Do children flock towards you? Have you always had a knack for childcare? Are you looking for a way to make money and spend more time with your own kids?
If you say “yes” to the above questions, you might want to consider starting a home daycare. There are many benefits to taking the leap, but running your home own-based business doesn’t come without its challenges. Keep reading to learn the pros and cons of starting a home daycare.
Pro: No Commute
One of the biggest upsides to owning a home daycare is that you never have to commute to work. The average commute time for Americans is 43 minutes one way. Imagine having an extra hour and a half a day to spend with your family!
Con: Your Home Always Feels Like Work
We all know how great it feels to walk in the door after a hard day at work. If you’re working from home, though, it’s hard to separate yourself from work.
One of our top home daycare tips is to have a separate space for your daycare from your living quarters. Try using your finished basement as a home base for your daycare business. This allows you to keep the upstairs area as your home space and the basement as your workspace.
Pro: It’s Affordable
The initial costs of starting a home daycare will be much less than if you were setting up in a center. You already own your home so you won’t need to buy another building or pay rent every month.
If you have children, you probably own all the toys and equipment you’ll need to keep your daycare kids satisfied.
Home business owners also receive many different tax breaks. Many of the bills you already pay for (e.g., utilities, mortgage interest, taxes) can be deducted as business expenses.Daycare providers have special needs when it comes to furniture. Each item must be safe and meet all regulations. Most importantly, daycare furniture needs to be fun and ergonomic. How does a school handle dramatic play? Daycare furniture must also be sturdy, easy to clean, and just the right size for the children.
You might need to hire a business advisor to learn how to start a daycare but other than that you won’t have to pay for much.
Con: Germs
Every parent can attest to the fact that where there are children, there are germs. If an irresponsible parent sends their sick child to daycare, the bug will spread like wildfire. You and your family members will be more likely to get sick, too, leading to lost wages.
You will need to up your cleaning ante to avoid your home becoming a breeding ground for germs.
Pro: More Time With Your Kids
If you have small children, you can take care of them as part of your business. You won’t have to pay another daycare to watch your child as you would if you worked outside the home.
Most home daycares will also follow standard business hours, freeing up your evenings and weekends.
Con: Very Little “Adult” Time
Parenthood is a tough gig with little to no days off. Many parents look forward to working outside the home because that’s when they get time to themselves. Running a home daycare means you don’t get to socialize much with people your age during your working hours.
Is Running a Home Daycare Right For You?
Now that you know some of the pros and cons of running a home daycare, you can decide if it’s right for you.
Keep reading our blogs for more business and lifestyle tips to help you balance life and work.