

Nationwide Requirements for Opening a Daycare 

While the licensing and business requirements depend on your state and county, there are national certifications that equip you to work with children. Obtaining these certifications before offering childcare is crucial.

First Aid and CPR Certifications

Childcare providers need to know how to respond to unexpected emergencies to maintain the safety and health of children in their care. Therefore, CPR and First Aid training are essential. Emergency response skills equip you to respond to life-or-death situations such as choking or cardiac arrest. Complete a certified CPR training near you. Certificates are valid for two years.

Food Safety in Childcare 

Daycare operators must obtain food handling and safety training. Since you handle snacks for growing children, preparation must be sanitary and nutritious. The food safety certificate is based on the USDA guidelines: “Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill.” You can find online or in-person Food Safety training to obtain a certificate. 

Child Development Associate (CDA Credential)

Having some level of credibility in early childhood education (ECE) is a major plus. It’s also highly valued by parents looking for childcare. Whether you have a college degree or not, a Child Development Associate credential is the most commonly recognized certification in the ECE profession. 

While it’s not required, the CDA is a comprehensive training program that equips childcare providers with 120 hours of knowledge, skills, and readiness to support children in early development. Unless you have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field related to childcare, it’s a good idea to obtain a CDA to strengthen your competency and expertise.

Daycare Requirements That Vary by State

Many daycare certifications vary by state. For example, some states require you to be part of the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), whereas others do not. 

Additionally, one of the most important aspects of childcare operation—licensing—differs from state to state. 

Childcare License

To operate a daycare legally, you likely need to be approved for a specific childcare license. Some states don’t require small, at-home family childcare operations to be licensed, but others do. 

Look up your state’s requirements on the Administration for Children & Families licensure web page. If you find that your daycare requires a license to operate, begin the training and application process before initiating a business plan.

Childcare Provider Requirements 

Again, the required standards for childcare providers are specific to your state of residence. Requirements often include:

• You are at least 18 years of age
• You have a high school diploma or GED
• You pass criminal background checks
• You undergo state and federal fingerprinting 
• You have some level of ECE background or credentials

Keep in mind that these are typically the minimum requirements. The more qualified, prepared, and experienced you are, the better your chances are of your daycare doing well. 

Business License

Receiving income from your daycare is considered a business. Every state has different business laws but often involve registering your business, paying a fee, and preparing important tax information. Check with your state’s business licensing department for:

• Whether or not you require a business license to open a daycare
• What steps you need to take to register your business (if necessary)
• Safeguarding your daycare business (trademarks, taxes, legal advice, etc.)

In some states, if you want to operate a small at-home daycare independently and have no intentions to grow, a business license may not be required. Talk with a business advisor if you need clarity on your situation.

Capacity Requirements (Child-to-Staff Ratios)

Capacity laws—often known as child-to-staff, child-to-provider, or group ratios—are important to follow. These rules prevent inefficient supervision and encourage childcare manageability. 

Group ratios vary by state but typically look something like 1:10 (1 childcare provider for every 10 children present), 1:7, or 1:14. It also depends on the size of the facility and children’s age.

Learn more about daycare supervision and group ratios at childcare.gov.

Fire, Health, and Safety Inspections

You can expect your state or local childcare department to conduct a facility inspection before you’re cleared to open your business. Daycare centers that operate out of a home must meet health, safety, and emergency codes. This verifies that your home or facility is suitable for children and customers.

Employee Background Checks

Daycare owners aren’t the only ones who need to pass criminal background checks. All supporting staff must also be able to clear a series of federal and state background screenings to ensure the safety of children in a vulnerable setting such as childcare. You can find employee and background check regulations on your state’s licensing department website, 

Home Daycare Insurance 

You may also need home daycare insurance to protect your property and assets from financial disasters. Even if you’re not required by your state to obtain insurance, it’s a good idea. Kids can get rowdy, things can break, and accidents happen. Protect your daycare (and home!) from irreparable or unaffordable damages.

More Resources for Opening a Successful Daycare Business

Opening a daycare involves meeting a lot of complex, specified requirements. More importantly, running a successful daycare business after it opens is a nonstop responsibility. You have to ensure compliance, safety, comfort, marketability, adequate care, and effective education to best serve your community. 

Fortunately, digital tools and resources help busy daycare providers keep track of all the essential details of running a business smoothly. With a daycare management app like Daily Connect, you can organize your certifications and ensure all daycare tasks get completed. 

Want to get a head start? Download the Daily Connect app today for a demo.

Opening a childcare business is a rewarding opportunity with lots of potential. You get to serve families in your area, nurture children through their early stages of development, and pay other hardworking childcare professionals the wages they deserve.

To learn how to open a daycare in Canada, read further. We share the most important things to consider when starting your new business to increase your chances of success.

1. Understand Canadian Daycare Regulations

To operate a childcare business legally, daycare owners must follow specific licensing requirements. The Canada Health Act outlines these requirements including Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) licenses and insurance. 

Adhering to regulations protects you from legal conflict, holds you and your employees accountable for providing safe and supportive childcare, and ensures trust with parents and authorities. 

Licenses and permits vary depending on your location, including:

• Federal
• Provincial
• Municipal 

You can look into which requirements apply to your business by filling out the form on BizPal. Type in your location and select your industry from the drop-down options, then research the results.

2. Obtain Your Canadian Childcare Licenses and Permits

Each Canadian province has its own governing body that ensures compliance with childcare licenses and permits. In every location, obtaining the required license can take time. Prepare to begin the application process before you want to officially open your business. 

The licensure process entails:

• Training and certifications 
• Application submission 
• Providing detailed business plans
• Paying required application fees
• Undergoing home/facility inspections
• Waiting for approval 

Typically, childcare business owners are required to have several types of permits and licenses. They include the following. 

Childcare Business License

Most Canadian municipalities require daycare businesses to be registered. If you offer a service for commercial purposes, you need to register your business. To do this, you need to fill out applications, pay the necessary fees, and provide proof of compliance. 

Active Childcare License

To find which types of licensure and regulations you must abide by, you first need to know what type of childcare business you’ll operate. Generally, all childcare services require a license. 

However, there are a few exceptions:

• Relatives who provide free childcare
• Individual nannies and babysitters hired directly by the family to provide care in the child’s home
• Children’s camps that provide care for kids ages 4 and older
• Private schools that provide care for children ages 4 and older

Unlicensed childcare homes can legally provide care to up to 5 children if the providers’ children present are under 4 years old and there are no more than 3 children younger than 48 months old. However, unlicensed home care providers are required to provide written notice to parents about the lack of licensure.

Health and Safety Permits

In addition to business and childcare licenses, many childcare centers must obtain health and safety permits. This means your business agrees to operate with safe practices regarding food handling, emergency preparedness, fire safety, sanitation protocols, and facility occupancy.

3. Establish a Daycare Business Plan

A childcare business plan is your roadmap to success, presenting operational and financial milestones to complete. It helps you realize your goals, connect with ideal customers, fulfill your marketing needs, and more.

To get started, brainstorm these main points:

• What are the mission statements and core values of your business?
• Who are your ideal customers? (Suburban families, busy city-dwellers, etc.)
• What marketing strategies will reach your target audience?
• Which unique selling points make your daycare stand out from the rest?

To learn more about creating a daycare business strategy, read: How to Write a Childcare Business Plan.

4. Organize Your Daycare Finances

Another important thing to consider when starting a daycare in Canada is your business finances. 

Research the startup costs for childcare in your area or hire a financial planner to help guide you. Expenses include location costs, daycare equipment, licensing fees and renewals, staffing, utilities, supplies, renovations, and more. 

If you need help funding your childcare operation, look into the available options. There are small business loans, investors, savings incentives, and government grants available which you may qualify for. 

5. Set Up Your Daycare Location

The physical location of your daycare is a place to provide comfort, safety, play, and learning opportunities for your students. Whether you operate your daycare out of your home or at a designated facility, here are a few factors to prioritize to ensure the best environment.

• Activity zones: Set up age-appropriate activity zones indoors and outdoors. Areas should be stimulating enough for learning and engagement, but not too distracting or chaotic that they overwhelm kids.
• Comfort: Have a way to adjust lighting, temperature, ventilation, and the amount of open space in your daycare setting. Children have a hard time focusing and cooperating if they’re uncomfortable.
• Safety and sanitation: Set up your space to abide by safety standards. Consider storage, entry/exit points, accessibility, furniture, and learning supplies. Store cleaning chemicals away from child access.

If your province requires you to pass a daycare inspection to become licensed, follow all the guidelines laid out in your training to ensure you pass.

6. Hire Daycare Employees

Even if you plan to operate as a solo provider at first, you might need to hire childcare staff as you grow your business. Recruiting employees means you’ll need to advertise job openings, interview qualified applicants, conduct background checks, and train your new hires. 

After hiring, establish further training and development opportunities for employees to encourage staff retention and growth. Canadian organizations like CCCF (Canadian Child Care Federation) have plenty of professional development resources for daycares and childcare centers that you can refer to.

7. Create a Daycare Curriculum

A well-developed childcare curriculum and activity plan are important if you want to provide the most enriching daycare experience possible. Create a thoughtful, well-rounded learning curriculum for your students. It not only ensures kids learn essential ECE skills but also proves your professionalism to families. 

Childcare Activities and Lessons

Your daycare’s curriculum, activities, and lesson plans depend on what age and developmental needs your students have. 

• Infants and toddlers need plenty of sensory exploration, adult supervision, social-emotional learning, and language exposure.
• Preschoolers need lots of activities that build cognitive skills, creativity, social/behavioral skills, and school readiness.

Start thinking about how your daycare’s daily schedule will go. You can adjust it as needed, but aim to set up a balanced daily routine so kids feel at ease. 

Additionally, remember to balance play, learning, nourishment, and rest. Kids need indoor and outdoor play, group activities and alone time, naps, patience, plenty of structure, and of course— snacks. 

8. Sign Up for a Canada Childcare Management Software 

Starting a daycare business in Canada can be a fulfilling, meaningful career. But you need to plan extensively, obtain (and maintain) licensure, follow all the guidelines, and set yourself up for success.

Start your childcare business on the right track with the help of a childcare management software like Daily Connect. Powerful yet easy-to-use features equip you and your staff to stay organized, communicate with parents, enable online billing, monitor child learning outcomes, and more. 

Begin your professional childcare career with confidence and support! To get started, download the Daily Connect app today for a free trial. 

Opening a childcare center is a rewarding business option for professionals who are passionate about helping families. You can have a lasting impact on kids’ lives and serve as a positive steward of child development in your community, all while making a decent income.

If you’re looking to open a childcare business in Florida, there are several important standards you need to follow. Here’s how to prepare to become a successful childcare provider and business owner in your state.

Obtain a Florida Childcare License 

Before opening your business to the public, you need to get licensed. This is required by law for any childcare service that offers paid care for more than five children.

Most counties in Florida operate under the state’s regulatory office, the Florida Department of Children and Families (Florida DCF). View their website for details regarding childcare licensing and regulations. 

Note: Several counties have specific, local licensing agencies that regulate local childcare programs instead of the DCF. These counties are Boward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Sarasota, and Pinellas. If you live in one of these areas, contact your nearest childcare office for licensing.

Types of Childcare Licenses in Florida

Getting a childcare license takes time, money, and dedication. Depending on the type of childcare center you plan to operate—plus any additional requirements in your area—the licensure requirements vary. 

For every licensing process, you can expect to:

1. Complete childcare training, background screenings, and other pre-license tasks.
2. Fill out and submit your childcare license application(s).
3. Undergo a facility inspection for health and safety.  
4. Pay a licensing fee.
5. Wait to be approved.

Let’s look at the main types of childcare centers and their different obligations.

1. Child Care Facility 

A Florida Child Care Facility is defined as any provider who extends care to more than five children unrelated to them and receives payment for this care. 

The childcare owner must be 21 years of age or older and meet these requirements:

• 40-Hour Child Care Training: Providers must complete the required 40-Hour Introductory Child Care Facility Training which covers necessary rules, regulations, health and safety policies, mandated reporting, and child development courses. 
• Director Credential: The facility operator must obtain a Director Credential before licensure, which provides the skills and regulatory training necessary to direct a facility. 
• Staff Credential: You must have an active Staff Credential and follow staff-to-child ratios of no more than one teacher per 20 children. 
• Licensing Fees: $25-$100 

For step-by-step instructions on how to get licensed as a Child Care Facility operator, contact the Florida DCF online.

2. Registered Family Day Care Home

A Family Day Care Home applies to any residence owner who provides regular care for at least two children who are unrelated to them in exchange for payment. 

The owner of a Family Day Care Home must be at least 18 years old and operate their childcare business from home. There must be at least one additional care provider present in case of emergencies, regardless of the number of children. 

Other requirements include: 

• 30-Hour Family Child Care Training: Complete 30 hours of training and pass the competency exams that cover home rules, health and safety, mandated reporting, child development, and behavioral observations. 
• Additional Training: Complete 0.5 units (5 hours) of continuing education on child literacy, as well as CPR and safety certifications.
• Licensing Fee: $50 

For home daycares, you are also required to pass a home inspection before your childcare license is approved.

3. Large Family Child Care Home

A Large Family Child Care Home is similar to a Family Day Care Home, except it operates with additional full-time employees. Therefore, more children are typically enrolled. There are also stricter regulations. 

The primary operator of a Large Family Child Care Home must be at least 21 years old and fulfill these requirements:

• Active Childcare License: You must have had a valid Family Day Care license for at least two years in a row within the past five years. 
• Staff Credential: You must have already maintained a Staff Credential for at least one year.
• Continued Training: Complete 30 hours of training for Large Family Child Care Homes in addition to your previous 30-hour training, and maintain CPR and safety certifications.
• Employees: Have one or more full-time, legal adult employees during business hours. Always abide by staff-child ratios.
• Fire Inspection: You must pass a fire inspection. 
• Licensing Fee: $60

Large Family Child Care Homes need to pass recurring health and safety inspections to operate legally.

Comply With Standards, Policies and Guidelines

In addition to licensing, Florida childcare centers are obligated to follow specific rules and guidelines during operation. These policies ensure the overall health and safety of everyone involved in your program, from parents to staff to kids.

It’s crucial that you’re familiar with Florida policies and guidance, as these prevent your business from legal conflict and physical danger. Standards inform your procedures for emergency plans, injury response, cleaning and sanitation, food preparation, illness and disease response, and more. 

Follow a Childcare Business Plan

Whether you create a business plan yourself or seek professional counsel, following a strategic plan encourages better outcomes for your entire childcare center. It’s essentially a step-by-step guidebook to help you achieve start-up and long-term goals. 

Consider financing, scheduling, pricing, staffing, marketing, and other standard operating procedures when developing a business plan. For a more detailed walkthrough of this process, read: How to Make a Childcare Business Plan.

Create a Florida Childcare Curriculum

After you arrange your licensure, secure your policies, and launch a business plan, don’t forget about the childcare curriculum. The state of Florida’s Department of Early Learning highlights developmental standards, offering program guidance and child assessments that benefit the kids in your care.

Use these resources to your advantage when developing your childcare lesson plans and curriculum. These tools help you and your staff make informed decisions that best support children in early development. 

Use the Daily Connect App for Childcare Management 

Today, childcare centers often rely on secure technology to plan, operate, and manage their business. Daily Connect, the leading childcare management app, streamlines your processes and helps you stay organized so you can:

• Remain compliant
• Offer parent billing online
• Log child attendance
• Track child assessments 
• Manage lesson plans
• Communicate with parents and staff 
• Manage employees
• And more 

If you’re opening a childcare center in Florida, we’re here to help. Set up a free Daily Connect account to get started on the right track. Download Daily Connect today for childcare management features and future business insights.

Being a childcare provider involves many complicated tasks. Contrary to stereotype, childcare is so much more than supervising and playing with children day after day. You have to be on top of everything: schedules, food allergies, safety regulations, signs of child maltreatment, and many other moving parts. 

Every major priority of a childcare center comes down to classroom attendance. Therefore, your attendance tracking system must be quick, effective, and reliable for all who use it. 

How can you choose the right childcare attendance tracking method to keep your business running smoothly? Here are some considerations to point you in the right direction.

Why is it Important to Track Attendance at a Childcare Center?

It’s crucial to accurately keep track of attendance every day, no matter the size or scale of your childcare business. 

Here’s why:

• Licensing—different states have different requirements for childcare licensing depending on the number of children enrolled. Plus, if your childcare center ever gets audited or inspected, having consistent and accurate attendance records prevents you from potential legal trouble.
• Billing—knowing when, where, and by whom each child was checked in/checked out is what calculates your tuition and billing. If a child skips a day, leaves sick, or gets picked up late, it impacts a parent’s invoice and your revenue.
• Staffing—tracking exact childcare attendance numbers lets you know whether you should hire more staff. It dictates when to rotate employees throughout the workday and notifies you when to send extra staff members home early.
• Safety and security—slacking off on attendance tracking can put children and staff at risk. Forgetting a headcount could result in missing children. Leaving “pick up” information blank could mean an unauthorized adult took a child home. Losing track of which children switch to different areas might cause confusion or safety concerns.
• Trust—maintaining accurate attendance sheets strengthens trust with parents. They receive accurate childcare bills and can rest assured that trusted adults always have a close eye on their children while at daycare.

Daily childcare attendance logs also extend beyond sign-in and sign-out. You may have to keep track of when children leave to use the restroom, go play outside, or move to a different classroom. Keeping detailed logs of attendance and headcounts also benefits your staff, ensuring every classroom follows child-to-teacher ratio laws to avoid employee overwhelm.

3 Ways to Track Childcare Attendance

There are three widely used ways that childcare centers track attendance today, each with its set of pros and cons. Whether you currently have an attendance tracking system in place or you’re starting a childcare center and want to know your options, you can use the information below to improve your daily attendance log.

1. Paper Attendance Sheet

Paper sign-in and sign-out attendance sheets are the traditional way that some childcare centers still track attendance today. A weekly childcare attendance sheet is typically printed out via a premade template and then later stored in a filing cabinet for ongoing records.

The information on your attendance sheets might vary by state or regional requirements. But attendance sheets typically include similar items, laid out in an easy-to-read table:

• Month, Year
• Days of the week
• Date
• Child name
• Sign-in time + name or signature of parent/authorized adult
• Sign-out time + name or signature of parent/authorized adult 
• Teacher or staff initials confirming in/out times
• Checkboxes for important notices such as absence, snack allowance, sick check, or incident report
• In/out times for children who switch classrooms 
• Notes
• Times and totals of group headcounts 

Some childcare centers are more detailed with attendance sheets whereas others only include basic check-in/check-out. Again, you have to be aware of your local childcare regulations to know what to include in an attendance log.

Pros: Easy to use, widely known, handwriting makes attempts at tampering with information very obvious.

Cons: Easy to misplace, prone to messy wear and tear, active log information is visible to anyone, requires excessive use of paper/ink, staff handwriting may be hard to read.

2. Attendance Spreadsheet on a Computer

Some of the downsides of paper sheets include fragility, loss, and excessive usage of office supplies. With digital spreadsheets, tracking childcare attendance stays in one place and feels more streamlined. Spreadsheets are ideal for logging data into tables, and that data can be easily calculated or corrected when necessary. 

Attendance spreadsheets can include the same information as paper attendance sheets. The information is easier to read since it’s typed and can be easily shared with childcare directors, teachers, support staff, and digital storage systems. 

However, relying on a computer station or carrying around a laptop all day is inconvenient in childcare settings. Trying to use spreadsheets on smartphones or tablets can also be challenging. Parents and employees might need help learning to use the spreadsheet interface. Staff may forget to log crucial information when the spreadsheet is out of sight. 

Pros: Organization, easily legible, digital storage, automation options.

Cons: Lack of intuitive user interface, difficulty logging real-time information, unrealistic for on-the-go attendance tracking required of teachers and staff.

3. Childcare Attendance Tracking App

Digital childcare platforms help streamline daily processes including child attendance. Childcare management apps like Daily Connect offer advanced features that cover all the important aspects of attendance. 

Using the Daily Connect childcare app makes attendance logs easy and secure for everyone. Since the app is developed specifically for childcare providers, its user interface is easy to learn, simple to use, and completely mobile, which helps teachers and staff stay on top of everything. With contactless sign-in, parents can safely check in their children which automatically inputs the timestamp into your childcare reporting software.

Daily Connect is especially useful when you need to report childcare attendance online for compliance purposes. Because it fully integrates with Kinder Systems’ new Kinder Connect, childcare providers also use Daily Connect to manage childcare subsidy details.

Pros: Easy to use, comes with multiple childcare management features, ideal for cross-classroom communication, compatible with any daycare size, simplifies attendance recording for compliance, trusted by parents and childcare staff. 

Cons: Requires a subscription. 

Improve Your Childcare Attendance Tracking Process

Protect your childcare business by improving daily attendance tracking. Since childcare attendance is the most important data for your operation, you need the most effective system in place—and the tools to help your staff uphold it all.

Today, childcare software is the best solution for attendance logs and beyond. With the Daily Connect app, you get a handful of comprehensive management solutions plus the most secure, intuitive attendance software for childcare providers. Get a head start today with the Daily Connect free trial.

2023 was a stressful year for childcare. While positive changes took place, funding setbacks took a toll on families and childcare providers across the country. Many childcare centers struggled to hire and retain staff, increasing the cost of childcare and resulting in substandard employment environments. 

Looking ahead, 2024 will bring a new set of challenges and opportunities. To consider what you can expect this coming year, here are several childcare trends for 2024. 

The U.S. Childcare Landscape: 2024

Since funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) ended in September of 2023, the nation experienced many subsidized childcare closures, impacting millions of families. Strained employee wages and benefit cuts led a portion of the workforce to seek different jobs. As a result, the major focus of childcare from all angles this year is affordable care options. 

Affordability and equity impact all aspects of childcare including employment, cost of care, customer satisfaction, and child learning outcomes. Consider the following trends as 2024 unfolds.

1. Increasing Childcare Fees

The average household spent $700 per month on childcare during the third quarter of 2023. With federal funding on hold until further notice and the current pattern of inflation, early childhood education (ECE) centers need to raise their prices to stay in business and pay their employees. 

Efforts are being made to restore different forms of federal funding to keep childcare centers afloat. To relieve the costs and make childcare affordable for families, this essential industry needs funding. 

2. Funding Concerns and the 2024 Election

Even though large federal subsidy programs are over—  including ARP’s $40 billion lifeline— childcare funding remains in some states. For example, California legislation recently invested $2 billion into publicly-funded childcare programs and forgiving delinquent charges for families. 

Nationwide, lower-income families widely rely on federal funding to meet their childcare needs so parents can work. With rising care costs and ongoing state budget concerns, childcare is already a big topic in the 2024 election. 

President Biden previously tried to pass childcare reforms for low-income households while political parties explored where funds should go. As of January 2024, there’s no confirmed outcome, which means the 2024 election will likely play a big role in the future of childcare.

3. Childcare Staffing Challenges: Cultural and Economic Issues

Hiring competent childcare workers is still a struggle in today’s economy. Country-wide funding complications trickle down to affect the hiring process of childcare centers, from large childcare branches to small at-home daycares.

The staffing shortage is said to demand large public investments to recover. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, childcare as an industry has lost tens of thousands of workers. Although one of the most important jobs in society, childcare professionals receive one of the lowest average wages in the country (about $11.00 per hour). It’s not only difficult to hire new employees, it’s also become increasingly difficult to retain staff.

Funding concerns and a lack of employee satisfaction have shed light on another important issue in recent years: cultural disparities in the workplace. Whether child development is undervalued in society or childcare as a profession is viewed as insignificant, the fact is that childcare staff deserve a livable wage. These social and cultural topics will continue to be addressed in 2024.

4. Innovations in Childcare Technology

One trend to look forward to in 2024 is the continued growth of education technology. Specifically, childcare technology solutions are entering classrooms and home daycares to support care providers and the families they serve every day.

There is an increased adoption of childcare software among directors and staff. Management software offloads administrative tasks and automates important business duties like parent invoicing and child learning assessments. This technology is a cost-effective way to organize tasks, manage childcare staff, and handle childcare finances.

From educational apps designed for young children to childcare management software for teachers and staff, innovative technology will help navigate every change to come in the ECE workforce. 

5. Focusing on Mental Health, Early Learning, and Development

Childcare is more than hiring a babysitter. It takes hard work, compassion, dedication, and patience to nurture children through the early years of their lives. In 2024, the science of child development and early education is more important than ever. 

Childcare professionals understand more about young children’s brains and how they learn, positioning them as crucial members of the educational community. Moving forward, childcare trends will continue to explore topics of early learning, child development, human communication, and mental health, with an emphasis on how these impact cultural and social diversity. 

6. Families Seeking In-Home Care Options

With more parents still working from home, families who can’t afford traditional childcare are considering micro-care options. Instead of paying local childcare centers to provide socially-enriched programs, parents might prefer in-home childcare such as hiring a nanny for more affordable, one-on-one care.

That said, it’s not sustainable for parents who work from home to have their children under the same roof during work hours. Other home-based childcare options include small home daycare centers, family-run childcare offered as needed, and discounted daycare provided by religious or non-profit organizations. 

Family, friends, and neighbor caregivers (FFNs) are also more popular options among parents seeking more affordable, home-setting childcare. Although FFNs may not be licensed childcare providers, the right person can still provide quality care in any setting as long as they follow local childcare laws. 

Harness the Childcare Opportunities in 2024

To be the best childcare provider you can be, you need to stay aware of the challenges and opportunities in your field. One of the best ways you can do this is to keep up with changing trends, both locally and nationally. 

By hiring the right employees, navigating federal funding setbacks, advocating for childcare policy changes, and adopting reliable technology, you can set your childcare business up for success.

As 2024 begins with an unpredictable childcare environment, there are plenty of opportunities within reach. To help you through every part of the journey, Daily Connect offers digital tools and features to enable higher standards of care. Get your free trial today to harness the childcare management solutions every childcare provider needs.

Early childhood educators are highly susceptible to burnout. As a helping profession that’s constantly influenced by socioeconomic changes and funding imbalances, childcare employees often report feeling undervalued and overworked. 

No matter what role a childcare employee fulfills, all are at risk of exhaustion. Directors, teachers, assistants, support staff, behavioral specialists, and activity supervisors may all experience the negative effects of burnout at some point in their careers. 

Whether you run a childcare business or offer at-home daycare services, you must know how to prevent team burnout. To learn the effective staff management strategies that mitigate childcare employee burnout, here are some tips.

Childcare Staff Burnout: A Crucial Issue

Childcare workers are necessary, invaluable members of society. They support the healthy development of young children, help socialize and educate their communities, and give back to families. 

But because of this, childcare workers can easily fall into physical exhaustion, mental overload, and emotional depletion. These types of burnout negatively affect your business and even the customers you serve. 

Why is burnout such a big issue in childcare? Some of the main reasons include:

• Structural Issues — Certain state policies and social inequities pose challenges to both parents and childcare providers, impacting the industry at local and national levels.
• Staff Shortages — After decades of rising childcare costs and declining employee pay, many childcare businesses now struggle to find qualified staff members.
• More Sick Days — Being around groups of young children every day increases the spread of illnesses, such as the seasonal cold and flu. Childcare tends to log more employee sick days than other occupations, which then demands extra hours and increased effort from other staff. 
• Funding Imbalances — Education districts across the U.S. are working to level out childcare funding. Unavailable funds contribute to overworked staff, understocked supplies, and dissatisfied parents.
• Common Caregiver Traits — The personalities of childcare workers vary, but there are underlying values that attract people toward caregiving roles. Childcare providers are often caring, compassionate, giving, and nurturing, which are admirable traits. However, these traits make it easier for team members to overextend themselves for others while neglecting to care for themselves.

All of these factors point to why it’s important to encourage employee work-life balance and maintain realistic expectations within the workplace. 

