marketing your family child care

© Nakali Consulting, Inc 2008-2011

Marketing your Family Child Care

Family Child Care

Business Planning


The 4 P’s of MarketingProductPricePlacePromotion


Product: What are the features and benefits of your child care program? Features describe what your program offersBenefits tell clients how the program will help them and their children


Price: Have you set your rates at a price that will cover your expenses? Can parents afford your rates? Are there subsidies available to cover what parents can’t pay?What services are parents paying for? Can you articulate to parents the value and the quality of your services?


Place: Do you know the demographics of the neighborhood? How many other child care providers are there in your neighborhood? Are they centers, FCC or exempt?What type of care are parents looking for? How many need care?How accessible are you?


Promotion: What marketing strategies are going to be most effective for you?What is your marketing budget?Who are you targeting, and how do you best reach your target market?What strategies can be implemented on a small budget and still reach a large audience?


Marketing MaterialsAlways include your license number on all marketing materialsGet written consent from parents before using pictures of childrenYour logo should be used on all of your marketing materials, it allows your business to be easily recognized


WebsiteTo be effective today, your marketing strategy must include an on-line presence, whether you are a small family child care business or a multi-million dollar corporation. List your family child care in on-line provider directoriesMany providers get great results by listing on Craigslist


Business Cards Always have business cards with you ready to hand out to prospective clientsMake sure the parents already in your program have your business cardsLeave your cards with local businesses, schools, libraries and anywhere else parents frequently visit


Brochures and FlyersA flyer allows you to list some of the features and services you offer, providing a little more information than you can include on a business card With a brochure, you can include your mission and/or philosophy statement, and go into more detail about the benefits of your program and, maybe even include some pictures of your program


Other Marketing IdeasHang a colorful sign Offer a finders fee for any referralsMake gifts for parents with your business information printed on themPut a magnetic sign on your carPrint your business information on shirts, pens or bags


On the Phone…Be professional and courteous Be able to articulate your philosophy and beliefs; what makes your program different , and why a parent should entrust his or her child to youBe able to list the features and benefits of your programThe number one, most effective marketing tool is

Referrals, Referrals, Referrals!!!