I want to start a preschool. Anyone out there who owns their own preschool or daycare please help......?

Question

please let me know what im getting into to. i am going to college for a CDA at an accedited college. Im considered between a group daycare with 12-15 or a center with around 22 kids. i will be buying a house just for this business, and I love being a preschool teacher. SHARE SOME STORIES WITH ME, GOOD OR BAD about owning and working in daycare/preschool. THANKS

Answer 1

Well my first thought is that if you are purchasing a house...but not living in it...you can not be licensed as a group day care with 12 children.  At least that is what it's like in our state.  Check with your licensing rules.  

What a cool idea about purchasing a house...there has been a chain in Southern Michigan that started out like that and now use renovated homes for that purpose.   So it can be done!  I would suggest that you find someone who has had success is something very similar to what you are trying to do and have them be your mentor.  

As another mentioned already... check with how much $$$ you are going to have to put into it for renovations to get it up to code.  Having it in a separate home than where you are residing will require it to meet day care CENTER codes not just family/group home requiments.

I would definately suggest you take an administration course for child care directors...most likely a requirement for a center...as it is in our State.  You will learn an abundance!!! And almost always the teacher is one who has been there themselves!  What an awesome experience it was for me.

I've worked in centers and am doing doing family child care.  There are pros in cons in both.  I loved being able to "leave" my job...which I can't now.  But on the other side...I'm my own boss.  

Good luck!

Answer 2

I have owned my own preschool for going on four years and have taught for 19 years.  I love having my own school. I do know this - it's much easier to build a building to code than it is to renovate a house for that purpose.  I have two classes of 3 year olds who meet twice a week and then two classes of 4 year olds who meet the other three days.  It's wonderful and so busy and rewarding.  Pursue your dreams.

Answer 3

the most important thing is to know how to deal with the parents. this should be your first thing to know. but you still have alot to deal with like teachers.

one story that i can tell you is we had in our school a teacher she was 19 she didnt get along with one of the teachers and she wanted to get her back so she called child services on that teacher and acused her of abusing the children and she knows that all that stuff is not right but since we have cameras in the school that recored everything she didnt aprove any thingbut this could be one of the problems that you need to know how to deall with.