It was a big decision that I made to walk away from the corporate world to start my own small business. I decided to run my own in home daycare instead of working at large chain daycare.

It was defiantly fun at the beginning because it was brand new. Everything is always exciting when its brand new. Unfortunately, things don’t stay brand new!

Over the months, I was trying to get myself to adapt to the routine and schedule I came up with. I started to feel a little bit more stressed because its my house and I want to keep it together. I don’t want things to break or wear down. With having kids in my home for 11 hours a day, 5 days a week, things are going to break down.

As time went on, things did start to break and wear down. I had to start spending more money on fixing things. Toys were breaking and I had to buy new ones or used ones (still money spent) because kids need things to play with. They are jut kids so it is expected for things to break.

When you think that you are going to be bringing in around $600-$800 a week, you have to remember you aren’t going to pocket all of that for just income. The following things this money has to go towards:

• 20% for taxes
• Purchase food for the program
• Utilities will GO UP
• Paper towels and toilet paper is being used a lot more (these items have gotten more expensive)

Then, you do have families that leave and that income goes away in the blink of an eye and you have to scramble to replace that income.

My biggest reason was exhaustion from being the sole person that these families rely on 5 days a week. I am the one that has to be available from open to close (11 hours a day). I have to take a pay cut if myself or my kids get sick (No tuition charge if I have to close). And just having so many extra people in my space (home) just became to much for me.

Yes, a lot of people love doing this and that is totally fine. Then there are some people like myself that this just doesn’t work for myself and my family.

Sometimes, you just have to pull the plug and make that decision. That is what I had to do. Now, I gave my current families a FOUR MONTH notice. That is ample enough time to find alternative care.

Defiantly try it out being an in home provider. You might find out that you love it and it works out great. I think with my kids still being small and into sports, I just can’t put in the time that needs to be for an in home daycare. And it also can be that the large chain daycare I worked at for so long just ran me ragged.

If you are interested in running an in home daycare, I have put together a step by step guide for here in Ohio.