Help! Thinking of opening up a daycare

[Trace of Angels]

I am an ECE. I started out in a home daycare then I went to work in a licensed centre and from there I looked and did a lot of research on opening a licensed centre of my own. I came to a big conclusion that I knew right from the beginning.......it is NOT a profitable business. Most daycare centres run on a not for profit basis. Parents are only willing to pay so much for daycare. The laws in your province govern how you run your centre. You could make an OK living but not one that is going to make you a "GREAT" living. The cost of running the centre, paying the staff, obtaining a property, getting a license, purchasing equipment (commercial equipment is sooooo expensive) hiring a cook and the cost of food and maintaining all of this and more.........
well after I did my research left me with a number that would barely break me even at the end of the month. I think this is why you don't see a lot of new licensed commercial daycare centres opening up on every street corner (it's no Tim Hortons)
If you LOVE kids and I mean really LOVE to be with them then start at home. Gain a clientele, do some research and make a decision then if it is something you love and can see yourself doing. I am back to working at home. I've been open for 1.5 years. I have contracted a custom builder and together five months ago we designed a home daycare that I will be happy with for the rest of my life. We move to my new centre/home in just three weeks eeeekkkkk excited!!!! I will still just have only 5 spots in my home. But I am happy and making a decent salary without any of the true financial stress or lady drama that I experienced with centre care. Not sure if this helps at all but that's my two cents, honest and true :-)
I wish you luck in whatever you choose