A child care contract assures that there are no misunderstandings between you and your clients. It also protects you and your business from potential litigation. The contract states requirements and policies that both you and your clients must follow. A daycare contract form should include at least the following:

Hours of Operation: List the days and hours your child care center will be open for business.  Also detail any holidays you will be closed or any other days that the child day care center will be closed, if applicable.

Fees and Payments:  State the fees per week or month. Be explicit about whether or not sick days, holidays and vacation days are paid days. Some things to consider and disclose: When are weekly and month fees due? What are the consequences if fees are unpaid? (Termination? Suspension? ) How much will you charge for returned checks? How many returned checks will you allow before the client must pay in cash? (more…)

When you open your child care center, many of the rules and regulations you will be under are enforced by the state in which you live. Insurance requirements are one such regulation that varies from state to state. However, you should invest in insurance in order to protect yourself, your daycare business, your clients and your employees. It is wise for child care centers to invest in liability, structural, accident, health and workers’ compensation insurance.

Liability Insurance: Liability insurance will protect you in the event you are sued for damages. These damages could include child injuries, pet injuries, accidents, personal injury (libel, slander), damage to your own property, and damage to the property of others. The amount of coverage depends on the particular policy you select. There are other types of liability insurance to consider such as sexual abuse and liability insurance, child abduction liability, special events liability (fieldtrips, fundraisers, etc.) and corporal punishment. Daycare liability can be stand alone or an endorsement on your homeowner’s insurance. (more…)

A day care is a business with many legal guidelines and requirements that need to be observed at all times. Many businesses sadly are unaware of these responsibilities in the ownership and management of a day care facility. As an owner and manager, one would have many duties to respond to avoid the many consequences laws were designed to prevent.
(more…)

If one is in search of what laws govern day care centers, then one need not look further. The common progression is that one’s small time baby-sitting service would be expanded into the next level, which is running a day care. This involves a whole new host of responsibilities when taking care of children that is not one’s own. States have differing laws on the business but the best way to go about it is having the facility duly certified by local authorities. Inspections would be done to see if the facilities and the care givers are within the minimum requirements of the law.
(more…)