To prevent (or at least mitigate) the various paths that lead to burnout, you need to establish a healthy, supportive culture in your childcare business. This begins with effective staff management. 

8 Tips to Manage Childcare Employee Burnout

Your employees rely on you for scheduling, payroll, time off, team development, and everyday work structure. Here are eight ideas to help you manage your childcare staff better to defeat burnout.

1. Know the Signs of Burnout

Educate yourself on occupational burnout so you can spot the signs early. It’s important to regularly check in with staff individually and as a team so you can listen to how they feel about their career, work-life balance, and role at your childcare center. If you notice an employee burning out, you can address the causes and help them make healthier adjustments. 

2. Schedule Proactively 

Improve your staff scheduling skills. Give staff plenty of notice about their shifts so they can manage their time and implement work-life balance. Post the schedule at least two to four weeks ahead so they have time to plan, request time off, trade shifts with coworkers, and communicate any issues with you. 

3. Train Staff on Burnout Prevention

In some of your team meetings, consider offering personal and professional resources that discuss burnout prevention. Ideas include hiring an expert to deliver a training session, helping staff develop healthy routines that match their lifestyle, handing out anonymous Q&A cards regarding burnout, and hosting social-emotional education workshops.

4. Offer Paid Time Off

Other than burnout, another important reason to optimize staff management is to give your team the time off they deserve. Time off allows rest, which gives employees the chance to recharge and restore. Create an environment where people feel comfortable taking time off and where team members can hold each other accountable to take breaks.

5. Express Your Appreciation

One key to burnout prevention is the feeling of purpose and motivation. Your employees want to be appreciated, feel motivated to work well, and know that they’re contributing toward a meaningful goal. Express your gratitude regularly. Vocalize the strengths you see in your employees. Share company wins, exciting news, and special accomplishments. 

You can also show your appreciation by:

• Surprising employees with gift cards on their birthdays
• Spontaneously buy lunch for the team one day
• Arranging seasonal team parties
• Taking your staff out for a team dinner to celebrate the end of the year

Everyone wants to feel seen and valued. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, expressing your appreciation makes a big difference. Don’t overlook your staff.

6. Pay Your Childcare Workers Well

One of the leading contributors to childcare burnout is inadequate pay. Many childcare centers offer minimum wage, which can attract “bare minimum” effort resulting in higher turnover rates. Pay your staff a higher rate compared to local competitors. Offer pay raises based on performance, holding annual staff reviews to go over strengths and areas for improvement. 

When you pay your staff well, it motivates them to do a good job. It promotes an attitude of professionalism, trust, and security among your team members, letting them know they’re valued. 

7. Structure Your Classroom Management 

Student-to-teacher ratios in childcare centers can get hectic. Manage your classroom numbers to ensure ratios are being followed at all times. This avoids giving teachers and staff too much responsibility, making them feel overwhelmed and overworked. 

Be consistent with daily cleaning, taking inventory of classroom supplies, planning snacks/meals, and other essential classroom tasks. Use digital tools that help employees carry out their classroom management duties and communicate with other team members.

8. Give Childcare Staff the Tools to Be Successful

Your employees should have all the tools they need to succeed. Childcare management software helps you and your team offload tedious administrative tasks, allowing everyone to spend more time interacting with the children and improving the workplace. 

A childcare management app also enables the team to log attendance, track classroom ratios, submit incident reports, organize documents, and share lesson plans all in one place, making your employees’ jobs a lot easier.

Prevent Childcare Burnout: A Better Approach to Staff Management 

Top-notch staff management is one of the most effective ways to prevent childcare burnout. By creating a more structured, supported work environment, your team will be more inclined to love what they do and always do their best.

To manage your childcare center and your employees more efficiently, start using a childcare software that includes staff management features. Get a free trial of the leading childcare management app, Daily Connect, today!

If you’re a childcare director who has staff members, one of the most important parts of managing your business is employee scheduling. The team schedule determines whether or not you have enough staff members to provide childcare every day. It also enables you to comply with licensing requirements and to uphold an orderly, caring learning environment.

As a childcare business owner, it takes a special balance to avoid both overstaffing and overworking your employees. It also takes a lot of planning and preparation to ensure ideal child-to-teacher ratios. This way, children get the attention they need to thrive while employees feel fulfilled at work. 

To help you better manage your staff in your business, here are some tips for childcare employee scheduling.

Childcare Employee Scheduling: Key Considerations

To improve how you manage staff while staying on track with scheduling, you first need to know all the moving parts that go into it. Keep these aspects of your business in mind when creating your staff schedule.

• Operation and Enrollment: Audit how busy your childcare center is, and what may need to happen when you’re growing the business. This informs you of how many staff members to hire and retain.
• Time Off, Vacations, and Sick Pay: Every employee needs time off. Whether it be sick days, vacation time, or paid time off, you need to track all the details in the schedule— and adjust accordingly.
• Payroll Accuracy: Schedule accuracy coincides with payroll accuracy. When you pay attention and manage the schedule correctly, you make sure your employees earn the right amount of money for hours worked. This prevents worker disputes from arising.
• Teacher-to-Child Ratios: Every day, your childcare operation must follow teacher-to-child ratios. This is required by law, and it also relieves your staff from becoming overworked or burnt out. 
• Staff Roles: Different employee roles demand specific duties and privileges. For example, there might be an assistant director, teacher, teacher’s assistant, and support staff. The schedule accounts for all required staff at all times.
• Activity Calendars: Certain activities require more or fewer staff to be on the clock. When planning events and activities, think ahead about the staffing schedule to save everyone from last-minute changes.

How do you put all these considerations into the schedule? It takes lots of organization, planning, and good communication. 

How to Manage Childcare Employee Scheduling 

Here are some practices you can adopt to manage your childcare staff schedule more effectively.

Know Your Employees

Childcare is a business that prioritizes human connection. Your employees are an integral part of this business, so developing positive relationships with them is key. 

Get to know your employees. Treat them as valuable individuals, not just people whose names are on the payroll. Learn their interests, priorities, and needs—both on and off the clock. When an employee feels like an appreciated, important member of the team, they’re motivated to stay at their job.

Pay Attention to Detail

The larger your childcare center, the more classrooms you have to manage. This means there are more children, families, employees, and bills to keep track of. 

Your level of attention to detail can make or break the employee schedule. From knowing employees’ names and roles to organizing (and remembering) everyone’s time off, every detail matters. It also shows you care. 

That said, if you need help being more detail-oriented with the schedule, consider hiring an assistant or using a digital scheduling platform. 

Update the Schedule in Advance

One sure way to stress out your employees: post the schedule last minute. This takes a toll on your staff and your overall childcare business. 

To avoid this, plan to organize the schedule in advance. Many successful childcare centers have a consistent timeline for scheduling. For example, set a goal to release the upcoming staff schedule every two weeks for the following two weeks. This way, employees know when to show up for a shift, and can request coverage or schedule changes ahead of time.

Be Flexible to Accommodate Employee Needs

While consistency and organization produce effective schedules, employees still need room to voice their needs when necessary. Life happens. Employees get sick, loved ones pass away, and unexpected emergencies arise. Adopt resources and protocols that allow your employees to feel accommodated when the time calls for it.

This may look like:

• Allowing staff members to trade shifts when agreed upon
• Assigning higher-level staff to fill in when a team member can’t show up for a shift
• Understanding quarterly schedule changes for staff attending college 
• Partnering with other local childcare centers to arrange staff substitute programs

Although schedule changes can cause inconveniences, it’s a natural part of management. As a childcare director, your job is to make sure there’s enough room for flexibility while maintaining enough boundaries to hold staff accountable.

Use Childcare Staff Management Software

It takes a lot of brain power to keep track of the childcare staff every day, week, month, and so on. Fortunately, with the right technology, childcare providers can automate certain aspects of scheduling to make the process easier.

Many childcare owners use some type of management software or employee scheduling app to help with this. Typically, you can input staff members’ names, job details, and availability to get a full view of how they fit into the schedule. This is helpful because it offers a 360-degree view of what you’re working with, so you can optimize who works when.

Proactive Staff Scheduling Tools for Childcare Centers

The best way to manage your childcare staff is to remain thoughtful and proactive. Using employee scheduling software can keep you and your staff members on track, no matter what stage of the business you’re in.

The employee scheduling feature from Daily Connect supports childcare management at all levels. You can assign staff roles, keep track of employee documentation, add private notes to reference during scheduling, and manage schedules in-app. 

Additional Daily Connect features include parent billing, child attendance tracking, learning and assessment reports, and secure parent-teacher communication. To improve your staff scheduling, communication, and overall childcare management, download Daily Connect for a free trial.

The number one priority at your childcare center is to provide excellent service to children and families. However, high-quality service is only possible with the right childcare employees. Teachers and staff not only represent your childcare center to your customers, but they ensure it operates smoothly day after day. 

If your staff management is lacking, your childcare employees may not work their hardest or perform their best. This can negatively affect all other aspects of your childcare center, from enrollment to state compliance.

The success and reputation of your childcare center depend on effective management. In other words: your ability to be a good team leader. To learn some of the crucial staff management tips for childcare directors, keep reading. 

The Importance of Staff Management in Childcare

Employee management is the foundation of any successful business. It determines how your team communicates, works toward goals, interacts with customers, and fulfills essential roles. Over time, how you manage your childcare employees can ultimately grow or ruin your business.

Thoughtfully implementing better staff management practices ensures your employees are not only happy at their jobs but also perform to the best of their abilities. An effective approach to team management boosts employee morale, reduces staff turnover rates, and improves the overall quality of care your staff gives to children. 

7 Childcare Staff Management Tips

Build your team and improve your childcare environment with these seven helpful tips!

1. Improve the Onboarding Process

Employee management begins with recruitment. How you hire is just as important as who you hire. The right team members can make a huge difference in your childcare business, but they’re only as good as your onboarding process. 

From writing the job listing to completing the final training day, set your staff members up for success by having a step-by-step recruitment plan. To manage competent, caring team members to help run your childcare center, you first have to find the right hires. Don’t waste time on the wrong ones.

2. Simplify the Staff Schedule

Staff scheduling at childcare centers is never the easiest task. You might have part-time college students, full-time teachers, on-call substitute staff, or a “classroom parent” all on your payroll. Every staff member has a unique schedule, and you want to find where they fit into your childcare operation.

Companies that honor the work scheduling needs of service workers tend to experience higher revenue and greater staff retention. Give your employees a way to easily communicate their availability, upcoming time off requests, and changes in hourly needs. A staff management tool encourages childcare directors and staff to be on the same page throughout the year. 

3. Equip Staff With the Right Training and Certifications

Although childcare employment rates are expected to decrease by 2032, this industry always has a high demand for competent staff. When properly trained and compensated, childcare providers can have a rewarding career that lasts a lifetime — and benefit your business year after year. 

Empower your childcare staff with the resources they need at all points in their employment. From initial training to ongoing professional development opportunities, maintain a growth mindset. Notice staff members who are capable of further growth, and help them pursue their potential.

4. Have Clear Expectations and Communicate Well

No matter what role they serve, your employees need to know what you expect of them. They also need to know how they’re performing. Communicating expectations upfront is essential, especially for staff members who work closely with children. 

Positive feedback makes employees feel appreciated and valued, while constructive criticism helps them work on areas of improvement. Both are key to good management. If expectations are confusing for your team, you may have to revise your policies and procedures, create SOPs, or adopt some kind of digital management system. 

5. Engage Your Leaders and Support Staff

How often do you hold team meetings? Engagement among staff members is another important part of management. A lack of team engagement has been shown to influence employee stress levels nearly four times as much as their work location. 

If your team is showing up, doing their job, and leaving each day without a sense of team camaraderie, it’s time to plan some team-building experiences. Many childcare teams do this once a month or once per quarter, but you can set up times that best work for your team.

6. Prevent Childcare Employee Burnout

It’s easy to feel overworked in childcare. This is humble work that requires a lot of energy, effort, and care. To prevent staff burnout, foster a work environment where employees feel safe to voice their needs and opinions. Allocate time off for staff members each year. Incentivize healthy work-life balance. 

One big way to prevent overworking your childcare team is to always follow staff-to-teacher ratios in the classroom. This allows every staff member to give attention and care to each child without feeling overexerted while at work. 

7. Use Technology to Make Everyone’s Job Easier

Classroom management tools minimize administrative tasks such as learning supply inventory, attendance tracking, and incident reports. In the same way, staff management tools for childcare centers help you and your employees minimize confusion and excess tasks. 

With the right platform, a staff management tool relieves you (the childcare director) of tedious busy work. Instead, it automates everyday tasks. From scheduling to employee records to teacher communication, staff management software makes everyone’s job easier. 

Best Childcare Staff Management Solution: Daily Connect

To bring together all the moving parts of staff management, you need a system that can handle it all. Childcare centers often rely on childcare management software to organize things like attendance, parent communication, automatic invoicing, and learning assessments. 

With Daily Connect, you get all these features plus a simplified staff management tool. 

Manage your childcare center and make it easier for your employees to thrive. Daily Connect helps you manage your staff schedule, keep track of staff-to-child ratios, and communicate with your support staff.

Want to see how it works? Get a free trial to try our childcare staff management features today. 

As with any successful business, childcare centers thrive when effective systems and operations are in place. One of the most important aspects of everyday operations is staff management tools for childcare centers. 

Your teachers and staff manage every interaction at your childcare center. They teach the curriculum, ensure the safety and comfort of every child, and communicate regularly with families. All of these responsibilities are essential to good childcare. As the childcare director, it’s your job to ensure your team members stay equipped and excited to fulfill their roles. 

Whether you’re new to having a childcare team or you need a simpler way to manage your employees, there are a few things you should know. Keep reading to learn about the latest childcare staff management tools that help you manage your business, both in and outside the classroom.

What are Staff Management Tools for Childcare Centers?

Staff management tools allow you and your employees to stay in sync with each other at work. Typically, these tools are featured in childcare staff management software that organizes everything your employees need to fulfill daily, weekly, and long-term expectations. 

Management software ultimately helps you be a better manager, as it supports your childcare work schedule, employee requirements, and classroom duties.

There are several features to look for in a staff management tool for childcare centers. Let’s cover the essentials. 

Key Features of Childcare Staff Management Software

Managing childcare staff is not an easy part of your job. However, it’s just as important as the quality of care you provide to children. With the key features below, your business will run a lot smoother. 

1. Scheduling 

The biggest part of staff management: handling the schedule. Each of your employees has a life. Therefore, individual availability varies widely. It can be challenging to organize an ever-changing work schedule with so many different preferences and needs of your team.

Digital staff management tools make it easy for childcare directors and staff to keep up with the schedule in advance. You can plug in a staff member’s availability and designated hours per week, which the software will automatically display whenever you make (or change) the schedule. For multiple classrooms, the schedule also determines where each employee works.

2. Managing Teacher-to-Child Ratios

Whether there are multiple classrooms at your childcare center or you operate one home daycare with multiple teachers, everyone must follow staff-to-child ratios. An employee management software for childcare is a helpful tool to keep track of staff-to-child ratios and classroom group sizes. 

This feature helps you remain compliant with ratio laws and regulations. It makes sure your childcare center is adequately staffed. Most importantly, following the ratio allows employees to give appropriate care and attention to each child without being overwhelmed. 

3. Recording Employee Work Hours

A solid staff management tool enables you and your employees to keep track of their working hours. It gives your team a way to clock in and clock out each day, determine when to take a break (whether paid or unpaid), and log any absences such as sick days or “no call, no show”s.

Recording accurate employee timesheets is crucial for your business. It determines how much employees get paid each paycheck and prevents misunderstandings that can lead to litigation. Your staff management tool helps automate and calculate these important factors.

4. Organizing Staff Vacations and Time Off

When you or your staff have plans to take time off, a staff management tool can seamlessly integrate it into the schedule. You can review and approve/deny employee time off requests in advance, plus rearrange your staffing needs when necessary. 

5. Documenting Employee Information 

Whenever you hire a new employee or promote a staff member, it’s necessary to keep track of their work-related information. This includes their training status, certificates, contact information, employee reviews, incident reports, and more.

Staff management software logs important documents so you can organize and update everyone’s childcare credentials. For example, new employees might be in college obtaining a teaching degree but already have completed their CPR/First Aid certification and background check. You’ll want to make a note of that and upload new credentials as they become available.

6. Security Features and Access Permissions 

One major benefit of having employee management software is the option to customize which features each team member has access to. All employees should get access to their schedule and timesheet log. But you likely don’t want every staff member to have access to management settings, confidential documents, or administrative intel. 

With childcare software that has staff management tools, you can grant or deny access to employees at the click of a button. For example, teachers may need to help manage the schedule of support staff, and a team member might need a special one-time password to fix a timesheet mistake they made. Through a staff management system, these settings are secure.

7. Classroom Management Tools

The best childcare staff management tools allow you to integrate classroom management features. Teachers and staff need to communicate, sometimes digitally, about lesson plans or learning assessments. Support staff may need to submit staff-to-child ratio numbers, request new supplies, or upload incident reports.

Classroom and staff management are two sides of the same coin. It’s important to find some type of childcare software that can handle both parts of your business, and as a result, empower everyone to succeed. 

Daily Connect: A Complete Childcare Staff Management Solution

As a leading childcare management platform, Daily Connect helps childcare center professionals adopt the tools they need to thrive. Childcare teams can now stay organized in every way with features like:

• Employee scheduling
• Classroom ratios and teacher communication 
• Parent-teacher communication
• Parent invoicing and billing 
• Center-wide event calendar
• Student learning assessments 
• And more.

With Daily Connect’s new staff management features, childcare centers can manage everything in one place. From parent billing reports to teacher credential documents and everything in between, our digital system streamlines your business. Childcare management tools help you not only manage staff but also run your childcare center more efficiently. 

To improve your childcare center and staff management, get started with Daily Connect. Begin your free trial today.

Opening a childcare business in Texas is a meaningful opportunity to make an impact in children’s lives while pursuing a fulfilling career. Being the second-most populated state in the U.S., there’s a steadily growing demand for quality childcare centers throughout Texas. But before opening your doors, it’s crucial that you know what to expect. 

To provide the best childcare services, you’ll need to abide by state laws. This means you need childcare licensure and an understanding of regulatory standards. Whether you’re an experienced childcare professional or opening your first in-home daycare, navigating the state’s licensing process can be complex. However, it’s all necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of your customers.

Keep reading to learn the requirements for starting a daycare in Texas as we explain the most important steps.

Know the Childcare Licensing Requirements in Texas

Before you open a childcare or daycare center, you need to become properly licensed. To get a childcare license in Texas, providers have to meet specific requirements according to the state. Texas childcare regulations ensure that childcare operators follow health and safety standards while delivering adequate education to children in their care.

There are a few different childcare license options to consider, depending on the type of childcare business you plan to open. Licenses fall under two main categories. 

• Child Care Center-Based Provider: any preschool, daycare, before- or after-school program, and other school-aged childcare operated at a facility outside of a home residence. 
• Child Care Home Provider: any daycare, education program, or supervision provided to unrelated children in a household that isn’t the child’s home. There are three types of childcare homes in Texas: Licensed, Registered, and Listed.

Each type of childcare and its licensure requirements are explored in more detail below. 

Licensed Child Care Center

All categories of childcare centers in Texas must operate as Licensed Child Care Centers by law. There are three main types of childcare centers, all of which do not qualify as in-home daycares.

• Child Care Center: Provides care for 7 or more children (under 14 years of age) for at least two hours per day, for three days per week or more.
• Before/After School Program: Provides care for children ages 3-11 outside of school hours at least two hours per day, three or more days a week.
• School Age Program: Provides care for children ages 3-11 and offers education, recreation, and adult supervision for at least two hours per day, three or more days a week.

Whether you run a preschool, daycare, school-age program, or childcare franchise, you must have this type of license. All business operations must be offered at a location outside of your home.

Registered Child Care Home

To obtain a Registered Child Care Home license, you must operate within your own home as the primary caregiver. Childcare must be offered continuously for at least four hours per day, three days a week during school hours for up to 6 children at a time (13 years or younger). After normal school hours, you can also provide care for up to 6 additional children, adding up to 12 total.

Licensed Child Care Home

To operate a Licensed Child Care Home, you can provide care for up to 12 children under the age of 13 from your own home. Hours of operation must be less than 24 hours per day but at least two hours per day for three days of the week or more. Many providers who are learning how to start an in-home daycare in Texas fall under this category. 

Listed Family Home

If you offer a small babysitting or daycare service from your home, you must operate as a Listed Family Home. You can provide care for up to three children who aren’t related to you. Care is provided for at least four hours per day, three or more days per week; or four hours per day for at least 40 days of the year.

Complete the License Application for Texas Childcare Providers 

The application process for Texas daycare licensing varies on the type of childcare you run. However, the overall application expectations are similar— just make sure you review the required documents and tasks you’ll need to provide. 

Here are the four main steps.

1. Pre-Application Training

Both in-home daycare applications and childcare center business applications require a pre-application class. This class is designed to familiarize you with all the standards and safety regulations necessary to be a competent childcare provider. The specific class you take will also guide you through the process required for your license type.

2. Complete Texas Childcare License Requirements

In addition to filling out a thorough application, Texas licensure requires childcare providers to complete several tasks. These include but are not limited to getting background checks, acquiring permits, signing up for liability insurance, scheduling an on-site inspection, and paying fees.

3. Submit Licensing Applications 

Submit all the forms needed for your childcare business. Contact the Texas Health & Human Services Child Care Regulation Department for a complete list of application requirements for both in-home daycares and childcare centers.

4. Create Your Texas Childcare Licensing Account Online

You’ll need to create an online account to submit and receive updates on your application status. This account will also help you renew your licenses when necessary (typically every two years).

Maintain Texas Daycare Compliance

Once you get licensed, you still need to keep up with Texas state childcare regulations to remain compliant. It’s helpful if you plan to renew your daycare permits, licenses, and insurance around the same time each year — or every other year, as necessary. That way, you can avoid any penalties or lapses in coverage that negatively impact your business. 

Implement Texas Early Education Guidelines

The early education guidelines for Texas give providers a framework for what to teach their students. A daycare center is more than a safe space for children to play while their parents are at work. It’s also a nurturing environment where young kids learn the social, emotional, and foundational learning skills they need for healthy development. 

When developing a childcare curriculum, be sure to carefully include the state guidelines and best practices. You might also prepare to track child assessments and class learning outcomes in some form of digital software to stay organized.

Refine Your Childcare Business Plan

While creating a childcare business plan might seem like a lot of work, it’s a good idea to establish one before opening your daycare. Your business plan guides you through every step required to not only open but also operate a successful childcare business. Having a business plan helps you stay professional and on track with your goals over time.

Utilize a Texas Childcare Management Software: Daily Connect

When you start a daycare in Texas, you’ll want to streamline your everyday tasks as much as possible. No matter what type of childcare business you have, the Daily Connect childcare management software benefits providers who want to succeed in the Lone Star State.

From parent-teacher communication to secure documentation storage, Daily Connect’s features are tailored to help you save time and resources every day. Features include:

• Automated Parent Invoicing
• Online Parent Billing
• Comprehensive Childcare Center Management
• Child Attendance Tracking
• Thorough Learning Assessment Records
• Effective Parent and Staff Communication
• Thoughtful Daycare Lesson Plans
• And more

To support the full capabilities of your daycare, get started with your free trial of Daily Connect. Click here to set up your Texas childcare center for success today.

As the fourth most populous state in the U.S., New York has a high demand for essential family services like childcare. Because of this high demand, there are important childcare laws and regulations in place to protect kids when receiving care from professionals. 

With such a great need for more licensed childcare providers in New York, starting your own daycare business is lucrative and necessary. But how do you start a childcare business in New York and set yourself up for success? 

First, you must learn what’s required — especially the legal and financial boxes you’ll need to check. In this article, we share the most important things you need to know about how to start a childcare business in New York. Keep reading to make sure you get started on the right track!

Understand New York Childcare Licensing Laws

You may be wondering, “How hard can starting a daycare center be? I’ve nannied plenty of children.” Truth is, there’s a lot more work that goes into an official childcare business.

If three or more children are under your care for which you receive payment, you need to get a childcare license. This includes smaller in-home daycare programs and alternative childcare options like Montessori preschools.

According to New York’s Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), any childcare business operating without a license in New York is subject to legal penalties. Equally as important to know, there are five different childcare licenses that protect providers and customers — all of which have varying definitions and standards. 

Five Types of Childcare Licenses in New York 

Before opening a daycare center, you should know which scope of care you want to provide as well as your ideal classroom size. In New York, there are five types of childcare situations considered by the state, each requiring a different approach to licensing.

1. Child Day Care Center: A childcare operation that consistently provides care for more than 6 children for at least three hours per day, taking place at a non-residence facility. 
2. Family Day Care Home: A daycare operation that provides care for 3-6 kids for at least three hours per day, located in a home residence. 
3. Group Family Day Care Home: An in-home daycare operation that provides care for 7-12 children for at least three hours per day.
4. School-Aged Child Care Program: A non-residence childcare operation that offers enrolled care throughout the school year to 7 or more children under the age of 13.
5. Small Day Care Center: A non-residence childcare operation that provides care for 3-6 children for at least three hours per day. 

Read the complete definitions of these five types of childcare in Part 413, Section 2b of the New York State Child Care Regulations.

Apply for a Childcare License in New York 

Even though the licensing requirements might look somewhat different depending on which program you want to run, the general application process looks the same. Here are the four steps you can expect to take when getting a New York State childcare license.

1. Complete Your Orientation 

Before applying for a New York childcare license, complete the online orientation. In the orientation, you’ll learn about the intricacies of New York childcare licensing rules and regulations, as well as the provider expectations for the type of daycare you want to run.

2. Submit Your NY Childcare Applications and Fees

After you complete the orientation, you’ll receive information on how to fill out your license application. Don’t be surprised to learn that filling out the applications is a lengthy, detailed process. You’ll have to provide:

• Personal and financial information
• Home addresses
• Professional references
• CPR/First Aid Certifications
• Criminal background checks and fingerprinting 
• Daycare floor plans
• Compliance agreements
• Education records 

New York State childcare applications are often dozens of pages long. Review the samples online to help you get everything prepared ahead of time. 

3. Undergo an Inspection from OCFS

As part of your application, an analyst from the state Office of Children and Family Services will schedule an inspection with you. Depending on the location and type of daycare business you’re applying for, the inspector will go through your facility to verify if it meets all the health and safety requirements. 

4. Obtain Your Daycare License Status

After you complete all the steps required to get licensed, you have to wait to hear from OCFS. If you’re approved, they’ll send your license in the mail. Once you finally receive your official license, it’s time to start setting up your New York childcare or daycare center.

Ready to launch your new daycare? Learn how to write a childcare center business plan first!

Create a Curriculum of NY State Early Learning Standards

An important part of planning for your daycare is developing a curriculum. Make sure you include the New York State Early Learning Guidelines when making your lesson plans. These guidelines make sure you facilitate a learning environment that encourages children to stay on track of developmental milestones for their age group. 

When making your curriculum, it’s also a good idea to plan when (and how) you’ll conduct learning assessments throughout the year. To make sure you keep up with New York Early Learning Standards, consider a digital platform that organizes each framework and tracks the learning assessments of your class. 

Follow New York Childcare Standards and Policies 

Opening your daycare business is only the first step. It takes a lot of consistent hard work and dedication to not only remain open, but to thrive.

You and your staff must remain compliant with New York state childcare laws. You’re encouraged to follow yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily policies and procedures to keep everything running smoothly. Notable examples include: 

• Submit license and insurance renewals on time.
• Keep records of daycare attendance, staff-to-student ratios, and staff training.
• Educate your employees on Mandated Reporter laws and enforce these on an ongoing basis.
• Make sure all staff and/or volunteers pass state background checks.
• Always complete incident reports promptly and save copies for your records.
• Uphold all health and safety standards daily.

