Home Based Business Child Care Referral

This home based business focuses on Child Care Referral Services.

Your home based business is to establish a network of qualified child caregivers and match them to a network of clients. You develop a database of caregivers who are called when needed or for periods of time. Caregivers can range in age from sixteen to sixty.

You develop your network of caregivers and clients through offline and online advertising. You are responsible for prequalifying the caregivers and maintaining a record, if the client should request it.

This home based business is usually local. You may want to personally meet and interview your caregivers and your clients may want to meet you.

The Child Care Referral Service home based business has low overhead. The most expense you will incur will be computer equipment if you don't already own it.

Check your local and state laws to see if you need to be licensed or bonded for this home based business opportunity.

What does it take for this business?

• You must be well-organized and enjoy working with people.
• You will need to build a network of caregivers and clients.
• You must be able to run background checks on your caregivers. You may need to be licensed by a local and/or state agency.

For your protection, if it is not required, you may need to be bonded and/or have liability insurance.

What do I need to operate this business?

You should set up a separate space for your home based business office. If applicants are going to be interviewed at your home, you may want to have a separate entry.

The start-up cost ranges from $500 to $4,000.

Basic Equipment and Supplies:

• Computer
• Printer
• Database software
• Business telephone line
• Business stationery and cards
• Fax
• Cell phone/Pager
• Web site

You can review resources for this home based business here.

What services do I provide?

• Establish a network of child caregivers.
• Establish a client base that needs the service.
• Prequalify caregivers.
• Match caregivers to clients.
• Follow-up with matches.

What are my potential earnings?

$20,000 to $65,000 annually

How much do I charge for my services?

You can charge clients a membership fee of $100 to $150 to search your database. You can also charge caregivers a fee to be entered in your database. You collect 10% to 15% of the fee paid by the client to the caregiver.

How do I bill for my services?

Cash, check, money order or credit card would be acceptable.

If clients or caregivers sign up on your Web site, you will need a merchant account to accept credit cards and the site should be secure. You can collect payment for the caregiver when their application is approved and they are to be entered into your database. You can have the client to complete a form on your Web site and mail payment to you. If you are going to collect 10% to 15% of the fee paid to the caregiver, you will want the client to pay you directly. The client pays the caregiver.

You should spell out the terms of payment clearly on your Web site and in your literature.

How do I market my business?

Offline

• List your home based business in the Yellow Pages.
• Place classified ads in your local/community newspapers.
• Contact caregivers who have placed ads in your local/community newspapers.
• Place flyers on community bulletin boards.
• Issue a press release to your local/community newspapers.

Online

• Create an informative Web site and list your home based business services.
• List your Web site in the online directories.
• Issue an online press release.
• Link your Web site to related businesses.
• Link your Web site to local Web sites in your community.
• List your Web site in online parenting magazines that serve your region.
• Publish client testimonials on your Web site.

With both parents working and single mothers working, child care is important. This is an excellent home based business opportunity. You can reveiw resources for this home based business here.