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Filing daycare taxes can be a daunting process, especially for a new daycare business owner. So we enlisted the help of Tom Copeland, tax and child care business specialist, to answer tough tax questions and provide helpful daycare tax tips.

Question: I just started and this past year I was finally able to write myself a check. I was able to benefit from a grant to purchase equipment. What are those two entries supposed to look like?

Tom Copeland: Ignore the check you wrote to yourself. That is called a “draw” but you don’t put the amount anywhere on your tax forms. Report the grant as income on Schedule C. Then report the equipment as a business expense, using the normal rules of claiming expenses.

Question: We usually do Turbo Tax for home business. It will ask if we want to depreciate our home. What does this mean and would they recommend it??

Tom Copeland: You always, always want to depreciate your home! It represents a substantial deduction that will reduce your taxes. When you sell your home you must pay some tax on the depreciation you claimed. However, if you don’t claim the depreciation, you will still have to pay tax on the amount you were entitled to claim. Therefore, you are always better off claiming the depreciation.

Question: I started my family home daycare in Sept 11 as a sole proprietor. I usually prepare my own taxes, married, file separate and itemize. I had an employee for a month. How would I file now (status, use what forms and such)?

Tom Copeland: You should continue to operate as a sole proprietor, even when you have an employee. In general, most providers are better off if they file jointly, but you can check to see which method is better for you.

Question: Should my husband and I file separately because I will have to file business taxes?
Tom Copeland: No. Fill out your business tax forms and enter your profit from Schedule C onto your joint Form 1040. You will almost always come out better filing jointly.

Question: I get worried each year that I always take a loss- How many years can you do this before the IRS says u have to make a profit? I legally use the items for daycare and spend as much as I make in the long run.

Tom Copeland: If you don’t show a profit at least 3 out of every 5 years, you are more likely to get audited. I would try to meet this goal, even if the profit is very small.

Question: I’m not licensed so I am watching one baby right now, can the mom claim me and if so how can I be sure how much will be taken from me?

Tom Copeland: The mother can claim the child care tax credit with the amount she paid you. You don’t need to be licensed for her to claim this credit. You need to report the money you earned as income on Schedule C. You will owe about 20-30% federal tax on the money you earned.

Question: What is the meal allowance breakdown for breakfast, lunch and snacks for tax prep?

Tom Copeland: The standard meal allowance rate for 2011 is $1.19 breakfast, $2.22 lunch/supper and $.66 snack. The rate for 2012 is $1.24 breakfast, $2.32 lunch/supper and $.69 snack.

Question: Any suggestions of computer programs to use in my in-home daycare to bill/invoice parents and keep track of my expenses for tax purposes?

Tom Copeland: The best record keeping program for family child care providers is Minute Menu (www.minutemenu.com). It’s an online program you can use for 30 days for free to try it out.

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Filing daycare taxes can be a daunting process, especially for a new daycare business owner. So we enlisted the help of Tom Copeland, tax and child care business specialist, to answer tough tax questions and provide helpful daycare tax tips.

Question: I have a weekday job Monday through Friday so that’s a different income. Then I have my registered home daycare on the weekends. I filed for the EIN number in October.  So do I file separate from my regular job?

Tom Copeland: Report your income from your daycare business on Schedule C. Report some of your house expenses on Form 8829 and your depreciation expenses on Form 4562. Then transfer these expenses to Schedule C where you will claim the remainder of your business expenses. Your profit from Schedule C gets transferred to Form 1040. The income from your weekday job also gets reported on the same Form 1040.

Question: I’m not licensed as a daycare; I’m merely babysitting in my home. Can I still deduct time/space percentage, etc.?

Tom Copeland: Yes. If you are exempt from your state’s child care licensing rules you can deduct the same expenses as if you were licensed. This includes you house-related expenses. If you are in violation of your state’s licensing rules, you cannot deduct house-related expenses, but you can deduct all other expenses: food, toys, supplies, mileage, etc.

Question: Is the w-10 the form we give parents with the total year payments to us providers?

Tom Copeland: You can use Form W-10 as a record of parent payments, but you will have to enter the amount the parent paid you on the top of the form, because the form itself does not leave a space for this amount. You don’t have to use the W-10. You can give the parent a receipt on any piece of paper.

Question: My home daycare is starting this year, actually any day now. But I spent money for it last year, toys, supplies…etc. Can I carry over last year’s expenses for this year’s taxes?