In addition to all of this, setting up detailed schedules and SOPs (standard operating procedures) will help everyone at your daycare facility perform their best. 

Set Up Daily Connect: Childcare Software for New York Daycares

There are a lot of action steps and documents to keep track of when trying to start a New York daycare center. There’s an even bigger list of things to manage once you have to run your business! To help you stay organized and on track, rely on one of the most powerful tools in the industry: the daycare management software from Daily Connect. 

The Daily Connect app helps New York daycare professionals streamline and scale their businesses with features like:

• Parent Billing Automation 
• Childcare Operation Management
• Child Attendance Tracking 
• Learning Assessment Records
• Parent and Staff Communication Platform
• Daycare Management Resources 
• Daycare Lesson Plans
• And more

See how Daily Connect can help you manage every aspect of your New York daycare. Click here to get started with your free trial today. 

Opening a daycare center can be a rewarding, profitable career choice. Done right, you can help a lot of families in your area while experiencing the joys of nurturing children. In the state of California, it’s not always easy to open a business — there’s a lot of paperwork, applications, and licensing requirements to complete first.

Let’s be honest: As one of the top 10 most expensive states for childcare, there’s a lot of complexity surrounding the California childcare system. Whether it be parents trying to find affordable childcare or schools striving to pay teachers more, California education is not all sunshine and beach waves.

This, however, doesn’t mean that opening a daycare business in California is a burden. In fact, we need more qualified childcare providers to step up and fill this important role. If you want to open a daycare and make a living you can be proud of, keep reading. Here’s how to start a daycare business in California. 

Know the Childcare Licensing Requirements in California

One of the most important things you need to do correctly when working in childcare is to get licensed. Legally, you must obtain a childcare license if you plan to offer childcare services to more than one family. It’s against state law to operate a childcare business without one.

If you want to nanny for several families at a time or open a small home daycare in your area, you’re obligated to complete the California Childcare Licensing Program. It’s necessary to abide by California’s state laws surrounding childcare, health and safety standards, and business expectations. 

There are two types of childcare licenses for daycare centers in CA:

1. Family Childcare Home License for a smaller daycare that you operate in your home. This business model is called a family childcare home (FCH).
2. Childcare Center License for actual childcare centers (CCCs) that are held at a facility, organization, or commercial building. 

Depending on what type of daycare you plan to start, prepare to get licensed before opening your doors. There are specific requirements and laws to follow for obtaining a license for either a FCH or CCC business.

Apply for a California Childcare License 

You know that you need a childcare license to start a daycare business, but how do you actually get one? Here’s the step-by-step process you can expect. 

1. Take the Orientation

Attend a CA childcare licensing orientation either in-person or online. Remember to select which type of license you’re pursuing (FCH or CCC), as the orientation processes differ. Here, you will learn the requirements of starting a daycare business. You’ll also learn more about the next steps. There is a small, non-refundable fee to receive an orientation. 

2. Study California Childcare Laws and Regulations

After your orientation, you need to study the licensing laws for your type of daycare. This way, you can know the important health codes, safety procedures, and legal responsibilities to uphold in your business. 

3. Complete All Licensing Fees and Forms 

Once you know the laws and requirements for your daycare, it’s time to apply for licensure. Both FCH and CCC childcare applications require you to complete and submit several forms. You’re also required to pay a few application fees that vary in price. As part of your application, you’ll sign an agreement to pay annual fees to renew your license. 

For a detailed list of California childcare license forms, visit the state Department of Social Services page for childcare licensing.

4. Prepare for a Daycare Inspection

If you apply to open a family childcare home (FCH), you’ll need to accept a licensing inspection from a state program analyst. This inspection makes sure that your home is safe, clean, and suitable for children. 

5. Anticipate License Approval

The last and hardest step in the California licensing process is to wait for approval. Someone from the licensing program will deliver your status within 60 to 90 days. 

Have a Daycare Business Plan

In addition to licensure, a childcare business plan is integral to your success as a provider. A business plan covers everything you’ll need to open and operate your daycare center, from finances and learning objectives to marketing and customer management. 

A daycare business plan includes things like: 

• Financial planning
• Scheduling
• Pricing and tuition 
• Hiring staff
• Marketing 
• Curriculum 
• Education software 

Every daycare is unique, so your business plan might look different. To learn what to include in your business plan, read this free guide: How to Write a Childcare Business Plan. 

Include California Learning Frameworks in Your Curriculum

Planning involves writing a daycare curriculum for your students. In California, you need to include the state learning frameworks for early childhood education (ECE). 

California’s Learning & Development Foundations cover which skills and knowledge students are expected to achieve. Depending on which age group(s) of students attend your daycare, you’ll likely focus on foundations for toddlers and foundations for preschool. 

Read through these learning frameworks carefully when developing your curriculum. Part of being a successful daycare provider is making sure you support the learning and development of children in your care. If you help kids aim for age-appropriate learning outcomes, the families you serve will be grateful. They may also support you by recommending your daycare to others.

Set Yourself Up for Success With Daycare Policies & Procedures

Completing the licensing requirements, having a business plan, and finalizing your learning frameworks might seem like a lot, but you’re just getting started! The real work is all in how well you comply with the rules and regulations. Your license requires you to follow these rules every day in order to maintain a safe learning environment. 

To set your customers and yourself up for success, implement thoughtful daycare policies and procedures. These help you, your staff, and your students understand the necessary actions to take at your daycare. 

Download Daily Connect: Software for California Daycare Centers

Hundreds of California childcare centers trust Daily Connect to support every aspect of their business. As a California-based childcare management software, it’s one of the most helpful tools to adopt when opening a daycare. 

From parent-teacher communication to documentation storage, the features from Daily Connect save you time and money every day. Features include:

• Parent Billing
• Childcare Center Management
• Child Attendance
• Learning Assessment Records
• Parent and Staff Communication
• Daycare Management 
• Daycare Lesson Plans
• And more

To get a free trial of the full Daily Connect app, click here to get started. 

Back to school season is an exciting time! If you’re a childcare provider, you know that it can also come with some inevitable stress. Summer quickly comes to an end, and you suddenly realize you still have to plan this year’s events, enroll new students, make sure you restock class supplies, and organize your budget.

Fortunately, this fresh start is a great time to think about important changes in your business and how you can improve your childcare center. If you need some back to school tips for childcare centers, keep reading. Learn how to level up your classroom and business this year. 

7 Tips to Improve Your Childcare Center in 2023-2024

As you get ready to welcome new and returning childcare students, here are the essential tips for back to school preparation. 

1. Prioritize Your Staff

Your business wouldn’t be successful without the care and hard work of your team. Put your employees first, as they set the foundation for all other childcare operations. 
Be proactive by:

• Planning consistent team meetings throughout the year
• Deciding how you’ll express appreciation for your staff, both privately and publicly
• Providing professional development opportunities to teachers and staff
• Setting the standard for positive attitudes and effective communication

Make sure you know how to hire the best childcare staff if you need to focus on recruitment. Equally as important, set up some kind of staff retention strategy so that your team can thrive in a supportive work culture.  

2. Revise Your Childcare Curriculum

Revise your curriculum for the coming year. If you’re an experienced childcare provider, reflect on what lesson plans worked well in the past and what needs to improve. Keep in mind the latest childcare education trends so you can provide more engaging, entertaining lessons. 

If you’re new to running a childcare business, create an ECE curriculum before opening your doors. Your curriculum should follow ECE guidelines and learning milestones. Implement your own teaching philosophy as well. This step is crucial because it informs which supplies your class needs and lets you know how your classroom will need to be structured.

Starting a new childcare business? Check out How to Open a Childcare Center to learn more.

3. Set Up Your Classroom

One of the most important (and fun!) parts about back to school childcare is preparing your classroom. Whether your childcare business is in your home or at a facility, creating a healthy learning environment is vital to student success. 

Here’s a basic checklist when setting up your classroom for the new school year:

• Thoroughly clean the entire classroom, from walls and furniture to toys and books. 
• Rearrange any furniture as necessary. Check if anything needs repairs.
• Decorate the bulletin boards, art areas, and doors with a new school year theme.
• Purchase and organize all the learning supplies your class needs for the next several months. 
• Go through books, toys, games, and other supplies that may need to be replaced or thrown away. 
• Check that all required licenses, evacuation maps, and health code certificates are displayed correctly. 
• Start taking inventory of all items so you can purchase backup supplies as needed. 

Make your classroom fun and inviting while also ensuring it has the structure it needs to facilitate a fantastic school year. 

4. Plan the Childcare Center Event Calendar

Take some time to plan the yearly calendar for your childcare center. Mark important dates like holidays and school closures. 

Create your center event calendars and schedule time for you to finalize event planning throughout the year. Events may include field trips, community events, classroom celebrations, themed days like crazy hair day, and graduation ceremonies. If your childcare center offers after-hours care or summer care, include that in your calendar planning.

Once you finalize the calendar, share it with your childcare center community. You want to give parents, teachers, and staff plenty of time to confirm their availability. Many childcare centers provide yearly calendars with general dates, then send updated calendars with more details at the beginning of each month.

5. Check Your Licenses and Certifications 

Before the school year begins, make sure all of your childcare licenses and certifications are up to date. In most states, this requires you to submit a renewal application and pay a licensing fee 30 days before the anniversary date.

Keeping all your licenses and certifications organized year after year makes this process a lot easier. Mark your calendar to do this every year so you don’t forget. Even better, set up some kind of digital system to keep all important childcare documents organized. Many providers use childcare management software that automatically notifies you of important dates.

6. Upgrade Parent-Teacher Communication Platforms

Whether you use email, a CRM, or a parent-teacher communication app to keep parents informed, give it an audit. Do you need to add new customers’ contact information to the system? Do you need to create classroom email lists? Is it time to switch from outdated customer management software to a more user-friendly one?

Many childcare centers rely on technology to automate and protect digital communication with parents. A childcare management platform that includes parent contact features is a great way to save time and keep parents informed.

7. Switch to a Digital Billing Platform

An even more influential way to improve parent-staff communication is to digitize parent billing. Instead of sending invoices and bills via snail mail, it’s easier for parents to receive recurring invoices every month in their emails. 

A digital childcare billing system lets you automate invoices, due date reminders, and late payment notices so parents are more likely to pay. It also diversifies payment methods so parents can pay online, while also having the option to pay cash or check. 

The best part about digital billing is that it helps you with financial duties as a childcare owner. Bookkeeping integration, secure payments, and classroom budgeting can be managed all in one place, making it easier to control your business income and expenses. 

Set Up Your Childcare Center for the Best Year Yet

As a childcare provider, you always want the best for the families you serve. Every back to school season is an opportunity to start fresh and become one step closer to your long-term goals. With these tips, you can start off the school year with inspiration and a plan. 

To support you and your childcare center this school year, Daily Connect is proud to equip your business with the features it needs to succeed. Make your job easier both in and outside the classroom with learning assessment analytics, staff/parent messaging options, automated parent billing, and more. 

Go back to school prepared and empowered with the Daily Connect childcare management platform. Get a two-week free trial to try out all the features today. 

Having the right employees is crucial to running a successful childcare business. Teachers make sure young students stay on track with learning outcomes, while support staff help educators and directors complete important everyday tasks to ensure children’s needs are met. But how can you find the right employees when it’s time to hire? 

Today, finding the right childcare workers is of vital importance. It’s no secret, however, that it’s becoming increasingly difficult as the job market continues to fluctuate. 
Whether you’re hiring your first staff members for your childcare business or you need to meet high turnover rates at your daycare, there are several hiring requirements today. Keep reading to learn how you can hire (and retain) great childcare workers.

Finding Qualified Childcare Staff

Before you begin the hiring process, know what you want in an ideal new hire. What skills, personality traits, availability, or formal training will a staff member need for the position? Once you determine this, it’s time to get applicants. Here are some tips on how.

Create a Job Ad

Your job listing should include a clear title. In the description, include a list of requirements, qualifications, and expectations for this position. List your top childcare policies so applicants get a sense of what your business is all about. Include any benefits, growth opportunities, and other helpful information that might attract interested employees. 

Publish Job Listings to the Right Platforms

You can share your job listing both online and in person. Online platforms that promote business networking include LinkedIn, Nextdoor, and Indeed. Family-specific platforms like care.com or local community forums are also good options. 

In person, you can post bulletins at your local library, gym, church, or coffee shop. Make sure to include your website or contact information so applicants can reach out. 

Inform Your Network You’re Hiring

Sometimes, the best hires occur from an existing connection. Let your colleagues, friends, and family know that you’re hiring, as well as where they can refer someone to apply. 

Conducting Interviews With Childcare Applicants

The typical interview process for childcare employees consists of an initial phone call, an in-person interview, and an on-site interaction with the kids.

Phone Screenings

The interview process begins with a phone screening with individual applicants that live up to your requirements. This is a chance for you and an applicant to introduce yourselves, discuss the position in more detail, and get a sense of whether or not they might be a good fit.

In-Person Interviews

If you want to move forward with an applicant, arrange an in-person interview. This is the official job interview where you consider a person’s skills and ability to cooperate in a childcare environment. 

Here are some questions to cover in the interview:

• What is your experience in childcare (or with children)?
• What interests you in childcare work? 
• In a specific scenario where X happens, what would you do? (Role-play the situation.)
• As a childcare provider, you’ll need to undergo background checks. How do you feel about this? 
• Tell me a little bit about your interests and hobbies outside of work.
• What are some of your weaknesses in team settings?

The in-person interview is a chance for you to gain information about a person’s communication style, experience, and overall competencies.

On-Site Interactions

After the interview, schedule some time for a “trial shift” where the person comes in to interact during childcare hours. This allows you to observe how the person engages with kids. It doesn’t have to be a complete shift — even 15-30 minutes will give you a glimpse into how they carry themselves and the ways they react to others. Do this before making a job offer. 

Onboarding and Training New Childcare Employees

If someone checks all the boxes and you like how they engage with children at your childcare center, it’s time to arrange their first day on the job. Their first day will be a day of onboarding.

Onboarding is when you help new hires acclimate to their new job. New employees should:

• Receive a tour of the childcare facility
• Complete new hire paperwork 
• Get to know the staff and students
• Learn about daily tasks, policies, and expectations 
• Receive an official training schedule or timeline 
• Learn any childcare software necessary for the job

Every childcare center is slightly different, but these items are crucial to enable new hires to succeed. Typically, training lasts several days or weeks, or until the new employee is ready to carry out duties confidently without help. Remember to stay open to any questions they may have during their first month of employment.

Retaining Your Childcare Center Employees

Once you’ve made a good hire and they’ve completed the training process, your efforts aren’t done. Retaining employees and making sure they’re fulfilled at their job is another goal in itself — one that’s well worth the effort on your part.

Most people want to feel recognized, appreciated, and supported in social situations, especially when it comes to the workplace. Focus on upholding a positive team culture that encourages personal growth, professional development, and financial incentive.
Here are some ideas for retaining great childcare workers long-term:

• Have a pay raise strategy (yearly or performance-based)
• Encourage professional development (training, schooling, promotions)
• Offer team activities (quarterly staff events, weekly meetings, employee of the month programs)
• Give private and public appreciation to staff (verbal thanks, thank you cards, public praise)
• Stay consistent (avoid changing policies or expectations unless necessary)

Above all, make sure you (as the boss) have a good attitude. Give positive and constructive feedback to staff. Say something when you see a staff member do something commendable. Delegate tasks that coincide with someone’s strengths, and offer help where there are weak points. Take care of your business, and be a leader who helps others learn to lead. 

Childcare Management Software: Daily Connect for Teachers and Staff

Know what to look for when hiring, conduct professional interviews, improve your training process, and maintain an ideal work environment. All these things encourage your childcare employees to thrive.

Hiring employees is one thing; managing and retaining a team is a whole different part of success. Two key parts of employee satisfaction are structure and communication at your business. In childcare today, this often requires digital software that makes the job easier on you and your team. 

The leading childcare software, Daily Connect, encourages better communication and staff retention. Not only does the app streamline everyday tasks like learning assessments, parent billing, and reporting features, but it also helps you and your staff stay organized. It allows teachers and staff to communicate between different classrooms, access daily checklists, keep track of attendance, and more. 

Get the tools your childcare center needs to become a more welcoming, organized workplace for everyone. Take the extra work out of childcare management so you and your staff can focus on what matters: being present at a job that serves your community. Get started with a free trial of Daily Connect software today to support your next hire. 

Parent daily reports are a regular part of early childhood education, particularly among daycare and preschool centers. As a childcare provider, delivering daily reports to every parent can sometimes be challenging. There are many details to keep track of, from sleep times and potty breaks to achievements and learning milestones. 

Every child is unique in their behaviors and daily needs, which means you have to stay highly attentive and organized when writing daily reports. Remembering all the details to include doesn’t always come naturally, especially when you have many children or even multiple classrooms to keep track of.

How is a daily report written, and what are some ways you can optimize the reporting process? Here is a quick guide to creating the best parent daily reports. Keep reading to learn all the tips.

Why Create Daily Reports for Parents?

A parent daily report — also called a daily sheet, daily progress report, or behavioral report — lets parents and guardians know how their child experienced their time at daycare. It’s a key element of parent communication.

Daily reports are necessary and often anticipated by parents of young children. Early childhood education is an optional but statistically beneficial phase in child development, and many parents miss their young kids after sending them to daycare all day. Parents want to know how their child felt, behaved, learned, and interacted with other children each day. 

Daily reports help you share this useful information with families. Not only does a report show parents that you’re actively involved in their child’s development, but it also allows parents to catch up on the moments they feel they missed. 

The Parent Daily Report Checklist

To make things easy, here’s a list of what to include in a daily report for parents to help both you and your customers.

1. Milestones 

Begin daily sheets with some milestones: what went right for the child that day? What did the child learn or overcome? What fun activities did he or she enjoy? Were they a good example to their peers? What seemed most interesting and engaging to the child? Give positive feedback and share the special moments.

2. Activities

List any new or noteworthy activities a child took part in throughout the day. You might also want to include activities the child didn’t participate in, as well. This informs parents of their child’s struggles, dislikes, and areas that could use improvement. 

3. Behavior and Mood

Behavioral reports are an important part of daily sheets. Be honest with parents about their child’s behavior, from outbursts or social challenges to “off days” and mood changes. Sometimes, a child behaves differently at childcare than they ever would at home. Communicating this to parents lets them know the whole picture of how their kid interacts.

4. Sleep

Sleeping and napping are important for young children, but not every child naps the same every day. Some kids might get cranky before nap time and feel better after some sleep. In the daily report, record whether or not a child napped, how long they slept, and what helped them fall asleep. Even if a child didn’t fall asleep, let parents know if they rested silently, and for how long.

5. Meals and Snacks

Let parents know how much their child eats at daycare. This helps parents learn about their child’s appetite, nutrition, and food preferences when they’re away from home. If a child tries a new food and likes it (or asks for seconds), tell their parents! It’s a delight to hear and can help families plan new meals together. Also, inform parents when their child refuses to eat.

6. Bathroom 

Some children become potty trained earlier than others, which is normal. Daycare kids often need their diapers changed or help going to the bathroom and washing their hands. Report to parents the frequency and necessary details of their child’s bathroom needs, including any irregularities or accidents.

7. Health 

Whether it’s a runny nose, an upset tummy, or an overall sense of seeming “run down,” keep parents updated on any health symptoms that come up during childcare. Of course, if the child vomits or has a fever, they need to go home. But other milder symptoms are important to relay to parents as well. 

8. Pictures 

As a bonus, you can include pictures in parent daily reports. Parents love to see their children learning and growing. They also want to see visual proof of certain incidents, such as a bee sting, injury, or displays of abnormal behavior. You can easily share photos by making parent reports digital, which is a readily accessible option for daycare businesses today. 

Sending a Daily Report to Parents: Digital Benefits 

Digitizing your childcare daily reports can save you time, money, and confusion. With the help of a childcare software or app, your daily reports offer several added benefits to parents.

Instant Notifications 

When daily reports are available on a digital platform, you can send instant notifications to parents. If a child gets injured, for example, you can upload a picture of the incident and deliver notifications to parents’ email or smartphone without disturbing them via phone call. 

Parent-Teacher Messages

If a parent needs to quickly communicate with childcare providers but can’t make a phone call, they can send you or your staff a message. This lets you receive messages without waiting on an email. It also gives you a secure, convenient way to reply to parents. 

Secure and Reliable Childcare Organization 

Digital parent reports in childcare are a secure way to maintain records so nothing ever gets lost. It’s also reliable for both you and your customers, as everything’s stored in one place. Digital reports help you stay organized in your business and help parents keep their child’s records clutter-free. 

Take Parent Daily Reports to the Next Level With Daily Connect

To set up a daily report template and get all the benefits of making your parent reports digital, Daily Connect is the best solution. 

As a leading childcare management software, Daily Connect helps daycare and preschool providers save time and efficiency. For parent reports, you can:

• Send automatic, digital reports to parents once they sign their child out.
• Deliver a daily summary plus a breakdown of all category entries.
• Save money and resources on paper and ink.
• Delegate reporting tasks to support staff so you can be more productive.
• Securely communicate with families.
• Easily reference past reports for learning assessments or legal purposes.

The best part about offering digital daily reports to parents is that it’s convenient for everyone involved. To see how you can improve daily reporting for your childcare, daycare, or preschool business, sign up for a free trial of Daily Connect. 

How to Open a Preschool

Opening a preschool is a worthy ambition that can greatly benefit your community. Preschool is an ideal experience for young children. It helps families find the early childhood education their kids need at this crucial stage of development. 

If you want to start a preschool, you’re likely driven by a passion to make a positive impact on the lives of families in your community. Although passion helps sustain your mission, running a preschool requires much planning, dedication, and commitment to the operations that make it work. Keep reading to learn the step-by-step process of how to open a preschool. 

Why Start a Preschool?

In addition to serving children and families in your area, starting a preschool has many rewards. Owning a preschool is a fun, high-energy business that allows you to constantly learn and grow. As a preschool owner, you’ll have more control over the business aspects such as the operating hours, educational approach, and income potential.

If there’s a need for preschools in your area and you have what it takes — including the desire — to start one, that’s reason enough. But where do you begin? Here are 10 things you must first consider.

10 Steps to Set Up a Preschool

Before opening a childcare business or preschool, you need to have a plan. From ideation to budgeting to hiring, know what to expect when setting up your preschool business. 

1. Know the Licensing Requirements

All childcare providers need to be fully licensed before they can legally offer childcare as a service. The licensing process requires an orientation, an application process, plus state and local approval. To learn about the requirements in your area, visit the National Database of Childcare Licensing Requirements here.

2. Make a Preschool Business Plan

While you’re getting ready to obtain licensure, dedicate some time to developing a business plan for your preschool. A business plan gives you a high-level overview of everything you need to effectively run your business. This plan includes: 

• Your mission
• Startup and operating business budgets
• Policies and procedures
• Employee pay rates
• Tuition, fees, and payment methods
• Parent-teacher communication
• Marketing strategy 

Some preschool owners hire professionals such as a financial planner or a lawyer to help them with a more robust business plan. But if that’s unrealistic for you, don’t let it hold you back from starting your own plan. You can refine it as you go.

3. Develop a Preschool Curriculum 

As a preschool teacher, you help your students with many important aspects of child development. Based on your education, experience, and research, develop an age-appropriate curriculum to facilitate learning. Include early childhood education milestones and quarterly goals for the class. Also, come up with plenty of fun lesson plans and activities for the kids. 

4. Find a Location

Where will your preschool take place? Whether you rent a space, own a separate facility, or offer preschool out of your home, you’ll need to include the financial and upkeep details in your business plan. Calculate rent, utilities, maintenance fees, monthly supplies, and meals. These costs will help you gauge how much to charge for tuition and services.

5. Buy Preschool Materials

Aside from learning supplies, you can’t open a preschool without the appropriate materials. Toys, bulletin boards, safety equipment, computer monitors, storage cubbies, chairs, and tables are examples of typical preschool equipment necessary for your students. Again, calculate all these costs into your opening budget, as well as estimated replacement or repair costs.

6. Hire Employees

Most preschools operate with a preschool director, preschool teachers, and support staff. Before opening your preschool, start the hiring process. As the owner, you get to set the requirements and expectations for your employees. What level of education does someone need? Are you willing to train someone with the right attitude and skills? How will you support and pay your staff?

Since this is a childcare environment, you’ll need to run initial and yearly background checks on all employees. Once you hire a team, make sure you have options to help them advance further if they’re eager. Educate yourself on how to retain employees to ensure a secure, nurturing environment for your young students. 

7. Set Up a Childcare Management Software

Childcare management software streamlines a lot of important business tasks for you so you can focus on being present with students. Childcare software helps with:

• Parent billing
• Curriculum planning
• Attendance
• Learning assessment records
• Parent-staff communication
• And more

Consider setting up a childcare management software before opening your preschool so you have a way to get organized. 

8. Market Your New Preschool 

Marketing can be included in your budget or you can promote your business at no cost. Free marketing options include:

• Word of mouth: tell family, friends, and local businesses you’re opening a preschool.
• Social media: announce your new services on websites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• Flyers: post flyers or brochures at local coffee shops, libraries, gyms, family clinics, etc.
• Local listings websites: post your preschool launch information on sites like Angi, Craigslist, Nextdoor, etc.

If you have the budget, consider hiring a marketer to publish paid ads on Google Search, social media, and more. 

9. Start Getting Customers

Once the word is out and you’re ready to start the business, start enrolling students into your new preschool. Remember, this is your business, so you get to choose who enrolls. While enrollment might be low in the first year, as your business grows you’ll be surprised at the demand for preschool care. 

10. Never Stop Learning

Opening your preschool center is only the beginning. You’re in charge of managing and maintaining it for years to come. Keep up with early childhood education trends, learn the latest science of child development, and improve your communication skills. The best teachers are lifelong learners themselves, so continue to fuel your passion as your business grows.

Daily Connect: The Ultimate Preschool Software

Opening a preschool is not easy, but it’s a worthwhile endeavor. Whether you’re opening a new location or starting your first preschool ever, knowing how to do it the right way is sure to bring you a meaningful profit. 

With so many obligations as a preschool owner, you’ll likely need a digital software to help you stay organized. Daily Connect, one of the leading childcare and preschool software apps, makes it easier for preschool owners to open and run their businesses. 

Start your preschool off right with the help of the Daily Connect app. Get a head start today with a free two-week trial. 

Starting a home daycare business can be an extremely rewarding career move. If you love taking care of children and have the space to run a daycare from your home, there’s a good chance your business will be in high demand. Independent daycare jobs can pay well, especially if you know how to set up the business side of things correctly.

Whether you want to start a small in-home daycare, a scalable childcare business, or a Montessori daycare within your home, keep reading. Here’s how to start an in-home daycare business.

1. Create a Plan

In a perfect world, you’d be able to open your doors to the families in your community and start making a living doing what you love right away. But it takes time and lots of planning to effectively open up a home daycare center. 

To start, you’ll need to form a plan for every major aspect of your daycare business. Here’s what that entails. 

Daycare Name

You’ll need to establish a business name. Ideally, choose a name that stands out, is easy to remember, and describes a little bit of your unique childcare approach. 

Cost of Services

How much will you charge for daycare? If you have no idea where to start gauging your prices, take a look at some local childcare centers and compare pricing. Ask families and friends what they’d pay for at-home daycare. Read up on the industry. And, of course, factor in your business finance needs for operating a daycare.

Daycare Budget

There are legitimate business costs involved in starting a home daycare. Before you offer childcare to the public, you need to know your daycare budget. This includes operating costs, projected revenue, expenses, emergency funds, and more. How will you fund your home daycare? Are you prepared for the financial obligations? 

