I have been a teacher for many years, but would like to stay home with my new baby. Do you have any advice ...

Question

on how to start a home daycare or babysitting service? Would like to hear from moms that have done this.

Answer 1

i guess you have to form a bond first with your baby, your career should have to wait for a while maybe three years then you can go back to being a teacher.

Answer 2

Hi Kimberly, I started watching kids right after my younger son was born. I put up day care signs and a neighbor saw it and I have watched her daughters for 2 years now she referred her friend and her son to me .

I went on line to at home day care business and there are so many  informative websites. I would check for site in the area you live to find out fee's and if there are any origination's to help you get started. I personally charge $40 a day for infants and $30 dollars a day for Toddlers and School age groups $20- $15.  I do not watch kid's past 6pm and no weekends Just my rule . I hoped this helped a bit . Email me if you need any thing or have questions.

Answer 3

If you allow parents to pay by the hour for itinerant drop-offs and those who work part-time/erratic schedule, you'd probably pick-up a lot of business.  Many of my girlfriends are elementary teachers with infants/preschoolers.  Before picking out nursery colors, they registered with every daycare in town, hoping that a spot would become available in the first year and they could return to work.  

Check with your local laws about how many kids you can keep without registering and being subject to health and safety inspections.

Do everything above the table - tax wise! It's easy to handle through a schedule C attached to your 1040.  You need to keep a record of your payments.  A page for each parent's payments in a spiral notebook or in Word will work. Just date and amount is all you need.  (Your parents will want a signed letter from you at the end of the year so they can deduct the day care costs from their taxes.)

Then keep a copy of all your expenses.  Purchase food, toys, supplies (including calendars/date books, notebooks and receipt books for as business supplies)you buy on separate receipts.  Throw those receipts in a large envelope and forget about them until Dec 31st.   This will reduce how much tax you pay.  

People may balk at keeping everything legit knowing that few people ever get caught breaking the law.  Think about it this way though... a kid falls out in the yard and the parents want you to file this through you home owners insurance.  The insurance company will deny it, alerting the daycare regulating agency and potentially the IRS.  On top of it, you still must pay for the bills out of pocket or face going to court.

(On top of it, I would increase the rider for injury on your homeowner's insurance.)

You are the one running the business; you are the one responsible for keeping your business legit.

Answer 4

why dont u just go on maternity leave??

Answer 5

First it would be best if you get certified, the pay is better and there are a few more benefits to being certified that just babysitting, for one if you are certified you get paid for the service even if the child is absent whereas babysitting you don't. You should visit http://www.naccrra.org/ to get ceritification info. Choose your state and then search for your city in the listings and contact your local child care resource and referral provider. Also the nice thing is, is that they will refer families who need childcare, so you really dont have to go searching to much on your own.

Congratulations on your baby.