childminder business plan

Starting a home-based childcare business: a step-by-step guide

With the government’s ongoing expansion of its subsidised (Free) Childcare Scheme, demand for childcare is booming across the country and that means now could be the perfect time to start your own childcare business by becoming a registered childminder. If you love being around children and are passionate about helping the next generation reach their full potential, then a career in childcare could be the one for you.

It might be easier than you think to start your own childminding business. With the right training and support, you can be up and running in as little as three months and with a £1200 grant now available your start-up costs could well be covered. If you’re interested, read on to find out more.

Benefits of starting a home-based childcare business

There has been a national decline in the number of childcare providers over the past decade, a trend the Government has become increasingly worried about. The importance of early years education has finally begun to be recognised along with the impact that a lack of childcare has on local communities and the economy.

If you have a passion for caring for children and have been thinking about a career in childminding, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge.

Perhaps the biggest tangible benefit is the potential financial rewards. You don’t need a lot of start-up capital to establish a home-based childcare business, making it an extremely viable venture. What’s more to encourage more people to enter into the childcare industry the government will provide a £1200 grant payment to anyone who becomes a childminder via a registered childminder agency

With average salaries ranging between £25,000–£35,000 per year, it’s an extremely rewarding way to achieve a better work-life balance and earn a living while helping children grow, develop and thrive.

Speaking of work-life balance, because you’ll be working from home, it means you won’t need to spend hours every week commuting to and from work or being stuck in an office somewhere. If you have children, you get to spend time with them as they grow up, while running your business and taking care of other people’s youngsters.

You get to be your own boss, so you can choose the days and hours you work to suit you and your lifestyle. You can also start up quickly. If you work with @Home Childcare, we can provide you with complete step-by-step support and training to help you set up your childcare business within two to three months, along with ongoing mentoring to help it grow. Imagine that – a rich and rewarding new career with flexibility and freedom within just three months.

Not bad, right?

Steps to start a home-based childcare business

If you want to start a home-based childcare business , you must register with either Ofsted, or an Ofsted accredited childminder agency. You need to register if you get paid to look after children under eight years old in your own home for more than two hours a day. As an Ofsted-registered childminder agency, we inspect and register you on behalf of Ofsted. However, there’s more to launching your business than simply registering. Here are the other steps you need to take to get up and running:

Childminder training

To become a registered childminder, you’ll need to complete a pre-registration training course, which will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to start and run a home-based childcare business. At @Home Childcare, we provide funded step-by-step support and training to help you become a registered childminder early educator and set up your new childcare business in two to three months. We can also help you raise your profile and find parents looking for childcare in your area. Our in-depth training covers everything you need to know about starting and running a successful childcare business, including:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) training
• Legislation and regulation
• Safeguarding and child protection
• Health and safety
• Paediatric first aid and food hygiene
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Children’s learning and development
• Observation and play
• Leading and managing an early years’ setting
• Financial and taxation requirements
• Creating a business plan specifically for childminding
• Registration requirements

To find out more about download our free guide to becoming a childminder and get all the information you need to embark on this exciting and rewarding new career.

DBS and health checks

If you’re planning to use your home to run your childcare business, you and any other adults (aged 16+) who live with you need an enhanced criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. You can apply on Ofsted’s secure DBS Application Portal .

If you’re applying to the Early Years Register, you’ll also need to complete a health declaration form and get your GP to sign it.

Getting inspected

Once you have registered, you’ll need to undergo an inspection either by Ofsted (which can take up to 30 months after registering) or by an accredited childminder agency, like @Home Childcare (which can be done within two to three months). This is to ensure your home is safe and suitable, that you’ve done the relevant risk assessments, and provide childcare to the required standards.

Ongoing Ofsted inspections should happen at least once every six years. However, at @Home Childcare, as well as providing ongoing support and training, we inspect all our registered childminders annually to ensure their service provision is of the highest possible quality.

Complete the legal paperwork

Once you’ve passed your inspection, you’re almost ready to launch your business. However, the final step is to ensure you’ve completed the correct paperwork to meet your legal responsibilities. This includes registering as self-employed with HMRC to ensure you pay the correct Income Tax and National Insurance. Remember, it’s your legal responsibility to keep accurate financial records and file your self-assessment each year, so make sure you receive professional advice if you’re unsure of what you need to do here.

You’ll also need to get the right insurance in place to protect yourself and your business before you start childminding. This includes sufficient public liability insurance, as well as ensuring your home and contents – and even your car insurance – covers you for what you need. And if you’re processing personal data electronically, either of your customers or staff, you’ll need to register with the Information Commissioner’s Office and adhere to GDPR and the Data Protection Act.

Start your childminding business

While the above steps will help you on your way to starting a new career as a childminder, there are many more things to consider. After all, you’ll need to run it as a professional business, which comes with everything that entails. However, it’s also a career with freedom and flexibility, so you can fit your job around your lifestyle and build the business your way. At @Home Childcare, we’ve helped hundreds of people register as self-employed childminders and get their childcare journey off to the best possible start. To find out how we can help you do the same, get in touch today .

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CHILDMINDING BUSINESS PLAN: Tips on How To Write a Childminding Business Plan

• by Folakemi Adegbaju
• August 10, 2023
• No comments
• 9 minute read

Table of Contents Hide

How to start a childminding business, how to write a business plan for childminding, why do i need to write a childminding business plan, final thoughts, how much does a childminder charge per hour uk, do childminders pay tax, can i be a childminder if i have a dog.

Turning a hobby or interest into a business is one of the simplest ways to launch a successful business. This is why starting a childminding business might be the ideal opportunity for you if you love working with kids. Before you continue, it’s important to clarify that childminding is more than just being paid to babysit. Childminding is a specialised service that the UK government has strictly regulated. Being a childminder is also a tremendously rewarding career choice, but having a childminding business plan makes it easier to run the business successfully in the UK. Knowing how to write a business plan for childminding is important. We added tips and a template for a childminding business plan to this article.

You can’t wait to read through it, right?

Let’s dive in!

What Is a Childminding Business?

A trained caregiver who watches one or more children under the age of eight for longer than two hours each day in exchange for remuneration is referred to as a childminder by the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY). Childminders frequently have temporary contracts that allow for flexible scheduling, and the majority of childminders are able to work from their homes.

Knowing how to take care of kids is not enough when starting a childminding business, you need to know the steps to take when you’re about to start one! We have a list of steps you can follow below to get a profitable result:

#1. Premises To Host Children

You will need a home or apartment with enough space to accommodate and care for several kids; for many childminders, a nice garden is usually a selling point. Also, it is advantageous to be close to the primary schools in the area because part of your job will likely entail dropping off and picking up older children from school.

#2. Experienced in Childcare

You will be effectively playing the role of a parent and preparing children under the age of five for school by teaching them fundamental reading, numeracy, and other skills as part of your job, so ideally you have experience caring for kids.

#3. Training and Registration

You must register as a childminder with the UK government’s Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services, and Skills in order to work as a childminder in England (Ofsted).

It’s a must that you have a pediatric first aid certificate before you can register with Ofsted in England as a childminder. Finding a pediatric first aid course offered in your area should be very simple. In fact, your local council might have its own programme. These credentials frequently only require a few days of thorough instruction to obtain.

#4. Dietary Requirements

Taking care of kids with special dietary needs could broaden your knowledge, but there are a few things you should be aware of first.

Prior to beginning to care for a child, you must learn about allergies and dietary/health requirements, in addition to adhering to the EYFS guidelines for food and drink in general. You must note and follow the information your parents or caregivers give to you on dietary requirements.

As part of your childminding business, it’s possible that you’ll serve food, so you’ll need to follow all applicable laws and rules pertaining to food safety as well as make sure you’re registered with the environmental health department.

Information about allergens in the food you offer is one such thing.

#5. Your Working Hours

The ability to establish your own hours and enjoy a relatively flexible work environment are two things that draw many individuals to childminding. However, in reality, the majority of working parents will need childcare during specific hours each day. Make sure that your working hours correspond with these times of high demand if you want to maximise the potential of your childminding business. To better serve your client’s needs, you can choose to offer more flexible hours. Offering flexible hours may occasionally be a successful marketing strategy.

Remember to schedule enough time for yourself and your family when choosing your working hours, especially if you have young children of your own.

#6. Setting Your Childminding Fees

Childminding fees are typically calculated hourly, though, in some circumstances, you may be able to negotiate a daily or even weekly rate. Even though the child is just being watched for a part of the hour, many childminders charge for an entire hour. You should probably research market rates in your area for a similar level of service before deciding on your fees. Talk to other childcare providers or parents who use childcare services.

You should also consider the following:

• Will you set a minimum fee, say for five hours per day per child?
• Will your fees change depending on the child’s age or the time of day?
• What will your fees cover? Will they include meals, diapers, playgroup visits, and other outings?
• Will there be any additional fees? Will you charge extra for overtime, late pick-up, or picking up kids from school?
• Will you require a retainer at times when a child is absent or when a new arrangement won’t begin right away?
• Will you provide discounts to parents if you care for many family members?
• Will you provide a refund if a child misses school due to a major illness?

Childminding Business Plan UK

Every successful childminding business has a solid childminding business plan in place from the beginning, and yours should too. You will think about your organizational structure, financial estimates, and many other things as you write your child-minding business plan . Knowing how to write a business plan for childminding will serve as a bonus in this new business you’ve chosen. You don’t know how to write a business plan for childminding? You don’t need to worry because we have listed below the steps you need to take to write a strong one!

Download child-minding business plan template

Knowing how to write a business plan for childminding in the UK is very important. Making it catchy and attractive is also important, and it’s important to follow the following steps to create one:

#1. Executive Summary

Describe your objectives and goals in this part, along with what you expect to accomplish. This should serve as an overview of your entire business.

#2. Company Overview

The company overview expands on the executive summary to provide more information about your plans. This is your chance to share the motivation for beginning a nursery business. To sell yourself and your vision, mention your drive, expertise, and qualifications. If you’ve never had a business before, visualise yourself as a prosperous businessperson and tap into the confidence that will result from it. Include a vision statement to make your goals for success crystal clear. What do you hope to accomplish in the upcoming five years? How will you achieve those objectives?

#3. Services

Even though it might seem obvious, you must list all the services you will provide. Consider carefully the following, as each childcare provider will have a slightly different offering:

• How accommodating are your hours?
• Specify your lower and upper age limits in the age provision.
• How many kids will be in each class? What are the ratios? And how many employees?
• Are there any parks, museums, or libraries near your property?
• Will you offer services from outside providers, such as swimming lessons or language classes, as part of your activities?

Remember that you can emphasise your future development ambitions if you can’t immediately fulfill everything on your wish list.

#4. Market Analysis

Now is the time to define your market, making sure to analyse both your target market and your competitors. You’ll be able to begin to form an image of the types of individuals who will be your clients, the price you’ll charge, and the specifics of your child-minding business plan.

#5. Marketing Plan

A significant portion of your business plan will be your marketing plan. A plan for promoting your nursery before its anticipated launch date should be at its core. You need to go all out, using both conventional strategies like posting banners outside the building and distributing flyers to neighbourhood infant and toddler organisations, as well as fully embracing a social media campaign.

Visits to the nursery are also invaluable. Parents will want to visit your facilities and meet your personnel because they want to feel comfortable leaving their children with you. This will build trust. This is your chance to highlight your facilities and discuss your unique approach to childcare, whether you host an open day or invite potential customers in on a regular business day.

Parents who like your services will then tell their friends and relatives about you, offering you free publicity that can quickly result in customers. Once you’re up and running, you’ll need to continue drawing customers as kids get older. Use this never-ending marketing work as additional motivation to deliver exceptional service and standards, because your reputation will speak loudly here.

#6. Location

The location of your business is crucial to your plan, and there are several things to take into account, including its size, location, and compliance with any applicable property laws. Many structures have limitations on the number of people who are permitted to enter them, as well as guidelines governing whether you are able to operate a company from them. Describe your plans in this part, being careful to mention any necessary ancillary charges.

The following are important when searching for a location for your childminding business:

• transport connections to make pick up and drop off as convenient as possible.
• is there sufficient car parking and outdoor space

#7. Premises

Decide how many children you would ideally like to serve before you begin looking for a location. This will have an effect on the size of the property you need, the number of employees, and the cost.

According to government requirements, you must allot a specific amount of space for each child. Based on them, carefully calculate your requirements and take future expansion plans into account. The last thing you want is to become extremely popular with the parents in the area and run into capacity concerns before you’re prepared and financially stable enough to move or extend.

#8. Organization and Management Team

Your product, location, and target market are all in place. You must now specify if you plan to hire employees and how you’ll manage your company. This might address both the early stages and how you envision your company developing over time and adding people as it expands.

 #9. Finances

A strong childminding business plan in the UK should be packed with helpful information that will both direct you and reassure potential investors that you have done your homework and are a sure thing. A profit and loss prediction, a cash flow forecast for the first three years, and a thorough start-up budget should be included as a minimum. The equipment needed to start a nursery will range from furniture to toys and books to outdoor playthings to computers and tablets to first aid supplies and promotional materials.

Your largest continuous cost will be employee pay, which makes up 73 percent of all expenses for private day nurseries. Some of these may need to be changed on a regular basis. Rent or mortgage payments, training expenses, and utility bills will all significantly reduce your profit.

Then describe your income stream based on predicted fees and estimated numbers. Consider adding a Direct Debit option for parents to pay their monthly dues in order to avoid cash flow issues. They will experience less inconvenience, and you will have more assurance because you will know exactly when and how much money will be deposited into your business account.

When starting a childminding business in the UK, it is crucial to have a solid plan. As you move through the setup process in the childminding business, it will guide your decisions. Do you require outside funding? Do you require legal guidance from a professional? Or do you know where to look and how to entice the parents of prospective classmates? You’ll be stumbling in the dark without a business plan. You won’t be taken seriously by potential investors either. Get it right away and prepare for the journey ahead. You’ll gain an accredited qualification, and be coached through the entire process by our experts .

Our childminding business plan template will give your investors a good reason to invest in your new business in the UK. It also lays out the structure of your childminding business and how profitable it will be in the near future because you have it all planned out! Confused about how to write one for your childminding business? You do not need to be confused because we have a child-minding business plan compiled for you at a very good rate!

For each service, the average hourly price in the UK is £9.81 for nannies, £8.32 for babysitters, £4.89 for childminding, and £5.60 for daycare facilities. You may enter your postcode into the website’s online tool to compare the price you’re paying to the national average.

Parents pay childminders to watch their children, frequently while the parents are at work, and they do the work in their own houses. Although certain infrequent childminders’ gains may be charged as miscellaneous income, profits from childminding are often subject to income tax as trade profits.

