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Business Management
With only a handful of clients and a family atmosphere, some might perceived family child care businesses as casual enterprises. While family child care homes might not be Fortune 500 companies, they are businesses nonetheless. As such, they too need to address a wide variety of management concerns ranging from basic budgeting to financing and insurance.
This page is intended to provide direct access to relevant information these and additional business management concerns. Beyond general information, additional specifics are provided on marketing, taxes, and financing.
 General Information
- Marketing
- Financing
- Taxes
- Insurance
General Information
The RedLeaf National Institute (RNI) is committed to improving the quality of family child care by helping providers successfully manage their businesses. RNI also offers support to trainers, tax preparers and organizations (Family Child Care Associations, Food Program sponsors, child care resource and referral agencies, and family child care military coordinators) who assist providers with their business. The Institute offers training, telephone and e-mail assistance, publications, and help in handling IRS audits. Its Getting Started in the Business of Family Child Care manual is available both in English and Spanish.
Organization is an important aspect of any business, including family child care. The National Network for Child Care' s Child Care Business Management section offers an array of useful insight on business management topics such as Record Keeping.
Published by Building Child Care in California, the Family Child Care: Financial Planning and Families Development Manual provides detailed information on budgeting, basic financial statements, understanding loans and determining debt capacity, developing and family child care business plan, and renovating or expanding a family child care home.
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Marketing
The following links are for web sites that contain information, insight, and tips on marketing a business in general as well as how to market a family child care home specifically.
How to Promote Your Business
from Getting Started in the Business of Family Child Care
by Tom Copeland at the RedLeaf Institute
Key Marketing Tips for Family Child Care Providers
provided by the RedLeaf Institute
A Home Away from Home
General marketing tips
Child Care Home: Promotion
by Elaine Wilson, a Parenting Specialist at Oklahoma State University
Published by the National Network for Child Care (NNCC)
Recommendations for Marketing
provided by Dakota County, MN Social Services
Marketing Your Home Child Care Business
by Cat T and Kari F at Family Child Care Inc.
General marketing ideas
provided by Family and Workplace Connection.
Using Email as a Marketing Tool
provided by Her Child Care.com
Marketing Tips for Family Child Care Providers
by Kid'n'Kaboodle
General Tips for Marketing Family Child Care
by Kids First Child Care
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Financing
General Information
Published by The Enterprise Foundation, the manual Financing Family Child Care offers an overview of the financial resources and options available to family child care providers. It also provides practical insight on applying business models to a family child care venture.
Funding Opportunities for Child Care
The National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) provides extensive information on the wealth of funding sources available to family child care providers.
The Rural Housing Service (RHS) has facility funding available for non-profits or local governments that support child care facilities.
Raising Revenue in Family Child Care Using Rates, Fees, and Policies
by Peggy Patten, the Staff Development Coordinator for Human Resources and Family Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Published in National Network for Child Care's Connections Newsletter
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Small Business Loans and Grants
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
The mission of the SBA is to maintain and strengthen the nation’s economy by aiding, counseling, assisting, and protecting the interests of small businesses and by helping families and businesses recover from national disasters. Besides information on financing a small business, the Women’s Business Center is a very good resource. Additionally, the small business management series is a great resource, providing detailed checklists, workbooks and information for those at any stage in the process of starting a business.
Grant and Funding Sources for Child Care provides information for both for- and non-profit child care businesses, including facts, tips, advice on fundraising, resources for proposal writing, and funding sources, including local funding sources.
Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Issues for Family Child Care Home and Child Care Centers
Public Counsel’s Child Care Law Project developed this pamphlet to give both nonprofit child care centers and family child care providers some basic information on disaster preparedness and recovery issues. While this pamphlet specifically outlines the California state laws which impose emergency and disaster related requirements on licensed child care facilities, the information may provide broader insight for businesses in other states. It also explores the rights and responsibilities of child care providers regarding disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.
Through the Child Care and Development Block Grant, the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) helps States, Territories, and Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal Organizations provide child care for low-income families and increase the affordability and quality of child care and development services. Family child care providers should contact the office that administers the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) in their State to find out what funds are available from their State.
In addition to the general information provided above, there is an abundant amount of information and funding resources available at local and state levels. Here are some examples:
Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc.
Small business loans to family child care providers in Minnesota.
Utah Microenterprise Loan Fund
Information on applying for family child care small business loans in Salt Lake City area.
Virginia Department of Business Assistance
Small business loan information for family child care providers in Virginia.
Wisconsin Child Care Improvement Project, Inc.
Several resources for family child care providers in Wisconsin.
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Food Programs
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
The FNS provides federal funds for meals and snacks served to eligible children in child care centers and family child care homes.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nutritious meals to children who receive day care outside of their home. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act made permanent the provision that for-profit centers, including family child care homes, may participate in the CACFP is 25% of children (enrolled or licensed capacity) are eligible for free or reduced price meals.
In addition to federal funds, funding is available from state agencies. Please click here for a link to state agencies administering the Child Nutrition Programs.
The RedLeaf Institute provides information on the IRS Standard Meal Allowance Rule, including downloadable forms.
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Taxes
The following links contain information pertaining to family child care providers tax issues.
Publication 587, Business Use of Your Home (Including Use by Daycare Providers
Published by the IRS on an annual basis.
It provides information on figuring and claiming the deduction for business use of your home.
Child Care Home: Financial Records, Fees and Taxes
by Marilyn Burns, a Home-Based Business Specialist at Oklahoma State University
Provided online by the National Network for Child Care (NNCC)
Tax Guidelines for Family Day Care
by Pam McNichols, a Taxpayer Service Specialist at the IRS
Provided online by the National Network for Child Care (NNCC)
Planning to Pay Your Taxes
by Constance A. Bettis, a District Specialist for the Communities, Families and Youth Division of the University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension
Provided online by the National Network for Child Care (NNCC)
Record Keeping and Taxes
the RedLeaf Institute
This site provides an array of articles, handouts and information relating to record keeping and taxes, such as The Eight Key Federal Tax Issues Unique to Family Child Care Providers That Every Provider and Tax Preparer Should Understand and The Tax Benefits of Becoming a Regulated Provider
Family Child Care 2004 Tax Workbook and Organizer
by Tom Copeland and published by the RedLeaf Press
Available for $14.95 and complete with forms, the Workbook and Organizer features step-by-step instructions that make it as easy as possible for family child care provided to do their taxes. Detailed sections help family child care providers prepare and file their own returns or organize their information before giving it to a tax preparer.
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Insurance
Family Child Care Legal and Insurance Guide:
How to Reduce the Risks of Running Your Business
by Tom Copeland and published by the RedLeaf Press
Available for $14.95, major chapters cover basic strategies for reducing risks as well as researching, understanding, and purchasing insurance for the business and the family. The Guide includes a business liability insurance checklist.
Liability Insurance and the Family Child Care Provider
by Brenda Cude, an Associate Professor for the Division of Consumer Sciences at University of Illinois and Carol Volker, an Associate Professor for Human Development and Family Studies at Iowa State University
Published by the Iowa State University Extension and available from the NNCC, this article provides information on liability insurance specific to the family child care provider. It includes things to look for when purchasing a policy and defines some common insurance terms.
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