Enough and more research has pointed towards the crucial role played by the early years in shaping an individual. Over 90% of the brain is said to have developed by the time the child attains the age of 5 years. It is the connections that are made between brain cells (neurons) during this period that are crucial for a whole lot of functions. A child’s experiences, interactions, and environment play a vital role in shaping brain development. The role played by daycare centres as well as preschools in this period cannot be overstated. The positive experiences offered shape brain architecture, foster healthy relationships, and lay the foundation for future learning, behavior, and well-being.

If you are keen to make a positive difference in young lives, setting up a daycare franchise is just the right way to marry your passion with a business opportunity. Here is a handy guide.

First things first. There are several advantages of taking the franchise route. Firstly, when you start a franchise with an established brand name, you inherit the trust of the brand. In turn, it goes a long way in attracting a loyal customer base. It is a given that your odds of setting up a successful operation are that much more. Importantly, you are dealing with young lives with impressionable minds. There is no way you would want to compromise their physical safety or their holistic development. With an established brand, what you are also inheriting is their tried and tested protocols, methods, and procedures. That means that when you go with a well-established franchise, you do not need to reinvent the wheel. Besides, they hold your hand through the entire process, be it setting up or marketing.

The advantages of going with a daycare franchise are established; let us look at the steps that you need to undertake in setting up a daycare franchise.

1. Choose the right franchise

There is nothing quite as important as being able to make the choice of the right franchise, since that is going to be the number one factor in determining your success. For one, ensure that their vision is aligned with yours. It will be a good idea to get into the details of their founding team and what their overall vision is. Remember also to look for what kind of brand reputation they have as well as the kind of support they offer.

A very important aspect of setting up a daycare centre or a school franchise is also to have the right curriculum/age-appropriate activities in place. After all, you do not just want to offer a physical space but a nurturing place where the child can develop mentally and emotionally. Be sure to look for a brand that takes its job of nurturing young minds seriously and has a playbook in place.

2. Financial Obligations

Setting up a daycare franchise comes with its costs. Ensure that you get into the details of the financial obligations. Delve into the business plan carefully to understand aspects such as the franchise fee, royalties, and more. Some of the areas to look for specifically include whether the brand is offering you a minimum guarantee and whether they have a buy-back option. It will also be worth looking at what has been the success rate of their other franchisees to get a fair idea. The more you delve deep into the business plan, the fewer the chances of being shocked by any unknowns at a later stage.

3. Find the right location

The success of a daycare franchise has a lot to do with its location. Therefore, ensure that you choose a location with a large catchment area. A residential area with nuclear families works best. In choosing the location, also be mindful of aspects such as its access, parking facilities, and more. When you are going for a rented place, a long-term lease is most important.  The right franchisor will also be able to help you with identifying the right location. Ensure you also acclimate yourself with licensing requirements, if any. Once again, the franchisor will be in the best position to help you navigate this journey.

4. Setting up

In setting up the facility, it is important to ensure that the premises are child-proof since you are dealing with young children. Whether it is the furniture or the toys, everything needs to be child-safe. In addition, you need to set up the right safety protocols. These include CCTV cameras that offer live streaming, requisite technological tools, dispersal policies, trained staff, and more. All of these are areas that a reputed brand can handhold you with.

5. Hiring the right staff

Hiring qualified and empathetic staff is very important for your operation. Once you have an empathetic staff in place, you need to handhold them through the process. Again, the brand will be able to help you with the requisite processes and protocols. Importantly, what they will also be able to do is deliver an effective training program for your staff.

6. Marketing

“Build it and they will come” isn’t advice that works for businesses anymore. You have to undertake the right marketing efforts. Whether it is distributing leaflets, conducting events, or more. With their expertise in setting up daycare franchises, the brand will be able to help you with this process, so you do not follow a spray-and-pray approach. The right brand will even offer you a minimum guarantee for the number of enrollments, making your enterprise virtually risk-free.

To sum up

Setting up a daycare centre is much more than setting up a physical space. Be sure to put your heart and soul into the mission of making a difference in the lives of young children. With the right partner, you are sure to make your passion your profession.

At Footprints Playschool, we are committed to the cause of early childhood well-being. A chain of preschools and daycare centres stands testimony to our mission. In a short time, we have emerged as a preferred parenting partner for parents across the country as well as one of the best preschool franchises in India. Feel free to reach out to us with your daycare franchise and preschool franchise queries for us to evaluate the right fit.

Here’s to enriching early childhood, one student at a time.