BUSINESS TOOLS

All business ventures should start out with a plan — the more planning you do on the front end, the higher the chance of success. Your business plan begins in your head and as you work through all the issues that need to be addressed, start writing your plan down on paper. Planning a business is an evolving process — and your business plan will continue to change and evolve as you go along.

When setting up a home child care or a child care center, there are some important items to look at such as legal issues to zoning regulations to insurance and bookkeeping. Where do you obtain a license or how will you advertise your services or set your prices? What items will you need to purchase for your startup and will you have to borrow money for operational costs?

Below are some resources for your use.

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Sample Contracts

The state of Kansas child care subsidy program now requires all contracted providers to provide a contract upon request. These are copied with permission from the book Family Child Care Contracts and Policies printed by Redleaf Press.

KACCRRA is trying to assist in this effort. We have received permission to post the following sample contract on our website for your use. They following are provided in PDF formats.

• Contract Sample 1
  
  
• Contract Sample 2
• Basic Rates and Payment Policies
• Overtime Rates
• Rates regarding Holidays, Vacations, and other Absences
• Other Charges
• Termination Procedures

• Contract Sample 3

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Electronic Benefit Transfer System (EBT)

Child Care Implementation-Provider Subsidies
SRS recently put the EBT Child Care information on-line for both providers and parents. http://www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/EBT_CC_index.html

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tax tips

• Federal Tax Tips Specific to Family Child Care Providers

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Finance

First Children Finance
Loans are made to Licensed family child care providers, licensed child care centers, Head Start, and other early education programs located in the State of Kansas.

Minneapolis, MN. Child care loans are now available for licensed family childcare providers and licensed child care centers. First Children's Finance of Kansas has been created to support the business side of childcare, according to Gerald Cutts, Executive Director of the Development Corporation for Children and First Children's Finance. He continued, "Our intention is to assist providers with needed resources after they check with traditional lending sources such as their own bank. Our loans range from $1,000 to 25,000 for home providers and up to $75,000 for Centers. We are excited to be working with the child care providers throughout Kansas, the Kansas Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services."

For more information or a loan application, call our toll free number 1-866-562-6801. Or check out our website at http://www.firstchildrensfinance.org/

• First Children's Finance Information Sheet