The Child Care Business Owner Institute

The Enrollment Seasons of Child Care

It seems that every year in April, the enrollment inquiries for my summer program increases. Also, many of the same families come back every summer and I look forward to the income increase every summer.

However, I do not look forward to the enrollment shift in August and this is why I recommend that child care business owners enroll for their fall programs in June or July.

The reason that I titled this post: The Seasons of Child Care is because I was recently reflecting on how good it feels to have a great enrollment season and then when the enrollment is down, how it impacts everything about the business.

Today I want to share with you, three principles that I learned from the many enrollment seasons  that I have seen in childcare, including being filled to capacity to low enrollment seasons:

1. Prepare for the low enrollment seasons during the seasons that you are filled to capacity.
2. Save money during the seasons of highest enrollment
3. Stock up on supplies such as: paper towels, classroom supplies, etc; during the good seasons
4. If enrollment is low, be patient ,keep marketing your business and your perseverance will pay off.

If you have been in the business for more than a year, I think that you can relate to this post. Moreover, if you are new to the business of childcare, I challenge you to develop a great marketing plan and learn to manage your money effectively, because how you manage marketing & your money; determines if you will survive the good and the not so good seasons of childcare!

Which season are you in? Are you filled to Capacity? Do you need children?

I look forward to reading your comments below and thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts.

Shiketa

For more marketing tips, check out my Marketing 101 toolkit and for child care business tips, be sure to subscribe to this blog and my weekly Child Care Business eNewsletter at www.childcarebusinessowner.com

What is Your Vision For Your Child Care Business?

It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision. ~Helen Keller

 I am a firm believer that you have what you see. So, with that in mind, I have one question for you: “What do you see for your childcare business?”

My hope is that you have a big vision for your business. If not, here is something to think about: A business without a vision is like a traveler driving across the country without a map or  without having a destination in mind.

I challenge you to take a moment to think about what you want for your childcare business; write your vision down on paper, post it (where you can see it) and allow it to energize you to keep going even when times get hard.

Tips for Accomplishing your Vision:

1. Do not set too many goals, it will simply overwhelm you
2. Once you develop your vision, stay focused on it, because a focused person tends to accomplish what he or she desires.
3. Subscribe to email list, read books or hang out with people who help to fuel your vision.
4. Create weekly task that will bring you closer to accomplishing your business goals.
5. Be Patient
6. Never allow the actions or behavior of others to stop you!

Its time to get to work on your Vision for your Business!

To Your Success,
Shiketa