I’m a lot like you,I just wanted to provide for my daughter. I was working WAY harder than I needed to. I used to feel frustrated with my childcare business--I was barely making ends meet! I worked day and night, struggling to make payroll and pay taxes. Every year I’d lose kids to the State’s Pre-K program and Head Start. I mean, how are you supposed to compete with that? People are always going to choose free over me!  

I struggled with finding good help so I was always in the classroom and not able to be the “director” and run my center. I was exhausted because I did ALL the jobs in the center. I suffered through many sleepless nights because I stayed up all night worried how I was going to make ends meet.    

At one point I even tried to sell the business but no one would buy it because I was renting the space. I secretly assembled a resume and applied for director jobs online in another state. After doing several over-the-phone interviews, telling potential employers about my experience and how i can build their business… one day it dawned on me I can do this for myself. 

And six months later the business looked totally different. I created an employee handbook that laid out policies on tardiness, call-in procedures, salary, dress codes and code of conduct. I created weekly lesson plans to ensure learning consistently in all the classrooms and designated a set outside time and checklist to keep up with the children on the playground. I made changes to our parent policies to make payments due before payroll would post, enforced late payment fees and turned over non-pay accounts to a collection agency. 

I created a website and social media page to show all the “good things” that were happening in my center. It didn’t take long for me to make it out the classroom and into the office as the true center director. As the center continued to grow, I became bogged down with the day-to-day operation of the center so I hired another teacher so my assistant director could be in the front office and co-manage operations with me. 

I went from spending 60-80 hours in the center per week to 40-50 hours per week, however, my physical presence was still required in the center daily in order for things to go smoothly. Everyday there was a fire that had to be put out, answering phone calls, taking payments, and doing tours consumed my time and eventually I would become further behind in required paperwork, audit requests from various agencies. 

I juggled many balls in the air until one day they fell flat on my face and I knew I had to do something different. I came to a very painful realization that I couldn’t run the business and be in the business. It was time I stepped down as center director so I could WORK ON THE BUSINESS. That was the hardest thing I ever had to do. It was also the best thing I ever did. 

I had new cameras installed in the center where I can observe on my cell phone; I use a payroll processing company that deducts payroll taxes and they file quarterly and annual reports on my behalf; I use online bill pay to streamline and automate bill paying in the center. 

My business started to grow and I made 6 figures for the first time in my life in the next 12 months!  

I started getting attention for my work and even received worldwide attention a national platform!

I was able to transform my business and create real impact in my community

I found a way to stop my business from running me and successfully run my business--not only am I now able to pay the bills, I have money in the bank and am saving towards retirement. I pay my daughter’s college tuition and I am able to give back to my community by buying school clothes and Christmas gifts for families in need. 

When working with child care owners, I’ve found that there are 10 major mistakes they are making, that are holding them back.

I haven’t shared this before, but it’s time to spread the word!

Click here to download “10 mistakes child care owners make ” 

Click here to download “10 mistakes child care owners make ”