To ensure that they do not prevent you from functioning as a childminder, there are several things you can do to keep kids and animals safe. But you do need to consider everything, and if you have a pet, you need to have safety precautions in place, especially if that pet is known to be harmful to children.

Parents pay childminders to watch their children, frequently while the parents are at work, and they do the work in their own houses. Although certain infrequent childminders' gains may be charged as miscellaneous income, profits from childminding are often subject to income tax as trade profits.

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• Parenting, childcare and children's services
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Becoming a childminder and running your business

Find out how to register with Ofsted as a childminder, and what you will need to tell us about.

This guidance is for Ofsted-registered childminders or those applying to register with Ofsted. For guidance on registering with a childminder agency, or what you need to do if you are already with an agency, contact the agency directly.

Start working as a childminder

If you want to look after other people’s children in your home or someone else’s home, you must register either with Ofsted or a childminder agency .

• Become a childminder or nanny (England)
• 27 February 2024

Running a childminder business

As an Ofsted-registered childminder, you must report to Ofsted any significant events affecting your childcare within 14 days.

• 19 August 2022
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Requirements

If you are registered on the Early Years register, you must meet the early years foundation stage framework standards. If you are registered on the Childcare Register you must meet either or both of the voluntary or compulsory Childcare Register requirements, depending on your registration.

If you are registered on both registers, you will need to meet each set of requirements.

• 19 January 2024
• Statutory guidance
• 24 October 2022
• 9 August 2022

Inspections

• Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider

Changes to your childminder business

If you are registered with Ofsted, you must tell Ofsted within 14 days about new people aged 16 or over who:

• live in the home where you look after children
• work in the home where you look after children

This includes children who turn 16.

You must also tell Ofsted within 14 days about anyone aged 16 or over who leaves the home where you look after children.

• 17 January 2023
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If you are registered with Ofsted you will need to pay an annual registration fee.

• 27 May 2020
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Rapid Formations Blog

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The rapid guide to starting a childminding business.

Table of Contents

One of the easiest ways to establish a successful company is to transform something you’re already passionate about into a business. That’s why, if you’re passionate about working with children, starting a childminding business could be a perfect opportunity for you.

Before you get started, it’s worth pointing out that childminding isn’t just getting paid to babysit. Childminding is a professional service that is highly regulated by the UK Government. That being said, it’s a fantastic option for business-minded individuals who love children, want to work part-time and are willing to commit to setting up a dedicated business.

A childminder is defined by the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) as a trained carer who looks after one or more children under the age of eight for more than two hours per day in exchange for payment. Childminders often enjoy flexible working with short-term contracts – and most childminders are able to work from home.

Becoming a childminder can be an incredibly fulfilling business opportunity – but there’s also quite a lot of preparation involved in setting up a childminding business. That’s why we’ve developed this Rapid guide to help get you started:

Training and registration

• Setting up shop

Rules and regulations

In order to become a childminder in England, you will need to register as a childminder with the UK Government’s Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted).

There are different rules for  Scotland ,  Wales  and  Northern Ireland .

Before you’re allowed to register as a childminder in England with Ofsted, you will first need to get a paediatric first aid certificate. It should be fairly simple to find a paediatric first-aid course on offer in your local area. In fact, your local council may offer their own scheme. These certificates often require just a few days of comprehensive training to gain your certificate.

Next, you’ll be expected to complete a childminder training course – sometimes referred to as a CYPOP5 in Wales – that is approved by your local authority. If you get in touch with your council, they’ll usually be able to provide you with a list of suitable courses.

Again, a lot of councils run their own courses. If your council does not operate its own course, industry body PACEY runs a range of nationwide courses that are approved by most local authorities. After you’ve achieved course completion, it’s time to join the Ofsted register. This is normally the longest and most difficult aspect of the registration process. You absolutely must register with Ofsted if you’d like to be a childminder in England, and there are three different registers you can or should apply for:

The Early Years Register

This is for childminders looking after children aged five and under.

The Childcare Register

This is for childminders looking after children aged five to seven only.

The Voluntary Childcare Register

This is for childminders looking after children eight years and over, and is not a statutory requirement.

Again, you may want to register as more than one type of provider to diversify your business options. For example, you will need to register as both a childminder and a childcarer if you work with three or more other childminders or assistants on some days.

It’s also worth pointing out that to apply, you must have the right to work in the UK, must be 18 years or older and must undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)  check. If you’re applying for the Early Years Register, you’ll also need to fill in the  ‘Health declaration booklet’ .

You can register as an individual or as an  organisation – and if you are caught offering this service without being registered, you could face an unlimited fine, be sent to prison or both.

Registering usually takes up to 12 weeks if you’re applying to become a childminder or a home childcarer, and 25 weeks for a childcare provider on domestic or non-domestic premises.

After you submit your application to join the register, Ofsted will:

• Check all of your references.
• Review any checks with your doctor, your local council and DBS.
• Check on anyone else may be living or working at the premises where you will be caring for children.

You can also normally expect to be interviewed by an official from Ofsted, and they may want to inspect your premises as part of what’s called a ‘registration visit’.

You’ll only be asked to accommodate a registration visit from Ofsted if you have applied to join the Early Years Register. These inspections see an Ofsted inspector visit your home or premises to ensure it’s suitable for childcare. They’ll also probably ask you about your plans for child development and learning.

If your application is approved, you’ll get a certificate of registration, and details about your new registration will be published online . If you’re registering as a childminder operating on domestic premises, you can ask for your address to remain unpublished online.

Before you get started, you’ll also need to get childminder insurance. There are several major providers available, including PACEY, Independent Child Minders and Morton Michael.

To protect your personal finances in launching this business, you may also want to register your business as a limited company . By forming a limited by shares company, your business will become its own distinct entity in the eyes of the law. That means you’ll be granted what’s called ‘limited liability’, and you will only be liable for company debts up to the value of your shares.

For more information on limited companies and why you may want to consider setting one up for your childminding business, consult our blog .

After that, you’re ready to set up shop and start hosting kids as part of your new childminding business.

Setting Up Shop

Although childminding can be a very affordable business to set up from home, there are some start-up costs you should anticipate.

First and foremost, you should budget in enough start-up money to cover the costs of the registration and training processes we’ve already covered.

• Ofsted registration will cost between £35 and £104, depending upon which registers you decide to join.
• A DBS check for every person over the age of 16 who lives or works in your home costs approximately £52 per person.
• A full paediatric first aid course will normally cost around £100.
• Introductory childminding training that is approved by your local authority will typically cost around £100.
• Public liability insurance usually comes in at around £60.
• You will need car or home insurance to cover costs when transporting or hosting children.

You’ll also need to invest in functional safety equipment. This includes fire detection and control equipment, as well as first aid kits.

Next, you’ll need to invest in toys and learning equipment. Likewise, you’ll need to be sure you have access to age-specific equipment you may need throughout the course of your day-to-day operations. For example, a travel cot for young children to nap, a buggy or stroller for taking them out or highchairs for serving meals.

In addition, you may need to carry out home improvements to ensure your property and garden are safe for childcare responsibilities. Some of these improvements may have been highlighted over the course of your Ofsted home inspection, and could include things like repairing existing fencing, installing child gates within your home or adding childproof locks to cupboards.

An additional start-up cost you may end up incurring is the purchase of childminding resources that can assist in helping you to engage and stimulate young minds. Likewise, you may also want to purchase policy templates or procedures you can implement across your business. Purchasing these will save you time and money, and will also give parents peace of mind that you have professional policies in place for every scenario.

At the end of the day, what you spend setting up your business will depend entirely upon your individual circumstances and your own vision of how you’d like to watch your new business develop.

As previously outlined, childminding is a highly regulated industry – and it’s obvious why. Although it can be a fun and rewarding career, becoming a childminder means you are responsible for the safety and well-being of young children. That’s an incredibly important responsibility, and so you will need to fulfil a range of regulatory and care requirements to ensure officials and parents are comfortable with the service you’re providing.

First and foremost, the UK Government oversees rules on how many children you’re allowed to watch.

The legal limit for a registered childminder is six children under the age of eight. Of those six children, no more than three of them can be between birth and the age of five – and you will normally only be allowed to look after one baby under the age of one at any given time.

If you are looking after children aged between four and five years old, and you are only caring for them before or after school, you can care for them at the same time as three other, younger children.

As a childminder, you are also going to be expected to track the development of any children under the age of five that you are caring for under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). EYFS is more or less just a pre-school curriculum that you are meant to use to guide the teaching and development of toddlers who are under your charge.

In terms of regulatory administration, you must also ensure that absolutely all of your details are constantly up-to-date with Ofsted.

You’ll be expected to update the register using Ofsted Online  if you or your business experience any of the following changes:

• Your premises.
• Your contact details.
• Details of other staff or adults living on the premises.
• Childcare hours.
• The registered person or nominated individual if you have registered as an organisation.

In addition to changes, you must also use Ofsted’s early years incident online form  in order to report:

• Any allegations that someone who is living, working or looking after children on the premises has committed serious harm or any form of abuse.
• Anything details that could impact upon the suitability of someone on the premises to look after children of any age.
• A serious accident, injury or illness to a child.

If you’d like to work on new premises – including a non-domestic premises – you will need to  apply for approval . Your application will be approved or refused in the same way as your original registration, so you should be prepared for this to take some time. If you are a childcare provider working on more than one premises, you must get approval for each premises you would like to provide childcare services on.

Once you’ve completed your initial regulatory requirements, set up shop and are ready to start providing childcare services, you’ll have a whole lot of new ideas and strategies to think about in further developing your business.

To try and help you get going, here three top tips that you cannot afford to ignore as a new childminder:

Sign up as a tax-free childcare provider

If you’re an approved childcare provider, you will be able to register to receive payments from parents who have opted to use the Tax-Free Childcare  scheme. This scheme enables parents to pay for childcare provision on a tax-free basis – and so chances are your customers will want to use it to pay for your childminding services.

You  sign up  online in as little as 10 minutes. All you need is a user ID from an invitation letter you should have automatically received upon your registration approval, your bank account details, your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) if you’re registered for Self Assessment and your National Insurance number.

Develop business policies

To comply with EYFS guidelines, your childminding business will need to have policies and procedures in place. They don’t all need to be written – although if you are registered to care for children aged between five and eight, it will be compulsory for you to have a Safeguarding Children Policy and Complaints Procedure in writing.

That said, producing a range of procedures, strategies and policies for parents will help to build your business reputation. These policies will demonstrate to parents and officials that you are professional, you are committed to child health and safety and you’ve thought of every scenario to ensure a smooth and successful delivery of service.

Be prepared for every situation

One of the best ways to start your business out on the right foot is to ensure you’re fully prepared for any possible situation your day-to-day work as a childminder could possibly throw at you.

From a strategic level, that means investing in care equipment that you may not need in the here and now. For example, you might want to consider obtaining equipment or particular toys and resources for children living with disability. On a more day-to-day level, being prepared could simply be a matter of ensuring you have at least one change of clothes for a child of any age or gender – just in case mum and dad forget.

By showing parents you are fully prepared for any scenario or any type of child, you’ll be illustrating the professionalism and commitment to excellence that will ultimately ensure your business success.

Any questions?

So, we’ve given you all of the basics you’ll need to get registered, observe regulatory guidelines and set up shop on the right foot as a childminder. But this list is by no means exhaustive. As a new childminder and a new business owner, you’ll have lots of thoughts and lots of questions about getting started or trying to further develop your business – and we’re always happy to help.

If you have any questions, our knowledgeable team members are always on stand-by to offer you assistance. Simply get in touch by tweeting us at our Twitter handle @RapidUKOfficial  and via our  Facebook Page .

Author:  Graeme Donnelly

Graeme Donnelly, the Founder and CEO of Rapid Formations, has over 30 years’ experience of creating and running successful businesses. He is devoted to helping fellow entrepreneurs and startup businesses and spends much of his time creating business to business products and services for new and established companies. In his free time, he enjoys competitive cycling, photography, and walking his Chow Chow.

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HELPING SMALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED

MORE DONUTS:

What do you need to know about starting a business?

• Start up business ideas
• Set up a business
• Skills and wellbeing
• Business planning
• Financing a business
• Tax and National Insurance
• Business law
• Sales and marketing
• Business premises
• Business IT
• Grow your business
• Types of business
• Testing business ideas
• Product development
• Is running a business really for you?
• Start up stories
• Registering as a sole trader
• Setting up a limited company
• Business names
• Buy a franchise
• Buying a business
• Starting an online business
• Setting up a social enterprise
• Small business support

Protect your wellbeing from the pressures of starting and running a business and develop key business skills.

• Dealing with stress
• Manage your time
• Self-confidence
• Write a business plan
• Business strategy
• Start up costs
• Start up funding
• Setting prices
• How to work out tax and NI
• Accounting and bookkeeping
• Licences and registration
• Protecting intellectual property
• Insurance for business
• Workplace health, safety and environmental rules
• Looking after your customers
• Promote your business
• Your marketing strategy
• Sales techniques
• Research your market
• Creating and optimising a website
• Commercial premises
• Premises security
• People management
• Recruitment, contracts, discipline and grievance
• Employment rights
• Hiring employees
• Buying IT for your new business
• Basic IT security
• Preparing for business growth
• How to scale up your business
• Funding business growth
• Start exporting
• Personal development

How to start up a childminding business

Childminders care for young children in their own homes and there are strict rules covering the number of children they're allowed to look after. Read our in-depth practical guide to starting up and running your own childminding business.

Research the childminding market

Your working hours.

• Setting your fees

How many children can you look after?

Promote your childminding business, childminding networks, finding out about your clients.

To help you to set your charges and estimate the level of demand for your services, it makes sense to find out as much as possible about families with young children in the local community. For example:

• is it a 'young' area with lots of young families, or are the majority of local people older
• are local people affluent
• what types of families are there in your area? For example, are there many families with two working parents, single parent families and so on
• what is the ethnic background of the local community

If possible, talk to local parents about their childcare needs. If you are a parent yourself you might have the opportunity to do this when you collect your own children from school or nursery, attend school events and so on. Give some thought as well to the different specialist services you could offer, like specialising in minding disabled children or providing care at unusual times of the day. There might be a lack of childcare available for older children after school. Childminders are now able to work up to half of their time in non-domestic premises - for example running a small after school club in their local school premises.

Think too about the geographical nature of the surrounding area. Many of your potential clients will want to use a childminder who is located either close to their home or near to their place of work, study or other day time activity. It's very important to make sure that there are enough people living or working in your locality to make your business viable, particularly if there are already other childminders and childcare establishments in the area.

You might consider approaching large employers in your locality to find out whether they would be interested in providing subsidised childcare for their employees.

What other childminding services are there?

