Ask Questions 
Share Tips 
People in Biz - Profiles 
Coffee Talk with Experts 
Biz Planning | Sample Plans 
Idea 
Name 
$ 
Do It! 
Marketing | Sales | Customers
Managing | Operations
Work @ Home 
Yoga @ Your Desk 
|
|
Expert Answers to Biz Questions
Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
The Biz Question
I have a home-based daycare which has grown every month since opening. I spend time and money making sure that I'm up to date on teaching techniques, health issues, etc. Yet I'm still not perceived as a professional, but rather as a "babysitter." I currently double my husband's income, and do NOT see my business as a part-time job. Any ideas how to change people's perspectives?
Linda
Answer: from our Guest Expert Terri Andrews of The Turquoise Butterfly Press
Dear Linda:
From 1989 to 1991, I tried and tried to operate a home-based daycare service, but never once made it over the so-called babysitter bump. What I lacked was organization -- and some tips from a pro who has made such a venture a success. My only solid advice to you would be to have your home, day, and business records completely organized -- that 's pretty much the extent of my knowledge within this field.
But lucky for you, I can supply you a heaping dose of professional advice from Marica Colpan, a day care professional who's managed to turn her home into a true-blue day care facility. I asked if she could take some time to help you and here's what she had to say:
"Dear Linda,
This is the most difficult problem of running a daycare. I've been operating one for over four years. I also have spent money on classes, learned teaching techniques and have poured effort and money into my business only to have some unfeeling individual refer to me as a babysitter. My standard retort is, "Well, if I'm a babysitter, then I'm the best-educated and well-paid babysitter that you've ever met. I'm a daycare professional and I have the credentials to prove it."
The wall right in my foyer is filled with my credentials in frames. For me, they include my college diploma, my business license, my membership in the NFIB, my registration certificate, my food service certificate and any articles that I manage to get into the paper that mention my facility. On the opposite wall is a corkboard that I fill with my children's accomplishments and their pictures. I send out a newsletter to my parents twice a year. This does two things.
- It verifies their addresses so I KNOW that they live where they say they do, and
- I make sure to make it look as professional as I can and fill it with items taken from my notices that I've been sent by the government or other childcare agencies.
I also interview all potential parents in an office-like setting after they've seen the home. I have them sign contracts and fill out all the necessary forms. Then I provide them with my rules and regulations and my web-site information. And it doesn't hurt to have a business card to hand them.
Anytime I'm asked in public what I do for a living, I inform them that I'm a daycare professional. Where I do that daycare is up to me. If they press, I tell them I have a business in the lower level of my home. If you act like a pro, they'll treat you like a pro.
If anybody says, "Well, I thought of doing that too." Be sure and tell them in great detail what's involved and what you do. Bore them, if necessary. Train your husband to do the same.
Unfortunately, our country puts a very low priority on quality child daycare. I actually had a government representative ask me why I didn't just do it for free since so many people need care. I asked her if she got a paycheck. Lo and behold, she did. Daycare professionals must stand up and demand the respect we are due. It'll take time, but we can change this.
Marcia"
I hope this helps, Linda. Good luck!
Terri Andrews, Turquoise Butterfly Press
Have a biz question of your own? Go post it in CyberSchmooz
Meet the Experts
|
|
Small Business Tax Center • Idea Cafe Home • Sign Up • Biz Grant Center • CyberSchmooz •Coffee Talk with Experts • People in Biz Profiles • Starting Your Biz • Biz Planning • Running Your Biz • FREE Trade Publications • Marketing • Financing Your Biz • Human Resources • Legal & Biz Forms • Managing Your Biz • eCommerce • You and Your Biz • Gen X • Work@Home • The Fridge • De-Stress • Send an Award • Send an eGreeting • Yoga @ Your Desk • Web Guide • Idea Cafe in the News • About Idea Cafe • Advertise on Idea Cafe • Contact Us • Privacy Policy • Site Map • Small Biz News
Copyright 1995-2009, Idea Cafe Inc. Downloads are for personal use only, not for resale to others, and may not be reprinted in any form without written permission from Idea Cafe Inc.
DISCLAIMER: We hope whatever you find on this site is helpful, but be cautioned that it may not apply to your own situation, or be totally current at any given time. Idea Cafe Inc. and all of its current and past experts, sponsors, advertisers, agents, contractors and advisors disclaim all warranties with regard to anything found anywhere on this family of websites, quoted from, or sent from Idea Cafe. and its related sites, publications and companies. We also take no responsibility for comments published by others on these pages.
TRADEMARKS: The following are Registered Trademarks or Servicemarks of DevStart, Inc.: Idea Cafe®, Online Coffee Break®, The Small Business Gathering Place®, Take out Info®, Biz Bar & Grill®, Complaint-O-Meter®, A Fun Approach to Serious Business™, CyberSchmooz™, and BizCafe™.
|
|
|
|