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For most of us, writing a good business plan can be daunting. What will
I put in it? Does it have to be complicated? Will I need to consult or
pay anyone to do it for me? These are a few of the questions that you
might have asked yourself now that you’ve decided that a daycare is the
right and perfect business for you.
A
business plan shouldn’t become a hassle for you. You should be able to
enjoy writing it, indulge in it and even use it as a way to make your
dreams become a reality. Your business plan is yours alone and if you
write it, it will be easier to stick to it because you know what you are
capable of.
Writing down a business plan can be easily done during your free time.
You don’t have to sit down and hammer out a 20-page proposal—no. Just
follow our easy tips on how to write a good daycare business plan and
you should be well on your way. Open a Word file right now or bring out
a notebook. Now you can begin.
1.
Describe your company, its name and what goal you’d like to have. You
can have a vague or a specific goal for your daycare company. To help
me achieve good cash flow or to have the biggest daycare business in my
town are good examples of goals. You don’t have to be extremely
specific, remember, we’re just starting out.
2.
Describe where you want to set your business up. This is where you
decide if you want to run it out of your home or if you’d want to lease
a space. Give yourself a little time and draw out a floor plan or
imagine what your façade will look like. Remember, this is your
plan, you’re pretty much allowed to shoot for the moon.
3.
Think
about who you want as your clients. Are you going to run a daycare for
babies or toddlers? Write down where you might be likely to find good
clients. Write down the names of people who might be able to steer you
in the right direction.
4.
Plan
your marketing tactics. Are you printing out business cards, brochures
and flyers? Are you taking out an ad in the local paper? Draw a draft or
design for your daycare logo or business card.
5.
Create
a timeframe. It doesn’t have to be very specific. In six months, where
do you see your business? How about in a year? You can just write it
like this:
Six months: My
daycare is open, running and accepting customers.
One year: I’ve got
regulars by now, promos, discounts. Think about expanding if you’re
doing well.
The great thing is you can always modify your business plan and expand
it later. This initial business plan can give you a good idea of where
you want to begin and how you’d like to run your business. What are you
waiting for? Save this article and bring out that notebook or open that
file. You’ll be surprised at what you’re bound to come up with. Remember
to have a little fun. Dreaming is free. Your business plan should be
free too.
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