How well are your potential clients already served by existing businesses and other organisations? Find out as much as possible about the following in your area:

• other registered childminders
• flexible 'sitter' services and 'home childcarers' that provide childcare in the child's own home
• playgroups, nurseries, kids' clubs, out of school clubs and so on
• primary schools that accept under-fives
• subsidised crèches and nurseries run by employers, colleges, co-operatives and so on
• government-funded children's centres

Some of these will be listed on Yell.com and other similar business directories. However, many childminders are not listed and rely on local advertising and word of mouth.

What should you charge for your childminding services?

The Family and Childcare Trust publishes details of average childcare costs every year - this includes average childminder charges - but it's helpful to find out what your direct competitors are charging. Try to find out what the local 'going rate' is for different types of childcare. Both the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) and the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) can give members guidance on the fees to charge. If possible, talk to local parents about whether they are satisfied with the childcare options currently available. As well as discussing the quality of the services on offer, try to get an indication of charges. This will help you fix your own fees.

You may well find that a friendly and co-operative atmosphere exists among local childminders, some of whom might be pleased to pass on business to you if they have no vacancies themselves. In many parts of the country there are formal childminding network schemes, which put new childminders in touch with experienced colleagues who can give support, advice and information. The government expects all local authorities to set up childminding networks that follow a national model.

In a recent development, childminder agencies have been introduced. These can provide a range of services to support childminders. They can give parents who are looking for childcare details of the childminders on the agency's books.

Research current trends, plus legal and tax issues

• Sector trends for childminders
• Legal issues for childminders
• VAT rules for childminders

Many people are attracted to childminding because it offers a fairly flexible working environment and the potential to set your own working hours. However, in practice there will be certain times of each day during which the majority of working parents require childcare. If you intend to maximise the potential of your business then you will want to make sure that your working hours coincide with these periods of peak demand.

Many childminders offer childcare from about 8.00 am (sometimes earlier) to 6.00 pm between Monday and Friday. Some also work on weekends. You might, however, decide to offer more flexible hours to meet the demands of your clients. In some cases, offering flexible hours might be a good way of attracting business. Remember that a growing number of people regularly work shifts outside normal daytime office hours. Perhaps you will offer occasional overnight care if the terms of your registration permit this.

When you decide on your working hours, remember to set aside enough time for yourself and your family, particularly if you have children of your own. Similarly, decide whether or not you will work on Bank Holidays (many childminders don't) and weekends. Decide too when you will take your own holidays - don't forget to give your clients plenty of notice so they can make alternative arrangements.

Also remember that some children will be dropped off early and collected late from time to time, lengthening your working day. You might decide to make extra charges for this unscheduled overtime. Bear in mind that your working day will probably continue after the last child has left in the evening, as you will need to plan play activities for the following day, maintain your business records, tidy up play areas and attend to other cleaning tasks. You may also spend time shopping for supplies and preparing meals and snacks for the following day.

Setting your childminding fees

It is usual to charge for childminding services on an hourly basis, although in some cases you might negotiate a daily or even a weekly fee. Many childminders charge for a full hour even if the child is only being looked after for part of the hour.

When you decide on your charges you will probably want to find out what the going rate in your area is for a comparable level of service. Try talking to other childminders, or to parents who pay for childcare. Your local Family Information Service (FIS, part of the local authority) may also be able to advise you about typical rates. You can also find out more about average regional and national childminder fees from the Family and Childcare Trust Childcare Costs Survey. This is an annual survey which is available from the Family and Childcare Trust.

As a very rough guide, expect to charge somewhere between £4.00 and £5.00 per child per hour (perhaps around £6.00 in London), depending on the region you live in and the type of service that you intend to offer. Many childminders charge around £4.50 per child per hour.

What to consider when setting your fees

Think about the following when setting your charges:

• will your fees be negotiable or are they going to be 'set in stone'
• will you make a minimum charge - for example, five hours per child per day
• will your charges vary according to the age of the child or the time of day? Perhaps they will be higher for weekends and Bank Holidays, if you decide to work on these days. Fees are generally slightly higher for under-twos
• what will your charges include? For example, will they include food, nappies, visits to playgroups and other outings
• will you make any extra charges? For example, will you make a charge for overtime and late collection, or for picking up children from school
• will you charge a retainer for periods when a child is away, or when a new arrangement is not due to start immediately
• will you offer parents a discount if you look after more than one member of a family
• will you offer a rebate if a child is away because they're seriously ill

Are there any other factors that you should take into consideration when you set your charges? For example, perhaps you hold a qualification in childminding, or maybe you intend to provide a special level of service.

Remember that if you offer free places to two, three and four year olds your local authority may not reimburse you for the amount you would normally charge for these sessions.

Terms of business

Set out your charges, including any special rates and extras, in a written contract. Make it clear in the contract what you will provide as part of your fee - and what you expect the child's parents to provide. For example, it is usual for parents to supply food, milk and nappies and so on for babies.

Decide when fee payments will be due and set this out clearly in the contract. You might, for example, specify that one week's fees are payable in advance.

Your contract should also cover issues such as your working hours and days, notice required for termination and notice required for holidays (taken by both you and the child).

As a registered childminder working alone you will be permitted to look after a maximum number of children in your home at any one time. The maximum will be affected by the ages of the children. For example, at the moment the maximum numbers for childminders working in England are as follows:

• up to six children aged less than eight years, of which;
• usually no more than three children are aged less than five years, and;
• no more than one of these is aged less than one year (childminders with an appropriate level of training and experience may be permitted to look after two children aged less than one year)

Exceptions to the above limits may sometimes be made in cases where care is provided for children from the same family.

As well as the above, you are allowed to care for other children aged over eight years old. But if you do, this must not have an adverse affect on the care that you provide for younger children. You can look after a maximum of three children in the five to eight year age group. Remember that your own children count towards any maximum limit if you also care for them during your working hours.

In some cases, Ofsted might restrict the number of children that can be looked after as a condition of registration. For example, this might occur because you live in a small house. In Scotland, a similar limit might also be imposed temporarily if it is considered that you are inexperienced.

Both Wales and Scotland operate similar rules for childminders to those in England. For details of the maximum limits that apply in Scotland, contact the Scottish Childminding Association. The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) website has details of the number of children childminders can look after in England and Wales. For information about how many children you'll be able to look after if you're based in Northern Ireland, contact the early years team of your local health and social care trust. You can see contact details on the NiDirect website. You will be advised of the maximum limit in your region when you apply to register as a childminder, while your own registration certificate will outline any limits which apply specifically to you.

Of course, you may decide to set your own limit which is lower than the permitted maximum. You might, for example, want to offer a premium service where no more than, say, four children are ever in your care at one time. Or you may decide to limit the number for personal reasons.

If you employ a childminding assistant you will be able to care for more children. You could consider working in partnership with another childcare provider, like a nursery or another childminder, if you're planning to offer the new 30 hours free entitlement. You can read more about working in a partnership on the Family and Childcare Trust website.

When you estimate your income from childminding for the cash flow, remember that you may not always be working at your maximum capacity.

Think about ways in which you will advertise your services to potential clients.

The online business directory Yell.com includes a category for 'Childminders & Creches', but many registered childminders are not listed on Yell.com and advertise their services in other ways.

Some prospective clients will contact their local Family Information Service (FIS), which can supply a list of childminders in the area. Parents can contact the Family and Childcare Trust which works with the National Association of Family Information Services (NAFIS) to help parents find their local FIS. Parents might also contact a local childminders association (for example the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), which has a number of regional offices) to obtain a list of members in the area. Consider ensuring that your name is on any lists that might be available to prospective clients.

If you're part of a local childminding network you may get referrals from other members of the network. Newly introduced childminder agencies also help match parents looking for childcare with available childminders in their area.

An increasing number of people search for services such as childminding using the internet. A number of websites provide a directory of childminders. Some of these are local sites, often including those maintained by local authorities, some are regional and some national. Some will list you for free, while others will want you to pay for a listing. You could advertise childminding vacancies with the My Family Care's Emergency Childcare service if you're registered and insured by PACEY or the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) or Morton Michel. Visit the Emergency Childcare website for full details. You might consider setting up your own website to advertise your services online.

Consider other ways that you might promote your services. For example:

• advertising in a local newspaper, business directory or similar publication
• placing a card on notice-boards or in the windows of local shops, libraries, doctors' surgeries and so on
• distributing a direct mail leaflet or flyer to the homes of potential clients
• using social media like Facebook to let parents know about your childminding services - remember not to post images of the children you look after without written permission from their parents

Remember that word-of-mouth is often a key method of attracting new business. Networking with local parents will help to spread the word about your business, while recommendations from satisfied clients can be one of the best ways of attracting new business. Once your business is established, you might consider approaching some existing clients for references and testimonials that you could include in your advertising literature and on your website.

Prospective clients in England can read your last inspection report online through the Ofsted website. The Care Inspectorate website includes latest inspection reports for childminders in Scotland. Parents in Wales can get copies of childminder inspection reports from their local CSSIW office. So it's worth bearing in mind that an inspection isn't just an irritating hurdle that needs to be cleared - it's a chance to show off the quality of your services.

Once you are registered as a childminder you might consider joining a local childminding network.

A childminding network is a formal group of registered childminders who are committed to providing a high quality, professional service to parents. The network is set up and managed by a network coordinator - this person is often employed by the local authority. They visit each member of the group regularly to make sure that they are providing a quality service.

Becoming part of a network can bring a number of benefits to your business. For example:

• you'll be able to demonstrate to parents that your childminding business is run to a high standard
• your network coordinator will help you with many of the practical aspects of running your business
• you will meet other members of the group to exchange ideas and experiences
• you can let other members know if you have any vacancies - they'll be able to refer parents to you if they are unable to accept any more bookings

You can find out more about joining a childminding network from:

• the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY)
• the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA)
• the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA)

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Setting up a Childminding Business

All you need to know about starting and running your business.

In this article

What is a Childminding Business?

According to the most recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) , in the UK, 75.1% of mothers and 92.6% of fathers with dependent children are working parents. This means that the demand for childcare for both early years and older children is higher than ever.

Childminders are a popular choice for many working parents. They care for children of all ages, from young babies to teenagers.

A childminder is a professional childcare provider who looks after small groups of children, usually of different ages and from different families. To be legally classified as a childminder, you must be offering childcare for at least two hours per day.

Childminders usually operate from their home, although they may employ other staff or have other adults assisting them with their business.

Childminders offer childcare and early education in smaller groups than nurseries and other early years settings. The smaller groups allow the childminder to work more closely with each child and their parents. This can be beneficial to the child’s education, development and wellbeing.

There are two main types of childminding:

1. Early Years Childminder:

You are classed as an Early Years Childminder if you look after children from birth up to the 31st August following their fifth birthday. These childminders are often used as an alternative to nurseries and nursery schools.

2. Later Years Childminder:

A Later Years Childminder looks after children over five years of age. They are typically used as an alternative to before and after school clubs and holiday clubs. Later years childminders usually operate for fewer hours per day and may be responsible for dropping off or picking up the children from school.

It is possible to be both an early years and later years childminder if you are looking after children of a variety of ages. However, you will need to apply to be on both registers.

Some of your day-to-day responsibilities as a childminder could include:

• Supporting and facilitating the children’s learning and development.
• Engaging in outdoor and indoor play, such as creative and imaginative play.
• Encouraging physical activity and exercise.
• Ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of the children.
• Providing healthy and nutritious meals and snacks.
• Observing progress and recording the children’s development.
• Dropping off and picking up the children from schools, activities and other settings.
• Taking the children on outings, such as to the park or a farm.
• Liaising with parents, schools and other professionals.
• Keeping up-to-date and accurate records of policies, procedures, accidents, injuries, medication and other necessary information.

As well as caring for the children, a childminder is responsible for stimulating the minds of the children in their care, encouraging educational, behavioural and social learning, encouraging their creativity and social imagination, helping them to understand and manage social relationships and aiding their individual development.

A childminder’s working hours will vary, depending on the ages of the children you care for and the working hours of the parents. In order to maximise your business, you will likely want to operate during traditional working hours. Most childminding businesses open between 7 am and 8 am and close between 5 pm and 6 pm.

If you receive payment for looking after one or more children under the age of eight in England or the age of 12 in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, then you must register as a childminder.

Your registration and governing body will vary depending on which country in the UK you live in:

• England: The Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted).
• Wales: The Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
• Scotland: The Care Inspectorate.
• Northern Ireland: The Local Health and Social Care Trust.

Starting up a childminding business can be a financially and emotionally rewarding career choice. If you love children and feel you could provide a safe, high quality, fun and educational environment for them, this could be the perfect career choice for you.

Types of Customers

Location is a key factor that will influence your customer base. Parents generally choose a childminder that is close to where they live or work, to reduce their travelling time. Alternatively, they may opt for a childminder that offers drops-offs and pickups from their child’s school.

However, parents will also want to consider other factors when choosing a childminding business, such as:

Your Ofsted (or other relevant governing body) rating

Childminding businesses are inspected before they begin operating. This is known as a pre-registration inspection. Childminders are also routinely and randomly inspected once operating.

Ofsted will give you a rating of:

• Grade 1: Outstanding.
• Grade 2: Good.
• Grade 3: Requires Improvement.
• Grade 4: Inadequate.

Parents will usually opt for a childminding business that has a rating of ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’.

Your qualifications and training

Although there are no set qualifications required for childminding businesses, having qualifications and training certificates can make your business more attractive to some parents.

Your equipment and resources

Parents will look at the quantity and quality of your equipment and resources when considering you as a childminder. They will likely consider whether the equipment is age-appropriate for their child and whether it is educational, fun and safe.

Your prices

This will be a major factor in determining your customer base. Some parents may want to pay as little as possible and be looking for a budget-friendly childminder, whereas others will pay higher prices for childminders with more qualifications and additional resources.

Equipment You Will Need

When planning your equipment requirements for your childminding business, you will likely find that you already have much of the equipment you require. However, it is important to ensure any existing equipment or furniture you own is completely safe and fit for purpose.

Depending on the number of children you care for and the ages of the children, you may find that you don’t require all of the equipment on the list below. Take this into consideration when determining your equipment requirements.

Some of the equipment you may require for your childminding business includes:

Food preparation, cooking and serving equipment:

Mainly, you will be able to use your existing kitchen equipment for your business, as long as it is in good working order. There may be some other equipment you will need to purchase additionally, as you may not have it in your home. Below is a full list of food-related equipment you may require, which you can compare to your existing inventory.

• A fridge and freezer.
• An oven, grill and hob.
• A toaster, kettle and microwave.
• Pots and pans.
• Chopping boards.
• Utensils, such as knives, spatulas, ladles and whisks.
• Temperature probes.
• Cooking accessories, such as rolling pins, graters, weighing scales, colanders and sieves.
• Child-friendly plates, bowls, cups and cutlery.
• Baby bottle sterilising equipment.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as hair coverings, aprons and gloves.