Work-Life Balance

Lastly, be honest about your ability to maintain a healthy balance between work and life. You need to prepare some clear boundaries and stick to them. Is there a designated area of your home for daycare? Will your own kids be present during work hours? How will you manage organizing, meal preparation, and cleaning for both work and home? There’s a lot to consider.

2. Know the Requirements 

As with any other childcare business, there are federal, state, and county at-home daycare requirements you must follow. Unless you’re simply nannying or babysitting, you legally cannot operate a daycare without a license.

There are important licensure requirements that childcare providers must obtain and renew. A license holds you (the owner) and employees accountable for the children in your care. It also prevents irresponsible action and protects you from legal trouble. Similarly, daycare insurance protects you from potential crime, liability issues, and property damage.

Another requirement to know about is capacity. How many children can you care for at one time? More importantly, what are the local and state laws regarding at-home childcare numbers? Look into resources from www.childcare.gov and select your state to learn about the legal requirements and limitations. It’s also wise to contact a legal expert directly. 

3. Prepare Your Home for Daycare

You’ll need to gather everything you need to set up your home as a daycare. This includes equipment, supplies, and learning materials. It also includes safety, family-friendly decor, and a welcoming atmosphere.

Make sure everyone in your home is in support of you running a daycare business from the home. The last thing you need is conflict from the people you share a living space and home workspace with. Use common sense. If there are roommates or family members who might not accommodate a safe space for children, consider other childcare business options. 

Additionally, make sure you childproof your home to protect the young children who will be in your care. It’s also suggested that you have enough space for a designated childcare area so children can focus on learning free of distractions.

Read More: Safeguarding Your Home Daycare: What Experts Have to Say

4. Legitimize Your Daycare Business

There are a few things to cover when it comes to the business side of childcare:

• Pricing
• Marketing
• Parent communication
• Billing and invoicing

Once you know the cost of your services, you can decide on what type of business model you want to run. This includes the daycare schedule, billing methods, payment due dates, and childcare curriculum. It also includes your teaching philosophy, childcare niche, and customer turnover processes. 

Are you going to publicly market your daycare? If so, how? Most home daycare providers start gaining customers through word-of-mouth referrals or through families they know in the community. Later on, you can consider childcare marketing, local promotion, and SEO.

Another important aspect of the business is professional communication with your customers. Parent communication can make or break a successful daycare business, so set yourself up for the best outcome by getting clear on these expectations. Many childcare providers use a secure daycare management app that includes parent-teacher messaging. 

5. Don’t Overcomplicate Your Home Daycare Business

There are a lot of steps to starting a home daycare business. It can sometimes get overwhelming. But one thing you don’t want to do is overcomplicate the business so much that you fail to start. 

You absolutely need the right licensing, funding, equipment, and supplies to start offering childcare. However, you don’t need extra fancy details to officially open and run a successful daycare. Don’t worry about having an expensive childcare website, social media following, or perfect five-year goal in order. Start with the foundations. You can always grow and improve.

6. Stay Organized and Grow Your At-Home Daycare

Once you start a daycare business from home, you might be surprised at how fulfilling the entrepreneurial side of it is. With the right environment, a solid plan, and a wholehearted commitment to serving your customers, it’s likely that you’ll attract more business over time.

Whether you scale your daycare business or simply need help staying organized, a childcare management platform is an ideal solution. It helps you manage the important things:

• Daily activities
• Parent communication
• Parent billing
• Health and safety logs
• Learning assessments
• Sign-in and attendance

Daily Connect, the most comprehensive childcare software on the market, helps new daycare providers set themselves up for success. Recognized by Capterra as the Best Value Childcare Software 2022, it’s the most affordable and accessible solution on the market today.

Start your free trial of Daily Connect in-home daycare software today to see how it can help you organize and scale your business.

Whether you run a childcare business that’s a small, in-home daycare or a multi-location franchise, you and your employees deserve to get paid on time. It all comes down to one thing: parent billing. 

Regardless of the size, location, or type of childcare center you operate, making sure parents pay on time involves the same strategies. Curious about how you can make billing easier for your entire business? Keep reading to learn how to optimize your payment processes.

5 Ways to Collect Childcare Center Payments

Whether you prefer online options or in-person payments, set up a payment process that aligns with your childcare billing schedule. 

There are five main ways that childcare providers collect payments today. You may want to welcome all types of payment or encourage digital payments for ease in your business.

1. Cash

Cash is an easy way for some parents to pay for childcare. However, it’s not the most ideal option for your business. With cash payments, you must visit the bank to deposit the bills, which takes extra time and organization. Ultimately, cash is a valid form of payment but encourage parents to choose electronic options for convenience. 

2. Checks

Paper checks are typical methods of payment within childcare centers. Checks can be mailed or dropped off by parents in person when they see your childcare director. As with cash, handling checks requires a lot more organization and responsibility. Once you receive payment, it’s your job to make sure it gets to the bank on time and then wait for the funds to clear.

3. Debit/Credit Cards

Credit and debit cards are the preferred form of payment for many busy parents. 80% of adults prefer using cards over cash for financial transactions today. It’s easy for parents to pay with a card on-site while they’re picking up or dropping off their child. Plus, it quickly transfers funds to your business. Parents can also use cards for one-time or automated payments online.  

4. Autopay

Autopay is a great option for parents who want to ensure instant childcare bills get paid at the beginning of every billing cycle. They simply set up their payment details once and the bill processes automatically upon the due date. 

5. ACH Transfer

ACH bank transfer is another instant option for payment. Parents don’t have to opt-in for autopay with this option, but it allows payments to be completed in full. There’s less of a wait time for childcare businesses to receive funds since payments are usually transferred within hours or days. 

Using Online Parent Billing and Payment Software

Whether you collect all five methods of childcare payment or you want to prioritize online automation, using a parent billing software makes the process more effective and organized. If you want to accept any type of payment, anytime, anywhere, turn to a platform like Daily Connect. You can receive payments in person, over the phone, or even through mobile devices.

How to Handle Late Payments 

Late payments are a common occurrence in the childcare industry. Parents are busy and every family has different financial circumstances, so a few late payments are expected.

However, if late payments are a constant struggle at your childcare center, there are a few things you can do to encourage parents to pay on time. 

Most importantly, remember: having a billing software that keeps track of invoices, due dates, how much a parent owes, and late fees relieves you of constantly having to chase late payments. In the meantime, here are some ways to promote fewer late bills.

Update Childcare Center Policies

Parents have to agree to your childcare center’s policies before they can receive childcare. Make sure your parent handbook and policies clearly explain tuition due dates, payment methods, late fees, and other charges. Agreeing to these standards of late fees and other consequences, parents are more likely to pay on time. 

Set Up Automated Billing Reminders

If your email list is integrated with a parent billing app or childcare software, schedule automatic billing reminders for all families in your class. You can also create automatic reminders as app notifications or text messages so parents don’t forget the bill is due soon.

Send Due Date and Late Payment Notices

You can also set up automated emails to deliver urgent notices regarding childcare tuition. Instantly send invoices via email and automate follow-up reminders for deadlines and late payments. For example:

• Send email reminders for unpaid invoices on the payment due date
• Send email notices for day-late payments
• Send email warnings for payments and late fees that are 3 or more days overdue 

With most childcare billing software, you can customize these automated reminders to suit your billing cycles.

Confronting Parents Who Repeatedly Pay Late

At every childcare business, there are a few families who constantly miss or avoid payments. Part of running a successful childcare center is knowing how to confront these customers with kindness while remaining firm on your pricing model.

If you need to have a difficult conversation with parents, remember to stay polite even in this frustrating situation. You can direct them to local or state resources for childcare financial relief, but in the end, it’s up to the parents to cover childcare. Explain that you want the best for their child, but that it takes a lot of resources to operate a busy childcare business. 

Your business is not a charity, and unfortunately — as stated in your tuition agreement and customer policies — termination of childcare services will occur if costs remain unpaid. 

Easily Collect and Manage Childcare Payments

As a childcare provider, you have an overwhelming amount of daily tasks to complete. You deserve to focus on what matters most in your business: the children. 

Instead of spending valuable time and energy trying to get paid every month, upgrade your parent billing and payment systems to work for you. With comprehensive childcare software, you can automate invoices, send instant email reminders, and collect secure daycare payments every time.

Our leading childcare management app, Daily Connect, integrates parent billing features while streamlining every other aspect of your childcare business. Get a free trial today to try it out for yourself!

As a childcare owner, you and your staff provide an essential service to the families in your community. But running a daycare business isn’t always easy. You know more than anyone that it takes dedication, time, and hard work. 

From keeping track of every child’s schedule to constantly managing tuition and late fees, handling invoices for daycare businesses is an extremely time-consuming task. Whether you operate a small, in-home daycare or a multi-million dollar childcare center franchise, the billing and invoicing process is generally the same. The good news is it doesn’t have to be so overwhelming. 

If you want to manage all your childcare invoices more efficiently, keep reading. Here’s your guide to creating and sending invoices for your daycare business. 

What is a Childcare Invoice?

A childcare invoice is a financial document that lists every billable item a parent needs to pay. An invoice can be paper or digital. Either way, they notify families what they need to pay and how to pay it. 

A childcare invoice should include:

• Line items and their costs (services, fees, add-ons, etc.)
• Total childcare bill amount
• The parent or legal guardian’s address
• Childcare payment information 
• Payment due date
• Childcare contact information 

Itemized invoices give parents a complete view of what services they’re paying for. This includes monthly or weekly tuition plus any late fees, taxes, or special childcare add-ons a parent consents to. 

For example, one family might agree to pay monthly tuition at a fixed rate, plus additional costs for hot lunch provided by the childcare center three times a week. Another parent may pay for occasional hourly care and prepare a packed lunch for their child. Every family is different, which is why having an invoicing system in place is so important. It eliminates confusion.

No matter what a family pays, due dates and multiple payment methods allow customers to pay childcare bills correctly and on time. After the due date, most childcare centers charge a late fee as outlined in their childcare center policies. 

How to Send Childcare Center Invoices

Many childcare business owners use digital invoicing and parent billing systems today. However, there are several invoice options you should consider to cater to different preferences.

Mail

Send an invoice in the mail to the parent or guardian’s address. Upon receiving the invoice, they can then pay their bill using cash, check, credit/debit card, or online.

In-Person Invoice Notices

You can physically deliver invoices to parents when they drop off or pick up their child from daycare. This is a good way to remain approachable and attentive to customers. It also encourages open communication between you and the parents.

Email Invoices

Automatically email invoices throughout every billing cycle so parents have early notice of what they owe. Then, they have the option to pay online, bring cash or check to you before the due date, or mail their payment. 

Parent Billing Software or Childcare App

Use parent billing or childcare software to automatically send, notify, and receive all forms of childcare payment. Automatic mobile payment options are ideal for many parents today. Nearly 94% of millennials claim they prefer to use mobile payments when available, so this is likely to be the best fit for most childcare businesses.  

How to Create a Childcare Center Invoice

No matter what method your daycare center uses to send invoices, you must first decide how you’ll create them. Whether you care for several children or dozens of fully-enrolled classrooms, here are a few options.

Manually Type Your Childcare Invoices

The old-fashioned way to send invoices is to manually calculate tuition and fees every parent owes and then create individualized documents. Today, some businesses still use word processors, spreadsheets, and Google Docs to draft these out. However, this method can be time-consuming and leave room for error.

Use an Accounting Software

There are several popular accounting platforms that businesses use today, and daycare centers can benefit from such options. These platforms organize expenses, handle payroll, and integrate with tax documentation software to make finances organized and accessible. Examples include Quickbooks, Zoho, Xero, and FreshBooks.

Set Up a Childcare Billing Software 

An option one level above accounting software is a childcare management software, ideally one that comes with billing and invoicing features. Because this technology is developed specifically for childcare businesses, it makes billing and payment processing easier for everyone as it integrates with every other aspect of your center. 

Whether your childcare tuition is at an hourly, weekly, monthly, or seasonal rate, using childcare software lets you streamline the billing process. Payments are secure, parent billing is automated, and bills can be paid and tracked directly within the childcare app.

How to Automate Your Childcare Center Invoices

When it comes to automated billing, a childcare management platform offers the most customizable features. 

Here are some tips to automate your childcare invoices:

• Make sure parents understand billing due dates and late fees in your childcare policies.
• Establish clear, consistent billing cycles. For example, childcare bills are due every other Monday or every first of the month.
• Create a recurring invoice schedule. For example, invoices are sent weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on your billing cycle. Make sure to send invoices before the due date.
• Set up automatic email reminders or app notifications for parents. Reminders can be sent 3-5 days after sending an unpaid invoice, the day a payment is due, and the day a childcare bill is considered late.
• Encourage customers to set up automatic payments for recurring childcare. That way, parents always pay on time and avoid late fees. They can also adjust their settings in the childcare app to accommodate the family budget. 

In addition to being convenient for parents, childcare billing software makes your job a lot easier. You can accurately manage payment information for every customer, save time with automatic invoices, and observe financial data to make wiser business decisions.

Best Childcare Management Software With Invoice Features

Set up everything your childcare center needs to automate and keep track of all invoices. With the most comprehensive childcare management software, Daily Connect, you can take full control of everything from tuition and parent billing to curriculum planning and learning assessments. Managing invoices for daycare businesses transforms from a nightmare to a piece of cake.

No matter what size, location, or type of childcare program you run, Daily Connect will help you optimize all the business aspects of it. Reach out to get a free trial of Daily Connect today.

Some of the biggest challenges that childcare providers face have to do with tuition. Whenever a family misses a payment or skips covering the cost of their childcare plan, it can negatively impact your childcare business. You might struggle to budget correctly or even lack the funds to meet payroll or buy supplies.

You and your employees deserve to be paid without complication. Your childcare business provides a lot for the families in your community, and it’s only fair that parents compensate providers for such a valuable service. However, it’s common for childcare workers to feel overwhelmed and underpaid. Fortunately, there are ways to encourage parents to pay on time. 

Read on to learn how you can equip everyone at your childcare center to handle tuition payments accurately and with ease.

1. Set Clear Policies and Expectations

The first thing you need to do to ensure on-time parent billing and childcare tuition payment is to have a clear set of payment policies. These policies are part of the contract signed during enrollment so parents have clear expectations upfront. Policies set up not only the basic timeline for payment schedules and methods but also outline any potential consequences for late payments.

These policies aren’t to be harsh, but to simply protect you and your business from financial hardship. Many childcare centers charge late fees for unpaid tuition, which discourages parents from putting off their bills. 

2. Enable Online Payment Options

One of the best ways to make it easy for parents to pay on time and avoid late fees is to enable online payments. There are a lot of online childcare tuition payment processing options available for little to no cost for your business.

Some benefits of online payment include: 

• Helps your financial records 
• Caters to customers who prefer online payment
• Delivers accurate invoices
• Quicker transactions for your childcare business 
• Increased security and early detection of fraud
• Integration with smartphone apps 

Since a majority of families manage their money online today, equipping them with online options for childcare billing is extremely practical. You can set up childcare billing software to help you manage every online payment detail.

3. Develop Good Parent-Teachers Relationships

Focus on nurturing positive relationships with the families you serve. Get to know the children’s parents and make them feel valued just as much as their children. 

If a family is struggling to pay their bills, you want them to feel comfortable coming to you with a fair warning about tuition issues. If parents are uncomfortable or feel they might be judged for missing a payment, they may be more likely to avoid payments, late fees, and communication. 

Of course, many of these financial situations are outside your control. However, remaining open to discussion and maybe even negotiation during a difficult time can make the tuition process a lot easier for everyone while keeping integrity intact. 

4. Accept Multiple Payment Types

Even though online payments are ideal for many parents today, other tuition billing options such as cash, checks, and credit cards are still widely preferred. A 2022 survey found that 88% of millennials use cash every month, and nearly 40% of millennial parents still write checks. 

The easier it is for your customers to pay for childcare tuition, the more likely they are to pay on time. Make it easy for everyone by catering to different people’s preferences. 

5. Post Monthly Reminders On-Site

Despite so many improvements with digital automation in the childcare industry, a lot of your business still takes place in person. It might be helpful to post door signs that read, “Remember to pay childcare tuition by [date] to secure your child’s spot!” at the beginning of the month or whenever your payment cycles conclude. 

Listing a paper reminder on-site doesn’t have to seem greedy. You can make it celebratory and fun. Maybe write it as a thank you, or share a “win” that happened thanks to every parent paying their bill on time for the quarter.

6. Encourage Parents to Set Up Autopay

Sometimes, a late payment has nothing to do with the circumstance that someone can’t afford tuition. It may simply be that someone has too many other financial obligations to manage all at once. 

If a parent struggles to remember their childcare payment, encourage them to set up autopay. An online billing system will charge a customer’s preferred bank or credit/debit card every month as a recurring payment. This is especially helpful for those who prefer a “set it and forget it” approach to bills, or for those who want digital control over their budget. 

7. Automate Email Invoices and Receipts

Automation can benefit practically any aspect of a childcare business. Tuition invoicing and childcare billing is high on the automation priority list. Here’s why:

• Emailed invoices give parents a clear breakdown of every item they’re paying for, from monthly tuition to late pick-up fees and everything in between. 
• Detailed childcare receipts can be necessary for sensitive family obligations such as childcare financial assistance, tax purposes, or court hearings.
• Automated invoices and receipts save your childcare director and staff time, money, and energy that they’d spend manually sending these important items. 
• Digital invoices and receipts are less likely to get lost or misplaced, unlike documents delivered in person or by mail.

Again, every childcare customer lives a different lifestyle and has their own unique set of preferences. Allowing parents to go digital with automated emails and billing is a welcomed convenience for many.

8. Use Childcare Software to Keep Track of Parent Billing

To reap the benefits of many of the points above, a lot of childcare providers use a childcare management software to ensure parents pay childcare tuition. Not only do these digital platforms and apps assist with parent billing and tuition, but they also streamline time-consuming administrative tasks.

With a childcare management software like Daily Connect, you get everything you need to:

• Automate billing
• Send digital invoices
• Receive multiple types of payment
• Organize documents and policies digitally
• Keep track of your budget 
• Manage your childcare accounting 
• Communicate securely with parents
• Record child learning assessments
• And more

The best part about this type of childcare software is that it has features that help your at-home daycare, childcare franchise, or even Montessori preschool. No matter what approach your business takes to childcare, digital software is customizable. You can tailor it to your brand and the ways your childcare center operates. 

Tools to Make It Easy to Pay Childcare Tuition

Whether you’re thinking of starting a childcare business or you already run a well-established daycare, set yourself up for success with the best childcare tuition processes. 

Ready to access the tools you need to grow enrollment, improve parent billing, and take charge of your childcare business? Reach out to Daily Connect to learn more about our affordable software. Get started with a free trial today.

Opening a childcare center is an exciting and respectable goal to work toward. Today, there are growing opportunities and increasing demands for quality childcare, and you may be the best person to provide this to your community. But there are some expected (and unexpected) challenges you’ll need to be prepared for.

The good news is, any challenge can be overcome when you have a solid business approach. It takes work, but there are plenty of resources available to help you get there. 

If you’re opening a childcare center or daycare, keep reading. Here are some of the most common challenges to expect and the best ways to overcome them.

1. Securing Funding

Many aspiring childcare owners run into unexpected costs. From rent to equipment to marketing fees, childcare is a financially demanding endeavor. Many directors pursue public grants or government aid when first getting started.

Overcome initial funding challenges by starting with a realistic budget. It takes money and energy to open a daycare or childcare business, so it’s wise to work out all the numbers before diving in. 

2. Finding a Location

It can be difficult to find a childcare location. You have several options:

• Offer daycare in your home. You’ll need the necessary licenses and permits. Plus, you must be careful to abide by limited enrollment numbers for home daycare.
• Rent a space. In addition to paying for licensure and certifications to operate, you’ll have to cover the cost of rent, utilities, and supplies.
• Purchase a facility. Some childcare facilities are purchased as commercial buildings, which means you’ll invest a lot of money. But there are trade-offs: you’ll be able to grow your business rapidly without as many limitations.

Consider what part of town that’s best suited for your business. What clientele are you serving? Do you want to grow a commercial brand or an independent daycare? These are all things to decide before finding a location.

3. Buying Childcare Equipment

Different early childhood education models require different equipment. For example, large facilities need plenty of tables, chairs, cubbies, and storage equipment while Montessori daycares use specific learning tools. Whatever the case, creating a great indoor learning environment for your kids is a great investment.

This can be a challenge because the equipment is expensive. It also takes time to set up. To overcome challenges in finding equipment and supplies, consider sourcing from online shops, TeachersPayTeachers, used furniture stores, teacher supply collectives, and more.

Take exact measurements of your space so you don’t have to deal with the hassle of exchanges and returns. Get help finding deals, ordering equipment, and setting up larger items so you don’t burn out before opening your childcare center.

4. Getting Licensed 

Licensure is required to operate legally and safely in the United States. Get clear on all the federal, state, and local regulations to avoid setbacks and prevent legal trouble.

Another way you can overcome licensing challenges is to stay up to date on annual renewals. Schedule digital calendar reminders, pay fees on time, and organize all your documents digitally so you have everything you need in one place.

5. Hiring and Training Employees

With the current staffing shortages, it’s extra challenging to hire competent childcare employees. You may need to offer higher pay or more promising career opportunities than your competitors in order to hire and retain teachers and support staff.

It can also be challenging to find the right type of people to hire. Remember: it’s not all about the educational background of a potential staff member— other factors are important, like compassion, communication skills, and willingness to constantly learn. 

6. Creating Childcare Curriculum

If you’re new to the childcare industry, you need to know how to educate young children in an environment where they feel safe enough to explore the world around them. Creating an early childhood education (ECE) curriculum is crucial to providing childcare as a service.

Overcome the confusion by focusing on the specific categories of ECE. Break down annual, seasonal, and monthly lesson plans to hit all the main learning assessments within the school year. 

Another way to develop ongoing curriculum plans is to stay involved in a community of supportive, knowledgeable educators. This will not only help you on your way to becoming an established business owner, but it’ll keep you motivated toward a greater cause. 

7. Acquiring Your First Customers

Marketing, promotion, outreach, enrollment— there are so many steps that go into acquiring your first customers. How can you do it all? 

Here are several helpful strategies you can use to start attracting parents to choose your childcare center.

• Share the word: Tell your friends, family, acquaintances, coworkers, and local community members about your new childcare or daycare. Tell them what makes it stand out and ask them to refer potential parents or employees your way.
• Run online ads: Marketing your childcare center on Facebook, Google, Instagram, Yelp, and other platforms can have a big return on investment. You don’t have to run paid ads, but in the right situation, they can help. 
• Market yourself locally: By posting flyers on gym bulletin boards, community announcement platforms, and other places families frequently visit, you can build interest in your business. Also, consider making a website and investing in SEO (search engine optimization) so locals can find you online.

Need help getting more childcare customers? Read our Ultimate Guide to Increasing Childcare Enrollment.

8. Communicating With Families

One surprising challenge many new childcare centers face is the amount of effort it takes to communicate with parents. Children can indeed be difficult to manage, but you’ll likely learn that sometimes, the children’s parents are even more emotionally demanding.

To overcome this challenge, make sure you maintain positive communication no matter what. Always make an effort to understand a difficult confrontation, and keep the kids’ best interest in mind. It’s financially difficult for many families to pay for childcare, so consider offering various plans and payment options.

9. Establishing Business Processes

Everything from time management to accounting can put lots of stress on childcare business owners. Overcome the headaches by establishing a solid business process ahead of time. Here are the main points of a business process:

• Parent billing
• Payroll
• Accounting 
• Parent-teacher communication
• License compliance
• Child learning assessments 
• Staff development
• Curriculum 

Come up with systems and procedures to operate from, ensuring your whole team— as well as your customers— know what to expect from your services. 

10. Managing and Maintaining Your Childcare Center

Once your childcare center is up and running, you need to focus on not only your business processes but also the management and maintenance of every aspect. It can be challenging to manage everything by yourself, which is why many providers rely on childcare management software. 

Childcare management software allows instant secure parent messaging, automatic billing, contactless check-in, learning assessment reporting, and more. Think of it as a digital administration and management tool to help you set up and run your business.

Ready to overcome all the challenges that come with opening a childcare center? Reach out to Daily Connect today for a free trial of our supportive management tool.

As the dust continues to settle from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, education centers continue to adapt. There have been advances and setbacks in early childhood education environments, and childcare providers have survived serious stress. Although health and safety risks are less of a concern today than two years ago, other strains persist.

It’s important to stay aware of industry demands, trends, and developments in order to provide the best care possible to families in the real world. Looking ahead, 2023 is expected to bring relief as well as some challenges.

If you work in early childhood education, keep reading. Here are some important 2023 childcare industry trends you should know about. 

1. Local Childcare Funding Instead of Federal 

Even years before the pandemic— from 2011 to 2019— childcare industry employment gradually dropped by 11%. Strained further by the COVID-19 lockdowns and a lack of funding for businesses, those in the childcare industry have had to be adaptive and relief-focused. 

Funding recently granted by the American Rescue Plan of 2021 is set to expire in 2023. Further aid from the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) will end in 2024. To prevent childcare closures and a lack of affordable care, many childcare centers need alternative funding options. 

Because of this, state funding initiatives will likely emerge in order to replace aid to childcare providers and families. In Colorado, a state child tax credit was set in place that allowed families to claim in 2022. Massachusetts, Maryland, and other states have also passed tax credits and deduction options to obtain childcare relief.

2. Impacts of Legislation on Childcare

New laws could affect the childcare industry, as it greatly impacts the parents the industry serves. While federal child tax credits and other programs are a topic within themselves, other political factors will impact childcare in 2023.

• Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: This federal law relieved the cost of pharmaceuticals, health insurance, tax filing, and climate expenses for many. But unfortunately, it excluded an extension on the child tax credit many parents were relying on to pay for childcare and even reverse childhood poverty. 
• The push for new childcare benefits: Stay updated on upcoming legislation and bill proposals, as many are still fighting for continued childcare support for parents of preschool-aged children. 

Because social and economic changes have such a large impact on families in the U.S., legislative news is something to keep in mind when running a childcare center. 

3. Educational Changes: STEM and SEL

For some time now, the traditional education model has been getting an overhaul. From the Montessori learning model to mission-driven daycare programs, many parents now value pedagogical frameworks that stand out from the norm. 

Over the past several years, STEM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) have been taking the spotlight in education. One reason for this is that employers are realizing many new hires entering the workforce lack critical STEM skills. Introducing technical skills early on— even as early as preschool— helps kids develop into tech-literate individuals. 

But STEM alone won’t encourage the well-rounded development that kids need. On the other side of this educational coin is a focus on social and creative learning. Creative problem-solving, social-emotional learning (SEL), and hands-on makerspaces are emerging concepts that may continue to grow in 2023 and beyond.

4. Hiring Amidst Staffing Shortages

For childcare centers in the United States, a big focus for 2023 will be recruiting and hiring competent employees. The staffing shortage is still affecting even the most well-paying education businesses. Unfortunately, professionals who work in early childhood education centers often receive little more than minimum wage.

To improve the hire and retention rates of qualified teachers and staff, childcare centers will likely have to offer more pay to potential employees. They may also need to think of ways to incentivize job benefits to attract qualified candidates. Nationally, the projected pay raise for childcare workers 2022-2023 rests at about 10% on average, although state pay raises will vary. 

5. Larger Demand for Childcare Technology

Childcare and daycare centers continue to evolve as technology advances. With so much education-specific tech available today, many childcare providers are turning to management software to help run their businesses.

A childcare software fulfills some crucial roles for providers:

• Optimizes everyday business operation 
• Gives parents and guardians easy access to their child’s progress 
• Promotes automatic billing and on-time payments
• Easily tracks attendance
• Offers contactless sign-in options
• Tracks learning and assessment data for individual students and the classroom
• Allows secure digital parent-teacher communication 

For small, at-home daycares and large facilities that offer hybrid classes, everyone involved in childcare benefits from this type of management technology. 

