I just don't know what to do!

[FunnyFarm]

Hi all, I would love some opinions, but I realize the end decision is mine. I just feel Like a ship lost in the dark. As of January 16th I will no longer have any children in my daycare. I have loved all my families, but they all ended up pregnant and I have had zero interest in from new families. Granted, I do focus on only organic foods and a natural lifestyle. Not for everyone I know. I'm tempted to start taking only one child at a time. More like a nanny. Should I raise my rate accordingly? Currently I am charging the going rate for our area ($45). My other thought is to step away from Daycare and open my own personal business in the line of soaps, bath salts, creams etc. I am also a Norwex Sales Consultant. I have so many options open to me, yet none seems to be the "sure" way to go. Thankfully my hubby has a great job and although my income isn't necessary, it is beneficial if we wish to retire Ok, I know this has been long, but sometimes having opinions from non-family members can shed a new light that is unbiased. I appreciate your thoughts and this fantastic community.
Happy New Year to all.

[Rachael]

Okay just some thoughts.....

1. If you are unable to fill your places with even one client at $45, why do you believe you will be able to get one in and charge more by calling yourself a Nanny instead? Surely if the clients aren't there, the clients aren't there?

2. If you realize that organic food and a natural lifestyle might be hindering your ability to attract new clients, why are you not changing your business model? If these are important to you, please understand that new clients might not share your enthusiasm - do they perhaps think your prices reflect the specialist service and therefore if it's not important to them are they loathe to pay what they deem a premium for a service that doesn't matter? I wonder if you simply dropped the information about this and remained the same price, if clients would be more interested? Are you firmly committed on this or flexible enough to drop it entirely and perhaps then be able to drop your fees a little and appeal to a wider audience?

3. Does your soap business have the opportunities you need to work FT and get the income you require? Or can you get what you need working fewer hours? Do pros and cons in writing, I find that sometimes helps.

4. Since it seems you are doing both at the moment, why not step up the soap business until you have clients for the day care?


Which business do you enjoy the most? And is just one a viable option financially?

[5 Little Monkeys]

I was a nanny for a family of 2 before I opened my hdc. The one child went to school all day and so it was just me and one child. It was LONG days because I was always "on" and having to entertain or play with the child. I find it so much easier to provide group care because they can play with each other when I need to do other things. Just something you may want to consider...

If your income is just extra, than I say take a chance and try a new business out!! You might end up liking it better and enjoying it more than the dc. If not, you can always open up again!

Life is short, find a job you enjoy!!

[SillyGirl_C]

Taking a cue from Rachael's comments, I would suggest trying out your soap business on Etsy and local specialty shops in the area to gauge interest. Small retail businesses can take years to build up but can be very rewarding.

I would also work the Nanny angle in the interim. Out here in BC, we have a lot of cases of nanny sharing. Two families get together and hire a nanny that works in one of their homes for both families children. This may an option for you. You can get started by aligning yourself with a reputable Nanny referral service.

Either way, having options is a really great thing! I hope you find your 'sweet spot'.

[Snowmom]

If it were me...I would focus on the soaps/creams and possibly do back up care for other providers on the side. If you decide to go this route- definitely let other providers know you aren't here to try to take business away from them (even give them some samples of your products, which could drum up new sales).
I find it's always nice to have other names of providers to give parents when I take my vacations. I didn't have anyone to recommend when I went on maternity leave for 3 weeks, and ended up losing a family.

[Fun&care]

If I were you I would be tempted to do the soap business but keep all daycare stuff for a few months so that you can come back to it if your other business doesn't work out. If it's no big deal financially this seems like a great opportunity to try something new!

[Lee-Bee]

Tough one! I assume you have no children of your own? So taking on one child means you will have one child all day? I dropped from 5 kids to my daughter (22months) and one dc child (26months) and have to say it has been fabulous. But, without having my own daughter I'm not sure it would be as worthwhile.

There is a HUGE difference in being a nanny in someone else's house and having one child in your house. Mainly pay. I was making $150 a day in my last nanny job, caring for one toddler. This child had a full time daycare spot (centre) but mom wanted him home 2days a week so he could have his usual BIG naps. So, I was being paid $150 a day to let a 18month old have two, 2hr naps lol. I baked and cleaned while he napped...but it was EASY money. Obviously not all nanny jobs are like this.

Having one child in my home brings in just over 1/3rd the pay of my one child nanny job. BUT, my day is shorter (8.5hrs versus 9hrs) and I have zero commute time. I do MY OWN cleaning and cooking and I am in the comfort of my own home. Obviously my daughter plays a huge role in this, I'm not doing it to bring in money.

You can quite likely pull off charging more because there are quite likely some families out there that WANT their child to have one on one time, to have a relaxed carefree day and WANT what you offer (organics and naturals etc). It will be harder to find this family though.

The good news is, that in my experience families that want the organic all natural type life style for their children tends to be the ones that want to avoid group care and will pay more to find a very low ratio, home like child care. Again, it will take time to find the family. There is also a good chance that you can find this family and they will fall into the field of wanting one on one time and care and attention but also believe in having their child play independently and therefore you wouldn't actually have to be 24/7 entertainment. You can get them settled into play then do stuff around your house.

I believe to pull it off you need to change your advertising to cater to such families. Can you sell yourself to attachment parenting families? Not ALL attachment parenting families are high needs and not all of them have needy children (many such families moved away from attachment parenting and made the common mistake of falling into the permissive parenting families). I do believe that there are some solid, amazing, great families that want the best for their child and will pay a premium for very low ratio care so their child can have that home upraising that they want to provide but can't due to their careers. If you cater your advertising to them you can likely find a winner! Maybe put lots of effort into advertising for such a family while focussing on the side business until you find the perfect family?? I'd be prepared to have solid reasons for why you want to care for one child in YOUR house since most would naturally expect you have your own young child. If you can answer that question at the ready then you can likely get over their uneasiness that they may have.