How to Put Up a Preschool or Daycare Center Business

There is a good market for preschools and daycares, the obvious reason being everyone will have kids. Today’s on-thego lifestyles of parents also make this business appealing.

If you plan on starting such a business, here are some points to consider:

Registration/legal requirements. If you plan to put up your business within your subdivision, you have to secure permission from the Homeowners Association, and then apply for a Barangay permit. For sole-proprietorship, register your business at the DTI; and for partnerships and corporations, register at the SEC. Other legal requirements include the mayor’s permit, BIR registration, and most of all, your accreditation from the Department of Education (DepEd)— especially if you plan to expand to grade school.

Find your market and location. Starting it in a barangay with only a handful of residents will naturally give you a small market. It might be more feasible to start it in the middle of big condos or inside a big subdivision. Consider the demographics, foot traffic, and access to main roads in planning out your location.

Costing for equipment and supplies. You will need a lot of new equipment and supplies for your preschool or daycare center—students’ tables and chairs, cabinets, mats for the play area, educational toys and prescribed books, and materials in line with your curriculum. Take note that your rooms might need refurbishing and repainting, as you will be dealing with kids. Install safety guards on your furniture and put removable plugs in your electrical sockets.

Hiring your teachers/staff. You may believe that you can handle a handful of kids because of your experience with your younger siblings or nieces and nephews. This is a big mistake. If you really plan to go hands-on with your students, hire an assistant. Keeping an eye on all of the pupils will be quite challenging, and when one of them gets injured, expect angry parents—and their lawyers—to show up at your doorstep.

Developing your curriculum. In your preschool, your administrators can make their own curriculum as long as it is still be in line with the curriculum prescribed by the DepEd; these are available online.

BusinessCoach, Inc., a leading business seminar provider, conducts an excellent seminar entitled “How to Start and Manage a Preschool or Daycare Center.” Contact (02) 727-5628, (02) 727-8860 and (02) 225-6616 or visit www.businesscoachphil.com for details.

Click here to view details of the seminar: How to Start and Manage a Preschool or Day Care Center »

*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. D-6, Sunday, September 28, 2014. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.