Clueless Daycare Newbie!

Here is a great place to start. It is supplied by an association in Hamilton, but is relevant for Ontario. Happy reading:)
http://thechildcareproviderconnectio...StartupKit.pdf

I am with two agencies in Ottawa. If you P.M. me your email address I will email you what I like about them and what I don't if you like.

get a deposit so they can't skip out on paying you.

Thanks for all the great advice! It seems right now there is so much to take in I don't know where to start!! but I'm checking out all the links everyone has provided! :)

For those of you who aren't licensed why did you choose that route?

I was really debating which way to go.. although I have already submitted my request for a licence. But that is not set in stone yet.


What is the big difference between the two?

I wouldn't want to be licenced because I would have a boss. Being self-employed is wonderful because you make the rules and run the daycare they way you like without anyone looking over your shoulder and making the rules. Others who are registered can give you the other point of view.

I didn't go with an licenced agency because I didn't want them to control my fees and take a cut of the fees. I also did not want to be stuck with their ratios (2 kids under 2 and 3 under 3 and your own kids count in your numbers...you can only have 5 including your own under 10). Privately, we are allowed to have 5 daycare kids plus our own kids and it doesn't matter what their ages are. I like having control over the ages I feel comfortable with and it allowed me to fill my daycare much more easily.

You have received some great tips here. I would add to make sure to get a rider on your home insurance to cover having daycare children there. If anything goes wrong and your insurance company didn't know you ran a daycare, they can refuse to cover you. You could lose your home over something like this.

Thanks for all the advice. I am defiantly looking for that "be my own boss" feeling so thanks for sharing.

I think I like the idea that they "find" the kids for you. I'm scared I won't be able to find any clients. But I did want to make a website and advertise (if I decided to not work under a licensed) But I hate the restrictions of certain ages. That may make things difficult.

Well I have 1 year to decide. She said if I change my mind no problem. So if you don't go license you basically just jump into it yourself?

Has anyone started of going through an agency then switched to just being themselves?


And will let my insurance know for sure! that's scary..!