6. Optimism for Early Childhood Education

Despite financial and legislative unknowns, childcare leaders admit to being hopeful about the educational climate in the future. More classrooms are resumed in person. Cultural and social movements have sparked a significant focus on child development, and policymakers are making careful decisions that put children and families first. 

At a societal level, more people— whether it be parents, politicians, future teachers, or charity groups— have been prompted to take a closer look at education. Here are some factors that will likely receive active attention this coming year:

• Social-emotional learning
• Healthy cognitive development
• Neurodivergent learning support in education 
• Collaborative opportunities for educators across specialties 
• Mental health
• Innovative methods of teaching, both in and out of the classroom
• Accessible and equitable curriculum programs
• Family empowerment and problem-solving strategies 

No matter what happens in 2023, remember that change is inevitable. Families are always looking for more effective and affordable childcare. Childcare professionals view industry improvement over the next few years as crucial— and possible. 

Growth Strategies Through the 2023 Childcare Industry Trends

Whether your childcare center is thriving or struggling to survive, there are ways to proactively adapt to these 2023 childcare industry trends. 

If your childcare center needs help with funding, look into state grants and initiatives to replace federal relief. If you need to hire new employees, consider revisiting your overall business strategy to adjust a pay increase. Pay attention to the rise in advocacy for child development, sociocultural support, and widespread education. Get involved in your local community. Follow the trajectory of positive change.

For an affordable childcare management system that helps providers stay compliant and get organized at any time, the Daily Connect app is full of solutions. From parent billing to staff communication to projected learning outcomes and child assessments, it helps childcare providers stay consistent in our ever-changing world. 

To get started with the right childcare management software for your business in 2023, contact Daily Connect today. 

If you’re opening a childcare center, it’s an exciting time. Even though it’s a worthwhile venture, inevitable stresses come with any new business— many of which catch new childcare business owners by surprise. 

To prepare for success, you need to have a plan. If you want to create a sustainable, thriving childcare center, you have to do everything right. That way, you can avoid major pitfalls, lead your business with confidence, and establish the type of credibility families want in a childcare provider.

Whether you’re planning to open a brand new facility, a home daycare, or your next franchise location, this free childcare center opening checklist is for you.

Here’s what’s inside our free childcare center opening checklist:

1. Licensing
2. Business Plan
3. Financing
4. Location
5. Childcare Policies
6. Employees
7. Equipment
8. Marketing
9. Billing Software
10. Childcare Management Technology

Let’s start at the beginning and review each of the items in our free childcare center opening checklist in order.

1. Licensing

From the start, you want to protect your childcare center. To operate legally, childcare centers must be officially licensed by the state’s Department of Children and Family Services.

Licensing regulations differ from state to state, and different countries will have their own requirements too. Get clear about the childcare licensing requirements in your location, including any fees, annual renewals, state safety laws, and more. Sometimes, it can be helpful to contact a state licensor directly.

Consider other requirements and certifications that may be useful beyond state licensing standards. CPR certifications, early childhood education (ECE) credits, and a Childcare Director’s Certificate may be necessary.

2. Business Plan

A business plan is essential if you want to fulfill not only the minimum requirements to run a childcare center, but also reach big-picture goals in the future. 

With a business plan, you have a step-by-step guide to building a lasting and profitable business. From your mission statement to annual goals to a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs), an effective business plan has everything you need to scale and serve.

Read more about Childcare Business Planning here.

3. Financing

It’s better to clearly outline a budget than to guess how much it “might” cost to open a childcare center. Include financial projections in your business plan, and track every financial detail you can possibly think of. 

What will the cost of licensing be per year? What is your budget for rent and utilities? How much will you need to pay your employees? Sort through all the numbers before opening your doors. 

Many childcare business owners open with the help of business loans. If this is something you need to look into, consider how much you want to grow enrollment every year, as locking into one location or contract may put limitations on growth. 

4. Location 

There’s a common slogan for in-person businesses: “location, location, location.”

Where you choose to operate your childcare center can make or break its potential for success. Decide if you’re going to run a private daycare, a niche-specific childcare program, a large childcare company, or something different— then consider the best location for it.

For example, maybe you’re offering childcare to a diverse population in a big city, in which case you’ll need a safe yet easy-to-find building. Or if you open a smaller daycare in the suburbs, you might prefer to operate out of your home. No matter where you open your business, remember to clarify city laws and childcare licensure ahead of time.

5. Childcare Policies

Policies and procedures are necessary because they provide documented legal protection against anything that could go wrong in your business. 

Childcare policies also set clear expectations for your employees and customers. Many state licensing laws require childcare providers to have these policies and procedures in place. They may include:

• An employee handbook
• Childcare enrollment paperwork 
• Incident report forms
• Parent-teacher communication forms
• Staff evaluations 
• Health and safety procedures 
• Mandated reporting
• Emergency action plans
• Privacy policies 

Creating policies and procedures is a whole process in itself. For best results, you might want to hire a specialist so you know what to include in each one.

6. Employees

Your business needs employees to function. For you to deliver on your childcare business plan, fulfill your educational philosophies, and hit your business goals, put plenty of effort into hiring the right staff.

What’s important to you when it comes to employees? Do they need rigorous educational training or would you prefer staff members who are passionate to grow in the field of child development? Do you want an assistant director to help you run your business or are you planning to hire support staff only? 

Know what you want and need. Determine which type of employee culture would benefit your childcare in the classroom and as a work unit. Create clear guidelines and rules for your staff. Most importantly, always strive to be a positive example to the team. 

7. Equipment 

How will you furnish and decorate your childcare center? This is something to consider before, during, and after securing a location. 

Equipment and supplies for your business include everything from tables and workstations to craft supplies and snacks. Here are some must-have items:

• Sanitation supplies
• Child hygiene products
• Age-appropriate toys
• Educational materials
• Walkie-talkies for staff
• Naptime cushions or sleeping pads
• Electronic devices for the classroom
• Storage equipment and cubbies

Depending on your childcare business, you might require unique supplies. For example, a Montessori daycare will look a lot different than a traditional preschool. Make a list of items your childcare program will need ahead of time so you know what to buy. 

8. Marketing

These days, online marketing is one of the best ways to stand out in any industry. The same is true for childcare. How will you market your business?

• Have a website. Aim to rank for search terms like “childcare center in [your area]” on Google by investing in SEO. You can also run paid ads on mega-platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp.
• Use social media. Promote your business on Facebook, Nextdoor, Angi, or Instagram. Hire a social media manager if necessary. Want to stand out? Provide free, educational content for parents in your area.
• Spread the word. Where can you share your childcare center with locals who need your service? Post banners or flyers at local gyms, libraries, community centers, college campuses, or anywhere else parents may frequent. Tell your friends and family to share the news with their communities.

Marketing is a long-term strategy. It’s important to sustain a marketing plan year after year. You never know when enrollment might get low or if someone might withdraw from your program, leaving you short on funds.

9. Billing Software

Ideally, childcare centers should have digital billing software with the option for automated payments. Not only does this make it easier for parents to pay tuition, but it also makes accounting easier for childcare providers.

Here are some features to look for in childcare billing software:

• Automatic invoicing
• Credit/debit card payment options
• ACH transfer options
• User-friendly online dashboard
• Affordable processing fees
• Childcare accounting integrations

Childcare financial software helps relieve you of manually calculating bills and fees for customers. Spend less time crunching the numbers and more time providing excellent care and education to the kids. 

10. Childcare Management Technology

No matter what aspect of childcare you need to plan for— and eventually, organize on a daily basis— a childcare management software is an invaluable tool. 

Childcare software helps you:

• Securely store essential documents
• Track licensing requirements and renewals
• Follow learning frameworks
• Record student learning assessments 
• Manage staff schedules
• Communicate with parents
• Automate and organize childcare funds
• Receive billing
• And more

Opening up a childcare center is a lot of work. You have to pay attention to all the details that will ultimately set the foundation for the families you’re committed to serving. 

To make checking everything off your list easier, start using the best software for new childcare centers. Get a free trial of Daily Connect today.

As a childcare business owner, it’s crucial to monitor and manage your finances properly. Not only do you need to make sure that you and your staff get paid, but you also need to keep track of supplies, vendors, and future budgeting efforts that allow your childcare center to thrive. 

Since your top priorities every day are caregiving and teaching, it can be easy to let the financial details slide. But come tax season or the end of the school year, all childcare directors must take an honest look at where they stand.

Whether you want to improve your existing accounting process or you desperately need to fix your finances, here’s what you need to consider when getting your childcare accounting in order.

Top 8 elements of childcare accounting:

1. Childcare Business Bank Account 
2. Budgets and Projections 
3. Billing
4. Receiving Payments 
5. Tracking Expenses
6. Childcare Bookkeeping
7. Covering Payroll
8. Childcare Accounting Software

Let’s explore each category below. 

1. Childcare Business Bank Account

Many childcare directors start as independent providers, sometimes even receiving money under the table. But as your business grows, you need a way to legitimize your income. It’s a good idea to open a business bank account. 

There are several reasons to do this:

• It encourages financial responsibility 
• It helps you track business expenses 
• It makes your accountant’s job easier
• It protects you from legal trouble 

If you plan to operate as an LLC (limited liability company), you need a business bank account to guarantee legal separation between you and your business. This protects you and your assets (such as your savings, car, and home) in the event of any lawsuits. 

2. Budgets and Projections 

When done correctly, accounting enhances your budgets and projections. If you plan to grow your business, you first need to get your books in order. When you can’t seem to reach new business goals, you need to look at previous years to make adjustments. 

Setting up healthy accounting habits when you’re starting a childcare business sets you up for success in the future. When you accurately project your finances from the beginning, you’ll also be able to save money for taxes and not face a surprise when it’s time to file.

3. Billing

Unless your childcare business has a way to automatically bill families for services, you risk wasting time and money on managing every invoice. Setting up an automated billing software that links to an accounting system allows you to:

• Send recurring invoices
• Track payments and late fees
• Deliver custom invoices (for special events like field trips, class parties, etc.)
• Adjust tuition when necessary (for government aid, payment plans, or price increases)

Digitally managing all these important details of your business makes life easier and leaves little room for missed payments. 

Using a Digital Parent Billing Software like Daily Connect makes it easy to send invoices and collect payments.

4. Receiving Payments 

Billing and receiving go hand-in-hand. With so much technology today, there are better ways to accept payments than just cash, card, or check. 

You should have a way to accept payments online. Parents often prefer the option to set up automatic payments and keep track of all their childcare bills. Taking online payments allows your childcare business and your customers to manage their finances more responsibly.

There are childcare management apps that help organize everything: attendance, parent billing, teacher communication, learning assessments, and more. This helps childcare centers record and bill appropriately, since everything is in one place. 

5. Tracking Expenses

Today, accurately tracking financial information is easier than ever. Business owners no longer have to spend hours manually crunching their numbers in spreadsheets every week. Automatic accounting in your business allows you to see every detail, from total profits to payroll to specific spending budgets.

During tax season, having a well-tracked list of business expenses can help you save. You’re permitted to deduct certain costs including: 

• Payment processing fees
• Marketing expenses
• Employee training materials
• Childcare supplies
• Classroom equipment
• Meals and snacks
• Some utilities

You’ll need to talk with an accountant or tax specialist to find out how to properly categorize and deduct your expenses. Having everything tracked year-round is a huge help.

6. Childcare Bookkeeping and Accounting

Some childcare providers handle their own bookkeeping needs; others hire out. Either way, accurate bookkeeping is the first step to business accounting. What’s the difference? And which should you do?

Bookkeeping is when you organize and track all of your business finances. Accounting is when someone interprets and represents all the financial data tracked. Accounting proves the results of your financial decisions. It helps you make more informed choices moving forward. 

As with any other business, taxes can be hard. Whether you do your own bookkeeping, automate it with software, or pay someone else to do it for you, you should hire a qualified accountant when it’s time to file your childcare business taxes.

7. Covering Payroll

You know this already: employees have to be paid. Not only paid, but paid accurately for every hour they worked. There need to be systems in place to calculate employees’ wages, hours, time off, and all the other details that come with employing a hardworking staff.

Since you’re a business owner, you also need to be able to pay yourself. Mismanaging or overspending childcare business funds can lead to some ugly financial outcomes. 

8. Childcare Accounting Software

To tie all the above points into one, a childcare accounting software makes financial management easier for business owners. When you need to upgrade your childcare accounting, software is a great option. 

From bookkeeping every month to accounting come tax season, using a childcare accounting app helps you:

• Organize funds from business accounts 
• Manage childcare budgets year after year
• Automate invoices to parents and guardians 
• Receive and manage payments online
• Accurately manage your books
• Make sure your staff get paid on time

There are plenty of accounting software options available today. But finding one that specifically caters to childcare centers like yours makes a world of a difference. 

Accounting Solution for Childcare Business Owners

There are so many moving pieces at a childcare center. Kids to supervise, incident reports to fill out, parents to call, people to pay— it all needs to get done somehow. And so does the financial side of your business.

To get started with comprehensive childcare and daycare software that includes accounting features, reach out to Daily Connect. We provide childcare centers of all sizes with the digital tools they need to sustain and scale.

Contact us today for your free demo.

Contributing to the upbringing of future generations is a truly important job that’s also extremely rewarding. If you run a childcare business or you’re considering a career in early childhood education, there are a few required skills you must have in your wheelhouse. Whether you’re looking to hire or get hired, consider these top ten childcare worker skills you need to thrive in the industry. 

1. Integrity 

“Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.” Author and intellectual W.E.B. Du Bois understood the power of leading by example. It’s true: there’s no more important trait a teacher can have than integrity. 

Your character seeps into every aspect of your life, from relationships to financial decisions to work ethic. If you want to be the best childcare professional you can be, it all starts with being the type of person children can look up to. 

2. Communication

Teaching is a job of constant communication with children, staff, and parents. Kids need age-appropriate ways of being listened to and guided, which many early childhood education professionals are keenly aware of. 

You must be able to demonstrate and explain new things to various types of learners, which can take practice. Childcare also requires clear, calm, and direct communication when dealing with conflict, which often comes up when managing young children. 

3. Organization

Planning and organizing are everyday necessities for childcare workers. Children need a healthy level of routine and order as they learn basic mental and social skills during early development. If left without the safety and structure they need from you, the class unwinds into chaos. 

From lesson plans to daily checklists to field trips, you’re in charge of making sure your team and your students have the best experience possible. 

Do you struggle to stay organized in your childcare business? Check out this article for some tips: 6 Ways to Run Your Childcare Center More Smoothly.

4. Enthusiasm 

Engaging children in daily learning activities takes a little enthusiasm and a lot of involvement. Kids pick up on the attitudes and behaviors of their caregivers, so remaining positive and enthusiastic is a major skill to focus on.  

Studies show that excitement and curiosity have a ripple effect in teaching. Students tend to focus more on a subject when a teacher displays real interest in it. You want to be present and excited to teach, but not overly enthusiastic to the point of coming off as ingenuine.

5. Patience 

Small kids aren’t the easiest group of humans to manage on a daily basis. Their brains are developing rapidly. They need someone who can remain calm when helping them learn to regulate their emotions and develop reasoning skills.

Childcare professionals need patience. Not only are you required to support different phases of learning, but you’re also required to approach different personality types throughout your business— from rowdy kids to gossipy teachers to challenging parents. 

6. Creative Thinking

It’s not all hard work when running a daycare. Teachers benefit from playful, imaginative thinking at any moment on the job. From initiating art projects to calming a child’s temper tantrum, to be successful, you have to be able to take on issues in a creative way.

If your class becomes fixated on a minor interruption, you need to creatively guide them back to focus. When a student refuses to share or clean their toys, it helps if you can come up with fun strategies to encourage positive action. 

7. Problem-Solving

As with any other business, problems are inevitable. Conflict resolution and problem-solving are essential skills to improve upon as a childcare worker. When it comes to interpersonal issues and technical difficulties, you have to be able to be resilient in the face of unexpected challenges. 

On a regular basis, you’ll be pressed to consider differences and come up with solutions on the fly:

• Following childcare policies and laws in everything you do
• Respecting families with different beliefs and backgrounds
• Caring for children with different attitudes, abilities, and learning styles
• Facing class-wide concerns or emergencies
• Adjusting the class schedule or environment as necessary 
• Managing team conflict 
• And more 

No matter what challenges arise at your childcare center, it’s on you and your team to respond appropriately. 

8. Classroom Management 

While you don’t want to be too authoritative with a classroom of young children (there’s plenty of room for play!), you need to be able to demand respect and maintain the direction of the class. Your students look to you as the leader of the group, and knowing how to lead effectively requires good management skills.

Classroom management can always be learned and improved, and it doesn’t mean every child should sit still and stay silent all day. It’s about creating a healthy learning environment, building positive relationships with students, and upholding behavioral expectations for all. 

9. Stress Tolerance

One of the most overlooked but widely beneficial childcare worker soft skills is being able to remain calm under stress. When emotions run high or a big issue comes up, you can’t break down or give up. You have to remain calm, professional, and caring.

It’s not always easy to adapt to stressful changes. You have to lead with your passion and composure to focus on what’s important— the families and children you serve. It’s what will keep everything afloat when times get tough. 

10. Tech Literacy 

To be an efficient childcare provider, you need to know how to use the latest technology. A lot of childcare equipment today has a digital component. Learning tablets, computer games, electronic toys, smart thermostats— basic technology is an everyday staple. 

Many childcare centers today also use some type of computer software to manage daily operations. Others use childcare management apps to track attendance, maintain parent communication, record learning outcomes, and more. You have to be open to learning new digital gadgets and tools, especially ones that help your business.

No matter how great your skills are, tech tools help you manage every detail of your childcare job. To learn more about how childcare software can help, reach out to Daily Connect.

As a childcare provider, you want to offer the best service possible to the families who trust you with the care of their children. But how can you do this in a way that sets you apart from other daycares? Read on to learn the ten best tips to make your childcare center stand out from your competition. 

What Makes a Childcare Center Stand Out?

Three key things make an exceptional childcare program. Consider these the “Three E’s”.

• Engagement: This encompasses all the ways that you interact with your childcare clientele, from children and staff to parents and the public.

• Environment: What is the indoor and outdoor environment like? Do families feel welcomed, comfortable, inspired, and cared for? The overall atmosphere of your childcare center says a lot about the program.

• Experience: Every experience a child has at your facility holds weight in the eyes of a parent or guardian. Daily activities, your disciplinary approach, and learning outcomes all reveal what you have to offer compared to the rest of the local childcare options.

A 2019 survey on early childhood care arrangements found that parents’ top criteria for choosing a childcare center (in order of priority) are:

• Reliability 
• Flexible times for care
• Staff qualifications
• Program activities 
• Learning opportunities

When looking for top-quality childcare, parents don’t just want to know not only what makes your childcare center different. They also want to know why that matters and how you’ll be invaluable to their child’s early development. Here’s how to make it clear.

1. Put Relationships First

You run a business that’s both social and relational at its core. In fact, it’s likely you got into childcare because of your caring personality and compassionate drive to help kids in your community. But to truly stand out from any average childcare provider, all your employees have to genuinely connect with families on a personal and professional level.

How do your employees carry themselves? Do your staff members exude the attitudes and actions you want your program to represent? How is parent-teacher communication? Lackluster relationships throughout your business often result in mediocre care. Strive for healthy relationships all around, as it sets a foundation for the whole customer experience. 

2. Prioritize Your Childcare Facility 

The physical condition of your childcare center matters not only to families and children but to state licensing inspectors as well. Neglecting the cleanliness of your facility or running a class size that’s too large could potentially put you out of business.

Indoor and outdoor equipment should be clean, functional, and safe. Age-appropriate materials and toys are encouraged so families and inspectors can see how kids interact. Make a monthly task to clean and decorate the classroom. Keep things educational and playful while showcasing student progress on class bulletin boards.

You want useful equipment (but not too much) and a mentally stimulating learning environment (but not too distracting). If you ever want to scale your childcare business, consider moving to a bigger facility so you can maintain accurate staff-student ratios.

3. Share Your Philosophy

Get clear on what your mission statement is: why is childcare important to you? What do you hope to offer the families who enroll in your program? What has your educational or personal background taught you about child development? 

You can explain your learning philosophy to prospective parents, on your website, or during employee training. People don’t make childcare decisions solely based on what is tangibly offered— they also make decisions based on emotions and beliefs. Your philosophy might be the only one that aligns with what a parent is looking for in a daycare. Share it.

4. Invest In Branding and Website Design

Branding your business and having a website for people to browse can bring in new families with ease. Using best childcare website practices like optimization and marketing, customers can find you while searching for childcare in their area. 

5. Utilize Your Love for Childcare to Educate Others

If you love education and networking, seek leadership opportunities outside of your own business. By being of service to your larger community, you can establish yourself as an expert, thought leader, and friend. 

Think about what specific childcare topics you’re passionate about. Could you teach a parenting course about how to encourage naps in stubborn sleepers? Do you have a recommendation for the local education district? Have you always wanted to start a support group for single moms? 

Contributing free, supplemental resources show you’re serious about child well-being. This can build trust with your community and attract new customers along the way.

6. Offer Multiple Pricing Packages

Today, parents live unconventional lives. For many, there’s no standard nine-to-five work schedule anymore. Parents want childcare options that work for their lifestyles.

Make your childcare center stand out by offering multiple programs and pricing packages. For example:

• Full-time childcare (4-5 full days a week)
• Part-time childcare (2-3 partial days a week)
• Flexible childcare (1-3 days a week, partial or full)

Some childcare providers choose to negotiate with families on scheduling, pricing, or both. Consider tuition and parent billing options that work best for your business and the families you serve.

7. Host Events and Fundraisers

Plan seasonal events at your childcare center. Holiday parties, barbecues, and fundraisers are great ways to bring families together and nurture your customer relationships. It also makes kids feel excited and connected, which is important for social-emotional learning.

While other childcare centers might do the bare minimum, supervising kids until the parents return for pick-up, you can go above and beyond to establish a tight-knit community.

8. Contribute to Employee Development

Every one of your staff members is different. They may be with your business long-term or for only a season as they pursue higher education. No matter what the case may be, pour into team development. 

Your business wouldn’t be possible without your employees. Coworker camaraderie is essential to the overall communication and success of your childcare center. Your team has to operate with a good balance of fun, maturity, problem-solving, and trustworthiness. 

While employee development might not be obvious to parents looking for childcare, the underlying result will be clear in everything you do to manage your childcare business.

9. Create Enrichment Programs 

Are there services offered at your childcare center that others don’t have? Think about what makes your program one-of-a-kind. 

Maybe you have bilingual staff and offer a multilingual program for cultural diversity. Or perhaps you tend a class garden where students learn to grow vegetables. Do you have a knack for introducing kids to STEM? Make sure you highlight any enrichment options at your daycare. If you don’t have any, consider creating some.

10. Use Technology to Enhance the Parent Experience

In childcare, one of the best ways to stand out from your competition is to have some sort of technology that parents can use to interact with you. Childcare apps like Daily Connect allow parents to pay bills online, access a shared childcare calendar, and receive important text and photo updates from childcare providers.

Thanks to childcare software, parents can stay involved throughout the day instead of missing out on their child’s precious milestones. This option truly stands out for families looking for quality childcare they can trust. 

To learn more about how to differentiate yourself from other daycare options and effectively manage a successful childcare business, reach out to Daily Connect for a free trial today.

Families today turn to the internet when searching for childcare. As a childcare provider, one of the best ways to attract new customers and share your service with your community is to have a great childcare center website. It’s a key ingredient in your marketing funnel, which guides families through every step of the scouting and decision-making process.

Here are some of the most important things to include on your childcare center website that’ll benefit your business and the families you serve. 

1. Good Web Design 

Internet users today can distinguish an impressive website from a lousy one. When it comes to the design and layout of your site, you want to provide parents with a professional and streamlined experience. 

Your homepage should be appealing and clear enough for visitors to want to navigate the rest of your site. Have clear CTA (call to action) buttons and a comprehensive menu with links to pages that have useful information.

2. Mobile Responsive Design

When creating or updating your childcare website, make sure it’s compatible with mobile browsing. Professional web designers know how to make all site elements look and function properly on mobile. Since more than 50% of mobile users browse the web on their smartphones, responsiveness is a must. 

3. Professional Photos 

Include high-quality images throughout your site. A great way to attract prospective parents is to include original photos of your childcare center. Avoid stock photos if you can, as they come off as cheesy and unoriginal. 

4. Social Proof (Testimonials)

Before making a decision, people want to know what other customers are saying. Make sure your site is peppered with testimonials and positive reviews from happy families. These can include quotes, stories, and preferably a name and photo. You can include past and current parent testimonials. 

5. Video Tour

Parents want to see what your facility looks like before they reach out for an in-person tour. Upload a short video featuring the director, key staff members, and equipment throughout your campus. It’s a great way to showcase a “day in the life” at your childcare center. 

6. About Page

Your about page is where site visitors go to learn what your childcare center is all about. Things you can share on your about page include a brief founding story, mission statement, and tagline. It’s also helpful to share a few of the following items in depth.

Your Childcare Philosophy 

What is your approach to childcare? Share what makes you different from other local childcare providers. This can include a special curriculum, unique on-site features, or stand-out enrichment activities.

Staff Introductions 

Including staff members’ photos, names, and roles lets parents see who their child will be interacting with every day. It encourages interested families to move forward with their childcare signup. 

Classroom Gallery

Post a few pictures of kids playing, learning, and enjoying their time at your childcare center. You can even include a gallery of classrooms, amenities, and play areas so that parents get a feel of the learning atmosphere.

7. Programs Page

The programs page is where you can inform site visitors about what your childcare center offers. It’s a page to showcase how it’s run. Here are some important things to include. 

Ages Groups and Learning Frameworks 

If you have various programs (for example, infants, toddlers, and age four), break them down on your programs page. Include the learning frameworks and developmental outcomes you use for each group.

Schedules 

Listing the hours of operation, a seasonal schedule, and notable events on your website allow parents to compare your availability with their childcare needs. 

Tuition Information 

It might feel strange to publicly share the pricing and tuition of your childcare center. But this can notify parents that you’re being transparent and professional upfront— two qualities essential to reliable childcare. 

Tuition and pricing details can include: 

• Commitment period 
• Plan options (part-time or full-time childcare)
• Free visitation or trial session 
• Discounts for enrolling multiple children 
• And more

You don’t have to share every term or fee in your tuition information online— that’s for the parent handbook. If you’re hesitant about including prices, you can write “starting at” dollar amount. 

8. Parent Portal Page

A parent portal is an online platform where families can access their information and communicate with your childcare center. You have a few options to consider when setting up a parent portal page.

Childcare Application 

Some childcare providers prefer in-person applications. But you can also accept them online, especially if your facility is used to multiple programs running year-round. Allow prospective parents to download, upload, and submit applications directly to you online. 

Program Calendar 

Once enrolled, maintaining a program calendar online lets parents easily keep track of their child’s class schedule. 

Communication Methods

To avoid a cluttered email, many daycare and childcare centers provide direct message options to legal guardians. They do this through online and mobile parent communication apps, many of which are featured in childcare software. 

Payment Processing 

Having an online payment system makes your life as a childcare director much easier! It ensures parents can easily pay their childcare tuition on time— no more forgotten checks, confused pay schedules, or late fees. Many childcare payment systems allow recurring payments, which parents prefer.

9. FAQ Page

When someone visits your site to learn about your childcare services, they likely have questions. Having a page for frequently asked questions (FAQs) informs site visitors of all the details they need to know and decreases the number of busy phone calls.

Examples of FAQs to answer include: 

• Is there a diaper changing station? 
• Are snacks provided? 
• When does pick-up time end?
• What will my child learn?
• Does my child have to be potty trained to attend childcare?

