Chapter 1 Quality Child Care: Today’s Growing Need
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Willingness to Take a Reasonable Risk
Starting a business involves the risk that it
may not be successful. What will you have lost
and what will you do if the center does not enroll
enough children to continue to operate?
Knowledgeable About Child Care and
Business Factors
Your chances of success are much greater if you know about what it takes to
operate a successful center. Courses in child development, child care administration,
and experiences working directly with children and families improve your chances.
The risk of opening a center would be high for someone with no training in the field.
However, your knowledge about child care administration will make the risk a more
reasonable one. This course in administration will help you become familiar with the
basic business techniques that are necessary to create a financially stable program.
Hardworking and Responsible
If you start your own center, you will quickly find out “being your own boss” is
hard work. Entrepreneurs feel a need to be sure everything is going as it should. They
keep a close eye on center activities. They may do the work of several people in order
to save money. They may pitch in and help with menial tasks in order to get a job
done. They take the responsibility of doing whatever needs to be done to keep the
program functioning smoothly.
Goal-Oriented
A successful child care entrepreneur has a strong desire to start and own a child
care center. If you are just thinking about starting a center because someone else
thinks it is a good idea, you are less likely to be successful. Most successful entrepre-
neurs are very definite about their goals for center ownership within a specific time
frame.
Self-Confident and Innovative
Entrepreneurs have belief in their own abilities to succeed. They are creative in
finding new and better ways to create a successful program. They are not afraid to try
out new ideas.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Entrepreneurship
There are both advantages and disadvantages to starting your own business. Many
capable individuals decide business ownership is not for them. As you study this
course, your own goals for your career will probably become clearer.
Director’s Dilemma
You have inherited some money from
a deceased relative. You are trying to
decide whether to use the money to
open a new center. What should you
consider before committing your
money to this venture?