Family Child Care:
Developing and Financing Facilities
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When thinking about expanding, improving, or starting
a family child care business, it is essential to think
through the entire process by breaking activities down into
four stages:
Planning
Predevelopment
Development
Start-up
Each of these stages includes specific steps that you should
consider during the process.
To learn more details about the steps included in the stages
please see the Checklists
under each stage description.
You can access a variety of Publications
that are divided by the stage to which they apply, and
You can find information about the Community
Resources available in your county that can provide
in-depth assistance to you during each stage.
For information about financial resources available to family
child care providers you can visit the Financial
Resources section.
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1 - Planning
This is the first stage in the facilities development process.
It involves assessing and documenting the market demand for the
services you want to offer, in addition to determining the financial
feasibility of the project and the organization or individual's
capacity to take on the intended project. Beginning to draft a
business plan during this stage is a very good way to address
these steps.
2 - Predevelopment
This is the second stage in the facilities development process.
It involves searching for and selecting an appropriate site, obtaining
site control and approval, planning the physical design of the
project, securing a contractor, and obtaining the financing needed
for the development process. It is very important to complete
your business plan during this stage in order to compile and document
all the information you need before applying for funding to finance
the development of the project.
3 - Development
This is the third stage in the facilities development process. It
involves overseeing all site and design developments during the
construction or renovation process, completing construction or renovation
and obtaining building sign off, equipping the interior of the facility
with appropriate furniture and classroom materials, obtaining license
approval for the facility, recruiting staff and marketing the program
to the community in order to build enrollment in your program.
4 - Start-Up
This is the final stage in the facilities development process.
It involves the act of launching and starting to run the program
after the development process is complete. One of the most important
things to remember about this stage is that if you are opening
a new facility you will need to build up to full capacity. In
other words, you probably won't start with full staff or full
enrollment from the first day. Consequently, you will need to
continue to market the program in the community to attract additional
children and staff as needed.
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