In Home Daycare Business Series - Appearances Do Matter
Debbie Yost is our first Work At Home Mom guest this month. Our Home Biz Notes May theme is Work At Home Moms in honor of Mother’s Day this month.
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This is the first in a 4 part series from Debbie Yost about In Home Daycare as a home business.
Guest Post
By Debbie Yost
A common advantage to working from home is not being concerned about appearance. You can type away at your computer or take business calls in your pajamas if you want. However, when you run a daycare, you are meeting with others in person and they will judge not only whether their child is happy and well cared for, but on how you present yourself.
Remember to dress professionally. Obviously you do not want to wear a suit. You are going to be spending your day changing diapers, playing on the floor, and being spit up on. However, a parent still looks at the care you take in presenting yourself everyday. You are your business. If you don’t care how you look, you give the impression you don’t care about your business.
Just as your appearance matters, it is important that you get to work on time. When I was using in-home daycares, it irritated me if the provider was still getting dressed when I arrived. I understand that I was dropping my child off early (6:30 a.m.) but if you are going to be open that early then you need to be up and dressed and ready for the day; not back in your bathroom still in your robe and drying your hair. It’s your business so set the hours you can handle.
Whether we like it or not, first impressions matter. I have had many prospective or new clients tell me about their interview experiences. Some providers had dishes stacked on the counter and the house was a mess. The parents felt that if the provider could not take the time to clean the house for an interview, what would the house look like during the day when their child was in this person’s care?
My house is not always clutter free. I have an island in my kitchen that is a magnet for papers, toys and anything else the family can’t seem to put away. However, when I have an interview, my kitchen is clean and the island is spotless. I take the time to show the people I am interviewing that I care.
All 4 posts in this series
Read Part 1: It’s Not Just Babysitting - Intro To Running An In Home Daycare Business
Read Part 2: In Home Daycare Business Series - You’re The Boss Of The Parents Too
Read Part 3: In Home Daycare Business Series - Appearances Do Matter
Read Part 4: In Home Daycare Business Series - Find Your Own Niche
Debbie Yost is a work at home mom who has run a small in-home day care, The Tot Stop, for the last five years. She and her husband have three daughters ages 11, 5 and 3. Debbie’s youngest daughter has Down syndrome.
Because of her daughter, Debbie has become an advocate for people with Down syndrome to ensure they have the same opportunities to live a full and rewarding life as others.
Debbie writes from home whenever she finds time between bottles, diapers, naps and other parental duties. Her personal blog is Three Weddings.
© Bio photo courtesy of Debbie Yost.
© Guest Post Button Image courtesy of Yvonne Russell at Grow Your Writing Business.com
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POSTED IN: Guest Posts, Work At Home Moms
7 opinions for In Home Daycare Business Series - Appearances Do Matter
Yvonne Russell
May 16, 2008 at 2:55 am
Great advice Debbie. Your advice highlights that practical clothes don’t mean unprofessional or untidy.
Thanks for another great post. You have so much valuable information in this series. Looking forward to the next post.
Debbie Yost
May 16, 2008 at 6:29 am
Hi Yvonne,
Thank you. I hope this series will help someone considering running a daycare. It is such an important job.
In Home Daycare Business Series Roundup
May 19, 2008 at 9:25 am
[...] Read Part 2: In Home Daycare Business Series - You’re The Boss Of The Parents Too Read Part 3: In Home Daycare Business Series - Appearances Do Matter Read Part 4: In Home Daycare Business Series - Find Your Own Niche Tags: , debbie yost, [...]
Allison
May 30, 2008 at 9:39 am
I couldn’t agree with you more Debbie, appearances do indeed matter.
I think in this line of business, it’s easy for many to get so wrapped up in the fun, warm, & fuzzy aspect that the actual “business” side tends to get pushed to the back burner.
Good stuff.
Allison :)
Work From Home Moms Month Celebration Roundup
May 31, 2008 at 1:34 am
[...] Read Part 3: In Home Daycare Business Series - Appearances Do Matter [...]
Nichole Vest
Jun 7, 2008 at 6:56 pm
how do you keep a clean house, run an in home daycare and watch your kids? i try to multitask, but i am more of a take one thing at a time type person when it comes to housework. i get easily overwhelmed by all that i have to do around this house. what kinds of organizational skills do you have? could you share them with us? i want to keep my house (and myself) looking nice and i want to make a good impression for my up and coming home daycare buisness.
In Home Daycare Business Series - Find Your Own Niche
Aug 7, 2008 at 4:09 pm
[...] Read Part 2: In Home Daycare Business Series - You’re The Boss Of The Parents Too Read Part 3: In Home Daycare Business Series - Appearances Do Matter Read Part 4: In Home Daycare Business Series - Find Your Own [...]
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