Tom Copeland: Yes. Expenses incurred before your business began can be deducted in the year your business begins.

Question: It is just my husband and I that live in our home and then the daycare. What percentage do I deduct from my grocery bill; I have not separated what I spent. I use the food for both although some things are used only for daycare.

Tom Copeland: You can use the standard meal allowance rule to claim food expenses. Using this method, you don’t need any food receipts. Instead, add up all the meals and snacks you served (including any you were reimbursed by the food program) and multiply by $1.19 breakfast, $2.22 lunch/supper and $.66 snack. The second way you can calculate your food expense is by saving receipts and estimating the actual amount you spent on food for the day care children. There is no specific percentage of your total food bill you can use, because every provider’s food spending habits are different. Most providers use the standard meal allowance rule because it is much simpler.

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Have you ever wondered what other child care providers do regarding paid and unpaid holidays?  Which holidays should daycare providers get paid for? Should families pay when they take time off? We asked our OwnADaycare fans on Facebook how they handle vacation and sick time.  If you’re creating your daycare handbook, this might help you write your section on selecting paid and unpaid holidays or vacation as well as sick days.

• I get 2 weeks paid vacation, 10 paid sick days (rarely use), parents get 1 unpaid vacation week but pay me for any other vacation time they may take. I also take major holidays off paid
• I take off last week of the year with pay. When I’m on vacation my assistants are here so the daycare is open and payment is expected. I get paid for all holidays. It’s in my parent/provider agreement. So I would definitely say you have some changing to do.
• My contract states that I get paid for the major holidays and the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day that I take off, all other time is unpaid. My parents get one week vacation free, the second week they pay me half of the amount they agreed to in the contract, any other time they pay full rate.
• I have a 25 hour minimum for full time kids, so if they go on vacation for the week, they still pay me for 25 hours. If they are sick that week, if they fall below the 25 hour minimum, I will get paid that (some guaranteed income) If I am on vacation, the minimum does not apply. I am also paid for all major holidays
• I don’t get paid for my Christmas (1 week paid, 1 week unpaid) and Spring breaks off, but my families pay the same tuition every month based on 50 weeks of care per year so it’s like I get paid. Plus the major holidays are off and paid.
• I didn’t charge for my days off the first 5 years in business, but now I feel like I have earned paid benefits just as anyone else who works the same job for so many years. I take all major holidays, 6 personal/sick days, and 7 days of vacation ALL PAID per year.
• I get paid for all time a child is enrolled in my childcare. My vacation, their vacation, sick time, and holidays. It is in my contract and is explained at the interview. I take 1 week at Christmas, 1 week in August, Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving, Friday and Monday for Easter and I think 4 other holidays and have 7 sick days if needed but rarely taken if sick usually have a sub
• I get 1 week of vacation unpaid (which I rarely use), 1 week vacation paid for,  5 paid  personal days, 4 paid  sick days, 1 paid court day, 3 paid days per death in the family. My paid holidays are as following: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Presidents day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day and day after, Dec. 24-26, and New Year’s Eve. Parents pay me if they go on vacation.
• I get paid for the list of holidays that I give the parents at the beginning of each year. I also recently added 5 paid personal or sick days to my contract. My parents pay when they take vacation during the first year, after that they get one week per year of unpaid vacation.
• I get 3 weeks paid vacation, 5 paid personal/sick days (rarely taken) and all major holiday are paid. I get paid for my clients’ vacations, also. If your child is enrolled in my care I get paid no matter what.
• In my contract, I have 11 paid holidays, 5 paid sick days (which I don’t usually take), 7 paid personal days and 2 paid weeks. I have never had a parent complain to me. I generally give notice of my time off at least 60 days in advance unless I need to take off for something that can’t be helped. I make sure I tell my families when I interview that they need to have alternate arrangements for my time off.
• I get paid for all major holidays and I also take 5 personal/professionalism days off with pay. I do not charge if I take an extra week for my vacation but I do expect them to pay for theirs as I am holding the spot.
• I have more than just state holidays. I take 12 and they do pay as I don’t take paid vacation. No complaints from parents
• I take 4 weeks off per year. My annual January vacation is paid by the parents. The rest goes unpaid. When the families take their time off, I am still paid.
• I require that they pay whether their child is here or not. If they balk at paying for my vacations, I charge them an extra $5 per week to cover my vacation. This is a business/job and they get paid holidays and vacations, why shouldn’t we?
• In my contract I state tuition is based on spots reserved but days attended. 1/2 tuition is paid when children are out of care. Full tuition is due when I am closed for the 1 week off. My days off per year are about 20 (including the week off) and out of that, I don’t get paid for 4 of those days.
• I take in consideration, for an extended period of time (such as vacation), parents are going to have to find and pay someone else to watch their child while I take time off so I don’t charge. I do have it in contract that I am entitled to 8 non-consecutive days off a year for personal or sick days, paid. However, when it is their requested time off or sick day, I do charge. I charge by salary and take major holidays off, so they are only charged for a holiday that falls during a week day that I typically do care.
• I take 2 weeks of paid vacation and also give the parents 2 weeks of vacation (unpaid). They can choose to take the vacation when I do (and not pay) or they can take vacation a different time and pay me for my 2 weeks. One of my weeks is the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The other is in the summer. I also have 5 paid sick days. If for some reason I need more than that it would be unpaid. I also close for major holidays and I take a long weekend for Thanksgiving. These are all paid. I have it all stated clearly (exact holidays are stated in that) and I make sure to explain it at my “paperwork meeting” before the children start at my daycare.
• I take off all stats and the week between Christmas and New Year’s, and this is all paid. Parents pay a flat monthly rate based on how many days a week they want, they pay whether or not they attend, this includes holidays and if their child is sick. The only time I refund money is when I close because my kids or I am sick (The parents that pay the daycare fee’s out of their own pocket get the money back, if the fees are paid for by the government the parent doesn’t get a refund, just clarifying that because I had it come up with a parent).  As for any additional time off, I take a few days here and there (with tons of notice!) I don’t charge parents for those days either.
• I have paid holidays but not paid vacation. I take up to 2 weeks of vacation. I give my families a few free days where they don’t have to pay for vacation, but after that they pay. If I am sick and have to take a day off after they have already paid, I give them a credit for the following week.

