I have a question and hopefully you can help me out with it. My sister lost her job and wanted to start babysitting/daycare and were trying to get her name out there but not sure where to advertise or how to find anyone who needs daycare.
Do you know of a way to try and get clients without spending money on advertising? Or what do you suggest on how to locate anyone in need of daycare.
From what I understand of sitter city it is free for babysitters to sign up but moms seeking child care have to pay. I love sitter city.com
When I was looking for day care, I called the local elementary school. They had the names and phone numbers of nearby day care providers because those providers were picking up/dropping off kids. Also, is you have a Child Care Council in your area, they should be able to help.
I do in-home daycare. We moved to our current town of residence a little over 2 years ago from another state. It was really hard to get going and get my name out there. What I started doing was, I met new people and they asked what I did, I would tell them in-home daycare. I also called around to well known in-home daycares, two of which happened to be full. They started giving my name out to parents who called them looking for daycare. I only have 2 kids right now (my preference) and both were referred to me by other providers.
I have also given my name and info to the local school. The secretary actually asked me for it. She said they have parents call a lot looking for after school care and they like to have a list of names to give out.
2 suggestions for your sister.
1) Set herself up as a day care home business. Your sister's local child care resource & referral agency can guide her through the process of licensing, tech. support & referrals.
2) Get listed on a site such as sittercity.com. I have no idea of their rates for advertising, but I would think they must list them somewhere on the website.
In Maryland, our state licensing office has a website that includes the provider's name, phone number and rates, hours of operation etc. and I believe that is all free. it also includes recent inspections too so you can weed some out before even visiting or weed them out if they seemed too good to be true (which happened to us). While it is not free, check out vista print or purchase business card sheets and she can print out her card and post them in local grocery stores/churches/ etc. We also have an online community bulleting that is free. Look into local sites hosted by your city/township, etc. Best of luck!
Try websites like www.care.com and www.sittercity.com
When you get licensed, they'll give your name out through the state. I think I've heard that in IL, you can not watch any children without being licensed. You should check that out too. Once you are, care.com in addition to sittercity, and craigslist.
As a license exempt provider in the state of IL. I can tell you it's not easy to remain full. Here in IL, license exempt means that you may only provide care for up to 3 children (including your own). Unless they are all related, for example cousins or siblings. Licensed, you are allowed to provide for more children, but of course not until you are fully licensed. Licensed, or exempt you can become listed with CCRN (Child Care Resource and Referral).
Here in McLean county we have a family child care association which I am a member of. Which basically means we get our in-service hours in that way (necessary for licensed providers) and we get support from one another. Including passing on names to potential clients when we can't provide to that specific parent, due to ages, number of openings etc.
As another mentioned, you need liability insurance. One hopes you never need to use it, but when you don't have it, you'll wish you had.
You don't make a ton of money. If the provider provides food, arts/crafts, field trips etc. Money goes towards that. Money goes towards taxes. (yes you do pay taxes). Money goes towards buying paper towels for the daycare kids etc. etc. Very little take home money when all is said and done. So if she's doing it for the money, I'd suggest not doing home daycare. There are not a lot of parents looking because they too have lost jobs, or they can't afford daycare so they find family who will do it for free etc.
If however, she's doing it because it's something she loves and doesn't need the income. I advertise for free on craigslist.com daycarematch.com sittercity.com care.com and even here on mamapedia. My most recent client I got because I overheard her talking to a friend at the TB testing clinic (yes something mandatory for childcare providers). Neighbors might know of someone... I'm always sure to specify that they are daycare children when I'm on walks and people assume they're all mine. Overall, word of mouth is the best way, to know people who know people. If she has a family who is expecting in her neighborhood, location can be key sometimes. One could put a sign in front of their house, but I advise against that because it makes your daycare home a target and not only for parents. End of the street maybe? Need daycare? Call ***-****. No addresses listed.
But overall, talk to CCRN about the legal side of things, talk to the insurance agent and then IF she's positive this is the way to go, proceed with advertising, talking to neighbors, other parents at parks etc. Make up some business cards to hand out. You can order them for very little at I believe vistaprint.com
You don't have to be licensed in Illinois. I took my kids to a non-licensed in home daycare for 4 years. She did have us sign a contract w/her policies and stuff. We never had an issue. I heard of her by word of mouth, but you could post on craigslist or if your town has a yahoo moms group or something post on that. We have "mombards" in Lombard and people post daycare openings on there all the time. Good Luck!
She'll need to get licensed and then her name will show up everywhere.
Sittercity.com is FREE. Care.com is FREE.
We have a local county webpage where you can advertise things for FREE also. Do you have something like that?
I want to point out that I had looked into doing this years ago and you really don't make much money. I say that because while I pay $100/wk for a half day of my 4 year old, he uses supplies and snacks. It doesn't come to $100, but she doesn't pocket all of that either. Plus she has to pay her taxes upfront.
Good luck to your sister!!
I believe you definitely should check on a few things before accepting a position of caring for the most precious of peoples possessions as things could get sticky if a child would bump their head and need stitches and a cat scan in the er. Check on state county and city or village laws of when they require a license. Check on liability insurance to protect all your assests. Then if all is a go make a business plan and draw up a contract with prices, what you provide like meals and snacks and diapers and wipes etc and what they are resposible for. Then an emergency clause for treatment and a hold harmless clause for liability. Then if this is still an option put name with churches and schools and in grocery stores and an e mail to all friends and family for word of mouth. Moms clubs are also a route to go for advertising and sometimes a small grant to get things up and running.
and put a sign out in the yard with her phone number on it. that's how i found my sitter!
