No Enrollments Yet 8(

[Abigail]

I've been "open for business" for full time and part time care during the day for OVER a month now. I've had two interviews from referral and one more family who knew me and was going to enroll two infants.

So I never heard back from the first interview for an infant...my "last" infant spot since I was suppose to get two infants from someone I knew from before I opened my daycare. Then two weeks go by and I interview for a family of two older boys full time/half time for the pre-schooler and felt the interview went wonderful and we connected. I was looking forward to hearing that I'd gotten my first official enrollment, but checked my email tonight and they decided to stay in their own school district. Lastly I was suppose to start a family of two who knew me from before but something came up last minute and it's been put on hold.

Overall, I've been out of work for a month, no paycheck. Today was going to be my first paycheck since kids were going to start Monday. My daycare plan of getting kids right away failed. Why is it that I can interview for babysitting and start babysitting the next day but when someone looks for daycare they seem to play a game?

I know it's only two interviews (from people I didn't know prior) and the situation with the kids who were suppose to start is unlikely, but for a new provider it is hard to want to continue trying. I feel like I've lost my spark, but I know nothing is wrong with me or my home or my rates so I'm trying my best to keep my chin up and wait for the holidays to pass. I'm thinking people don't want to switch or look for daycare until the new year.

In the mean time I'm cleaning the house and trying to decorate for Christmas. I don't have an extra dime to spend and I've never been so financially stressed before. Even the food program called me today to ask if I meant to submit a claim for one child only one day of the month. LOL That actually did make me laugh, but I only have one drop in. I guess they don't send out $2 checks often!

I think this weekend I will drive around and hand out more business cards if I can get a smile on my face. It should be a nice day weather wise at least. Do you think I should try to offer discounts? I require a deposit for two-weeks and also charge average rates for ages 2+, but higher rates for infants. Mostly because I don't want many little ones I want to be able to go out without needed a quad stroller, lol.

[melskids]

Hang in there....

When I first started, It took me a year to fill up, and even now, the phone calls just aren't coming in. I've been lucky to stay full with current mommas having more babies.

The best advertising, IMO, is by word of mouth. Get out there and hand out business cards, fliers, brochures, whatever you have.

And talk talk talk!!!!

I tell everyone who stands within a 2 foot radius of me about my daycare. The person at the register, the guy pumping my gas, the little old lady sitting next to me at the laundrymat...lol

If your rates are comparable to others in your area, I wouldn't discount them. You'll end up regretting it. But you could offer a free day of care, or something like that....I live quite a ways out from town, (where everyone else lives) so Ive offered Gas cards to get them here.

Good luck and hang tight! It is a tough time of year, so things should pick up for you after the holidays!

[kendallina]

This is a really difficult time of year to open, I bet after the holidays things will pick up. Keep getting out there and talking with people and putting your business cards and fliers everywhere. I've also heard from many people that once they had their first child, enrollment picked up. That some parents just don't want to be your 'first'. Keep at it---it'll happen!!

[KEG123]

I began advertising in mid-Jan and didn't start my daycare kids until the first week in May. (In April is when one family said they'd be starting in may- 3 weeks notice because that's what their previous provider required, and the other family had to wait for paperwork from the state) Luckily they've both been here since and I still get calls once in a while. How do you advertise? CL? Care.com? Do you have a website? I get a pretty decent amount of e-mails from my website, at least 2 a month or so.

[Meeko]

I remember thinking I would never fill up when I first started out. Hang in there...it'll happen

[Nellie]

If your under 2 rate is a lot higher than the average going rate for under 2 perhaps lower it a little to be in the same ball park if you are really wanting to try to get one or two littler ones. I charge a little higher than the going rate for infants because I find them to be a lot of work. I have to spend much more time preparing in the evening when I have an infant to hold most of the day. I charge a little less once they are one because they start to not need me as much. I still charge more for a one year old than a two because they in WI they account for 2 spots of the 2+ group.
I think a 2 week deposit is great. So many get burnt when families leave. Unfortunately it is unheard of in my neck of the area. Perhaps you could do a one week deposit and offer a payment plan of X amount extra per so many weeks until the second week is paid up if they can't afford to put down so much at one time.
I also think it is important to be comfortable with what you are charging. If you don't feel comfortable working with out a two week deposit-- don't change your policy. Don't lower your rates just to get kids in the door to later feel taken.
I am hoping that right now is just a slow time. I found out a month ago that I would have one of my kids leaving in January and I have only gotten one email since I have been advertising. It does help once you have kids in the door and you have word of mouth. It sucks when you are just starting out, because parents want there child to have playmates. Don't give up. Have you tried calling the school district you live in. One of my DCK's grandmother told me to give the secretary at the school my name and number. She was a teacher in the district. She said that families that are new to the area call the school all the time wondering if they know of any daycares in the area. I never did it, but her daughter in law did daycare for a time period and that is how she got most of her clients.

[greenhouse]

Had 5 go nowhere interviews before signing a family f/t. I was getting 1-2 calls a week for infants only up until the fall. Have gotten zero calls since October. I never get calls for over 2, and my infant space doesn't open until january anyway...meh. I'm not worried. It's just the time of year. Do you have sign out front ? I always get calls from that more than anything.