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Each daycare business has its own individual enrollment procedures. All daycare providers , however, should require standard childcare enrollment forms in order to protect the children in their care as well as their daycare employees. A child information form is one such daycare form.  It is something to add to the child’s file that will not only help protect you (in some cases), but it will also help you provide better care for the child.  Here are some things you might want to include on a basic child information form:

Basic Information
Always include the child’s name, date of birth, age, sex, height, and weight

Chronic Illnesses
Does the child have any chronic illness or allergies such as asthma, hay fever, insect bites, medication allergies, or food allergies? You will also want to find out if the child receives any medications on a regular basis.

Toilet Training
Create space on the form to ask if the child is potty trained. Also find out what words the child uses for toilet.

Child’s Favorites
Inquire about the child’s favorite toys, activities, and foods and any other favorites the child may have. This may come in handy during birthdays and other celebrations.

Behavior
On the child information form ask the parent to briefly describe the child’s behavior. Ask the parent to describe what makes the child mad or upset. Find out how the child shows his feelings.  Ask the parent their best way of handling the child. And most importantly, find out how the parent disciplines the child.

Special Needs
Create a section on the form that pertains to special needs. For instance, ask if the child as any disorders or developmental issues, whether they are diagnosed or suspected?  Then, ask the parent to list any special needs that they child may have.  You may want to find out if the parent anticipates that the child may have any problems adjusting to daycare.

Nap Time
Use this section of the child information form to find out about the child’s nap time habits. You may want to ask: “Has your child been taking an afternoon nap? If so, how long? If not, why no nap?” Find out if the child has a special toy or blanket for nap time?

Previous Daycare
It is important to find out about the parent and child’s experience in previous daycare setting. It is perfectly find to ask for the name of previous daycare provider or child center, if any. It is also perfectly within reason to ask for the reason the family left their previous daycare setting. This may help you make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to enroll the family.

Comments
Always leave a section that allows the parent to write any comments they may have, as well as requests or further information that they would like to provide.

Signatures
At the bottom of the form leave space for signatures. Include the statement: “By signing below, you agree that this is a legally binding form.  Providing false information could result in termination of childcare services, forfeiture of childcare retainer, or both.” Leave a space for the mother, father, and/or guardian to sign and date the information form.  In addition, leave a space for your own dated signature.

