When you decide to set up a nursery you will have a lot of things to think about, and while a business plan will help you get your finances in order, there are more practical things that should not be overlooked.
Firstly, consider acquiring a running nursery, as this will cut down on the red tape and make approval easier.
If you are not planning on managing the premises yourself or do not have the relevant qualifications to do so, ensure you employ a fully qualified nursery manager, who can run the day-to-day operations for you.
Even if you only plan to run a small nursery, acquire the largest premises you can afford and ensure that it has the potential to expand if you should change your mind. If you are catering for babies, ensure you think in multiples of three as the baby:carer ratio is 3:1.
Ensure you have planned 12 months ahead and can sustain costs until the business becomes established. It can take a long time to become established and improve numbers.
Plan your policies and procedures meticulously.
Be selective about the children you take on. You want to build a good reputation and gain trust in the community. If you admit children with unacceptable behaviours and cannot challenge these behaviours then you may find it difficult to recruit new children, as your reputation is damaged.
Ensure you take deposits to secure places and ensure parents pay fees upfront so that you are not chasing them for payments. Parents often pay all year round, with a few weeks off as a result of holidays.
Ensure your contract is transparent, clear and easy to understand.
Monitor your marketing, so that you can see what works for you and what doesn’t. This could also be expensive in the short term until you become established. Be aware that it could take 6 months or longer to fill your places, so you will need to allow for this.
When hiring staff, they will also need to be DBS checked. This process although quite quick, can drag out if they have not lived in the area for over 5 years.
Therefore as well as considering the time taken to get a premises ready, getting staff and children will also come with their own time scales.
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