If parents have any questions that aren’t listed on the FAQ page, they can inquire through a phone call or contact page. 

10. Contact Page

A contact page is one of the most important pages to have on your childcare website. This is where people go to directly contact you for any reason: enrollment opportunities, payment errors, program questions, and more.

Make sure you have a clear (and clickable) phone number on your site, as well as links to email, social media, and mailing address. Also, include a contact form where people can submit questions and concerns directly from your site.

11. Blog Page

For a more Google-friendly website, a blog page is a good idea. Posting quality content helps readers and search engines view your site as educational and authoritative, ultimately improving your site rank. Blogs also help with childcare SEO (search engine optimization).

Website Integrations and Advanced Childcare Center WebsiteTechnology 

Having a professional website can be a huge asset to your childcare center. But it’s not the only piece of technology you need to run a successful childcare business. There are affordable mobile apps and digital childcare tools that help you organize, manage, and improve your business at all times. 

Once your website is ready to go, you can integrate it with childcare management software. A childcare software handles parent communication, learning assessments, attendance tracking, billing, and more. It’s the perfect tool to use alongside a robust site when marketing and maintaining your childcare center year after year.

Curious about how to improve your online childcare management? Reach out to Daily Connect to get a free trial of this type of childcare software today. 

It’s summer break in the northern hemisphere. The sun is out and childcare is slow (or closed). As a childcare provider, now is your chance to rest and recharge. It’s also one of the best times for you to reevaluate your business so you can prepare for the new school year ahead. 

If you’re a childcare business owner, you’ll want to use the summer slowdown to consider ways you can improve. Here’s a list of ideas to further your childcare business success, categorized by each main category of a childcare operation. 

Childcare Enrollment 

Keeping your doors open and your enrollment at its peak is vital to your business. How can you improve the enrollment rate and make sure families keep signing their kids up for your program?

1. Have a good website

A website is a place where potential customers can learn about you. A good website helps people find you online, gives locals a way to contact you, and effectively promotes your business 24/7 with good marketing.

2. Market your childcare center

Having a childcare business strategy includes marketing. You can do this through your website, social media, local education bulletins, and word of mouth. Marketing can be free or paid (or both).

Learn More: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Enrollment in Your Childcare Center

3. Create a referral program

Start a referral program to spread the word about your childcare or daycare. Incentivize enrolled families to recommend your business to their friends and family by offering them a tuition discount or token of appreciation, like a gift card for a local restaurant.

ECE Standards and Learning Assessments

Following Early Childhood Education (ECE) standards upholds your reputation as an educator and helps your students learn. Learning assessments and ECE go hand in hand. There’s always room for improvement, and it’s a surefire way to improve your childcare business.

1. Learn something new

You don’t want your teaching methods to get stale or outdated. It’s important to keep learning and improving your knowledge of child development. After all, the best teachers are eager learners.

2. Revamp your curriculum

Review your curriculum and last year’s learning outcomes. What areas need to be updated? How can you provide a better learning structure for your students?

3. Digitize childcare learning assessments 

If you don’t have digital learning assessments that let you observe classroom insights, consider switching to one. These let you keep every assessment in one place and give access to assistant teachers so they can help children who need extra support. 

4. Incorporate all learning styles 

Different kids have different styles of learning. Are you currently teaching in ways that cater to each kind? Go through your teaching style and notice any gaps in your class learning outcomes. 

Learning Environment 

Maybe your childcare operation is solid but you need to focus on improving your childcare business’s physical location. Maintaining a clean, safe, and organized facility is key to childhood learning.  

1. Upgrade to new equipment 

If there is any broken or outdated equipment at your center, plan for necessary upgrades. Check the condition of items including tables, chairs, electronics, sleeping mats, changing tables, learning supplies, and safety devices. 

2. Improve checklists to stay compliant 

Review the daily/weekly checklists you and your staff use to stay in compliance with health and safety regulations. Is there anything your team frequently missed in prior years? Consider making these checklists digital to make sure everything gets done.

3. Set up a security system 

If your childcare center is larger or in a busy location, you might want to set up a security system. This can include a safety camera of the entrance or lobby, password protection for computers, and secure child check-in for parents.

Tuition and Bookkeeping 

Every business owner wants to improve their finances— no matter what stage of business growth you’re in. What does that look like for childcare providers?

1. Use a childcare accounting program 

If you’re still relying on spreadsheets or bank statements, you need some kind of accounting software to get organized. Check out a childcare-specific bookkeeping program to help you out. 

2. Switch to online billing 

Childcare accounting includes keeping track of parent payments. If cash and checks are overwhelming every month, get a digital billing software to make your life easier.

3. Revise your budget and pricing

Sometimes, your pricing and tuition fees fluctuate. Things like an increase in demand, economic inflation, or employing new staff members affect your costs. Every year, revise your budget and adjust accordingly so you can give families early notice if tuition increases.

Managing Employees

Without teachers and staff, childcare wouldn’t be possible. Here are ways you can improve your business for the whole team.

1. Use digital management 

Allow staff to communicate with each other and with parents through digital management tools, like Daily Connect. 

2. Offer staff education and team building 

Focus on improving the culture and expertise of your team. Good leaders encourage continued learning and practice team-building exercises. 

3. Check in with staff regularly and welcome feedback 

Evaluate how approachable and receptive to feedback you are. Your staff should be comfortable coming to you with questions, concerns, and ideas that help improve childcare. 

4. Make a recruitment plan

If you run a childcare facility or at-home daycare, you’ll most likely reach a point where you need to hire more staff. Going into the new school year, determine a plan of action for hiring. This helps you when hiring for the first time or when an existing staff member quits. 

Parent-Teacher Communication

Parents want their children to be in the hands of someone they fully trust. Improving your parent communication is essential to keeping parents informed and children safe. 

1. Send a monthly email newsletter 

Write a monthly class newsletter to send to parents once a month. This can be brief but should include upcoming events, requests, and highlights of your program. 

2. Communicate digitally with parents 

A lot of parents these days aren’t always available for phone calls or emails. Use a digital childcare app that offers secure parent-teacher communication through direct messaging.

3. Use a childcare CRM tool

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software helps you keep track of leads, existing customers, and important details for everyone who contacts your program. There are childcare CRM tools for childcare owners like you.

Improve Your Childcare Management

A childcare management software can help you improve every aspect of your business. It’s a good idea to find right one and get set up before the new school year starts. 

Apps like Daily Connect are multi-featured, affordable, and extremely helpful for growing your childcare business year after year. To get started with a free trial, reach out to us today.

Anyone who runs a childcare business is responsible for providing the care and protection that children need in their developmental years. To make sure childcare owners are compliant with these standards of care, they need to meet licensing and certification requirements.

If you’re wondering how to get a childcare license for your new daycare center, you’ve come to the right place.

Why Get a Childcare License?

Having a childcare license proves that you can be trusted by parents, employees, and local childcare organizations. Getting a license reflects your ability to abide by government standards related to:

• Heath and sanitation 
• Indoor and outdoor recreation safety 
• Teacher-student ratios 
• Emergency responses
• Employment background checks 
• Nap time and sleep routines
• Food and snack preparation 
• Incident reporting 
• Curriculum frameworks 
• And more 

If you need help learning about all the daycare licensing requirements for your business, find a local Childcare Resource and Referral Agency to contact. 

What Type of Childcare License do You Need? 

To figure out what type of license you need, there are a few things you need to consider. First, different countries, states, and even local counties have different requirements for licensing, so do your research. Second, licensing requirements vary based on enrollment, affiliation, and type of childcare. 

Most facility-based childcare centers must be properly licensed. Many at-home daycare centers must be licensed unless you only care for a small group of children. There are several licensing exemptions for both childcare centers and home daycares, depending on the area. Let’s review each type of licensing. 

Child Care License for Childcare Centers 

Since childcare centers are often the most frequented type of childcare business, licensing and regulation are a top priority. If you plan on opening a childcare center or daycare with plenty of room to scale your business, get licensed early so you have everything you need to do so safely and legally. 

Family Child Care Home License

Some providers run at-home daycares or family childcare homes. Not all of these daycare providers are required to be licensed, but many are— especially those that are more established or have a larger student capacity. You need an in-home daycare license if you want to employ staff members and enroll more than a handful of students.

Exemptions from Child Care Licensing 

Some religious and private daycare programs are exempt from obtaining a childcare license. Other in-home daycare providers don’t need a license if they’re only caring for children of the same household, whether in the family’s home or the home of the provider. Babysitters and nannies are also exempt from needing a license.  

Always check with your local department of childcare to make sure you meet the requirements for licensing or exemption. In some cases, even with an exemption, childcare programs are still put on record with local childcare offices.

How to Get a Childcare License

The step-by-step process of getting your childcare license depends on your area. But there are a few general expectations you can have going into the process.

• Have the right level of education. To provide the nurturing environment and early childhood education young kids need, you need to have some sort of education. 

• Attend an orientation. In most U.S. states, you’ll need to sign up and attend a pre-application orientation for interested childcare providers. This will cover everything you need to know about applying for a license and opening a daycare. 

• Fill out an application. Complete the required childcare licensing forms and send an application to be reviewed by the state department of childcare. This often includes your personal information, compliance agreements, financial statements, etc. 

• Undergo background checks. Licensed childcare providers must pass criminal background checks and fingerprint scans. You may also have to be cleared by state child abuse organizations. 

• Pay required licensing fees. Once you send in all applications and screenings, you pay a licensing fee. 

• Receive an on-site inspection. Before you can open your daycare business, your location (whether in-home or at a facility) must be inspected and approved.

• Wait for your license to process. After all the steps have been completed, you may need to wait to receive your licensure status. If you pass, you’re now ready to operate.

Getting a childcare or daycare license is a thorough process. Getting a license is the minimum requirement for providing adequate childcare. But remember: the logistics of running a professional daycare business don’t stop at license approval.

What You Need After You Become a Licensed Childcare Provider

Once you’ve gotten licensed, the process isn’t over. Even though you can show you’re capable of providing childcare that meets all the health and safety standards, you still need to keep up with implementing them. This is in the best interest of your staff, your company, and your customers. Here are some things to prepare for.

Keep Records at Your Daycare Business 

Make sure to keep records of everything in your business. This includes:

• Annual license updates
• Inventory of supplies 
• Tuition and billing 
• Attendance records 
• Developmental assessments 
• Learning frameworks 
• Cleaning schedules 
• Nap and sleep schedules 
• Incident and injury reports
• Mandated reporting 
• Food allergies
• Emergency protocols 

Failing to meet these requirements can get your childcare business shut down because it means you’re failing to maintain professional levels of care. One of the main reasons you must keep track of your records is to make sure you’re also prepared for random inspections. 

Be Prepared for Periodic Inspections 

As a licensed childcare business, you are subject to random state or local childcare inspections. This means a childcare authority can arrive unannounced to make sure you’re meeting all the rules and regulations that comply with licensing, as well as treating the children with respect in a healthy learning environment. Successfully coming through inspections is much easier if you ensure all of your records are well organized and easily accessible at any time.

Receive Legal Coverage

At some point, you might consider legal guidance for your childcare business. Legal assistance isn’t only for times of trouble. It can act as a protective measure and potentially save your business. You can prepare and safeguard yourself for situations such as someone trying to copy your brand, unreasonable disputes from parents, financial reconciliation, and more.

Manage All of Your Childcare Details in One Place

Getting and staying licensed for your childcare business may seem overwhelming. Fortunately, today there are a lot of digital tools available for busy daycare and childcare centers to keep track of everything in one place. 

Having some type of childcare management software can help you and your team manage all licensing requirements throughout the year. From signed documents and learning assessments to incident reports and health checks, childcare software has everything you need to run your business legally and efficiently. 

Ready to take charge of your licensed childcare business? For all your documentation and daycare management tasks, Daily Connect has you covered. Reach out and start your free trial today. 

As a childcare provider, you have many responsibilities to keep track of every day. Staying on top of the billing process is a common challenge for many providers. Your finances are the main resource that allows you to run your business, so having some type of digital childcare billing software is crucial. It makes sure your doors stay open, your supplies remain stocked, and your employees get paid on time. 

To help you find the support you need, we’re sharing everything you need to know about childcare billing software. 

What Does Childcare Billing Software Do?

Unless you use some type of childcare software to help you with billing, it can be overwhelming to effectively manage this process. You, your accountant, and the families you serve can all benefit from a childcare center billing software. Here’s how.

Easy Invoicing 

Have you ever sat down at your computer at the end of the month to realize how much time is wasted creating new invoices for each family? Sending invoices manually means you have to wait for parents to send their payment, then sometimes wait days for tuition payments to process. 

With childcare billing software, you can set up automatic recurring invoices every month. You can also customize childcare bills for each family. Some childcare platforms even allow you to record late pickup fees as they occur, so you never forget an extra charge. 

Online Payments

Charging and receiving childcare payments online is a lifesaver for business owners. With online billing, you can:

• Set up recurring billing 
• Accept online payments via credit card, debit card, or ACH bank transfer 
• Let parents access their own online dashboard via desktop or mobile app
• Securely keep parent credit/debit card information on file to process approved transactions for things like supplies, field trips, or fundraisers 

All billing platforms require small fees for online payment processing. These are typically around 3% of the payment. Childcare billing platforms involve similar processing fees, but some allow you to process offline payments for no extra charge. You can receive payments via cash or check and still log the financial information all in one place, saving you extra costs. Online payments are still affordable as they only charge a minimal fee. 

Childcare Business Bookkeeping 

Sorting through spreadsheets every tax season is no fun, which is why the best childcare billing platforms include an organized system packed with your most important financial details. You can use it to make life easy for you and your accountant come tax time.

Here are some ways childcare software helps your recordkeeping: 

• View your progress year after year
• Save yourself the trouble if you ever get audited
• Project revenue on a month-to-month basis
• Notice any gaps in your billing system 
• Track late or missed payments

The longer you use a childcare billing software, the more you can learn about your business’ tuition trends and growth over time, setting you up for success. 

Financial Safety and Security 

Billing platforms for childcare centers are favored for their bank-level security. One major benefit of using a childcare software is that it’s safer and more secure than generic payment processors like Venmo or PayPal. 

Bank transfers are safely processed on time, whether parents make a one-time payment or set it up to recur every month. Plus, you’ll never miss a payment due to security warnings. 

Parent Communication 

Childcare billing platforms include parent communication features. This allows streamlined updates between teachers and families. Billing systems give parents access to payment policies, digital invoices, payment receipts, late notices, and more. 

Here are some examples of what childcare software can do for your parent communication:

• If you’re planning on raising your tuition fees next year, you can inform families ahead of time so they can prepare financially. 
• If a parent doesn’t use online payments but tends to forget to pay on time every month, you can set up automatic email reminders to help them out. 
• If a parent’s credit card expires in your system, you can send them a direct message asking them to update their information to continue automatic payments. 

With so many benefits of the top childcare billing software available, choosing the right one will aid your business from every angle. It’s also a good idea to know your options if you’re planning to start a childcare business. That way, you’ll begin on the right track equipped with everything you need to grow your business. 

Childcare Billing Software vs. Generic Billing Software

A lot of childcare and in-home daycare providers think they should save money on monthly subscriptions and simply use a generic payment processor instead. But you might want to consider the risks and rewards associated with both types before making a decision. 

• Generalized billing platforms often aren’t any cheaper than specialized childcare software, and don’t guarantee security or childcare features your business needs. 
• Childcare billing platforms integrate with other digital aspects of your business, as they’re created with you— the childcare provider— in mind.
• Childcare billing systems come fully prepared with everything you need, from learning and assessment records to attendance tracking and more. That way, you can have everything in one place. 
• Billing platforms catered toward childcare businesses let you customize your invoices with the name, contact details, and logo of your childcare center. 
• Using a generic payment processor can make you seem unprofessional to potential customers. Having software set up throughout your childcare center gives the impression that you take your business seriously.

Need help setting up a billing process for your childcare business? Check out the Quick Guide to Childcare Billing for more guidance.

Best Billing Software for Childcare Centers

Opting into a billing software created specifically for childcare businesses makes admin tasks easier, saves you financial stress, and improves the lives of the parents you support. If you’re ready to invest in the best billing software for childcare, there are great options available. 

When searching for the right childcare platform, consider:

• Your budget
• Classroom size
• Additional software features you need 
• Ideal level of parent-teacher communication
• Payment security 
• Software integrations 
• What you need to switch from an existing childcare software to one that includes billing 

Want to use a childcare app that does it all? Daily Connect is an affordable, full-featured childcare billing software for childcare and daycare providers like you. Schedule a free demo today to see why it’s loved by daycares, preschools, and childcare facilities nationwide. 

Opening a daycare business comes with a lot of financial demands. According to Freshbooks, the average cost to start a daycare business or open a childcare center or daycare is $10,000 to $50,000. Of course, costs depend on the location, enrollment, and type of daycare you open. But before blindly investing in various daycare costs, you should know what to expect. 

Here are some ideas on how to budget for a daycare business plan.

Daycare Business Expenses You Need to Consider

At the end of 2021, a public health survey from NPR and Harvard showed that nearly 40% of parents face challenges finding adequate childcare. Opening a daycare for young children is a good, essential deed in today’s society (and a profitable business venture), as there are more families in need of childcare than there are licensed providers. 

But what exactly does it cost to start a daycare business, and how should you budget for these? Here are some of the main financial variables:

1. Location 
2. Administrative costs 
3. Daycare equipment 
4. Hiring and paying staff
5. Marketing 
6. Accounting 
7. Daycare management software

Let’s dive into each of these sections further so you can begin effectively planning your daycare business!

1. Daycare Location 

Daycare centers are often located either in someone’s home or at a childcare facility. There are unique expenses associated with each, so we’ll break down the most important ones for both.

Cost to Start a Daycare Business: In Home Daycares

When you open an at-home daycare center, you skip having to pay monthly rent for a commercial space. But you still need to cover the spike in your utility bills, proper licensure, and any renovations required for your daycare operation. 

For home-based daycare, note that you may be limited in the number of children you’re allowed to enroll. So if you hope to scale your childcare business, finding a rental may be ideal. 

Cost to Start a Daycare Business: Rented Location

If you open a childcare center at a rented or owned facility, costs increase. You cover rent, loan payments, and maintenance/repairs. Childcare center rent tends to cost $1,000 to $5,000 per month, depending on size. 

2. Daycare Administrative Costs

There are a handful of administrative expenses you can’t avoid as a childcare provider. Primary admin requirements include:

• Licensing and certification fees
• Liability insurance (home daycare vs a facility)
• State and federal business fees
• Professional development (staff training, leadership materials, etc.)
• Remote activities (field trips, transportation, etc.)
• Legal fees (lawyer, trademark, etc.)

Factor in every license and certification you and your employees need to operate legally. Keep track of how often each must be renewed, as you’ll likely pay for each renewal. If you don’t know what forms you need to get fully up and running, contact your State Department of Children and Family Services for guidance. 

3. Childcare Equipment & Supplies

What supplies do you need at a daycare center? From furniture and safety equipment to snacks and art supplies, you can expect to pay several thousand dollars at startup. For ongoing inventory, you’ll likely pay anywhere from $100-$600 per child every month. 

Here’s a list of basic necessities when it comes to childcare supplies and equipment: 

• Tables and chairs
• Cubbies and storage 
• Toys and electronics
• Arts and crafts supplies
• Gates or room dividers 
• Housekeeping materials (trash bags, baby wipes, etc.)
• Cribs or cots for naptime
• Office supplies 
• Kitchen materials 
• Changing tables 
• Safety equipment (fire alarms, first-aid, PPE)

The investment it takes to get all these supplies might seem overwhelming but remember: your tuition will start to cover all these expenses and leave you with a profit once you’re operating smoothly. 

If you need extra support when starting your business, read the 6 Key Elements of a Daycare Startup Business Plan.

4. Hiring Daycare Staff

You can’t run a business at scale without quality staff. Even if you run solo for now or only need to hire one assistant, eventually you’ll want to recruit and hire employees to work at your daycare business. You deserve help, your staff deserves a fair wage, and the kids you care for deserve the extra attention. This is a worthy investment. 

The cost of hiring employees includes paying for job listings, hourly wages, benefits, training, and background checks. 

5. Marketing Your Daycare Center

These days, it’s uncommon to not need some sort of marketing strategy for a new business. If you have a wide network and already serve in the childcare industry, it’ll be easier to reach customers word of mouth. But if you’re new to setting up a daycare, advertising can help get you found by your community. 

You can choose one or all types of marketing for childcare: 

• Local self-promotion: Print flyers, business cards, or brochures. Post promo materials at libraries, schools, coffee shops, medical offices, and wherever there’s a local bulletin board.
• Digital marketing: Use paid Google ads, your website, or social media to market your daycare business. Paid ads vary from $10-$100 per listing, depending on competition and the platform. If you’re clueless about marketing but want the best results, hire an expert. 
• Network marketing: If you’re not into direct advertising, you can join community forums and local online directories. You’ll want to create a profile showcasing your service, mission, and contact information. 

6. Accounting and Payment Processing Fees

To organize your finances properly, you’ll have to spend a little bit of money. Hiring an accountant to cover your bookkeeping and tax preparation is a smart choice— this can cost a few hundred dollars. 

Another cost to consider when opening a daycare center is payment processing fees that come with online billing. Most payment processors charge a set amount (usually something like $0.35 per transaction) plus a percentage of the incoming payment. They do this to cover their operation costs.

7. Childcare Management Software 

Running your daycare business gets a lot easier when you have some sort of digital management system to keep you organized. A childcare software provides you with every tool you need to receive tuition payments, organize your curriculum, track children’s learning assessments, and even communicate with parents. 

Daycare management platforms are often charged based on their subscription tiers plus a one-time setup fee. The average cost ranges from $49 to $199 per month, depending on the company and your enrollment size. Fortunately, there are some great, affordable management apps designed specifically for daycare centers, such as Daily Connect.

Learn more about childcare software here: The 10 Best Childcare Software Platforms for Daycare Centers.

Is the Cost of Starting a Childcare Center Worth It?

Anything worthwhile requires a significant investment. But if you’re committed to serving the families in your area with the childcare they desperately want and need, managing the daycare startup cost is worth it. When done right, you can ensure a profitable return on investment.

If you’re new to the childcare business— or if you’re already operating from home but want to grow— you can start using a childcare management app to help you organize your expenses. Daily Connect exists to help daycare providers like you achieve business goals and support the kids they care for. Reach out to learn more about daycare startups or start a free trial today.

Using a childcare software application helps you run your business toward success. It can improve the daily operation of your childcare center, encourage a better quality of care, enhance interpersonal communication, and skyrocket learning outcomes. If you’re trying to find the right childcare app, here’s how.

What is a Childcare Management Software App? 

Childcare management software is a set of digital programs that combine administrative, financial, and managerial support to childcare providers and daycares. It’s a streamlined database that saves time, gets you organized, and keeps important records of all things related to your childcare business. 

Many childcare software solutions operate in a consolidated app that teachers and parents can use with ease. Some of the benefits of using a childcare app include:

• Improves communication between staff 
• Increases trust in parent-teacher relationships 
• Saves time during operation hours
• Automates scheduling, emailing, and billing 
• Organizes essential documents
• Promotes consitent curriculum and learning 

Overall, a good app gives childcare directors and their teams a chance to spend more time with the kids so they don’t have to worry about paper forms or desktop scheduling all day long. You likely already know you need a childcare app— here’s how to find the one that’s best for you.

What to Consider in a Childcare App

When conducting your search, there are a few questions you can start with: 

1. What are the immediate needs in your childcare business? 
2. Does the app have the right features? 
3. Will other teachers and staff need access to the app? 
4. How easy is the app to use? 
5. What is your budget for a childcare app? 
6. Does the app support your education model and learning framework? 
7. Does the app have positive reviews from other childcare providers? 
8. How customizable is the app? 
9. What level of parent-teacher communication does the app provide?
10. Will you need a free trial?

Dive into each of these questions further in the next 10 sections.

1. Childcare App Criteria: What Your Childcare Needs

First, get clear on what your childcare business needs an app for. Are you switching to a childcare software for the first time or transferring from a previous software? For what purpose will you be relying on the app the most? For example, do you need an app to track learning outcomes, or do you need something more robust that can manage your payments as well as site-wide communication? 

Laying out the criteria your ideal childcare app must meet will help you vet the best options and make the right decision. It’s important to assess beforehand so you can properly judge which features and functions will be worthwhile.

2. Childcare App Features 

Search each childcare app’s website and study the features available. Some might have the right level of usability you’re looking for (such as an app for large preschool centers), but lack the right functions (such as parent messaging or cloud storage). 

Many childcare apps may have similar features. But now is your chance to consider what user interface (UI) you prefer to use those features in. It’s a good idea to look at app screenshots, read the company blog, and preview examples of how the app works. 

3. Teacher and Staff Access to the Childcare App

Does your staff need to access the childcare app? Whether it be checking daily attendance or sending DMs (direct messages) between parents and teachers, a childcare app can bring your team together for the better. 

Instead of communicating by walkie-talkie and rushing from classroom to classroom, in-app information sharing features can save everyone time and liability. Allowing staff access can enable team members to share signatures, worksheets, weekly snack plans, and anything else necessary to the day-to-day functions of your childcare center. 

4. Ease of Use

Not everyone who runs a childcare center is tech-savvy enough to learn a variety of complex software systems. Managing your daycare should be simple; using an app throughout your daycare center should be helpful, not a headache. 

Figure out how easy it is to use each childcare app. Some of these brands might be versatile for all levels or they may contain interfaces that take a little more detailed understanding of tech. 

5. Childcare Software Budget and Pricing 

Factoring your budget into your search for the perfect childcare app will prepare you to cover expenses and get the biggest bang for your buck.

Some childcare software apps offer different subscription plans and pricing tiers. A good suggestion is to create a shortlist of your favorite childcare apps based on features, pricing, reviews, and free trial opportunities. From there, you can investigate further or test out each app before you buy. 

Another thing to note about pricing is whether or not the app requires contracts or charges extra fees. To keep it straightforward, go with an app that is upfront about pricing and has a fixed monthly or enrollment-based price.

6. Childcare Curriculum and Learning Support 

Educating the kids in your care is a top priority. Finding an app that offers learning support and curriculum storage is a major component of this app search. Do you need help keeping track of the learning and assessments in your classroom? A childcare app can help you do that.  

7. Daycare App Reviews 

What are other childcare providers saying about the apps you’re considering? Before you make a final decision, read various app reviews. To see a good example of childcare software reviews, click here.

8. App Customization for Your Business 

Especially if your childcare staff is more technically inclined, consider an option that allows customization. This includes creating your own in-app report forms, learning framework checklists, parent email lists, payment processes, and more. If you have something specific you need in a potential childcare app, talk to the customer service team and ask. 

9. Parent-Teacher Communication 

There’s always room for improvement when it comes to parent-teacher communication in childcare. Not all daycare apps include a communication feature, so decide in the beginning whether or not this is a deal-breaker for you. 

It’s a good idea to decide on an app that includes parent-teacher emailing, photo/video sharing, or direct messaging. That way, your business has a record of all online communication between parents, including required documents, incident reports, and payment inquiries. 

10. Free Trial of the Childcare App

It’s rare for childcare software apps to offer a no-commitment free trial, but some do. If you can, prioritize an app that offers a free trial before committing to one for an extended period of time. This lets you and your team get a real feel for what you like and dislike about the app, and gives you insight on whether or not it’s the right choice for you.

Choosing the Right App for Your Childcare Business

It can take time to research all the childcare software apps available today, but hopefully, these tips help you find the best one for your business. Remember: choosing the right app depends on what matters most to you and what will work for your childcare center. 

To meet all the considerations listed in this article, look to Daily Connect: a childcare software for at-home daycares and established childcare centers. You can get started with a free trial today. 