For free printable daycare business forms please navigate over to Supporting Providers.

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The business of daycare is thriving and lucrative. So you’re confident that setting up a daycare business is for you but where do you start? The first steps toward starting up a profitable day care center include the following:

Business Plan: The first order of business should be to create a simple business plan.  The business plan is one of the most important components of setting up a daycare business. It explains the mission of your daycare business, the goals of the daycare business, and details the actions you will take to meet those goals. A basic business plan for a daycare should include an introduction, an executive summary, a company plan, a marketing plan, an operating plan, and a financial plan. It communicates your ideas very clearly to families, investors, bankers, and those managing your daycare business.

Licensing and Regulations: The best place to get information about licensing and regulations is through the Government of Canada’s Canada Business Center website. In Canada, The Child Day Care Division licenses child care facilities in order to help protect the health, safety, and well being of children. Licensing varies by province. In Toronto, all daycare centers must be licensed by the Ministry under the Day Nurseries Act. In addition, the Toronto Operating Criteria is a tool used to evaluate the city’s expectations of quality for child care programs.

Overhead, Start up, Grants and Fundraising: In-home daycare businesses are easier to set up than daycare centers, and have lower overhead. An in-home daycare center has very little overhead compared to a daycare center. The main expenses for starting an in-home child care center are licensing, insurance, advertising, and food. The costs to get started can be expensive,  depending on whether you purchase an established center, are renting or leasing a building, or buying a building for the center.

There are a variety of funding options available for daycare businesses such as grants and subsidies. The Canadian government sometimes offers grants to prepare or renovate existing space to be used as a daycare center. This is where the business plan can also be helpful in the daycare grant process because it demonstrates why your daycare center qualifies for the grant above others.  There are also government food programs which may offset food costs. In addition, with a little creativity, there is no limit to the variety of fundraising events your daycare business can hold.

Staffing: As you create your daycare business, you will have to hire staff based upon the required adult –child ratio and these regulations vary from one province or territory to the next.  When hiring staff you want to make sure that they have the proper educational background and experience.  In addition, you want to make sure that the applicant is loving and nurturing as well as passionate about providing the best quality day care experience for the children in his or her care. Depending on the size of your daycare center, you may need to staff an administrator (usually the owner of the center) a director, teachers, teacher assistants, an office clerk, a cook, and a driver.

Accounting: A big part of owning a daycare business is keeping track of financial information. The best way to do this is through daycare software that keeps track of accounts receivable and manages billing. Today’s childcare software is advanced but user friendly, helping your daycare business become more efficient and increasing payment collection. Many daycare software businesses offer free downloads so that you can evaluate it first and find the software works best with your business.

This should give you a good jumpstart to creating your daycare business.  The next steps would be creating programs and curriculum, establishing rates, fees and contracts, setting a daily schedule, and interviewing potential clients.

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As daycare providers we deal with a variety of clients and each client has different careers and responsibilities. Many daycare providers struggle with having teachers as clients because they have breaks (like summer vacation) and then you must figure out what to charge them, if anything, for the break. Also you must decide whether or not to hold a spot for their child until the child is able to return.  We asked the OwnADaycare on Facebook members, how they handle this situation. Our members who are also daycare owners responded to provide their suggestions:

• My clients who teach pay straight through from September through June. They have the ten weeks off during the summer, so during the school year all times off must be paid for.
• It is the same for everyone. I give them vacation time they can take. They have 10 days that they don’t have to pay for.
• I ask them to pay 50% of their rate during that time. I only do this for the summer though. They pay full rate during school year no matter what breaks/time off they have. I also do not give them any vacation time because of the reduction in rate during the summer. Whereas my other full time families get 5 days of vacation to use throughout the year. I think that’s fair.
• My contract with teachers is that they pay full-time during the school year. Holidays and school-closed days are still paid. If they want to hold their spot over the summer, I try to fill their spot with a school child just for the summer. If I can’t fill their spot, they need to pay half-price to hold it. Otherwise it goes to a new full-time child.
• I allow for one unpaid week each year. Usually they don’t pay Christmas vacation but do all others. For summer I will hold spot with a pre pay of 1 month. so basically they pay in maybe for August to September.
• I always offer an option of ‘pay only when you come’ or a less expensive ‘pay whether you come or not weekly rate’. You should stick to your contract. You don’t get to not pay your gym if you don’t go. My neighbor pays her daycare provider 2 weeks of paid vacation a year every summer.
• I allow mine a fixed part time rate in the summer months only. If they choose not to pay it, then they may lose their spot. I will not hold a spot longer than 1 week without payment.
• I currently don’t have any daycare parents who are teachers, but this is what I would do if I had some, I would just have them pay one day a week, just to keep their spot. They can bring their child that day or not but as long as they pay for 1 day, I’ll keep their spot open. If they want to bring their kid in more than 1 day a week, then I’d just charge my day rate for however many days the need that week. Then things resume as they were once school starts again.
• I have 3 school teachers in my care and they pay the weekly fee as if the children come or not to daycare. Most of them will bring their kids in at least 1-2 days during the Christmas/Easter break.
• For my teacher parents they pay for days off but if it’s a week off, they pay 1/2 of their tuition just as every other family who would take off.
• That usually involves several weeks off. To hold a spot for such long periods of time, I charge 50% of the regular weekly fee. If you decide you need to bring your child once or twice during your “off” time, you would simply pay the difference for the time he/she is in attendance.
• I charge whether they are here or not. I don’t end up with many teachers, probably b/c of this but I also don’t open up early enough for elementary school teachers.
• I have been taken advantage of from teachers. When I have been generous about the winter breaks or spring breaks and am expecting to have them throughout the summer for half rate, they do not want to pay me for my vacations or anything. So, I have somewhat changed my policies for teachers. They pay full rate during the school year, half rate in the summer and they can choose two days per week to bring their child. Same days all summer long in case I have others who need care. I also have learned to take my vacations during the school year and I don’t care if it falls on their break or not. I deserve a paid vacation.
• I charge a holding fee of $50 per week per child. They can bring their child or children during the week to use up the money if they wish. If they go over that amount they pay the difference. If they don’t bring them at all they still pay the $50. They can pay the end of each week or the start of the month.

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As a daycare owner, it is important to know what families look for when selecting a family daycare or daycare center. Your knowledge of selection criteria can help you improve your daycare. Our interview with Ann Douglas details exactly parents look for when they are selecting daycare. This information is important for both daycare providers and parents who seek daycare.

Here is part 2 of Ann Douglas’ Child Care Checklist:

Questions about staff training

Have all of the members of the staff had appropriate training in early childhood education?
Have staff members had training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), infant CPR, and first aid?
Are staff members responsible for caring for the same children on an ongoing basis, to ensure continuity of care?
Do staff members demonstrate a genuine love of children? How do they relate to the children in their care?
Do staff members appear to be capable of caring for the number and ages of children in their care?
Will any non-staff members have contact with your child (e.g. students, volunteers, etc.)? Have background checks been conducted on these individuals?

Questions about the program and center policies

What are the center’s behavior management policies?
What are the center’s policies for handling accidents and other serious occurrences?
What are the center’s policies regarding the administration of medications?
What are the center’s policies re: caring for sick children?
Does the center have a policy of only releasing children to people whom the parents have authorized, in writing, to pick them up?
How is the day structured?
Are children given a choice of age-appropriate activities?
Do children at the center appear to be secure and comfortable at the center?
Is the childcare environment (both indoors and outdoors) safe and well-maintained?
Is the facility well-ventilated, well-lit, and kept at a comfortable temperature?
Is there enough open space to allow children to move around and explore their surroundings?
Are the meals varied, nutritious, and age-appropriate?
How often are diapers changed?
Are parents encouraged to drop by the center at any time?
Are parents recognized as experts when it comes to the needs of their own children?
What policies does the center have in place to encourage ongoing communication between parents and caregivers?
How does your child react to the center?
Are other parents who use the center enthusiastic about the quality of care their children are receiving?

Ann Douglas is the author of 28 books, including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, The Mother of All Baby Books, The Mother of All Toddler Books and The Mother of All Parenting Books. Latest books are Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler and Mealtime Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler.

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As a daycare owner, it is important to know what families look for when selecting a family daycare or daycare center. Your knowledge of selection criteria can help you improve your daycare. Our interview with parenting expert Ann Douglas details exactly parents look for when they are selecting daycare. This information is important for both daycare providers and parents who seek daycare.

OwnADaycare: What are the advantages and disadvantages of family daycare?

