If you love kids and you want to spend your days looking after them, starting your own nursery business is a great option. People will always need childcare, so it’s a fairly stable business once you get established, and it’s very rewarding because no two days are the same. However, there are a few steps you need to take if you want to get your new business up and running. Here’s how to start your own successful nursery business. 

Qualifications 

You don’t need any specific qualifications to start a nursery business in the UK, but if you want to get involved with the management and interact with the children, it’s a different story.  You need to have specific training in childcare and nursery management and you will also need a CRB check before you are able to work with children. The same is true for any employees that you hire to work at the business. 

Finding The Right Location  

Picking the right location is important for any business, and a nursery business is no exception to that rule. You need your premises to be in a place where parents can easily access it, but it should also be in an area where the rent is affordable. When you are looking at different places, don’t forget that you have the option of modifying the building, so it doesn’t need to be perfect. You can purchase a modular nursery building and extend the premises should you need to. This is a good option if you find the ideal location but the building itself doesn’t meet your needs. It’s also an effective way to extend your building in the future as your business grows. 

Safeguarding  

It’s important to have a safe environment for the children in your care. Part of that is having premises with a high standard of safety features, but you also need to meet certain regulations and standards yourself. You need to be trained in safeguarding, first aid and health and safety before you can open your business. You also need to make sure that your employees understand the rules around safeguarding too. When hiring new employees, always ensure that you do thorough background checks. Parents need to know that their children are safe in your care, so safeguarding measures are crucial. 

Marketing  

Once your premises and staff are in place, it’s time to get the word out. Start with friends and family, then move on to local community groups, churches etcetera. Most people who are looking for a childminder or nursery will ask around before they go anywhere else, so if you gain local recognition straightaway, you will have a good customer base in no time. Once you have your marketing plan in place, look at your online presence too. You can create an impressive website with just a few tools and host it for free on sites like WordPress. Don’t forget to consider social media either when you are marketing yourself – Facebook groups are great ways to connect with parents who are looking for childcare.

It takes time to build up a reputation for your nursery but as long as you are patient, you can generate plenty of business and create a thriving childcare company.