You will likely use much of your existing home furniture as part of your childminding business. However, there may be some other furniture you choose to purchase for your business.

• Child-sized tables and chairs.
• Sofa coverings (to protect your sofa).
• Beanbags or other seating areas.
• Cots, beds or sleep mats.
• Baby feeding chairs.
• Blankets and pillows.

Baby equipment:

If you are looking after young babies, you will have different equipment requirements. To save you money, you could request that parents bring some equipment with them, such as their baby’s pram, bottles, dummies and favourite blankets.

However, there will be some equipment that you may be required to purchase, including:

• Bouncer chairs.
• Changing mats.
• Changing supplies, such as nappies and wipes (even if you ask parents to provide these, it is best to have spares just in case).
• Spare bibs and clothing.
• Sensory toys and equipment.
• Discovery play mats.
• Push and pull toys.
• Baby-friendly toys.

Indoor equipment:

If you have your own children, you may choose to use the toys you already have at home, as long as they are safe, appropriate and in good working order. However, having separate toys could also help you to distinguish between your home life and work life and prevent any upset from broken or damaged toys.

Some toys and other play equipment you could choose for your childminding business are:

• Art and craft supplies, such as paint, colouring pencils and crayons, paper, card, glitter, sequins, feathers, playdough, scissors and glue.
• Imaginative play and role-play toys, such as dressing up costumes, figures, animals, toy kitchens, shopping tills and dolls houses.
• Toy vehicles, such as trains and train tracks, cars, lorries and planes.
• Construction toys, such as bricks and blocks.
• Soft toys, teddy bears and puppets.
• Books appropriate for different ages.
• Jigsaws and puzzles.
• Alphabet, numbers, and word toys or activities.
• Board games and interactive games.
• Musical toys.

Outdoor equipment:

If you have a garden, having outdoor toys and games is a great way of keeping the children entertained on warm days.

The amount of equipment you purchase will depend on the size of your outdoor space, the number of children you are looking after, and your budget.

Some equipment you could choose includes:

• Play equipment such as slides and a climbing frame.
• Bicycles, tricycles, scooters and other ride-on equipment.
• A trampoline.
• Tunnels, tents or playhouses.
• Balls of different sizes.
• Sand and water play areas.
• Skipping ropes.
• Hula hoops.
• Giant chalks.

Other equipment requirements:

Some other equipment you may require for your childminding business includes:

• A fully stocked first aid kit.
• Baby proofing equipment and baby gates.
• A mobile phone and/or landline phone.
• Fire safety equipment.
• A television and music player.
• Cleaning equipment.

Typical Pricing

Although a childminding business has lower start-up and running costs than other childcare and early years settings, it is still important that you plan for all your potential costs. This allows you to plan your initial investment and predict your profits.

Some typical costs associated with a childminding business are:

Equipment will be one of your biggest expenditures, even if you have some of the equipment and resources already in your home. Depending on the amount of equipment you require and the number of children you plan to take care of, equipment costs can start from as little as £100 and go up to £10,000.

Repairing and replacing equipment

Young children can be heavy-handed or careless, and equipment or furniture may become broken or damaged frequently. Your equipment will also need to be inspected regularly to ensure it is safe to use. Any equipment that shows signs of damage or could be unsafe should be repaired or replaced. Maintenance, repair and replacement costs can vary but could start from £100 per year.

Making any necessary changes to your home

Hopefully, you will need to make minimal changes to your home and much of the work, such as removing any fragile, expensive or potentially dangerous items, can be done by you. However, you may have to hire someone to install any specialist equipment, build furniture, or baby-proof your home. Prices can start at £50, depending on the level of work you require.

If you provide food or snacks as part of your business, the costs of food and ingredients will need to be included in your budget. Plan your menus in advance and buy as much of the stock and ingredients in bulk as possible, as this can help to save money overall. The food you provide should be healthy and nutritious. Your food costs will vary, depending on how much you charge the parents. For example, if you charge £1.50 per meal, you should spend no more than £1 on ingredients.

Running costs

These are the everyday costs associated with running your business. Take into account the hikes in your electricity, gas and water bills you are likely to see because you are running your business from home. Your running costs can vary, depending on your provider and tariff and the amount you use.

Some types of coverage will be legally required. Other types of coverage are recommended to protect your business, your home and yourself.

Some insurance coverage commonly chosen by childminders includes:

• Public Liability Insurance.
• Home and Buildings Insurance.
• Temporary Suspension of Registration Cover.
• Professional Indemnity Insurance.
• Loss of Revenue.
• Legal Expenses.
• Childminder Contents.
• Personal Accident Cover.

Insurance costs can vary depending on the level of coverage you choose and your provider. Prices can start at £6.50 per month.

You may require a vehicle to take children to and from school or on trips out.

There are several costs associated with a vehicle, including:

• The costs of renting or purchasing the vehicle.
• MOTs and services.
• Vehicle tax.
• Vehicle insurance.

Branding can help you to establish your business’s identity and set you apart from any local competition. Branding could include creating your business’s visual identity, a logo, your business name and your business website. You can hire a professional to help you with branding or do some of the work yourself. Branding costs usually start at £300, depending on the level of work you require.

Marketing and advertising

Marketing and advertising are great ways to grow your business. It is recommended that you spend no more than 10% of your annual revenue on advertising costs. Although you will have a limited number of children you can care for at one time, children will leave as they grow older, meaning marketing and advertising could be consistently useful. Think of the best ways to target your customer base, such as local advertisements and online advertising.

Once you have determined the approximate costs associated with setting up and running your childminding business, you can then create your pricing policy.

Several factors will affect your pricing:

• Your local competition and their typical pricing.
• Your location and the average income of local families.
• Your premises, facilities and equipment.
• Your training, qualifications and experience.

According to NCT , for a child under two years of age, the average cost of a childminder is £118 per week for part-time (25) hours and £228 per week for full-time (50) hours. This averages at £4–£5 per hour for one child. Prices are usually lower for children over two years. You may also choose to offer a discount for siblings.

Safely Running a Childminding Business

As you will be looking after young children, safety procedures and safe practices will be a top priority for your business. Safe practices can help to ensure the health and safety of the children you care for, you, and any visitors to your business.

Some ways you can safely run a childminding business are:

Ensure asbestos levels are safe

If your home was built prior to the year 2000, materials in your home may contain asbestos, which can be harmful to health. Although there is no legal requirement for your business regarding asbestos, determining where asbestos may be and checking these areas for damage is recommended.

Cover heat sources

This includes radiators, pipes and fires. You should ensure children are not able to touch heat sources as this can cause burns.

Ensure children cannot enter the kitchen unsupervised

Not only does the kitchen have hot appliances, such as the oven, hob and grill, but there are other potentially dangerous items in the kitchen, such as knives, chemicals and heavy objects. Ensure children can only enter the kitchen when supervised.

Safety proof your home

Even if you are not caring for young babies, safety proofing is a great way of ensuring the safety of the children you care for.

Some ways you can baby-proof your home include:

• Covering plug sockets.
• Installing safety gates.
• Covering sharp corners and edges.
• Removing any electricals that have a risk of electrocution.
• Not lighting candles.
• Not using looped cords, leads and other cords that could result in a risk of strangulation.
• Installing window restrictors.
• Tying up or covering electrical cables.
• Using soft close toilet lids and cupboard doors.

Keep dangerous objects away from children

This includes cleaning products, knives, scissors and heavy equipment. Any potentially dangerous objects should be kept out of the reach of children at all times, and where possible in separate rooms or locked away.

Conduct risk assessments

Although risk assessments are not legally required for businesses with fewer than five employees, they are a great way of ensuring the safety of the children. They can also help you achieve a higher score during your inspection.

Your risk assessments should:

• Identify hazards.
• Determine who could be at risk.
• Evaluate the potential risks.
• Implement safety measures.
• Record the results of the risk assessment.

You should review all risk assessments regularly.

Ensure you are first aid trained

If a child has an accident or sustains an injury, first aid training can help you administer any necessary treatment. In the event of a serious incident, first aid could even save a child’s life. A first aid certification can also be presented during an inspection or shown to prospective parents.

Obtain any other necessary qualifications and training

Although these may not be legally required, they can help you to ensure safe practices.

Some recommended training includes:

• Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework.
• Child Protection.
• Safeguarding Children.
• Paediatric First Aid.
• Food Safety and Hygiene.
• Allergen Awareness.
• Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) training.

Implement a cleaning policy

You will have to clean your home much more frequently than usual when running your childminding businesses. Illnesses and infections can spread easily among children, and implementing a cleaning policy and cleaning procedures, including a schedule for cleaning and the management of cleaning materials and equipment, can be beneficial. Cleaning procedures should apply to all areas of your home, including equipment and furniture. You should also implement a handwashing policy that is followed by you, the children and visitors to your home.

Implement security measures

Security measures can protect the children and your home. Securely locked doors and gates and a CCTV system are recommended in your home.

Legal Requirements

When setting up and running your childminding business, it is imperative that you are aware of all legal requirements and fully comply with them.

Some of the legal requirements you should be aware of are listed below.

Apply for registration

You will need to register your childminding business with Ofsted (or another relevant governing body) before you begin operating. Registration can take up to 12 weeks and you cannot operate your business until your registration is confirmed. Depending on the age of the children you care for, you may also need to obtain a certificate confirming you meet the requirements set out in the EYFS.

Ensure you apply for the correct register, depending on the age of the children you look after:

• The Early Years Register – For children from birth to the 31st August following their fifth birthday.
• The Childcare Register – For children above the age of five.

You can apply to be on both registers if you are looking after children that fall into both age categories.

Obtain a criminal record check

You cannot look after children until you have undergone a criminal record check and obtained a certificate.

The type of check you require depends on the country you live in:

• England: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
• Wales: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
• Scotland: Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme.
• Northern Ireland: AccessNI.

Ensure electrical safety and gas safety

In accordance with the law, if you are running your childminding business from your home, you must ensure that all electrical appliances and fittings fully conform to safety standards and don’t pose any risks. You must also ensure any gas appliances are tested or serviced every year by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Ensure you ask the engineer for a gas safety certificate, as this may be inspected by Ofsted or your relevant governing body.

Complete a Childcare and Children’s Social Care Health Declaration Form

The Health Declaration Form must be completed by all childminders. It includes an up-to-date medical declaration from you and your GP. Without this form, you cannot register with Ofsted or set up your childminding business.

Adhere to ratio guidelines

You must comply with the statutory framework that states how many children you are able to care for at one time.

This changes depending on which country in the UK you are based in:

• England: A maximum of six children under the age of eight. Of these six children, only three children can be under the age of five and only one child can be below one year of age. Children over the age of eight do not need to be included in your ratios.
• Wales: A maximum of 10 children under the age of 12. Of these children, a maximum of six children can be below eight years old, a maximum of three children can be below five years old and a maximum of two children can be below 18 months old.
• Scotland: A maximum of six children under the age of 12. Of these children, there should be a maximum of three children below primary school age and only one child below one year of age.
• Northern Ireland: A maximum of six children under the age of 12. Of these children, only three can be under the age of five and only one can be under the age of one.

It is important to bear in mind that your own children should be included in these ratios. There may be some exceptions, although you will have to contact your relevant governing body to obtain an exception.

Ensure fire safety

Some of your fire safety requirements as a childminder include:

• Conducting fire safety risk assessments.
• Having a recorded evacuation plan.
• Reviewing your risk assessment and evacuation plan regularly.
• Conducting fire drills.
• Ensuring escape routes are unobstructed.

Carry out a Water Risk Assessment (WRA)

You must ensure the safety of the water in your home by conducting a WRA to mitigate or reduce the risk of Legionella. Your risk assessment may identify some actions, such as removing limescale in your property.

Comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) guidelines

COSHH is the law that states that all businesses, including childminding businesses, must control any substances that could be potentially hazardous to health. In line with COSHH, you must assess, control and reduce any risks or potential hazards and protect individuals from harm. COSHH applies to many products that you will have around your home including toothpaste, shampoo and washing-up liquid. Consider ways you can reduce the risk in line with COSHH and have a contingency in place in the event that a child consumes, inhales or absorbs chemicals or other dangerous products.

Comply with food hygiene regulations

If you provide food as part of your childminding business, you will need to register as a food business with your local authority. You will then be subject to an inspection to ensure food hygiene standards are being met.

Comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act (DPA)

You must comply with both Acts when storing or sharing personal information. You must also ensure that any information that is provided is only given by a parent or a carer who holds parental responsibility.

Apply for a Notification to Process Personal Data Licence

You can apply for this licence with the the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) . If your childminding business has a CCTV system or if you store any details on your computer, you will need to apply for a licence with the ICO and renew your registration every year.

Follow guidelines for SEND and Inclusion

You have a legal duty to treat all children equally and help them achieve their full potential. If you care for a child who has Special Educational Needs or a disability, you must adhere to the statutory framework in the EYFS. You should download the Code of Practice for the country you live in and must ensure you have arrangements in place to cater for a child who has a disability or SEN.

Comply with safeguarding regulations

Childminders have a legal responsibility to safeguard the children in their care. You should ensure you read the guidelines and keep up to date with procedures and recommendations.

Register as self-employed with HMRC

Childminders in the UK who are self-employed are responsible for paying their own tax and National Insurance. Ensure that you register with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to assess how much you are required to pay.

Comply with the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 2013

RIDDOR states that you must report all injuries, diseases and dangerous events that occur when your business is operating. Reports must be made to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) using an appropriate recording document.

Implement health and safety policies

Health and safety policies are legally required for all businesses in the UK. You should have policies in place that protect the children and any visitors to your business. Your policies should also include fire safety procedures and emergency procedures. Although recording the policies is not legally required, it can be a great way of showing your compliance during an inspection.

Keep clear records

You should keep up-to-date records of accidents or incidents, cleaning schedules, risk assessments, health and safety policies, and food hygiene policies. Ofsted will likely want to see your records when they conduct their inspections.

Obtain the correct insurance

The EYFS states that childminders must obtain Public Liability Insurance. If you use a vehicle as part of your business, the EYFS also states that you must have Business Class 1 Insurance.

Positives of Owning a Childminding Business

A childminding business can be an extremely rewarding career choice for multiple reasons. The main positives to starting up a childminding business are:

You can care for your own children

Many childminders begin their business so they can spend time with their own children. Working as a childminder means you won’t have to pay for childcare, and you can still earn a living.

You can work from home

One of the best things about working as a childminder is the flexibility of working from your home. You won’t have to worry about long commutes or paying a lot for furniture and equipment as you will likely have a lot of the necessities already, especially if you have your own children.