Ann Douglas: Advantages:

• Cost. It’s less expensive than in-home (e.g. nanny) or center-based care.
• Convenience. You can often find one in your neighborhood.
• Flexibility. A family daycare may be more flexible when it comes to accommodating your family’s schedule.
• Family-centered. It’s based in a home, so it can feel more family-like; and, what’s more, it may be possible to send two or more of your children to the same family daycare. (It’s not always possible to keep siblings in the same group in a childcare center.)

Disadvantages

• Possibly no backup if your childcare provider is sick.
• High turnover rate in this profession may necessitate looking for a new childcare arrangement for your child every year or so.
• Safety/security issues. Child abuse can happen more easily because there may only be a single staff member on site.

OwnADaycare: What should a parent look for with regard to family involvement in a daycare facility?

Ann Douglas: Look for a daycare facility that encourages parents to serve on the board of directors, to become involved as volunteers, to have input into center policies, that welcomes visits from parents, etc.

OwnADaycare: What is “high quality”?
Ann Douglas: I recommend this article Tips for Evaluating Quality Child Care by Ellen Galinsky. Ellen does a great job of highlighting the key indicators of quality.

OwnADaycare: What should a parent look for with regard to licensing in a childcare facility?
Ann Douglas: This varies hugely from state to state. Parents should check with their state childcare licensing authority to find out the specifics.

Here is a Childcare checklist by Ann Douglas

Wondering what to look for when you’re evaluating a childcare center? Concerned that you won’t be able to tell the difference between a really good center and a less than stellar one? While your gut instinct will tell you a lot about the suitability of a particular childcare arrangement, it’s also important to find out as much as you can about a particular facility.

Here are some questions you’ll definitely want to ask:

Questions about the facility

What ages of children is the center licensed to accept?
Are there spaces available at the center? If not, how long is the waiting list?
How many children are enrolled at the center?
How many children are in each group?
What is the age range within each group?
What are the hours of operation?
What are the pickup and drop-off times?
Are there times of the year when the center is closed?
What fees does the center charge for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged children?
Are there any additional costs (diapers, meals, transportation, etc.)?
Is there a charge for days when your child is absent due to illness or holidays?
Is subsidized care available? If so, what are the criteria and how does a parent apply?

Ann Douglas is the author of 28 books, including The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, The Mother of All Baby Books, The Mother of All Toddler Books and The Mother of All Parenting Books. Latest books are Sleep Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler and Mealtime Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler.

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Starting a daycare is a wonderful, profitable business for stay at home moms, especially for mom’s that care for a special needs child.  Many times it can be hard to find childcare for your special needs child. Many daycare centers or family care centers are wary of accepting special needs children because it can be of the level of difficulty of the care required. Many kids suffer from behavioral issues, tantrums and other impairments and may require a disciplined setting where the care providers are trained in emergency care.

An in-home daycare business is a perfect way to be able to care for your own child in your own home and earn extra income. The most profitable daycare businesses at the moment are those that offer unique and specialized child care services that other daycare businesses don’t offer. With the current state of the economy it is extremely important to market your business as a high quality and unique business so that it stands out from others. Specialized child care services are in high demand and offering them can be extremely lucrative for your thriving daycare business.

For special needs parents, the business of daycare has a wide variety of benefits on many different levels. Your special needs child or any other special needs child that you care for will be able to learn and develop skills with other children in a natural setting with their peers. These children will feel a part of their community with their peers serving as role models. If you take in children without disabilities, this helps enhance both their learning and their parents learning. Children without special needs will learn about acceptance, diversity and cooperation.  Parents also learn because they become aware of disabilities.

Another good benefit is that there is a wealth of support for those who chose to include special needs children in their daycare. The United States Department of Education provides a great deal of information and services. There are also some tax credits and deductions available to offset some of the costs of actions or services that are required by the American Disability Act.

In general, daycare businesses are a great option for stay at home mothers because you can still care for your children in your own home. Start up costs are relative low. You’re the boss; you have complete control and autonomy. You set your own hours and rates. You will save on gas and work clothing. As well there are a number of tax breaks you receive by owning a family daycare business.  Tax breaks can be given on a percentage of the mortgage, food, and supplies and equipment like diapers, cleaning supplies, art supplies, toys, cribs, and strollers.

Consider starting an in-home daycare service for special needs children and children without disabilities. Your child care service then becomes a highly valued and indispensable resource for the families in your community.

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