Starting a daycare business is an ideal pursuit for anyone with childcare experience. Running a childcare center allows you to serve the families in your community while establishing your own clientele, schedule, and unique approach to teaching. If you’re considering opening your caring arms to the public, here are ten steps to opening a daycare center you should be aware of. 

1. Ask Yourself Why You’re Opening a Daycare Center

First, assess the meaningful aspect of your future business: why do you want to run a childcare center? There are many reasons why people open a daycare center, from financial independence to giving back to the community. 

Running a childcare center can be emotionally fulfilling, provide a decent income, and cater to childcare owners who want to include their own kids in their everyday life. You probably have a passion for teaching young kids, but it helps to have clear goals and know why you want to manage a childcare business. 

2. Learn Your Local Daycare Regulations 

Every state has a set of regulations, standards, and guidelines for operating a childcare center. Learn your county’s additional guidelines front to back, so you can have everything you need to open safely and in compliance with the law. 

• Check with the Department of Children and Family Services in your state. Gather their guidelines for childcare service providers. 
• Get licensed! This process ensures you’re CPR certified, have a clean record, and can adequately offer childcare in your area. 

You’ll need to get on the phone and talk with childcare agencies near you. Don’t skip any of these required steps. A great way to organize this process is with the help of childcare software, where you can upload all of your documents in one place. Some of these apps even provide you with a list of state requirements to fulfill. 

3. Find a Good Location

Once you get licensed and know what regulations to follow, start planning your daycare location. Do you want to rent a space to operate a childcare facility? Or are you going to run an in-home daycare? Location is important to families who will enroll in your childcare business, so take the time to properly scout ideal locations. 

4. Develop Childcare Policies, Procedures, and Contracts 

Here is one of the most important steps for opening a daycare center: craft and implement your policies/procedures. You need a plan for every scenario that may occur at your daycare. 

Examples of essential policies and procedures include:

• Emergency plans
• Health and safety procedures 
• Daycare rules
• Privacy standards
• Mandated reporter processes (state and federal)
• Parent handbook
• Employee handbook 
• Tuition agreements 
• Enrollment contracts 

These policies and contracts help protect your students from harm and keep you safe from potential legal trouble. Establishing clear contracts and procedures upfront allows everyone— from staff members to parents to daycare supervisors— to maintain clear expectations in case anything goes wrong. 

This can result in a lot of paperwork. A digital filing system might be ideal for your business. Consider a daycare management system that keeps track of your contracts, policies, and incident reports. That way, you won’t lose track of any important information you might need in the future. 

5. Hire the Right Childcare Staff 

Unless you’re running a solo daycare operation, hiring is inevitable once you hope to expand your business. Taking on help gives you the time, energy, and extra hands you need to attend to more kids at your daycare center. It also helps you manage your business like a responsible childcare director. 

Recruiting and hiring childcare staff might seem intimidating, but it’s worth it if your daycare center needs help fulfilling a larger teacher:student ratio. Make sure you run candidate background checks, talk to each candidate’s references, and make smart hiring decisions. Your business and the families you serve all depend on the best care and education of your students. 

6. Create a Daycare Curriculum 

How (and what) are you going to teach the kids at your daycare? Come up with an early childhood education (ECE) curriculum that meets the needs of young children in your care. ECE curriculums can change depending on the season or developmental phases of your students, so look for a system that allows you to edit and improve your lesson plans over time. 

Don’t forget to pay attention to the required learning and assessment frameworks in your local area. A major part of your job is to observe how each child is on track for going into kindergarten after being at your daycare center. 

7. Set Up a Daycare Activity Schedule

Having a set schedule sets you, your staff, and your students up for success. When young kids know what the expected routine is, it can improve their behavior, attention span, and social development. 

Maintaining a fun, consistent schedule of activities and events at your daycare center isn’t always easy. But there are tools today that help childcare professionals make sure they stay organized and on track. With the use of digital calendars and childcare mobile apps, you can stay alert for every task of the day. 

8. Establish Daycare-Parent Communication Methods

Parents always want to know how their child is doing and what they learn at daycare. Improving parent communication at your childcare center is extremely important to keeping parents happy, and making sure leaders do their job at relaying information to the families you serve. 

Today, many daycare providers use childcare communication apps to send direct messages and instant updates to parents while their child is at daycare. Receiving cute photos, special moments, or learning milestones means the world to busy parents, and digital systems make it easy. 

9. Grow Your Daycare Enrollment 

Once you start enrolling the first few kids into your daycare program, it’s time to further market your business. You can grow your enrollment through digital marketing, local childcare listings, and word-of-mouth referrals from existing customers. 

There are many ways to easily attract new families to your daycare center. To learn more about growing your business, download this free resource: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Enrollment in Your Childcare Center.

10. Manage Your Daycare Business 

When everything is established, your next step is learning how to manage your daycare professionally. Management is an ongoing job, and there will always be room for improvement in this area. Whether or not you have existing management skills, get ready to take them to a whole new level. 

When you become a daycare owner, you become the manager of:

• Daily childcare activities 
• Parent communication 
• Tuition payments and late fees 
• Teachers and staff members
• Scheduling
• Bookkeeping 
• Daycare marketing
• And more

That’s a lot of details to keep track of. How do daycare providers manage their childcare business in a way that actually works? These days, it’s useful to set up an affordable daycare center platform. 

Bonus: Use a Childcare Software 

One way to manage your daycare business successfully is to use multi-featured childcare software that has a proven strategy for providers like you. A childcare software lets you track attendance, store official documents, manage your schedule, communicate with parents, encourage staff compliance, and more. 

Use a childcare software like Daily Connect when opening a daycare center. Daily Connect is an app that helps you every step of the way. To learn more about how a daycare management platform can help you when opening and managing a new daycare center, sign up for a free trial today.

Daycare centers are a pillar of their local communities. While there are plenty of larger childcare chains out there, some parents prefer the friendliness and homey atmosphere a small daycare center provides. But there are common daycare challenges that owners face, and it’s important you know how to solve them.

At-home daycares are often run by one teacher with minimal staff. Having less access to the help and supervision you need can get overwhelming, resulting in necessary administrative work being left aside. 

Here are some of the most common challenges home-centered daycares face, and what you can do to overcome them. 

Daycare Challenge #1: Creating Work-Life Balance at an At-Home Daycare

One of the daycare challenges for daycare owners who operate businesses out of their homes is how hard it is to separate work from personal life. Bringing your work into the living space—or vice versa—can become a problem. 

Without work-life balance, boundaries get blurred. It might feel like you’re always thinking about work: your childcare activities invade your “relaxation” space or affect your family relationships when the house is a mess from a daycare operation. 

Perhaps you feel like your level of professionalism as a business owner is overwhelmed by your messes at home, looming reminders to pay home bills, or completing other chores when you just want to focus on your childcare work. 

To solve this nagging issue, create designated areas of your home that are work-only. Store and organize everything you need on the side of the house that involves childcare. Keep your home life separate from work. Stick to a schedule that allows you to maintain healthy boundaries between your daycare, your family, and your time off. 

Daycare Challenge #2: Growing the Business

Depending on the location, size, and goals of your business, when it comes time to grow, new challenges may arise. For example, due to state regulations and standards, you may have a limit of how many children you can enroll. Or if you’re allowed to enroll new students, your home space may be too small to operate at a greater capacity. 

Running into limitations on growth can be discouraging and stressful, especially if you’re ready to offer more. The best part about running your daycare is the potential for serving more families while making a better income for your own. 

Knowing what it takes to grow your business is the first step. Create a business plan, set a goal, and reach out to local organizations that can help you explore your growth options. You might need to upgrade your home or hire a new staff member. Do your research and follow the plan step by step.

Want to learn more? Check out Daily Connect’s Ultimate Guide to Growing Enrollment in your Childcare Business

Daycare Challenge #3: Keeping Up with Administrative Requirements 

One great thing about being a home daycare provider is the close-knit community it allows you to nurture. You can provide more one-on-one attention to all your students and keep a closer eye on learning progress all year. But sometimes, being too involved in the everyday activities of the kids can distract you from more business-oriented requirements, like administrative tasks.

Admin work is not something you can afford to skim over or sweep under the rug. Your business relies on you to be a good manager and take care of all the financial and daycare management routines so nothing gets left behind. Tracking your expenses, maintaining accurate attendance records, writing detailed curriculum plans: everything needs a structure. 

If you’re missing out on this structure, get some assistance. You can hire an administrative assistant or teacher’s aid. If you already have enough staff members, you can set up a digital system that makes your job easier. There are plenty of effective childcare software tools available for small daycare owners just like you.  

Daycare Challenge #4: Parent-Teacher Confidence 

Because parents who enroll their kids in your daycare expect a healthy relationship with you as the owner, improving your parent-teacher communication methods can be a challenge. There might be a language barrier. Or maybe whenever a parent picks up their child, you’re too busy running around with the rest of the class at the end of the day. 

Parents want to know how their child is doing at daycare. They care about what they learned, how they behaved, and what concerns or struggles they may have. If you can’t communicate openly with each parent, they might start to feel ignored, or feel like they’re not getting their money’s worth. 

Open a better avenue of communication with parents by setting up new ways to talk to them. Write child take-home notes that summarize each child’s progress, setbacks, and fun memories for the day. You can also do this digitally with the help of a childcare messaging app, which helps make communication easier for everyone.

Daycare Challenge #5: Competing with Other Childcare Centers

Larger childcare chains can attract a lot of business in the area. They have corporate funding, better marketing teams, and easier accessibility when it comes to new families looking for childcare. Competing with these bigger companies might seem daunting, but there are several ways you can make yourself stand out. 

Communities need small daycare centers like yours— the big education centers aren’t for everyone. The great thing about your daycare is that you can specialize in a particular “niche”, such as bilingual education, under-earning families, or the addition of performing arts classes. You can leverage your unique teaching models to attract the perfect customers for your daycare.

It might be smart to establish an online presence with the help of a daycare website or social media. Post flyers or online announcements for open enrollment every year. This gives locals a heads up that your daycare exists and can sign up early. You can also offer referral programs, where existing families get a discount when they refer a new family to your school.

Bonus: Tools to Help In-Home Daycare Providers

As we’ve seen, there are plenty of ways to overcome these common daycare challenges. Automating and managing your business with technology makes life easier for you, your staff, and the families you interact with. Setting up childcare software helps you to more effectively communicate, manage, and grow your business on every level.

With Daily Connect, you don’t need any elaborate systems to address common daycare challenges. All you need is the app and the willingness to embrace digital technology. Daily Connect has everything you need to manage and grow your daycare center, from parent-teacher communication to automatic payments and more.

Get started with your free trial of Daily Connect software today, and see how you can overcome daycare challenges in no time. 

Managing daycare staff is a top priority for any successful early childhood education business. It takes a lot of kindness, creativity, integrity, and dedication to run a daycare, and there’s no doubt that recruiting and managing staff is a rewarding yet ever-challenging part of the job. 

It’s not getting any easier to find and hire staff for your childcare center. In the US, the unemployment rate now hovers around 4%, significantly lower than the 14% rate seen at the outbreak of the pandemic back in April 2020. 

COVID mandates are lifting, people are going back to work, and those who lost their jobs previously are embracing new livelihoods. The world is opening back up, but if you’re managing a daycare center, it’s easy to feel like there aren’t enough qualified professionals to help you run your business. 

But regardless of whether your childcare center is overwhelmed with job applications or still struggling to hire new employees, some expert hiring tips can help you grow your business. Keep reading to learn how to recruit daycare teachers and manage staff in the “new normal”.

1. Start with a Clear Job Description

If you’re having difficulty hiring quality teachers, revise your job listings. Finding the best staff members for your daycare means you must first clearly state the values, mission statement, and job requirements at your center. 

A clear, attention-grabbing job description includes:

• A brief overview of why your daycare is a great place to work, including your basic teaching philosophy
• Specific job responsibilities and duties that are expected for the position
• Required qualifications of childcare staff, including education, ECE certifications, background, experience, and more
• Potential opportunities for staff to grow
• Contact information or application form

Also, consider the length of your job listing. If it’s too long, applicants won’t read all of it; if it’s too short, both hiring managers and candidates miss important information about the job. 

2. Know Where to Recruit Daycare Teachers

The places you share daycare job opportunities can affect your chances of meeting the perfect hire. One reliable option is to share the word with colleagues and existing employees. Sometimes you can hire teachers already in your immediate social networks, so ask around.

For online recruiting, post the job listing on relevant websites. Local education community boards, classifieds, or job sites like LinkedIn or Indeed are great options. Consider posting on a site like Care.camp, a childcare job site specifically for daycare centers and preschools.

Pro tip: the best daycare centers are always thinking about recruitment — even if there aren’t any positions currently open. Stay prepared, know your ideal candidate, and build a healthy network in the local childcare community. If unexpected staffing issues occur, you’ll be ready to interview and hire in no time. 

3. Interview and Hire the Best Childcare Candidates

During the recruitment process, save the best applicants that meet all requirements and preferences for the job. Compile a list of contacts to call for a brief phone interview, asking key questions like:

• What do you love about working with kids?
• Why are you interested in becoming part of the team at this daycare center?
• What education or experience do you have that would make you a great fit for this job?

Phone interviews are an easy way to weed out daycare staff applicants that aren’t a good match for your business. Narrow down your list of top candidates and then schedule in-person interviews. When meeting face-to-face, you can ask about childcare and education philosophies, get to know the candidate’s personality, and invite them to ask any questions they have about your business. 

When the final decision to hire daycare center staff is made, it’s time to start thinking about onboarding and management. Conduct background checks, observe how your new employee interacts with the kids at your center, and acclimate them with the childcare leadership team. Do all that, and your new staff member will feel right at home from day one. 

4. Learn How to Retain Childcare Staff

Recruiting is important, but managing daycare staff is what makes your daycare center run smoothly. Ongoing employee turnover can be costly, emotionally draining, and time-consuming. That’s why it’s so important to keep your teachers and staff happy while building your daycare business.

One-third of recent childcare employees surveyed claimed exhaustion and burnout are their main challenges. Creating and maintaining good working conditions, as well as ensuring healthy peer relationships, are some of the most important things you can do in your childcare business. 

Other ideas for better employee retention include:

• Have clear expectations and share learning assessments across classrooms
• Give employees breaks, time off, and work-life balance
• Lead by example, make proactive changes when necessary, and always do the right thing 
• Offer growth opportunities and career development resources to your staff
• Regularly show appreciation, thanks, and recognition for your team, both internally and externally
• Encourage good communication and listening between employees
• Make use of digital management tools that keep everyone on the same page
• Don’t forget to have fun! Allow your staff to enjoy their work and be themselves

5. Excel At Teacher, Staff, and Daycare Management 

Whether or not you’re currently hiring, managing daycare staff is your main responsibility. There’s always room for improvement in any business. Daycare businesses are a unique combination of professionalism, care, and play, where all types of personalities are involved in leadership. 

Good management isn’t easy, but there are some ways you can make your daycare better for everyone:

• Establish consistency among classrooms, teachers, and staff. Discuss learning outcomes, stick to a schedule, and keep up with proper documentation
• Equip staff members with technology that helps them do their jobs more efficiently. Some daycare management apps can help staff monitor class progress, communicate with parents, and send reports to other teachers with ease
• Hold regular meetings with managers, teachers, and staff members, and make sure everyone has a chance to voice their successes and concerns. Listen to your staff, and consider their ideas to improve your business

With the right strategy and tools in place, your daycare business can be a pleasant facility for everyone involved. Parents, teachers, children, and directors can all benefit from excellent management systems across the board. 

Managing Daycare Staff – Tools for Success

Many childcare centers today rely on multi-featured daycare management software. With the advanced technology available today, it’s likely that running a childcare business without organizational software is holding you and your employees back.

If you need help improving the overall management of your childcare business throughout the year, consider a platform like Daily Connect.

Setting up a childcare management platform gives you and your team access to instant parent-teacher communication, classroom progress data, parent billing features, and more.

Reach out today to start developing the team your childcare center needs to thrive.

As a teacher or daycare provider, you likely know that interacting with parents can be one of the most difficult parts of the job. Communicating with the children in your care is normal — you’re trained to speak, play, and encourage them with the lessons and care they need. But parent-teacher communication isn’t always something that comes naturally —especially throughout the pandemic. That’s why it’s important to embrace parent communication technology.

Educators were once limited to face-to-face updates, written notes, and phone calls to manage communication with parents. Whether it was urgent information you need to deliver to parents or an update on a child that’s falling behind in class, trying to balance the discussion between absent parents and the overly involved sometimes seemed impossible. 

With so many digital communication tools at our fingertips today, improving parent communication at your childcare center is possible. The parent communication technology on the market today is easy to use, and are rapidly becoming more popular: some incoming parents might even expect that you use them. Here are some of the ways you can use technology to boost the parent-teacher relationships at your daycare.

Build Trust with Parents All Year Long

How can childcare leaders build positive relationships with the parents who enroll their kids in daycare? At the beginning of the school year, schedules are busy. It can be hard to get to know parents. It takes time to build trust and camaraderie, especially when you only see parents for brief moments during drop-off and pick-up.

Parent communication technology helps schools connect with parents from the beginning of the year to end. It also lets staff easily get in contact with parents whenever a message needs to be delivered. You can send class-specific email updates, individual texts, or direct messages via parent communication apps that align with parent preferences. 

Consistent updates grow a solid foundation of trust and professionalism between teachers and parents, and help parents to feel closer to their children throughout the day. The last thing parents want is to never hear from the person who’s caring for their child! With the instant notifications that technology allows, nothing should be left unsaid. 

Share Event Calendars for More Classroom Interaction

Whenever there’s an event at your daycare like a field trip or special party, it’s important parents stay informed so they send their child to you prepared for the day’s activities. Consider creating a shared online calendar that enables parents to add your events to their own calendar. Your staff can send automated emails whenever there’s an upcoming event. Notify parents months, weeks, and days in advance so they never forget about a special date. 

Sharing event calendars is convenient for parents who want to be more involved with their child’s learning. If there are field trips planned, for example, they can sign up to volunteer as a chaperone. Alternatively, if a parent has less time on their plate, they can plan accordingly whenever there’s an upcoming day off of school. 

Calendar sharing lets parents see the year, month, and week at a glance. Instead of losing a paper calendar or penciling in changes for special events, being able to access up-to-date calendars online makes it easier for both teachers and parents. 

Send Real-Time Updates to Families

If a child gets injured, displays bad behavior, or makes a big accomplishment while at daycare, staff can send live updates to parents through a parent communication technology platform. Instead of waiting until pick-up to hear about how a child’s day is going, parents can know how their child is engaged throughout the day. For many families, getting these types of updates can be hugely important as they decide which childcare center to send their children to. 

Here are some examples of important parent-teacher updates made possible through a childcare app:

• Teachers can send videos of a toddler taking their first steps, or saying their first words.
• Parents can receive updated documents and instantly digitally sign necessary waivers.
• If a child has difficulty sleeping, staff can inform parents of their naptime and mood.
• Parents can see how their child is progressing at potty training while at daycare.
• Staff can note milestones and struggles in daily summaries sent to each parent at the end of the day.

There are many ways to keep parents included in their kids’ daycare experience. When parents don’t want to miss out on precious moments while absent from their little ones, live update abilities offer greater involvement and peace of mind. 

Deliver Progress Reports and Developmental Assessments

Daycare leaders frequently conduct learning assessments for the classroom and individual students. These progress reports compare expected developmental milestones and educational standards with how each child is learning at daycare. 

Teachers monitor, assess, and log student outcomes so adjustments can be made when necessary. If a child is behind, teachers can use technology to keep parents updated and make them aware of what they should work on with their child at home. This helps ensure a more joined-up approach to early childhood development, resulting in better outcomes for children, parents, and childcare providers.

Customized assessments can be delivered to parents using teacher notes and visual graphs. With this information, parents can:

• Focus on helping their child through learning challenges. 
• Work with teachers to help guide a child to improve their behavior.
• Encourage open dialogue about their child’s needs. 
• Allow parents to see how their child improves throughout the year.

With online childcare management tools, teachers can help parents understand their child’s learning status and offer suggestions for extra developmental activities at home. 

Stay on Track with Learning Frameworks

Many parents want to be involved in their child’s learning, but might lack the time or initiative to voice their concerns. A Stanford University study found that parents who opted in to receive ongoing text updates regarding their preschoolers’ program noticed an improvement in learning overall. 

Technology not only helps teachers stay on track with learning frameworks, but also encourages parents to join the educational process. Each state has different standards for early childhood education. Instead of relying solely on childcare providers to ensure learning objectives are being fulfilled, parents can play a helping role. 

Online learning tools help bridge the gaps in these learning frameworks. Teachers can share state standards and student learning portfolios with parents, letting them see how their child is learning throughout the year. 

Make Childcare Billing and Payment Easier

For many childcare centers, talking about money when it comes time for parents to pay tuition can be uncomfortable. If it’s hard to get in touch with parents, crucial payments can go unpaid, and late fees can accumulate on a family’s childcare bill –– something that nobody wants to happen.

With online childcare apps today, parents can access payment portals that let them pay instantly online. Parent billing becomes easier for childcare providers and makes communication instant, direct, and secure. 

From payment processing to automated reminders, childcare centers can ensure proper invoicing, billing, and financial tracking, resulting in a better parent experience, and a more sound childcare business.

Daily Connect: A Leading Parent Communication Technology Software

Effective childcare starts with good communication. To keep up with our world’s online pace, parents need new options today. Parents are already online for everything else, from grocery shopping to paying the bills. Why not give parents the digital solutions they need to ensure their children are getting the most out of your childcare center?

Setting up a comprehensive childcare management software for your business can improve communication and bring greater satisfaction to the families you serve. It can save you time, money, and stress, while enabling you to manage your daycare center more effectively. 

To see how you can use technology to improve the parent-teacher relationships at your childcare center, sign up for a free trial of Daily Connect today. 

A child’s formative years are one of the most important learning periods of their lives. Proper care, guidance, and education are crucial for every child to achieve well-rounded development as they grow. Childcare centers play an important role in helping children through this formative learning process, and it’s vital that early childhood educators have the right learning and assessment tools to maximize each child’s education. 

Identifying learning struggles early on can encourage parents and teachers to find the help a child needs in order to improve. But without the right learning and assessment tools, techniques, and response strategies, it’s possible that childcare centers can unintentionally hold back certain aspects of their children’s development. 

Fortunately, there are ways to make sure your daycare implements better assessment processes and embraces a comprehensive curriculum that covers every developmental area. Here are some of the ways that improving your assessment tools can better the teaching, operation, and learning at your childcare center.

Visual Learning Data Helps Teachers Improve Curriculum

One of the main benefits of utilizing assessment tools today is that teachers can use the resulting data to their advantage. Having a clear, visual analysis helps teachers and staff to better understand the direction their curriculum should go in order to achieve childcare learning goals. 

How do childcare directors track this type of learning data? With digital tools today, assessments can be logged into software that creates a visual scope of progress for your classroom and each individual child. Digital childcare software helps teachers manage this type of developmental progress with:

• Progress and learning framework comparisons
• Pointing out gap areas in your curriculum
• Observation records of each child’s learning
• Adding manual learning updates 
• Logging child milestones 
• Analysis of which children are behind, and which children are excelling at specific learning frameworks

Want to learn more? Here’s an example of what these assessments look like in Daily Connect:

Learn more: Observations & Assessments on Daily Connect

Learning & Assessment Tools Involve Parents in Their Child’s Progress

It’s one thing for teachers to access the observations they need, but giving parents the ability to view this information can be game changing for the development of each child. When parents send their children to daycare, they don’t often see how day-to-day learning works in action. If all goes well, they see gradual progress. But being able to witness their child’s milestones in real-time can be a huge encouragement, and access to this kind of information can help parents better match up educational activities at home with those at daycare. 

Learning and assessment tools allow families to access their child’s reports, assessments, and developmental progress online, whenever they need them. Teachers and staff can also send live updates to parents via direct messages or email. Some childcare software platforms include the option to create online learning portfolios for each student, so that parents and teachers can track their children’s greatest achievements throughout the year. 

Proper Assessment Maintains Learning Goals Across Classrooms

One struggle many directors face when it comes to running a childcare center is ensuring that the learning experience is consistent across different classrooms. Many larger childcare centers operate multiple classrooms, or even multiple locations, and it’s not easy to make sure each classroom and location is following the same curriculum to the same high standards. Ensuring this consistency is especially important as children move between classrooms and work with different members of staff. 

Ensuring this consistency is less complicated for smaller, at-home daycare centers, but it’s still important that every member of staff has access to learning and assessment tools: not just the owner of the daycare. When all staff involved in teaching the class have access to this information, it’s much easier to track development goals, lesson plans, and ensure a consistently high standard of care and education. 

No matter the size of your childcare center, getting a birds-eye view of the progress for every child and every classroom can let you know which areas of your business need the most attention. Many childcare directors use modern childcare technology to ensure these needs are met effectively. 

Digital Learning Records Improve Staff Communication

Today, teaching is an engaged, involved, and solution-oriented field respected by families who want the best for their children. Increasing numbers of childcare professionals hold four year degrees in early childhood education, and the quality of learning provided by the childcare industry as a whole has never been higher. 

Empowering childcare staff with tools that encourage in-depth communication is a revolutionary act for helping future generations learn. Making classroom learning assessment results available to staff improves communication because:

• It gives directors the opportunity to hear from varying staff perspectives.
• It lets teachers know how they specifically can improve their teaching.
• It maintains a work atmosphere of openness, safety, and trust.
• It helps employees understand their role in working toward common learning goals. 
• It lets staff members know which children to offer more educational help to.
• It prevents misunderstandings of yearly and monthly tasks that are necessary.

If your daycare center isn’t using a learning assessment system yet, look for one that enables different staff at your childcare center to communicate seamlessly and have access to information about the learning and development of each individual child. More communication opportunities make for a clearer workflow and ensure that important details never go unnoticed. 

Organized Progress Reports Help Align with Childcare Standards

In most parts of the world, your childcare business must meet certain national, state, and local learning standards. These regulations set the standard for learning during formative years. Failing to meet these standards can result in children falling behind, and in some cases, your business getting shut down. 

Equipping your daycare with the best assessment tools can align your operations with these requirements. It’s difficult to manually track how well your school is abiding by ever-changing health mandates and learning demands. With full-stack daycare technology, keeping everything in one place is much easier: you’ll be able to automatically create reports, back up important information, and ensure you have all the resources you need to be in compliance with your local childcare standards. 

Finding a Learning and Assessment Tool for Your Childcare Center

Is it time to upgrade the learning and assessment tools at your daycare? It’s not a decision to be taken lightly, but it can have a major impact on the success of your childcare business. Learning outcomes significantly affect the overall quality and reputation of your childcare center. When something doesn’t seem to be going the right way, it’s time to turn to new solutions for help. 

At Daily Connect, we know how much work goes into running your childcare business every day, and our software is built to help you run every element of your childcare business in a more simple, streamlined manner. 

Our suite of learning and assessment tools are designed specifically for childcare centers, and Daily Connect supports more than 50 different learning frameworks from around the world. Our platform provides a range of digital learning and assessment tools, so you can help your daycare and its children thrive more than ever before. 

Start with a free trial today, or schedule a demo for a full tour of our learning and assessment features. 

In 2022, there’s all kinds of opportunities for new childcare centers. With parents in many areas around the world heading back to the office, families need new daycare providers in their area to help give care and supervision to their kids. The childcare industry has seen a lot of change in the past couple of years, and there’s huge opportunities for childcare businesses committed to improving their services to attract new families. To make the most of this, it’s important you have a childcare business plan.

The demand is greater than ever. Many families want extra childcare opportunities, and have the capacity to do so. Because of the Build Back Better Framework passed by the Biden administration, parents now have more childcare tax credits to spend to give their children a headstart in their social and educational development.  