It can be extremely rewarding

Running a childminding business can be very rewarding. If you love children and spending time with people or enjoy the organisational aspects of running a business, setting up a childminding type of business can be very rewarding. You will be able to see the children you take care of develop and grow and see the ways your care and teaching has a positive impact on them.

High customer retention

Many parents stay with the same childminder for years. You could start taking care of a child when they are a baby or toddler and look after them throughout their early years and even when they begin attending school. Most parents also use the same childminder for multiple siblings. Not only can this customer retention be beneficial to your business, but it can also be financially and emotionally rewarding for you.

It can be extremely fun

Imagine a job where you get to work in the comfort of your home and engage with children all day. You can plan fun games, go for days out, and enjoy activities, such as baking, treasure hunts and sports activities. Having fun at work every day is a common side-effect of being a childminder.

Few start-up costs

A childminding business is an extremely low-cost enterprise. You will have very few start-up costs and low running costs, allowing you to maximise your profits.

Pick and choose your customers

If you feel like a child or family isn’t benefiting from your care or is causing you some difficulties, you can choose to stop taking care of them. You won’t be entered into contracts with the families so can make the decision that is best for you, your business and the children. Some childminders also choose to only care for children of certain ages, for example, by not accepting young babies or older children.

Choose your own workload

You can choose to look after fewer children or work shorter hours. As the business owner, you can control your workload and choose your working days. This gives you more flexibility than many other career choices.

Predictable income stream

You will know exactly how many children you are taking care of every day and your outgoing costs. This makes it easy to predict your profits and your income.

You can choose whether to work the school holidays

Some childminding businesses don’t operate during any of the school holidays, whereas others open during all or some of the holidays. You can decide what works best for your business and what will suit your home and family life.

Be your own boss

You can make all key decisions yourself and steer your business in whichever direction you choose. You can choose your working hours, your customers and your responsibilities and make the best decisions for you and your business.

Work within your local community

As your business will operate from your home, your customers will be people from the local area. You can develop an important connection with other parents in your local community and get involved in local events. This can be beneficial to your business and your personal life.

There is a constant need for your business

With more working parents than ever, childcare businesses will always be in demand. People always need someone to look after their little ones or choose to send them into an early years setting to aid their socialisation, development and education before they begin school. You shouldn’t ever have to worry about your business not making a profit or experiencing a lack of demand.

Negatives of Owning a Childminding Business

Setting up a business and making that business succeed can be a difficult undertaking. Being aware of the potential problems you could face and the negative aspects of starting up a childminding business can be beneficial.

Some cons you should be aware of are:

You could be working long hours

To attract prospective parents, you will likely need to take care of children while the parents are working. This could mean you are working long hours every day. Many childminding businesses open between 7 am and 8 am and close between 5 pm and 6 pm. This could result in a long working day.

Items in your home could become damaged

As you are looking after young children every day, items in your home could become damaged. Things could get smashed or broken and your couches, rugs and carpets could become stained. This wear and tear on your home can be annoying for your family and expensive for you to fix.

Your children might not want to share you

If you are looking after your own children at the same time as other children, this could cause some jealousy, especially if some of the children you care for require additional time and attention. It can be difficult making sure you give all the children equal attention and that the parents don’t think you are favouring your own children. Childminding can be difficult for your children to cope with, especially if they aren’t used to sharing you.

Lack of adult interaction at work

You will be spending your entire working day with young children and will likely have no other adults to interact with. As well as meaning all the responsibility falls to you, it can also be lonely.

You need to be constantly aware

As the only adult on site, you need to be hyperaware at all times. A child may hurt themselves or others, eat something they shouldn’t or even run away. If you are not aware at all times, a child could sustain an injury or have an accident. If a child is injured, contracts food poisoning or is involved in an accident, you and your business could be liable.

You need to have consistently high energy

Even if you are having a bad day, are tired or feel unwell, you still need to remain energetic and positive to keep the children engaged. There is unlikely to be much time in your working day to sit down and relax and this can be exhausting.

Your job can be physically difficult

You will likely be on your feet for a lot of the day, carrying children, bending down, moving toys, running, cooking and playing on the floor. The physical strain of your job can result in aches, pains and even injuries.

It can be demanding and stressful

Not only will you be responsible for making your business succeed and ensuring safe practices, but you will also likely be in charge of the administrative duties and day-to-day running of your business. As the owner, you will also have to deal with parents’ worries, concerns or complaints. This can be both demanding and stressful.

Strict laws and regulations

Childcare settings are highly regulated and there are many laws and regulations you will need to abide by. You will need to research your legal requirements and ensure your childminding business is operating in line with the law. You will also be inspected regularly by the relevant governing body.

It can be competitive

Not only will you be competing with other childminding businesses, but you will also be competing with private nurseries, nursery schools, before and after school clubs, and other childcare settings. Having multiple settings to compete with can make it more difficult for your business to succeed.

Lack of benefits

As you will be self-employed, you won’t receive benefits such as holiday pay, sick pay and maternity/paternity pay. You won’t receive pay over the Christmas break and during any other holidays you take, or if you fall ill. This could result in financial strain.

Planning Your Childminding Business

When setting up a childminding business, creating your business plan is a great way of helping your business to succeed. When creating your business plan, consider the following factors:

What ages are you going to care for?

This will determine which childcare register you will need to apply for, your equipment requirements and your pricing. The ages of the children are also important to ensure you are complying with childminding ratio regulations in your country. Consider where your skills and experience lie, the age of your own children (if you will also be taking care of them) and whether you want to take children to and from school.

Who will your target customers be?

Your location, operating hours, facilities and equipment will all impact your target customer base. To reach more potential customers, consider your branding and your marketing and advertising strategy.

Do you need to make any changes to your home?

This includes changes that are done for health and safety reasons, such as removing dangerous objects and safety proofing. You should also inspect any existing furniture and equipment you will utilise in your business to ensure it is safe and fit for purpose.

What are your training and qualification requirements?

Some training, such as paediatric first aid training and safeguarding training will be expected by your business’s governing body. Others, although not legally required, can help to ensure safe practices and make your business more attractive to potential parents.

What equipment and resources do you need to buy?

Look at the equipment list above to help you determine your equipment requirements. Consider the ages of the children, your budget and your available space when choosing which equipment to purchase.

What is your local competition?

Your competition could include other childminders, day nurseries and childcare providers. Consider your competitors’ pricing, advertising and marketing strategies and the things they do well. Knowing your local competition can help you to compete more successfully and find ways to stand out.

What are your start-up costs and running costs?

Consult the list above to help you determine your start-up costs and running costs. Being aware of your approximate costs allows you to determine how you will finance your business and when you are likely to start making a profit.

What will your pricing be?

Once you have determined the costs of setting up and running your business, you can then calculate your pricing policy. Consider your location, facilities, experience and training, as well as the pricing of your competitors. If you provide food, your pricing should be higher. You will also likely charge higher prices for children below two years old.

What are your business objectives?

Some people don’t plan to run their childminding business forever and may only do this while their own children are young, whereas others intend to set up a long-term business. Planning the future of your childminding business and creating a one-year, three-year and five-year plan can be pivotal to the success and growth of your business. When creating your business plan, you will also need to determine your business objectives.

Your business objectives should be SMART:

• S = Specific.
• M = Measurable.
• A = Achievable.
• R = Realistic.
• T = Time bound.

Have you complied with all legal requirements?

Consult the list of legal requirements above and ensure you fully comply when setting up and running your childminding business. Failure to comply with the legal requirements could have a detrimental effect on your business or could result in a fine, the forced closure of your business or, in serious cases, prosecution.

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How to become a childminder

Written and reviewed by:.

The plight of the UK’s childminders during COVID-19 didn’t receive much national attention. However, the sector was hit incredibly hard – and, given that the vast majority of childminders are self-employed, most struggled to access the government support that was on offer.

Now, amid the cost of living and energy bills crisis, the industry is continuing to face challenges with higher overheads, and fees that can put off many parents.

However, as a business opportunity, childminding has some key advantages. You can start in your own home and, while there are initial registration fees and training courses required, the start up costs are much lower than many businesses.

This means that potential profits are also relatively modest but, if you’re patient and sensible, you can build a viable business with a strong work/life balance.

There is also an increasing trend towards thinking of childminding operations as “micro nurseries” – where passionate professionals deliver high quality early years education to a much smaller number of children.

This is the top end of the sector, where the financial rewards can be higher but more investment and training is required

At Startups.co.uk, we’re here to help small UK businesses to get started, grow and succeed. We have practical resources for helping new businesses get off the ground – you can use the tool below to get started today.

What Does Your Business Need Help With?

Whatever sort of childminder you want to be, this guide is full of expert insight on the skills you’ll need, the regulations you have to follow, costs, and potential earnings.

We'll cover the following areas:

• The definition of the role, and whether it suits you
• Legal requirements
• The registration process
• Responsibilities
• Potential earnings

How to start a childminding business: An overview

For a quick summary of how to start a childminding business, check out our handy video.

All the points mentioned are of course covered in loads more detail in the guide below.

What is a childminder, and who is becoming a childminder suited to?

A childminder is defined by industry body PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years) as someone who looks after a small number of children in their own home, on a self-employed basis.

As with starting any childcare business, you will be most successful as a childminder if you enjoy the company of children, and will relish helping children to learn, grow, and develop.

Becoming a childminder is typically a more flexible and short-term option than the heavily regulated alternatives, such as opening a day nursery . Also, you can become a childminder in your own home, and charge hourly or weekly – rather than termly – childminder fees.

Faye Burton set up her own childminding business, Tiddly Winks Kids, after taking some time off from her job in the police force when she became pregnant. “[Becoming a childminder] has been convenient, as I’ve been able to raise my own daughter alongside the children I look after and earn a bit of extra money,” she explains. “Going from having very serious conversations about police work to spending my working day with young children did take a bit of adjusting, though!”

Childminding also benefits from having very low startup costs compared to similar alternatives: all being well, you can become a childminder for around £500+. The most expensive part of becoming a childminder will normally be the initial certification and registration process.

Key skills and requirements

Patience and effective communication skills

• A background in childcare is ideal (but not a necessity)

Good organisation and administration skills

• You need to be motivated by more than money

In addition to these skills, you need to be aged over 18 to become a childminder. You’ll also need to use your home, or have a domestic premises to host children.

“It goes without saying that to become a childminder, you will need a good manner with children, and the ability to stay patient and upbeat. Not every child you look after will be well-behaved. It sounds obvious, but the most important thing is you really need to like kids,” says Stacey Baker, a childminder working in Droylsden, Manchester.

Premises to host children

You will need a house or flat with enough space to host and look after multiple children – a good garden is normally a selling point for many childminders. It also helps to be near local primary schools, too, as part of your role is likely to involve dropping off and picking up any older children from school.

Experienced in childcare

Part of your role will be teaching children under five basic literacy, numeracy, and other skills – essentially fulfilling the role of a parent, and preparing them for school – so you should ideally have previous experience of looking after children.

“Experience is important,” explains Tiddly Winks founder Burton:

“Although I was raising my first child when I started and learnt on the job, there was a 12-year age gap between me and my little brother growing up, so I did kind of know what made babies and children tick. I would imagine childminders who don’t have their own kids would have some sort of nursery or daycare background.”

You should also be aware that childminding is not babysitting. Despite becoming a childminder having less requirements than opening a nursery, you will still have to undergo a rigorous and long-winded registration process, as well as keep records about the children in your care.

“A lot of people who start out as childminders don’t realise just how much paperwork is involved,” explains Baker. “You need to be a fairly organised person to become a childminder, as there’s a lot of day-to-day administration you have to do.”

Don’t have money on your mind – do it for the love

Becoming a childminder is also not the best option if money is your primary motivator – the money you earn can fluctuate wildly with parents’ childminding needs constantly changing.

“There’s no doubt that the money is the most stressful thing about becoming a childminder,” admits Rachel. “But seeing the children grow and develop under your care is a really rewarding experience.

“Often, you spend more time with them than their own parents do – every day is different, with a different set of challenges, but I’ve enjoyed it immensely.”

Childminding legal requirements

To become a registered childminder in England, you will need to register on one or both of the following Ofsted registers :

• The Early Years Register – it is compulsory to register on this if you will be caring for young children up to the age of five
• The Childcare Register – this is compulsory if you are caring for children aged five to eight years old

The registration process varies in other parts of the UK – make sure you check out the dedicated resources and registration processes for your location.

How many children can a registered childminder look after?

In England, the legal limit for the number of children a registered childminder can look after at any time is six children under the age of eight.

There are further regulations and guidelines that you have to follow, depending on the childrens’ ages and the type of care that’s being provided. However, the overarching rule is no more than six children under eight years old can be cared for under any circumstances.

For more detailed information, see the PACEY guide on childminding ratios in England and Wales .

With the guidance related to the COVID-19 outbreak changing frequently, childminders in England should check the latest guidance for early years and childcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic .

For childminders in Scotland, the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) has a handy COVID-19 resource page , which provides detailed information and guidance.

Childminders in Wales should keep an eye on PACEY’s dedicated COVID-19 FAQs page.

And, for childminders in Northern Ireland, the government’s Family Support department has a page on COVID-19 guidance for childcare providers and parents of children in childcare page.

The steps you need to take to become a registered childminder in England

There are a number of obstacles you need to overcome in order to become a registered childminder in England. The training and registration process will likely be the most onerous and expensive part for the majority of people. Consider contacting your local authority before you apply to find out if any support is available.

1. DBS checks

The first step you’ll need to take is undergoing criminal record checks – you’ll need to apply for enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks for yourself, as well as for everyone aged 16 or above that lives with you or works in your home.

If you’ve spent time living overseas in the last five years, you’ll also need to provide a certificate of good character from the relevant embassy. This also applies for any other people who need to apply for DBS checks as part of the childminder registration process.

2. First aid certificate

Paediatric first aid courses are widely available, and there are a huge variety of providers. While the choice of provider is up to you, note that it must be a full course, and must meet the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) requirements . You’ll also need to renew this training every three years.

Your local authority might offer its own scheme, but popular UK-wide options include St John Ambulance , which offers blended online and in-person learning, and the British Red Cross , which operates a classroom-based training course that takes place across two days.

3. Training

You need to complete a childminder training course that’s suitable for the register(s) you intend to apply for, e.g. the Early Years Register and/or the Childcare Register.

Generally, you’ll achieve a Level 3 qualification; more specifically, it might be a CYPOP5 or an HBCA award. Your local authority will normally be able to offer advice on suitable courses, so it’s a good idea to get in touch with them to discuss how to become a childminder before enrolling.

There are a range of providers available, and some local authorities run their own childcare courses too. The professional body PACEY also offers its own online training that’s suitable for childminding in England and Wales .

Childcare courses follow a broadly similar structure, offering assessed modules on areas such as the basics of setting up, ensuring the safety of children, play and activities, offering an inclusive environment, and working with parents.

