Getting started

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Researching the need - Business planning - Choosing a structure - Finding premises

The provision of childcare is without doubt an essential service to the community. It's also fair to say that many people involved in it, view it as a vocation. As a childcare provider, however, you should be aware that you're also running a business.

Effective planning is the first step towards running a successful business. Your knowledge of your own business and the childcare market will help you throughout the planning process. To know where you are now, where you're going and how you're going to get there you need to plan.

These web pages contain tips and advice on starting up a childcare business as well as some useful tools such as cash flow forecasts and business plan templates. This information has been supplied by the Business Development Team at Sheffield Out of School Network. Our business development officers are here to support and guide you in making a success of your childcare business, from sourcing staff to applying for funding. If you are thinking of starting a childcare business in the Sheffield area contact us now to find out what support we can offer - telephone 0114 249 4941 or e-mail info@osn.org.uk.

Partly reproduced from the "Business Success for Childcare - Team Steps to Success" series by SureStart. Booklet "Planning for business success - a foundation module", Crown Copyright 2003