With the rise of both parents working in the family, the need for day care centers is a major concern. Obtaining a good day care center that offers first rate care and service for children under the age of five is now on the list of busy parent’s priorities. Due to the increasing need for such kind of services, the industry of a day care center has been booming in the last decade.

There are different kinds of arrangements for day care services. Child care needs could be met in several ways. In-house child care, child care center care, or care in a provider’s house is the most common we can see today. Not only toddlers or preschoolers are catered by day care centers. Older children may also receive these services usually through a program called a before-and after- school care service.

In general, the day care service industry can be categorized into two main types. Preschools, Head Start Centers, and Child Care Centers are known as the Center-based care. They are usually more formal than the Family child care category in the sense of the location where the children are cared for. Center-based care centers usually have their own establishments or buildings used only for the specific purpose of a care center. On the other hand, family child care providers can provide care for the kids in the comfort of a home.

Aside from the center-based care and family child care categories, the day care center industry can also be categorized as either “For-profit” or “Nonprofit”. The for-profit day care industries are centers that independently operate or could also be a part of a local company. On the other side of the coin, Nonprofit organizations are usually religious instructions providing services for free or sometimes at a very minimal amount or a donation. Examples of nonprofit day care centers are YMCA, YWCA, social centers, colleges, public schools, government institutions, worksites, and social service agencies. The Head Start, a federally funded child care program designed for less privileged children is another example of the nonprofit category. Head Start programs provide both social and educational services; and for some, health services as well. For some employers, usually big companies, they offer child care benefits to employees who have kids. This idea came after the recognition that sometimes, the unmet need for a day care service could be a barrier to the employment of qualified parent employees. Some of these employers opt to having a day care service right in the workplace, or near it. Others simply provide financial assistance for parents to get their kids to a good day care center. Other option employers cling to are discounts and vouchers for child day care centers that they recommend or are in business with. Still others offer their employees dependent-care option plans which are flexible.

The day care center business, no matter what kind of service they offer, has rapidly increased to meet the needs for child care services and the want for home based jobs. It is one of the world’s most increasing industry and known to be profitable as well.

For more information: How To Start a DayCare Business