Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of children? Do you want to make a fulfilling career around this passion? Setting up a successful daycare franchise needs to be on your list. With nuclear families being the order of the day and both parents working, parents are increasingly looking for reliable daycare facilities. A stimulating environment where the child is not only kept safe but also helps shape his or her personality is key. As a person committed to children’s well-being, you would be in the best place to help do this. All you need is the correct hand-holding that will come from running a franchise operation of an established daycare.

Here are some handy steps to help you open a successful daycare franchise business.

1. Draft a Business Plan

To start with, it is essential that you have a robust business plan in place that factors in all the costs, including capex and operational costs. Some aspects to be mindful of include rent, employee salaries, equipment, provisions, marketing, and more. A professionally run franchisor can share a realistic business plan with you that does not underplay costs or overplay revenues.

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2. Location

Location can play a make-or-break role in the success of daycare. It is common for people to choose a daycare in the catchment area of schools. Proximity to residence is also a factor for younger children. Do conduct thorough due diligence when choosing a location. The franchisor will be well-poised to advise you on aspects to watch out for when making the choice of location. One of the areas to watch out for if you are seeking a rental space is to ensure that the landlord offers a long-term lease, as you cannot be expected to change location, having set up your business.

3. Research

It is imperative to thoroughly research the various daycare brands that enjoy equality with parents.

a). It will be worthwhile to figure out who the founding team is and what approach they bring to the daycare operations. It will be best if the brand also runs schools and has a fair knowledge of the education space. A daycare is far more than a physical space where children can be kept physically safe. It needs to offer children the necessary support in age-appropriate activities that will help them in their all-round development. It is best to see the team’s philosophy and what support they can offer.

b). It is essential to check on the kind of support the brand will provide. Be sure to check for support around recruitment, technology, marketing, administration, infrastructure related to child safety, SOPs to run operations, and more.

c). The biggest testimonials you can receive are from parents. Ensure, therefore, that you undertake a thorough check to see the satisfaction levels of parents.

d). It will be worth checking what kind of franchise fee they are charging, and the ROI being promised. The success rate of other franchises can be a valuable indicator for you. Professionally run companies often offer admission and buy-back guarantees, making it a virtually risk-free operation.

4. Facilities offered

Spend a lot of time looking at customer pain points and figuring out the facilities that your daycare needs to offer. Some of the areas to emphasize include the following:

a). Live CCTV streaming that ensures child safety and offers complete peace of mind to parents.

b). Having qualified professionals who can offer a diverse range of age-appropriate activities that help in the holistic development of the child.

c). Infrastructure designed for child safety.

d). Nutritious food. A qualified nutritionist designing the menu with no place for junk food works well.

e). In-app updates to parents.

Once again, an experienced brand is best positioned to support and guide you.

5. Creating a Market Presence Plan

The number of enrollments is a critical factor that will make your daycare business fly. Therefore, you need to figure out the strategies to ensure market presence. Some of the areas to focus on will include:

• Community engagement
• Social Media
• Word-of-mouth marketing and more

While setting out on your own will amount to reinventing the wheel, an established preschool and daycare brand already a trusted name in the parent community will greatly help. Besides the brand equity that you will begin the business with, the marketing support that they offer will go a long way in ensuring that your passion also becomes a viable business.

To Sum Up

Setting up a daycare franchise is a win-win on all accounts. With a franchise operation, you reap the advantage of carrying the brand equity from day one that inspires the confidence of parents. The support and hand-holding that the franchisor offers also go a long way in helping you focus on things that you are passionate about. A word of caution here, though- do ensure that you undertake thorough research in choosing the right franchisor so that you can deliver the best services to parents.

At Footprints, a chain of preschools and daycares that has become the preferred parenting partner for parents, we are on the lookout for passionate individuals who desire to make a difference in the lives of young children. We are committed to the holistic development of children. Our preschools follow the scientifically developed HighScope curriculum that is designed not only to offer a rich academic foundation but also to empower the children with essential life skills such as:

• Decision Making
• Creativity
• Problem-solving and more

Importantly, we believe in piquing children’s curiosity and helping them become lifelong learners.

If you think you fit the bill, we would be happy to discuss your preschool franchise and daycare franchise queries.

Here’s to offering children a rich environment that gives them the best chance of lifelong success.