Many courses are delivered online, although some providers may offer face-to-face training where possible.

4. Health declaration

You will need to complete a health declaration form . While you have to fill in the relevant parts of the form, your GP has to complete section C – note that the doctor may well charge a fee for this.

5. References

As part of the application, you’ll need to provide the contact details for two people who can provide references for you.

6. Apply for registration

The next stage is joining the Ofsted register(s) . To be on the register, you will need to pay an annual fee, which comes to around £35.

7. Home inspection

If you’re applying to be registered on the Early Years Register, Ofsted will contact you and arrange an inspection.

This is where an inspector will visit you to check your identity, qualifications, and English language ability, as well as to check that your home is suitable for childcare. They will also ask you questions about your plan for the learning and development of the children under your care, including about the EYFS requirements.

Ofsted has prepared an in-depth guide to help you prepare for a registration visit , which you should read and understand thoroughly before the inspector calls.

It’s really important that you’re completely ready to become a childminder at this point, as you’re usually only allowed one registration visit.

Note that inspections only apply for the Early Years Register application process. If you’re only planning to care for children over the age of five, you won’t need to prepare for a registration visit.

8. Receive registration certificate

After this process is complete, and Ofsted has conducted the necessary checks and approved your application, you will receive a certificate of registration from Ofsted. Only once you’ve received this certificate will you be ready to take on your first child.

You’ll also receive a URN (Unique Reference Number), which will be published online, along with your inspection reports. Your name and address will also be published, although you can ask Ofsted not to do this.

9. Insurance

Once you’re registered, you’ll need to get public liability insurance immediately. Morton Michel specialises in childcare insurance, but there are a number of options to choose from, including those from PACEY , SCMA , and Childcare.co.uk .

How long the whole process discussed above takes depends on a number of factors, including the childminder training course you enrol on – some are for a fixed period, whereas PACEY’s is completed at your own pace – and the Ofsted registration process, which the body says can take up to 12 weeks to complete.

“The training and registration process took me about five months, but I did muddle around a bit,” recalls Faye Burton of childminding business Tiddly Wink Kids. “The longest part was waiting for the criminal record check. That was frustrating, as I was already fully vetted as a police officer, but Ofsted insisted on it anyway. It took about five weeks.”

To recap, the nine steps to becoming a childminder are:

• Complete enhanced criminal record checks for yourself, as well as anyone aged 16 and above living with you or working in your home
• Get a paediatric first aid certificate
• Complete a childminder training course that matches the register(s) you intend to apply for
• Complete the health declaration form
• Source referees
• Apply for Ofsted registration
• Prepare for the home inspection (Early Years Register only)
• Receive your Ofsted registration certificate
• Obtain relevant public liability insurance

Once the above steps have been completed, you can then start working as a childminder.

Your responsibilities as a childminder

As a registered childminder on the Early Years Register, you will need to track the development of children under five under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) course. This is essentially a pre-school curriculum programme which aims to teach and track the development of children from birth to age five.

Broadly, the curriculum aims to give children the basic skills they will need to start primary school, such as the ability to count to 20, basic reading, and social and emotional development.

It will be your role as a childminder to assess children on their EYFS development periodically, and keep records on their progress.

“For me, this has been the most challenging part of becoming a childminder, as there is a lot of paperwork,” says Stacey Baker.

“Working eight hour days with children and looking after your own kids in the evening means you can be struggling to find the time to deal with it all.”

Apart from this, your role will include taking school-aged children to and from school, as well as entertaining all the children you care for more generally with toys, activities, and trips. Childminder network The Childminding Forum has a dedicated board on which members share activity ideas, while PACEY has a page on activities and ideas , so check these if you find yourself short of inspiration.

Once you’ve got your childminding business off the ground, you may also want to consider using apps like Connect Childcare’s Foundations and ParentZone apps . These allow you to share photos and updates on children’s activity, and enables their parents to remotely keep up to date with their child’s development while in your care.

SEND stands for special educational needs and/or disabilities. As a childminder, you may care for a child/children whose SEND requirements have already been established, or these may arise during the time period that you provide care for them.

One requirement of the EYFS is to do a progress check when children are aged two. This is a short written summary that outlines each child’s strengths, as well as any areas that may require support, including if a special educational need or disability is identified.

If this is the case, a support plan would need to be put in place, in consultation with parents/carers and other relevant parties, such as a Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) or health professional (if applicable).

As a childminder, you are encouraged to have a SENCO. If you’re registered with a childminding agency or are part of a childminder network, the role can be shared.

If you receive funding from the local authority to provide places for early years education, then the EYFS states that you “must have regard to the Special Educational Needs Code of Practice ”. This is a statutory code which applies in England. Your local authority may have an Area SENCO, who can offer advice and support.

In Wales, the term additional learning needs (ALN) is used to refer to people with special educational needs or disabilities. The Welsh Government site has a dedicated in-depth page with a range of resources about additional learning needs .

Dietary requirements

Looking after children with dietary requirements could help you to expand your knowledge, although there are a number of things that you should know.

As well as complying with the EYFS guidance for food and drink more generally, information about allergies and dietary/health requirements must be obtained before you start looking after a child. You will need to record and act on the information about dietary requirements that’s provided by parents/carers.

It’s likely that you’ll provide food as part of your childminding business, so you’ll need to abide by food hygiene laws and regulations, as well as ensure that you’re registered with environmental health.

This includes providing information about allergens in the food that you offer – you can find more detailed information in the government’s guidance for early years settings menus in England .

The Food Standards Agency offers a comprehensive ‘ safer food better business for childminders ’ guide, which can help you to ensure that your food preparation is compliant.

For childminders in Wales, the Welsh Government has guidance for food and nutrition for childcare settings .

You could also complete food hygiene training to enhance your understanding. PACEY has a food safety and hygiene for early years settings course, while Childminding UK offers a food hygiene course that’s specifically for childminders.

Business paperwork to become a childminder

The paperwork isn’t just limited to the EYFS, either.

As part of your business, you will need to produce a list of written policies and consent forms that parents must sign before they leave their children with you.

“There are a load of policies and procedures you have to put in place – parents even have to sign a consent form so their children can use the garden equipment!” says Faye Burton. “However, I’ve found my insurance provider [Morton Michel] to be really good in this regard, as they can give you templates for everything.”

How much does it cost to become a childminder?

Compared to many other business ideas, the startup costs of becoming a childminder are quite modest – and this leanness can be a key advantage.

You shouldn’t be spending more than £1,000, but if you need to hire premises and don’t want to (or can’t) become a childminder in your own home, then your costs will naturally increase.

Pre-registration training costs vary according to the provider – PACEY’s HBCA training option costs £294 currently, but local councils may charge less, and you should certainly check with your council about training options.

The Gov.uk site advises that first aid training courses will generally cost between £60 and £200. British Red Cross’ option is available from £120 (excluding VAT) for a two-day paediatric first aid course. Again, check with your local authority, as they may be able to refer you to the most cost-effective option.

Registration fees

You must pay a fee each year to be a registered childminder. The Ofsted registration fee is currently £35 to look after children aged five and under only, and £103 for caring for children aged five and above only. If you wish to care for children of all ages, then the fee is £35 (which is the same price as registering to care for children aged five and under only).

Ofsted will continue to inspect your premises as part of this process. The government offers a full outline of how the process works after you’re registered as a childminder. If your initial registration inspection is successful and you become a registered childminder, you can then expect another inspection within 30 months of registering. If you’re only on the Childcare Register (as opposed to the Early Years Register), you could be inspected at any time.

Childminder insurance varies in price. Some examples include Morton Michel, which charges £59.50 per year, and PACEY, which charges £32.48 per year for public liability insurance. The latter is only available to PACEY members though, and membership costs £111.40 for childminders.

If you plan to use a vehicle as part of your childminding business, then you’ll also need to have the appropriate cover in place. You should check with your home insurance provider whether your policy covers business use, or if there are any additional charges that you’ll need to pay.

If you’re starting your childminding business from home, brush up on the insurance cover you’ll need for a home-based business .

If you don’t have children of your own, you will need to buy some toys and games appropriate to the age groups you will be looking after. You will also need to pay for certain adaptations to your house for the purposes of safety, such as fire safety equipment, as well as plug covers and stair gates, plus any necessary external repairs.

“There are lots of bits and pieces you have to buy – I had to buy a fire extinguisher, for example, which cost about £150,” says Faye Burton.

“All in all, I would say starting up cost me in the region of £600,″ she adds.

After starting up as a childminder, your ongoing costs should be fairly low; they can be limited to the day-to-day costs of food, transport, and entertainment for the children. I normally spend about £15-£20 a week on snacks, food, and other things for the children,” says Faye Burton. “Costs can be higher in the holidays, as you have to entertain them for longer.”

To summarise, here is a rough guide to how much it will cost to become a childminder:

How much do childminders earn?

If you’re thinking about how to become a childminder, it would be fair to say it isn’t exactly the road to untold riches – but it can be extremely rewarding.

Your earnings are dependent upon parents needing their children looked after regularly  – a situation that can change at a moment’s notice.

The average amounts UK registered childminders earn

The most recent comprehensive research into this was the Department for Education’s Survey of Childcare and Early Years Providers: Local Authority Fees Statistics, England, 2019 , which found that the average hourly fees for care provided by childminders and by child age groups were as follows:

• £4.92 for children under two
• £4.88 for children aged two years
• £4.80 for three to four year old preschool children
• £4.84 for children of school age

However, the amounts do vary depending on where you’re based. The survey found that the mean hourly fee for looking after three and four year old preschool children was the highest for childminders based in London (£6.24), while it was the lowest for childminders in the East Midlands (£4.08).

While the information above is based on what childminders can expect to charge parents, you should also consider how much it costs you to offer childcare. If you’re a PACEY member, then you can access a childminding costs calculator to help work this out.

For additional context, Adzuna currently states that the average childminder salary stands at £24,816.

“I couldn’t give [prospective childminders] any kind of estimate of what they could expect to earn in a year, because it’s so precarious,” explains Faye Burton of Tiddly Wink Kids.

“School holidays can be a peak time – but you can’t even count on that, because parents will often whisk their kids off on holiday on short notice, sometimes all at the same time, and you’re left in the lurch!

“I ask for two weeks’ notice as a rule, but that’s the most you can reasonably expect in this business.”

Setting up a childminder fee scheme

If you want to guarantee yourself some financial security, it’s possible to insist that parents pay a full fee if a child falls ill or goes on holiday. You can also specify that the fee doesn’t apply if the same happens to you.

This is a sound idea in principle, but check what other childminders are doing in your area before insisting on such a scheme, as you may be putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage – especially when you’re just starting out.

Remember that one of your key selling points as a childminder, as opposed to a day nursery, is your low cost and flexibility.

“I make it clear before parents leave their children with me that they will pay the full fee if the child can’t attend due to illness or is away on holiday – but I’m part of a network of local childminders that do the same, and we’ve been going for years,” explains Stacey Baker, a registered childminder working in Manchester.

Although your earnings will increase with every child you take on, the total amount is restricted by how many children your premises will fit, and the legal limit regarding children that you can care for (which in England is six children under eight years old). More generally, you should consider how many children you can reasonably expect to look after by yourself.

You can enlist some help from other childminders or childminding assistants , but if three or more childminders or childminding assistants are responsible for childcare provided in your home, you are seen by Ofsted as ‘providing childcare on domestic premises’. This has a whole different set of rules to being Ofsted registered childminders, and you would need to register as a daycare organisation .

Funded childcare

Across the UK, the government offers funded early years places. In England , this is only available via approved providers for three and four years olds, and certain two year olds.

The eligibility for two year olds includes if a child has additional needs or is in/has left care. The family income of that child could also determine their eligibility e.g. if the family is on a low income or receives benefits that are based upon their income.

As a registered childminder, you are considered to be an approved provider, so you can sign up to offer funded places (although this isn’t compulsory). There’s an official government page on Tax-free Childcare for childcare providers , while PACEY offers an in-depth guide for practitioners that focuses on 30 hours places . The latter refers to the funded places that are available to some three and four year old children whose parents are in work, depending on their income.

If you choose to offer funded places, you’ll receive payment via the local authority, with rates based upon a national funding formula. You’ll also need to review your public liability insurance, as the amount of cover that’s required in this instance may be specified by your local authority. You can contact them for more information.

The guidance for funded places differs across Wales , Scotland and Northern Ireland , so be sure to check with the relevant government for specific information regarding the rules in your location.

While providing funded places offers a way to potentially increase the reach of your childminding business, there are several implications for offering this type of care. This includes the amount and way in which you’ll receive payment for them, along with potentially having to ensure that your public liability cover is in line with any relevant local authority guidance, so think about whether this is right for you and your business.

Marketing your childminding services

Initially finding children is normally the most difficult part of becoming a childminder. A good local childminder can quickly become known in the local area after parents have come away happy, and will refer your services to other families looking for a childminder.

“I tried a number of different approaches when I started: putting up flyers in the doctor’s office, putting an advertisement on the Kent County Council website, and putting an advertisement on the Childcare.co.uk network,” says Faye Burton. “The only thing that worked was the Childcare.co.uk advertisement; in fact, that’s how I found all the children I look after.”

You should make sure you have your childminding services listed on Google My Business with a free Google listing so that parents and families can find you.

You should also consider setting up a website and having a social media presence to raise awareness – for more advice, see our guides on marketing your business.

If money is your primary motivator, you would be better off looking into other business opportunities – but if you love working with children, want a low-cost business idea, and care more about purpose then profits, then becoming a childminder could be the ideal venture for you.

Useful contacts:

• Ofsted – The main resource for registration as a childminder in England. This includes information on registration and forms.
• PACEY – The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years, this is a charitable organisation for childcare professionals. It offers advice on how to become a childminder, training courses, insurance, and membership options
• The Childminding Forum – The largest online community of registered childminders in the UK, with information on becoming a childminder, training and courses, insurance, and activity ideas
• Childcare.co.uk – Networking site to match parents with childcare providers. Creating a profile is free!

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Daycare Business Plan Template

Download our template and create a business plan for your daycare!

Updated September 22, 2023 Reviewed by Brooke Davis

When you are ready to start a daycare business, you need an effective plan outlining how to get there. High-quality child care is in high demand, but you must be prepared for the challenges of starting a new business.

A solid business plan will get you off on the right foot before you even open the doors of your new facility.

With these helpful tips, you can learn how to make a business plan for a daycare center. Whether you are looking to watch over young children or even need a dog daycare business plan, Legal Templates is here to help you get started.

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Daycare Business

How to write a business plan for a daycare.