Whether you run a daycare center or you’re thinking of opening up an at-home program this year, knowing how to write a childcare center business plan will help you succeed. Here’s how you can start the year off right.

Start by Researching What You Need

Successful childcare centers follow a thorough business plan that covers everything from financing to staffing. But getting started with a business plan can feel daunting if you haven’t written one before. To break down this task into more manageable chunks, you first need to know everything you’ll need to operate your childcare center properly:

• Licensure: Research federal regulations and licensing requirements. You also need to make sure you comply with state and county licensing requirements, as they can vary depending on your location. 

• Health and Safety: In addition to legal requirements, local safety, sanitation, and health measures are very important for childcare centers to abide by. This is more true now than ever as COVID-19 still has a huge impact on the childcare industry.

• Location and Capacity: You need a location or facility before you can start welcoming families to your childcare business. Renting a childcare business space poses different challenges to providing childcare from your home. Make sure you think these through and choose the best solution for your business. 

Know Your Competition

It always helps to observe the other childcare centers in your area. As a business, you will be in direct competition with other childcare providers who want to keep their enrollment at maximum capacity while offering the best care around. More often than not, there’s enough demand for everyone to win, but by analyzing your competitors, you can build a great understanding of how to be successful.

Study other childcare centers and daycares in your area. What makes them stand out? What do their online reviews say about their service? How much do they charge for childcare? Is there a gap in childcare coverage for a certain age group, or for a particular area of your city? Aim to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your competition. 

It’s helpful to log your findings in a spreadsheet or notebook, so you can start to notice trends and demands in your area. This information will help you adjust your business plan accordingly, and ensure you can meet the demands for families looking for childcare in your area. 

Get Clear on Your Business Operations 

Operating a good business means you need to be a good boss. Set yourself up for success by getting crystal clear about how your childcare center will operate. Here are some of the most common elements you need to consider when running a childcare business. 

• Staffing Needs: Will you be working by yourself with a small enrollment number, or do you need to hire other teachers? If you need to hire, map out the type of employees you’re looking for so you’re not hiring blindly. Think about where to find the right staff members, how you’ll train them, and what amount of experience they need to provide care to the community. 

• Marketing: Properly marketing your childcare business is key in the initial stages. Using websites, social media, and paid advertising, market yourself to the right demographic. Hire a marketer if you need help promoting your business publicly or online. 

• Scheduling: How many days per week will you be open? Will you remain open during holidays and weekends, or will you be closed? Set a schedule for your daycare center and commit to it. Consistency is key for children to receive adequate care, and for parents looking for certainty as they plan out their schedules. 

• Operations: Consider the day-to-day operations of your childcare center: how will you manage drop off and pick up, communicate with parents, and keep track of attendance? Consider using a childcare software platform to keep things running smoothly.

Financial Planning and Establishing a Budget

Crunch the numbers. How much money does it take to set up and run your childcare center? From tuition to supplies to expenses, having a budget laid out can guide you on the responsible path toward gaining revenue. 

• Start Up Costs: Setting up a childcare center isn’t free. At a minimum, you’ll need to buy learning materials, play equipment, secure a space, and sign up for insurance and software to help run your business. Consider how much this is going to cost, and work on a plan to raise the funds – whether that’s from savings, a loan, or by seeking external investment.

• Payment Processing: How will you receive payments from the parents who send their kids to daycare? Will you take cash, check, or set up an online payment system?

• Pricing and Tuition: Knowing how much it’ll take to run your business will help you set your pricing structure. How many kids can attend your center, and how much will you charge for tuition? Be sure to pay attention to what your competitors charge.

• Covering Costs of Supplies: Always track the supplies you purchase for your business, from snacks and learning materials to first-aid kits and classroom decorations. Having a digital tracking system can really help you maintain proper inventory. 

Update Your Childcare Curriculum 

Teaching your students is a number one priority at your childcare center. Planning a curriculum sets the stage for all the lessons, activities, and social opportunities the kids at your daycare will be involved in daily. 

Monitoring childhood development is key in their formative years. Learning and assessment tools can help you observe classroom and individual progress. Keeping track of curriculum and learning allows you to adjust your curriculum throughout the year. That way, the education of the children in your classroom can improve, and you’ll increase the overall satisfaction of your customers. 

Find the Right Technology for Your Childcare Center

With the use of modern technology tools, childcare centers have advanced to deliver progressive leadership and care for the communities they serve. From streamlined attendance tracking to instant parent-teacher communication, setting up the right technology can make the world of a difference.

Childcare software can improve the quality of operation throughout your entire business. A childcare software is one thing many successful daycare providers rely on today. With a childcare software, daycare providers are able to:

• Offer contactless check-in and check-out for safety measures
• Manage their childcare center finances
• Monitor learning and development progress of their students
• Automate parent billing and payment processing 
• Communicate with parents using direct message, video, and image features
• Stay compliant with all local and federal regulations
• Easily access documentation with the click of a button
• Keep track of lesson plans for different learning groups throughout the year

Without the right technology at your daycare center, you risk wasting time, money, and energy limiting your business to analog recording. 

Run a Successful Childcare Business in 2022 with a Childcare Business Plan

Hopefully, these tips help you plan out a constructive childcare business plan that will launch your business forward in the new year. By implementing the right plan and using the modern tools at your facility or home daycare, you’ll be able to deliver the best possible child care to families who need you most. 

To support you in your business planning and operation, consider a free trial of Daily Connect – a leading childcare software platform that has everything you need to organize the most important aspects of your daycare business. Get started with your free trial today. 

A home daycare center is a business that’s crucial to your community, supporting parents, families, and children. But it’s not an easy business to run: there’s a lot to keep track of, from childcare regulations to managing things like parent billing and enrollment. Today, there are digital tools that many established childcare centers rely on to assist their overall operations, parent communication, and business growth. Now, at-home childcare providers have access to these same childcare software, and can use them in the same way to help them make the most of their small business. 

Childcare is always in high demand, and where there is scarce or unaffordable care in a town or city, at-home daycare is a welcome alternative. Some families even prefer at-home daycare to larger childcare centers, valuing the closer, more personal relationships that they, and their children, build with their childcare provider. In fact, close to 30% of infants and toddlers receive childcare from at-home caregivers, nearly half of which are made up of paid home daycare providers. 

If you’re thinking about starting an at-home daycare or if you’re looking to improve how you keep track of the one you already run, here are six ways affordable childcare software can help. 

1. Track Attendance and Daily Routines

Once you have children enrolled in your home daycare program, you need to stay on top of their logistics and day-to-day routines. As a licensed daycare center, you’re responsible for the supervision, safety, and activities of the kids in your care. 

Childcare software mitigates the stress of misplacing attendance sheets and activity logs. With a childcare app, keeping track of who arrives and leaves throughout the day is as easy as tapping a button on a screen. These software platforms will log the timestamps, attendance reports, name, and sometimes even a picture of each child. It will update live whenever their parents check them in or out.

Logging daily routines or events is another helpful feature. You can make a note when each child:

• Naps
• Bottle feeds 
• Eats snack
• Completes a milestone
• Uses the bathroom
• Gets hurt
• And more

Keeping track of how a child is doing with daily routines and activities also makes it easier for you to update parents on their child’s progress, strengthening the relationship between you and your customers.  

2. Improve Parent Communication with Childcare Software

A top priority of families who send their kids to daycare is receiving detailed communication from teachers. Childcare apps like Daily Connect let childcare providers and parents directly message one another within the app, encouraging responsible dialogue and daily reports. 

Parents may appreciate the option to use an app for managing their childcare scheduling, documentation, and communication. Having access to a digital tool also reassures parents you’re a professional who invests in ways to make your business more effective. 

With technology today, video clip sharing is a social norm. This can also delight parents while their child is in your care. Send videos or photos of memorable moments from the day, or document minor concerns like a child’s injury or challenging behavior.

3. Abide by Early Childhood Education Standards

Learning and socialization are major parts of early childhood development. Your daycare is a place where children get to experience new things that add to their growth. The best at-home daycares will follow established Early Childhood Education (ECE) standards for preschool. 

Childcare apps are designed to support state standards and help you execute learning frameworks. Documenting the requirements for your daycare and including developmental milestones in your lesson plans help you be the leader that parents are paying you for. It also helps the children learn at a healthy pace. 

Following ECE standards and detailing learning assessments within the app can also save you trouble if you ever get audited. With all your license forms, regulations, and guideline documents in one place, you’ll have the information you need to run your business properly while keeping local regulators happy. 

4. Use Childcare Software to Organize Lesson Plans and Activities

When planning, you no longer need to search your computer for last month’s lessons or confuse the playtime activities you had planned for next week. With daycare software, you can upload calendars and lesson plans in one place. This helps you and any assistant teachers remain organized and on task.

By logging lesson plans and activities digitally, you can always go back and update the curriculum in the future. You can also review each child’s learning assessments over the year, determining which developmental areas you should focus on with each child.

By looking back at your curriculum at the end of the year, you might notice topics you missed. When planning next year’s curriculum, you can use the data provided by childcare software to get a clear picture of what needs to be improved. 

5. Encourage Health and Safety

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, society has had to adjust its health and safety precautions. In large and small gatherings, such as daycare, mandates continue to change. 

When you have to log or report illness symptoms or positive coronavirus tests, using an app that supports you and your home daycare is a huge help. Request temperature reports or family surveys to be aware of any time there’s a sign of an outbreak in your class. Notify parents all at once with group emails directly from the app, if necessary. 

Childcare software tools give families the options for contactless sign-in, which is another solution for improving health and safety in your business. Parents and guardians have peace of mind with touchless tools for drop-off and pick-up. 

6. Manage Your Childcare Business Finances 

Another significant benefit of using childcare software for your at-home daycare is the ability to easily keep track of all the billing and payment processing required to run your business. Parents can set up automatic payments for tuition. You can instantly receive notices of late payments. Billing reminders can save you from ongoing financial frustration. 

When you’re able to log all of the billing and payment info from your home daycare, everything is in one place when tax season arrives. You can record expenses, income, and deductibles so your books stay clean. If you have an accountant, they can access everything they need. 

Daily Connect provides daycare providers with a range of parent billing services, including invoicing, online payments, and a simple dashboard that helps you manage the financial side of your childcare business. You can learn more about Daily Connect’s parent billing features in this post. 

Making the Switch to At-Home Childcare Software

If you’re ready to reap all the benefits of a new childcare software, it’s time to invest in your business and the families you support. Outdated computer software and free childcare apps can provide the most basic features, but there are affordable ways to take your daycare operation and administration tasks to the next level. 

For a small monthly subscription, Daily Connect provides at-home childcare leaders with the tools they need so that their daycare can thrive. While other childcare apps cost upwards of $15.00 per month on average, Daily Connect’s premium software starts from only $8.99/mo and includes a free trial period so you can determine whether it’s the right fit for you.  

To get more features when you switch to the full digital childcare app, sign up for Daily Connect today. 

The past couple of years have brought about many changes to the childcare industry, many of them driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many daycare providers have had to fundamentally change the way they operate in order to provide an environment that’s as safe as possible while still delivering the fun and learning experiences that make childcare so important. Childcare industry trends continue to evolve, and it’s important o keep up to date.

We’re turning our minds towards what’s to come in 2022. It promises to be an exciting year, with growth forecast across the childcare industry. If you run a childcare business or are considering what to expect when starting one in the future, here are five important 2022 childcare industry trends you need to be aware of. 

1. Increase in Demand for Childcare Services

Parents from all over the world are still experiencing changes to their work schedules and employment conditions. And while many companies are encouraging their employees to come back into the office, a lot of parents continue to work from home. Whichever situation a family finds themselves in, the demand for childcare is on the rise. 

Since 2020, nearly 20% of working adults have quit working because they couldn’t locate a feasible childcare option amidst work and school closures. The demand for babysitters, tutors, nannies, and visiting teachers increased more than ever before. Many public childcare centers saw devastating losses in business despite the need for childcare services, with the COVID-19 pandemic the key driver. 

But now, as our economy continues to reopen and more and more parents head back to work, centers are experiencing high levels of demand. With the Build Back Better Bill, eligible families may have the opportunity to receive more affordable, high-quality childcare. This bill expects to offer childcare for nearly 20 million children in the United States while providing even more jobs to new and upcoming childcare workers. If it passes, it’ll be a major boost for the childcare industry. This is one of the most important key childcare industry trends and points to a bright future.

Is your childcare center equipped to handle this increase in demand? With the right approach, 2022 could be a great time to operate a childcare center, with plenty of new enrollments and all kinds of opportunities to grow your business.

Want to learn more? Check out this article: 7 Tips to Run a Successful Daycare Business

2. A Focus on Flexibility

Flexibility will be key for childcare centers in 2022. So much has changed in the past couple of years, and with government guidelines, childcare best practices, and more continuing to evolve, it’s crucial that childcare providers remain flexible.

Social and safety routines are not what they used to be, as gatherings are required to follow social distancing practices. Childcare centers are coming up with new and creative ways to involve young children in activities without risking illness, and instructing classrooms to interact in ways that encourage safety.

Another way public childcare centers are remaining flexible is in giving parents more grace than in recent years. Consider giving families more flexible options, like the opportunity to schedule childcare three days a week, instead of five. It’s a challenging time as everyone tries their best to maintain schedules and livelihoods, but if you can provide that level of flexibility required by parents, you’ll build high levels of loyalty with the families you work with. 

To keep running a childcare center effectively in 2022, centers around the U.S. will also have to stay up to date on changing health advice from the CDC as it relates to children. Regulations change all the time, and it’s important you adhere to these to ensure you create a safe environment for families.

3. Technological Advances In and Out of the Classroom

The use of technology within the classroom will continue to evolve throughout 2022. The use of online communication, cloud document storage, and digital tools are no longer limited to higher-level learners: they’re increasingly being adopted by childcare centers. Technological platforms can help Early Childhood Education (ECE) students and teachers alike. 

In addition to changes in the physical childcare environment, advances continue in the online classroom as well. Some childcare centers now allow hybrid care, where children can continue to learn via Zoom while at home with their caregivers. Online activities are used in addition to hands-on learning, and interactive lessons help fill developmental gaps.

Kids aren’t the only ones who benefit from technology— parents increasingly expect more consistent communication between teachers and staff thanks to parent communication apps. Instead of brief interactions upon child pick up, parents can receive direct videos, online messages, and notification reminders about their child’s activity at daycare. 

4. Analytics in Early Childhood Education Learning Assessments

Digital tools aren’t the only technological development contributing to upcoming childcare trends – the use of data and analytics is starting to play more of a role too. By utilizing online platforms specifically for childcare centers, teachers and directors can unlock useful insights that help improve the learning experience. 

Childcare center management apps can log the developmental and learning progress of each child, making it easier for teachers to communicate among themselves. During a learning assessment, online documents from throughout the learning year come in handy. Additionally, teachers can deliver thorough progress reports to parents backed by daily observations of their children’s development.

Comparing a child’s progress with the designated learning and assessment framework for your local area can help teachers to track how each child is developing. Center-wide data can reveal weaknesses and give insight into how teachers can adjust lesson plans to address any gaps and ensure a high-quality learning experience.

5. Health and Safety Regulations 

Following health regulations, parents and teachers limit direct contact with one another in many circumstances to prevent the spread of COVID and other illnesses. New options like contactless check-in and check-out are easy to perform with the click of a button. Daily health requirements like temperature checks and health questionnaires for students are another way to catch any issues early.

Teachers now have another safety protocol to check off their do-to lists: sanitization of the classroom. The CDC recommends cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, meal areas, play areas, and changing surfaces at least once per day. 

Parents play an integral role in the health and safety of not only their child but others at the childcare facility. It’s important they remain honest about any symptoms their child or household members may experience. 

With online parent surveys available at check-in, childcare staff members are able to maintain contact with a parent if any warning signs appear. This is an excellent way to take precautions in case anyone at the facility contracts the COVID-19 virus.

How to Grow with 2022 Childcare Industry Trends

Growing your childcare business during challenging times is still possible. While many daycare centers experienced budget cuts and closures throughout the past two years, today, many are in a good position for next year and beyond. The childcare industry trends we’re set to experience this year are trending in a positive direction.

One way to ensure your childcare business is successful in 2022 is by using a digital childcare center management platform. Software such as Daily Connect can help you access faster, more affordable solutions to the everyday problems of your childcare business. 

From recording children’s health status to improving learning assessments and parent-teacher communication, Daily Connect was created to help childcare professionals focus on what really matters: the children.

Organize and automate the administrative tasks with the app so you can spend more quality time teaching your students and keeping them safe. Whether you want to focus on staying compliant or you simply need help delivering the type of childcare your community needs, it’s time to get on track with growing technological trends.

Take the first step towards a successful 2022 and get started with Daily Connect today.

Done right, running your own childcare business can result in major success. You can provide an important service to your community, helping young children learn important skills, while also making a great living for yourself. But one of the most frequent difficulties business owners in the daycare industry face is managing childcare center billing.

With the right tools and practices in place, setting up a childcare center billing system can help the owners, staff members, and parents provide the best childcare possible. If you’re trying to improve the financial aspect of your childcare business, here is a quick guide to set yourself up properly.

Set Your Cost of Tuition

To bill effectively, you first need to know the cost of tuition for someone to enter your childcare program. If you’re running a daycare that is already well-established, you likely have tuition down, as well as all the details that come with it. 

Determining Tuition Costs

If you’re new to running a childcare business, here are some of the things to consider when setting up the cost of tuition:

• Business expenses (rent, payroll, utilities, etc.)
• Insurance and licensing costs 
• Marketing budget
• School supplies
• Taxes and deductions
• And more

Competition and Capacity

Your tuition rates will also depend on how much local competition charges, as the parents who are considering your daycare center will compare with other schools. Look at how much they’re charging and how they handle their tuition process so you know what to base your pricing on. 

Another thing to consider is the capacity of your facility. How much will rates change if you’re not at maximum capacity? Some childcare centers leave wiggle room so their maximum capacity brings in extra revenue. Others are comfortable always running at maximum capacity with a long waitlist. If you have specific financial goals for your center, you may have to factor in future gains in your tuition setup. 

Pricing Structure 

Once you know your tuition costs, you need to decide how to best structure your pricing. When parents sign their child up to attend daycare, they want clear expectations of how and when they’ll pay the bill. 

Some daycare providers charge hourly, whereas others run on a weekly or monthly payment plan. Other things to make clear in the pricing structure is special additional fees such as:

• Enrollment fees
• Late pick up fees
• Special holiday prices
• Late payment fees
• Summer vacation childcare plans
• Special deals for advanced payment 
• Optional extras, like field trip fees

If there are any other specific details necessary to families in your childcare center, make sure that you outline them clearly in your payment policies. 

Childcare Center Billing: Payment Methods and Policies

Once the parents enrolling in your daycare understand the pricing structure, the next issue they’ll  have questions about is how to make payment. It’s best to create a set of client policies that clearly explain costs, payment methods, and tuition agreements. 

How to Collect Payment

Most daycare providers collect payments through online payments, using methods like credit cards or ACH bank transfers, but others will accept cash or checks. Having an online payment system is the most convenient option for childcare centers today, enabling payments to be collected on auto-pilot. Whether it’s through a payment collection page on your school’s website or a childcare center parent billing software, many parents appreciate the option to pay online. This way, they can monitor their bills and set up recurring options. 

Parent Policy Handbook

Instead of sharing a random collection of paperwork and documentation with the parents who enroll in your childcare center, most childcare centers offer a handbook. Whether it’s a paper handbook or a digital handbook, a parent policy handbook will make it easy for the parents to have all their questions answered in one place. If your daycare center accepts any form of financial aid, make sure you set up details about that in the policies as well

Tracking Billing and Accounting 

Every childcare center needs to keep track of parent billing and payments on an ongoing basis. With consistent accounting, you’ll save yourself the headache of losing track of late or missed payments, misfiling paperwork, and developing poor communication with parents. 

Billing Frequency

Determine how often you will bill at your childcare center. Will payments be due once a month? Bi-weekly? Weekly? Depending on your facility’s bills and expenses, make sure you’ll receive childcare payments in a timely manner so you have enough overhead to operate your business. 

Bookkeeping

How will your daycare center managers keep track of all the payments that come in and out of your business? It’s a good idea to keep track of all your revenue and expenses on a central platform. Some of the areas you should track are: 

• Tuition from each family
• Invoices
• Receipts
• Additional fees
• Online payment dashboard
• Log of transactions 
• Operational fees and dues

While some daycare center owners do their accounting and bookkeeping themselves, you can also consider hiring a professional accountant who is familiar with the childcare industry.

All-in-One Childcare Center Billing Software 

Having childcare software that handles all your parent billing needs will streamline your processes, and can make your life a lot easier. Some childcare software systems such as Daily Connect offer invoicing, parent payment tracking, and a variety of payment processing. All of these can be done within the app, saving you and your staff a lot of time and resources. 

Childcare software also allows your business to keep a close eye on payments and parent communication simultaneously. For example, you can set up an automated invoice that will be sent out on a designated date each month, so parents never miss an upcoming bill notice. It allows them to pay instantly through the app or online. Or, if they prefer to set up automatic payments, they have the option to do so. 

Other features of this type of software include: 

• Sign-in and sign-out tracking
• Student learning and assessment tools
• Staff-teacher communication boards
• Parent-teacher direct messaging 
• Childcare center management software
• Documentation and compliance tracking
• And more

If you’re ready to implement a full-featured childcare software that can handle the billing for your childcare business, get started with Daily Connect today. See what Parent Billing can offer your center. If you have other questions about childcare software, set up a demo with our team to learn more. 

Running a successful childcare business takes work. So much of your care, time, energy, and financial resources goes into making it operate at its best. But things can become scattered and confusing when there isn’t a solid childcare center business plan set into place. What exactly is a business plan, and how can childcare providers use one? If you’re looking to put your childcare center on the right track, here are the best childcare business plan strategies you should follow.

Why You Need a Daycare Business Plan

Having a business plan gives you the foundation you need to build your business. Ideally, before starting a business you have a thorough guide detailing everything you should expect. It includes your startup budget, success markers, legal requirements, employee processes, marketing strategies, and more. 

What Your Childcare Center Business Plan Should Include

Creating a business plan isn’t an easy (or quick) process, but it’s a must if you want to make your vision a reality. Even if you’re already in business but simply want to improve, coming up with a new plan can be helpful to reach future goals. 

1. Mission and Goals 

Start with why you’re running a childcare center in the first place. Who do you hope to help? What impact do you want your school to have? What’s your larger vision? Establishing specific goals will give you direction when making important decisions. 

When it comes to goals, here are some necessary subcategories to get clear on:

• Unique Mission Statement – the best brands have a strong mission that reflects throughout their entire business. Form a unique, clear mission statement that’s specific to your daycare. What sets you apart? Why do you do what you do?

• Location – location will determine how you approach your business model. If you’re in an area that’s considered a childcare desert (little to no daycare available), you’ll have an easier time setting up your business than a location that already has a thriving population of childcare providers. Make sure you scope out the competition.

• Type of Daycare – is your daycare an at-home center, a facility, or affiliated to a private or religious organization? Is there a gap in your local market for a childcare center like yours?

• Success Markers – what are the indicators of success in your daycare? How many students need to be enrolled to be at maximum capacity? How much money does your business need to make before it can expand?

• Budget – starting a business isn’t cheap. If you’re considering starting a daycare, get clear on your budget. This includes rent/mortgage, utilities, payroll, supplies, licensing fees, tuition, and more. 

2. Operational Policies

Childcare is a regulated industry, and all childcare centers have to abide by policies set by local regulators and governments. Policies keep your childcare center safe and in good standing, and also help ensure trust between you and the families you’ll potentially provide care for. Failing to define and abide by a clear set operational policies can ruin your business, so make sure you’ve thought through the details and are aware of what’s required.

Policy requirements vary by state and county. Here are the main types of operational areas you should focus on:

• Licensure and Laws – the minimum requirement to run a childcare center is local licensure. If you’re in the U.S. check the National Database of Childcare Licensing Regulations to learn more about your requirements.

• Health, Safety, and Sanitation – to operate a daycare, you need to follow health and safety guidelines. Make sure you, and your staff, are well aware of all the legal regulations and site-specific protocols your center will follow.

• Worker’s Comp – if you or a staff member gets injured on the job, having a worker’s compensation plan can save your business a lot of money and legal trouble.

• Liability Insurance – insurance protects and helps cover your childcare business from disastrous accidents. 

• Crisis Plan – what are your action plans if there’s ever a crisis or natural disaster during daycare hours?

3. Teacher and Employee Responsibilities

If you’re relying on staff members to help run your business, it’s vital to create clear expectations to encourage professionalism. 

At a minimum, plan these factors of employee responsibility:

• Accreditation – what credentials do your teachers and employees need to have to work for you? 

• Hiring Process – structure the hiring (and lay-off) process to meet legal requirements. Make sure the people you hire fit into the mission of your childcare center. 

• Curriculum & Activities – how and when will staff members need to plan (or deliver) the necessary curriculum? What activities will happen on a weekly and daily basis? How will you track learning and assessment?

• Staff Communication – there need to be defined methods of communication between all staff members. Utilizing technology will help lower the risk of error. 

4. Tuition and Payment Methods

It’s important to understand how your childcare center will make money. How will families pay for your daycare center? What will your tuition fees be? Know the financial requirements your childcare center needs to keep running (and thriving). You should consider:

• Cost of Each Child – tuition costs should be factored into your overall budget and annual financial goals. This is what determines how much it costs for each child to attend your daycare. Many childcare centers have plans that parents can choose from.

• Electronic Payment Methods – these days, it’s rare for adults to carry cash or check on hand. Setting up online parent billing will encourage on-time payments, easier billing, and better tracking of funds throughout your business. 

• Additional Fees – clarify any fees that need to be paid by parents, such as late fees, onboarding fees, or special activity fees.

5. Parent Communication Strategy

Communication between parents and teachers is one of the most important aspects of running a great daycare. How you communicate with parents says a lot about the character of your staff and the priorities of the business.

Here are some key things to consider when improving parent-teacher communication:

• Scheduling – do parents have a way to view their childcare schedule? Everyone’s busy, so it’s beneficial to provide some sort of digital calendar to help them stay on track.

• Academic Reports – if you can provide announcements, updates, and milestones for a child’s academic progress, parents will feel confident they’re getting what they’re paying for. 

• Daily Communication – having a way to consistently relay information to parents throughout the day is important. Consider using a childcare management platform with parent communication features. 

• Digital Contact – beyond verbal communication, parents who receive real-time updates while they’re away from their child get the feeling of being present for their child’s special moments.

6. Marketing Plan

Effectively marketing your childcare center can help skyrocket growth and boost your reputation with local families. Most business plans pay a significant amount of attention to marketing strategy. Here are the key three things to map out:

• Marketing Methods – how will you market your business? Will you focus on digital marketing, word of mouth referrals, or traditional means through newspapers and local ads?

• Online Reputation Management (ORM) – maintaining your reputation online and in-person can take time, but with the right marketing plan, it can position you as an authority in childcare. 

• Advertising – paying to display ads online can help target your ideal audience. By calculating your ad spend or hiring a marketing team, you can bring in the families who are looking for a childcare center like yours.

Tools for a Successful Childcare Center Business Plan

Whether you’re thinking of opening a new daycare center or already running an established facility, knowing your business plan inside and out will help you achieve your goals and guide you as you grow your business.

You can even streamline this process with childcare-savvy digital tools that can enhance your business plan. Apps like Daily Connect give you access to all systems and strategies you need when planning and running your childcare business. 

With customizable online learning tools, parent-teacher messaging, childcare center management, and parent billing features, Daily Connect helps childcare businesses run smoother than ever. Get a free trial today, or contact the team for a step-by-step demo of how Daily Connect can improve your business for years to come.