Hey Y'all!

[iMaginethat!]

Hey Y'all! I'm fairly new to the forums but not to childcare. I've been doing this since I was 15, I'm soon to be 23, not that old but seems like a long time. I would like to open a child care center one day. I've worked for many different types of programs from Head Start to Group Child Care and Center Care in all capacities from teacher, to cook, to bus driver, to administrator. I love the intimacy of Family Child Care but I love the structure of commercial Child Care. I'm still working on my bachelor's in Family and Consumer Science/Child Development, I'll be done by 2014(if it be the Lord's will). I just want to hear from those who run childcare businesses from the home and those who run from commercial locations.

In my state(SC) just about anyone can get registered, I once had my registration when I was 18! I sent it back because I never started my business the way I wanted to. Here are my questions...what do you do besides pray when starting a small center? Is it really hard to start up? Is it expensive? Can you make a decent wage? I envision a small center(no more than 20 children, potty trained so 2.5-5 years of age), that is intimate, no TV, follows a preschool curriculum, serves nutritious meals, has commercial playground equipment, etc. really nice vision. Can I do this from my parent's home? The only thing that keeps me away from the home daycare is the fact that I am a male. I know that parents will already be skeptical but, I think in a center setting where I am not solely alone with the children they would feel more secure. Sorry so long and I look forward to hearing from you all!