• Management Team

Daycare Business Plan Sample

A business plan sets the stage for how you will operate your business and how you will get it running. A daycare is no different. Opening a daycare requires intensive planning, legal compliance, and understanding of your market.

A daycare business plan template walks you through the steps to build a proper path forward. Every successful business is planned correctly, not as you go along.

A sample daycare business plan pdf or Word document lays it out for you. You can learn how to put it together and what you must include. Many business plans help you understand what you must do to prepare.

Some are designed to recruit potential investors to your cause. Either way, you need a business plan to prepare you for the challenges and successes ahead.

Knowing how to write your daycare business plan can be tricky without some help. You may not have done this before, but a daycare business plan example can help.

Follow these writing tips in each section to create a strong business plan for your future daycare.

1. Executive Summary

The initial section of your business plan is the executive summary. This part of your plan is an introduction for whoever reads it. It is designed to offer an overview of the remaining sections. It should be concise and add only summary details—this is not the section for intensive information or data.

The executive summary will highlight what your daycare business will look like and the most crucial section of your entire plan.

This section may provide information such as:

• A business address
• Phone number, email address, and other contact information
• List of owners
• Banking information
• Start date for the daycare
• Client base
• Market niche
• Factors for success

The executive summary lets you make a case for why your particular daycare will be successful and competitive. It is also the section that helps you sell yourself and your business to potential investors who may play a critical role in starting your daycare.

Provide a mission statement that reflects your goals for the daycare and your motivation for starting your business.

2. Management Team

Your daycare business plan should include important information about your management team. The first part of this section may address ownership of the business itself. It should outline all essential ownership details, such as:

• Legal names of every owner
• Each owner’s proportionate share
• The format of ownership percentage (i.e., stocks, capital investments, etc.)
• The format of the business (Corporation, LLC, etc.)
• Contact information for each owner

You want everyone who reads this business plan to know who has a stake and how their interests are represented. These details are a crucial part of business formation and preventing costly legal disputes in the future.

The management team section should also include the profiles of your management staff. These people will run the business daily, and they should be properly vetted before being put in charge.

Your business plan should list the management teams’:

• Names and positions
• Summary of responsibilities
• Credentials and education background
• Prior employment or experience
• Early childhood education licensing or other credentialing
• Management experience
• Salary and benefits
• Past success in a similar role

This information should demonstrate why these are the right people for the job. Not only does it help you know how your business will run, but it also shows others you have a proper plan in place for your daycare.

3. Products and Services

This section lets you talk about why you are starting this business in the first place. You will outline the services or products you intend to sell to consumers. For a daycare, it should outline the following:

• Who is being cared for: Children, elderly adults, or pets?
• Business hours
• Staff costs and required credentials
• Will you offer food, diapers, and other child-care products?
• How will you measure sales metrics

Daycare is typically considered a service, but product sales are also often a part of this model. Your plan should adequately account for how you will handle this dual purpose and how it fits into your business model.

4. Customers and Marketing

You must identify your market and how you will get customers into your daycare. This section will focus on your area’s need for daycare services and the types of customers you expect to get.

Identification of customers is a vital part of a business plan and should include details like:

• How many parents need childcare services?
• What costs can families be expected to pay for your services
• The community you will target
• Demographic data for potential customers

With your customers in mind, you can focus on your marketing strategies. You want to differentiate yourself from competitors and ensure the community knows your new business. The daycare business plan must outline how you will achieve these goals.

A marketing strategy should combine both traditional and digital marketing methods, including:

• Open houses
• Word-of-mouth advertising
• Advertisements in the paper or yellow pages
• Billboards or other ads
• Television, radio, or internet advertisements
• Social media pages

5. SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis will address your daycare’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and potential threats. This analytical method examines your company and how it will operate.

It puts each of the four metrics into a visual matrix to help prospective business owners quickly identify favorable and unfavorable factors that may affect their business venture.

A SWOT analysis should focus on how your daycare services can perform against competitors. It may address factors like:

• Any threats the daycare may face
• Competitive advantages and why they would be successful
• Areas that may be improved over time
• Technology or resources the company may use to increase efficiency
• Internal factors that may affect economic success

Detailed SWOT sections show investors you have done your homework and give you valuable data to make informed business choices.

6. Financials

A business plan should address the unique financial situation you face. Your daycare business plan should demonstrate your break-even amounts and expected profit margins.

It will also address the costs and the areas of revenue you expect. You will want to address the following:

• Enrollment fees
• Payment plans
• Cost of supplies and materials
• Employee costs
• Regulatory costs
• Additional program offerings and revenue
• Necessary loans or capital improvements

A well-developed budget can demonstrate expected cash flows versus expected expenditures. Knowing how to handle these costs will be incredibly helpful in starting your daycare.

7. Operations

Your operational plan should outline specific procedures your business and staff will follow. It will list employees and those in management positions and their responsibilities.

As in your management section, a detailed “chain of command” is essential. Staff are an important part of your operations and should be detailed here.

One of the most important aspects of a daycare operation is its location. It would be best if you addressed the following:

• The facility’s address
• The type of area it is in (residential, commercial)
• The space available and amenities
• Why is it a prime location
• Accessibility to the community for drop-off

You should also list your business hours and the services you will have available at different times. Child daycare centers differ in when they offer care—whether during the day, evenings, or even on weekends.

If you are doing other forms of daycare, you may even utilize late or overnight hours. You can decide how you run your business, but operations should be clearly outlined in your business plan.

8. Appendix

The appendix section allows you to include other documents that add to your business plan. They may include legal documents like licensing credentials, insurance information, and business formation documents.

Additional documents in this area are meant to support your business plan. The appendix might also include the following:

• Reference letters
• Photographs of the facility, locations, or general area
• Market research data
• Compliance Requirements

The appendix is a flexible section that lets you add supporting documents and other relevant information. Only add details that are helpful to your business plan. The appendix does not need to be lengthy or filled with fluff.

Legal Templates has the daycare business plan sample you need to construct your plan. With this sample at your disposal, you can formulate a business plan for your daycare to show to investors or for your purposes.

You may also use a business plan builder template to help you construct your daycare business plan step by step. See the sample below to help you get started.

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The document above is a sample. Please note that the language you see here may change depending on your answers to the document questionnaire.

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Checklist for starting as a childminder

Do you want to start as a childminder? There are rules you must follow and things you need to arrange. For example, you must be 18 or older. This checklist will help you prepare to start working as a childminder.

On this page

1. check whether you fulfil the conditions for staying in the netherlands, 2. register with the netherlands chamber of commerce kvk, 3. register with a childminding agency, 4. register in the national childcare register, 5. legal requirements for childminders, 6. requirements for your childcare location, 7. arrange your taxes, 8. keeping records, 9. take out insurance.

A childminder , called gastouder in Dutch, is responsible for looking after children in a family situation. In the Netherlands, childminders must be registered with a childminding agency.

Entrepreneurs who intend to stay in the Netherlands must fulfil several conditions. You will sometimes also require a residence permit . Our interactive tool Coming to the Netherlands as an entrepreneur can help you find out quickly if this is true for you, and tell you what other obligations you have to fulfil.

If you plan to start doing business in the Netherlands, you will also need to have or apply for a business bank account ( international bank account number, IBAN ). The Dutch Banking Association has created a Quick Scan to help you find out if you are eligible. Read how it works .

As a childminder, you must register in KVK’s Business Register if you meet the conditions for becoming an entrepreneur . Do you look after children (provide a service), receive an hourly fee for this, and do business with people other than your family or friends? Then you are an entrepreneur and must register.

Do you care for children of family or friends? And do you not get paid an hourly rate for this? Or are you also not registered with a childminding agency? Then KVK does not see you as an entrepreneur. You do not need to register in the Business Register.

If you do register with KVK, the Netherlands Tax Administration ( Belastingdienst ) will automatically receive your details and a notification of the start of your new business. You do not have to register your company separately with the Tax Administration.

As a childminder, you must register with an agency listed in the National Childcare Register (LRK, in Dutch). You may register with several agencies. If you own a childminding agency, you may not be a childminder for your own agency.

The government is planning to limit the number of agencies you may join as a childminder to a maximum of 2. The change in the law is expected to take effect on 1 January 2025.

Before you start working as a childminder, you must register in the National Childcare Register (LRK). The childminding agency does this for you. After the application, the Municipal Health Service (GGD) checks whether your childcare location meets all the requirements. If it does, the local authority will register your childcare location in the LRK. Then you can start.

To register in the LRK, you need a valid certificate of conduct ( Verklaring omtrent het gedrag VOG). This proves that you have not done anything in the past that prevents you from working as a childminder. Besides applying for a VOG, a childminder must deal with various requirements and rules:

Training requirements and children’s first aid

To work as a childminder, you need to meet the requirements found in the Childcare Act ( Wet Kinderopvang ). You must also have a valid child first aid certificate . Several qualifications entitle you to work as a childminder, but they all refer to Dutch education. You can find a list here (article 10, in Dutch ). If you are an EU resident, you can apply for recognition of your foreign qualification. See Professional qualifications .

Pedagogical policy plan

You work according to the childminding agency’s pedagogical policy plan . The pedagogical policy plan describes how you deal with the children. You must follow the plan.

You must soon have your own pedagogical policy plan (in Dutch). This states how you use the childminding agency's pedagogical policy plan in practice. This change in the law is expected to take effect on 1 January 2025.

Health and safety policy

You work according to the health and safety policy of the childminding agency. This describes how you protect the children in your care against risks. Such as unsafe places to play or sleep.

Reporting protocol for domestic violence and child abuse

You must follow the Model Protocol for Reporting Domestic Violence and Child Abuse . Do you suspect that a child is being abused? Or is dealing with domestic violence? Then you should use the Reporting Code . It describes in 5 steps what you should do.

Language requirements

You must speak Dutch when childminding. You may also speak other languages if it is necessary for the children. For example, if you are minding the children of foreign parents temporarily in the Netherlands, then you may speak the family’s language. You may also speak a regional language or dialect if you are a childminder in that region.

Maximum number of children

You may care for a maximum of 6 children per day, aged 0 to 10 years. There are additional rules for the composition of ages in your group. Your own children (up to 10 years old) are included in the number of children you may care for at any one time.

Are you going to care for children in your home? Check whether this is allowed by your municipality. Also, ensure you meet the safety requirements:

Childminding from home

Will you be minding children in your home? For childminders, this is called a home-based profession. Check whether your plans fit in with your municipality's environment plan . You can check your plans (in Dutch) at the online service counter Omgevingsloket . If your plan fits within the environment plan, you must report your home business to the municipality. If it does not fit within the plan, you can apply for an Environment and planning permit ( omgevingsvergunning ).

Also, check if your mortgage or rental agreement states that you are allowed to run a childminding business from home. You can ask your mortgage provider or landlord for permission in writing.

Do the permit check (in Dutch) at the Omgevingsloket to check which permits you need.

Requirements for childcare facilities

The location where you look after children must meet certain requirements . Every year, the childminding agency will check, for example, that there is a separate sleeping area or bedroom for children younger than 18 months. Also, no smoking is allowed in your home and there must be enough functioning smoke alarms.

Requirements for play equipment and cots

From 1 January 2025, safety requirements for play equipment and cots and playpens will change . Childminders will no longer have to comply with the Attractions and Playground Apparatus (Commodities Act) Decree 2023 ( Warenwetbesluit attractie- en speeltoestellen , WAS 2023, in Dutch). But you will still have to take measures against health and safety risks as stated in the Childcare Act.

Also, you will no longer have to comply with the Cots and Playpens in Child Care (Commodities Act) Additional Regulations ( Warenwetregeling nadere eisen kinderbedden en -boxen kinderopvang , in Dutch). But your cots and playpens must comply with general safety requirements.

Drawing up a risk assessment

Together with the childminding agency, you must draw up a Risk Assessment and Evaluation (RI&E) every year. This monitors the safety and quality of childcare.

Fire safety requirements

The same fire safety requirements apply if you are minding children at home as apply to all homes. You must have a smoke detector on every floor. A carbon monoxide detector (in Dutch) is not compulsory, but it is recommended.

You pay income tax on the money you earn from childminding. Use the OndernemersCheck (in Dutch) to check whether the Tax Administration considers you an entrepreneur for income tax purposes. If this is the case, you can file an income tax return as an entrepreneur and you can use tax benefits and start-up schemes. Does the Tax Administration not consider you an entrepreneur for income tax purposes? Then you must include your income as a childminder in your income tax return as ‘income from other work’.

Childminding is exempt from VAT (in Dutch). This means you do not charge VAT on your services and file a VAT return . This usually means you cannot claim a refund of VAT you may have paid yourself for goods or services related to your work.

As an entrepreneur, you must keep business records and retain them for at least 7 years. Your records are the basis for your tax returns.

Discuss with the childminding agency what they need to record and keep for you. For example, details of all children registered with you, written agreements with parents, and information for childcare benefits.

As a childminder, you should have various insurances. You need business liability insurance (AVB). Do you transport children in a motor vehicle? If so, you also need business passenger insurance. Ask your childminding agency or sector organisation which other insurances you need in your situation, and which insurance companies offer cover to childminders.

Related articles

• Roadmap for setting up a business in the Netherlands
• Checklist for starting a childminding agency
• Checklist for starting a childcare centre

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Setting up your childminding business

Introduction.

When you set up your childminding business there are a number of steps you need to follow to make sure you have done everything you need to do to be legal and qualified to work with young children.

I have based this list on requirements for English Childminders who are registering with Ofsted. However it is very similar for Scottish and Welsh childminders registering with the Care Inspectorate and CSSIW. Here is a plan to help you.

Download a printable PDF version of this guide .

At the start of the registration process…

Before you contact Ofsted / local early years about registration advice you should consider the following…

Find out about the different childcare registers 

Early Years Register – the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS, 2012) is the statutory register for all children until they start Year 1 at school (well the end of August before Year 1 if you want to be precise). This means that all children who are in Reception class are still within the remit of the EYFS. However once they start full time, 10 sessions a week school they are classed as 5 (regardless of their age) for the purposes of your ratios.

Childcare Register – this covers older children from Year 1 upwards and is split into 2 parts –

• For children aged 5 – 7 years you will be expected to show you are complying with the regulations contained in the Compulsory Childcare Register
• For children aged 8 ­plus, you will be expected to show you are complying with the regulations contained in the Voluntary Childcare Register

Decide what register(s) you want to apply for – most childminders are on all the registers and registration on all of them does not cost any extra money.

However the registers are slightly different and you will need to understand the differences and be ready to discuss them when your Ofsted inspector visits.

Work your way through the registration process

Now you have decided you want to start on your childminding journey you will need to…

How am I getting on?

The DBS checks are back… my health check has been completed and signed off by Ofsted… my pre-registration course has finished…

I should be well on the way to competing the required paperwork so I am ready to work with children such as -

Required policies and procedures;

Required documents used for the children...

Now is the time to plan for running my childminding business from my home.

What I need to do next…

In order to legally run a childminding business from your home you need to do the following…

If I intend to childmind in Scotland I need to comply with the National Care Standards regulated by the Care Commission. I can become a member of the Scottish Childminding Association - http://www.childminding.org/ (see e-book 36 for more advice).

In Wales I need to comply with the National Minimum Standards (see e-book 33 for more information)

When I am registered as a childminder I need to…

Have fun and enjoy my work and the children who attend each day!

Useful contact details

Doctor –

Landlord –

Mortgage Company –

House / buildings insurance –

Car insurance –

Local contacts -

Local school(s) –

Other childminders –

Childminding support coordinator –

Local early years –

Sure Start centre –

Environmental Health Department –

First aid provider –

Government / national bodies and agencies

Ofsted – 0300 123 1231 / www.ofsted.gov.uk

EYFS and Childcare Registers – www.education.gov.uk

Childminding insurance – Childcare.co.uk/insurance

National insurance – http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/selfemployed.htm

Tax for self employment – http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/selfemployed/

Benefits advice – http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DoItOnlineByCategory/DG_172666

Other help and advice

Childminder advertising – www.childcare.co.uk

Knutsford Childminding free advice and information about childminding, the EYFS and much more – www.eyfsforchildminders.webnode.com

Childminding forum – www.childmindingforum.co.uk

Early Years Foundation Stage (DfE, 2012) and related documents

The Childcare Register (Crown Copyright, 2012)

E-books 56 ‘Preparing for your registration inspection’, 33 ‘Childminding in Wales’ and 36 ‘Childminding in Scotland’ (© 2009 – 2012) from Knutsford Childminding and the references therein

About websites used in this information guide

In places this information guide links to other websites. The author and distributor cannot be held responsible for the content or availability of these sites.

However carefully researched the material in this information guide might be it is not possible to guarantee its accuracy or completeness. The author and distributor therefore accept no liability for any inaccuracies or any loss or damage arising from the use of or reliance on details obtained from this information guide. Individual Ofsted (England), CSSIW (Wales) and Care Inspectorate (Scotland) inspectors might expect different ways of doing things from others and the ideas contained in this information guide are indicators of best practice only.

About information taken from EYFS statutory documents

Information for this guide to the learning and development requirements of the EYFS has been taken from the following source – www.foundationyears.org.uk .

Information sourced from the Department for Education has been reproduced as per the Open Government Licence for Public Sector Information, which can be viewed on the following website – http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence . The source of the information is acknowledged as EYFS © Crown Copyright 2012.

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Why do I need to market my business?

As a registered childminder, you are responsible for ensuring that your business is sustainable. Marketing is about ensuring you get the right type of service to the right people at the right price. Only by selling the benefits of your childminding service and raising your profile will you reach the people you wish to and deliver the service you want

Marketing can help you:

• create and maintain awareness of your service
• tell customers you are available and what you can offer
• fill places when children in your care move on
• let people know if your childminding service changes e.g. more services or limited places

You can start to advertise your childminding business before you register with Ofsted, providing you don't indicate that you are registered already. Consider terms such as "soon to be a registered childminder" or "soon to be registered with Ofsted" or "currently going through the inspection process with Ofsted".

You cannot start to childmind until you have received your childminding Registration Certificate.

Market Research

Market research is essential to ensure the viability of your childminding business

Who will be your customers?

It is important to think about the area you live in and any areas that are easily accessible by road or rail links.

• Find out about large employers in your area
• Is there a large retail complex or office complex in the area?
• What hours do employees work?
• How much do other local childminders charge?

What is the level of demand?

• What is the general area like?
• Are there lots of new housing estates aimed at families?
• Are you close to lots of schools?
• Are there any large day nurseries nearby?
• Are there lots of Out of School clubs nearby?

You need to tailor what you offer to what is needed. For example, if there lots of Out of School clubs in your area, there may be less demand for out of school childminding places and you may need to tailor your service for pre-school children.

Simple Surveys

• If you are already childminding, you could ask existing parents what they like best about your service or create a simple survey sheet to distribute in the area
• Keep the survey as short as possible and make sure you make it easy to return

Act on the feedback obtained

You need to act on any information you gain from your market research as this can determine how successful your childminding business is likely to be.

No matter how successful your childminding business is, the children you care for will eventually leave your care as they become older. This means that filling vacant places is a continuous process. It is far better to continually advertise your business and have to turn callers away than to have empty places waiting to be filled.

You are responsible for ensuring that your business is sustainable. Whether looking to increase or maintain income or provide a valuable service to your community, marketing can help you:

Will you name your business?

As a childminder, you do not have to give your childminding business a name, but you can do so if you wish. You do not need to register your business name but can if you choose to. If you decide to choose a name for your childminding business please consider the following:

• Is it easy to say? You ideally want the children who attend to be able to remember and say it
• Make it timeless- choose a name that will grow with your business- in the future if you expand to take on assistants or work with other childminders, will your name still suit?
• You can include your name, but think carefully about using your initials as this is harder for people to remember
• Avoid quirky spellings of certain words that you may make up as people may try to Google it and not find you
• Does your name convey a benefit? Words such as learning, learner, fun, memories etc. can tell the reader something about the value of what you are offering
• You can include your name or the town or area you live in
• Avoid using names with hyphens as these are harder for people to remember
• Avoid using the '&' sign if you intend to have your own website as you can't include this in a web address
• Test it out- ask family and friends what they think- particularly if you have a few you are considering
• Do not use sensitive or offensive words- There is a list of words that you would need permission to use
• Does the name also work well in a business email address?
• Google the name you are considering to see if there are other childminding settings with the same or similar name
• If the name you would like to use is not used locally, you are unlikely to receive a complaint about using it- or you could consider small changes such as adding another word so that is is different. For example, you could add the word 'childminding' if the other business is a nursery or pre-school so that is is obvious that you business is a different one

It is important that you make sure that your name isn't the same as another registered business. You can do this by checking on the Companies House website. . It also shouldn't be too similar because you will be asked to change the name if someone makes a complaint.

Childminding Business Plan Resource Pack for Pre-registration and New Childminders

Taking time to plan is a great way to make sure you are achieving the things you set out to do. it’s also the best way to make sure that your childminding business is sustainable for the future.

Business Plan Pack – Pre-Registration and New Childminders

Childminding business plan resource pack for established childminders, business plan pack – established childminders, how and where do i market my business the 4 p's.

All marketing is dependent on four key factors which are universal to all businesses regardless of the size or type of business or the service being offered. These are:

Product (including Unique Selling Point)

Your product or service is what you do!

Unless you are providing a service that children and families want to use, it is unlikely that your business will be successful. Market research can help with identifying what services are needed.

Make it clear what you can offer

Be organised and give parents the confidence that you can meet their families needs. Promote your service on a day-to-day basis simply by being an example of good practice.

Learn from other examples of advertising If you see an effective way of a business advertising their product, use the idea in your own advertising.

Naming your childminding business

If you don't have a name for your childminding business Ofsted will register you in your own name. You can always decide to give your business a name at a later date.

Unique Selling Point (USP)

State your Unique Selling Point - offer your potential customers a Unique Selling Point; or a reason for choosing you instead of another childcare provider.

Examples of USP's The following examples are not a complete list, but all will make a childminders service attractive to parents who are looking for a childminding place for thier child. Some will be attractive because of the experiences or practical service you can provide for their child, such as large garden with lots of things to do or that you can collect from the child's pre-school etc. Others may make your setting convenient for parents because it is easy for them to travel to work from your home or that because you provide meals, parents do not have to find the extra time each morning to make packed lunches for their child.

• Hours - flexible or weekend hours available
• Experience or qualifications you have
• Location - are you close to major travel routes?
• Resources available e.g. large garden or close to a park
• Pets - many parents like their children to be around animals - particularly if they do not have pets themselves due to working hours
• Sport/creative activities - do you excel or specialise in providing these experiences for children?
• Home cooked meals
• Experience of caring for children with additional needs
• Ability to speak another language
• Collection from school/pre-school/nursery
• Collection service for parents without transport
• Anything else that is applicable
• Do you provide Funded Early Learning for 2 year olds, Free Entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds and the 30 hours of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds?

The price of your service is what you charge your customers. You may decide to have a fully inclusive price or a basic price with extra charges for food etc.

Many childminders choose not to advertise their actual fees - but meet with parents to discuss the service being offered and what the fees include.

• The fees you charge a parent are essential to cover your costs and make a living
• Be aware of what other childminders and other providers in your area are charging
• When advertising, consider using terms such as "competitive prices" or "fully inclusive prices" rather than to state an hourly or weekly rate

Your rates need to be in line with what is already charged in your area. If your charges are too low parents may be suspicious of the level of service you are offering and existing childminders may think you are deliberately undercutting them. Also, if you do not plan your charges carefully, you may not make enough profit to make your business sustainable. If your charges are too high, you will struggle to fill your places and unless you are offering much more than other local childminders, parents will not happily pay much more for the same level of service.

Download our Rates of Pay handout for suggestions of things to consider when setting your charges

Parents are looking for value for money, not always the cheapest price

How and where do you tell people about your service?

Promoting your service can happen in 2 ways.

• Indirect marketing which happens through word of mouth and by people knowing you are a childminder and liking what they see.
• Direct marketing happens when you take steps to advertise your business

Promoting your business should be an ongoing process to maintain awareness of your service. Think about the national supermarkets and other national stores. They don't stop advertising when everyone has heard of them and they are making profit - they carry on to maintain that awareness.

Indirect Marketing

Many childminders fill vacancies through "word of mouth" and personal recommendations. In order to earn an excellent reputation as a childminder you can:

• Meet regularly with other childminders who may pass on your contact details
• Aim to be an example of good practice
• Provide a wide variety of experiences for the children in your care
• Be organised so that people can see that you take your job seriously
• Keep up to date with current knowledge of your job through training, reading, newsletters etc.
• Make sure you talk to parents regularly about their child
• Ensure you consider the individual needs of each child and family in the service you offer
• Ask existing parents if they would be happy to provide you with references for potential new parents

Direct Marketing

We have produced a handy FREE guide which has suggestions of places you can advertise your childminding business

Communication Routes for Successful Marketing

Included in our FREE handout guides pack and gives you ideas of where you may like to consider advertising your childminding business.

FREE Guides Pack

How to prepare a parent portfolio of information about your childminding service.

Included in our FREE Guides Pack, this guide tells you all you need to know about creating a childminding portfolio and prospectus to promote your childminding service to parents.

The place your childminding service is delivered from is usually set by where you live. Market research can help tailor your service to accomodate the needs of the area. If you are planning to move house you could carry out some market research to determine the most appropriate place for your new home and your service.

For security reasons for your own family and the children you care for, you may choose to not give out your full address when advertising.

Think about how you can best describe your location while maintaining the security you need.

There are many ways you can advertise your childminding service, from designing your own posters and leaflets, buying business cards and having customised clothing made. It is important to consider:

• What benefits will your customers get from your service?
• What makes your service seem better than an alternative setting to your customers? (your USP)

We have created a FREE handout which has ideas that will help you to create effective adverts

Things to consider when preparing an advert

Included in our FREE Guides Pack, this handout has 14 good practice tips included

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What You Need to Know: Cook Street Block Party

The Cook Street Block Party will take place on Sunday, June 9 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cook Street Village will be a pedestrian-only area with vendors, food, live music, dog races, a family zone and more. This popular event usually attracts around 20,000 people.

Where: Cook Street Village, from Oscar Street to Park Boulevard.

Getting to and from the event: Please note that Cook Street, from Oscar Street to Park Boulevard, will be closed from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 9.

This event is located near Victoria's cycling network and close to multiple transit routes - check BC Transit for route options. Buses normally travelling along Cook Street will be re-routed to Fairfield Road, Moss Street and May Street.  Free, secure bike parking for the event will be provided at Cook and Pendergast. Walking to the event is also encouraged. Parking around Cook Street Village is very limited.  

Find this and almost 200 other festivals, markets and cultural events in CityVibe , Victoria’s guide to summer fun.  

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Childminders

As a childminder, you'll be working in your own home, caring for other people's children. If you love working with children, it could be the ideal career for you.

Becoming a childminder in England

Becoming a childminder in wales, working with other childminders.

• Childminding Assistant
• Nursery worker
• Spotlight on
• Business Smart
• Inspiring Environments

“I love my job as a childminder and would not change it for the world, spending time with lots of fantastic children and helping them develop and grow.”

Want to learn more about becoming a childminder? Discover all you need to know in our guide to childminding, including what childminders do, becoming a childminder and how much it costs.

What do childminders do?

Interested and want to know more.

Childminders offer professional home-from-home childcare and early education, looking after small groups of children of different ages and from different families.

Childminders are perfectly placed to support the early learning and development for children of all ages, working closely with parents to provide bespoke childcare. 

When you're working with small children, no two days will be the same. Childminders are also running small businesses, so each setting will be different, however, a childminder's typical day is likely to include: 

• creative play, reading, mark-making, and storytelling with little ones, supporting early language development, and helping children develop their creativity and imagination
• cooking with and for the children, providing valuable real-life learning experiences and healthy, nutritious meals and snacks
• taking children to and from nursery, school or their other settings, activities and clubs, working with other childcare professionals and parents to provide a coordinated approach to supporting each individual child
• observing children's progress and working with parents to support their child's ongoing learning and development.

Childminding is a dynamic and evolving career. Registered childminders are usually self-employed and run their own business. Many go on to expand their business and employ childminding assistants so they can care for more children at once.

When you’ve got your new business up and running, there are plenty of  courses  and  training opportunities  that will develop your knowledge and confidence.

Officially, if you are paid or rewarded to look after one or more children under the age of 8 in England and under 12 in Wales, for more than a total of two hours a day in a domestic setting (normally your own home) then you must register as a childminder.

In England, registered childminders are inspected by Ofsted. The Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) inspects childminders in Wales. Ofsted and CIW are there to ensure that childminders provide a safe and stimulating environment for the children that they care for.

Anyone in who looks after one or more children under the age of 8 years in England or under the age of 12 years in Wales, to whom they are not related, on domestic premises, for reward, and for a total of more than two hours in any day must register as a childminder.

The process you go through to register as a childminder will be different depending on whether you live in England or Wales.

Childminders in England are registered and inspected by Ofsted. In Wales, by the Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).

Find out everything you need to know about becoming a childminder in England and Wales.

For me, PACEY is the one place I can go for a straight answer.

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Across England and Wales we provide training, expert advice, help and peer support to practitioners and practical and impartial support and information for families and carers and those advising them. We represent the views and experiences of practitioners and champion their vital role in helping prepare children for a bright future.

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