I can't drive (we have a car I just never learned) will that put potential parents off having me as their childminder?
Depends on your location and the likely location of your charges schools if they’re in school. I didn’t drive when I was one but I had a “captive audience” in being on an army base and the schools were on base too all within easy walking distance, plus a few large well maintained parks and a very child friendly library and several children’s groups to go to (sing & play, toddler gym that type of thing) on base too.
Is it hard to find parents/customers when you are first starting off?
Again depends on location and whether there’s demand where you are, you could ask other cm’s in your area they’d give you a good lay of the land. Be prepared to market yourself. Reputation is everything.
Should I price my hours lower than childminder's in my area? (The average is £4 per hour) to 'get customers through the door'.
I would say no. Firstly it doesn’t do to piss off other childminders by undercutting them, not least because if they’re “full” and you’re on good terms they may refer potential customers to you. Also because it’s pointless doing it if you’re not making money. What you’re paid isn’t pure profit/turnover remember you’ll have plenty of overheads too. Registration costs, public liability insurance, maintaining your certification in 1st aid, health & safety, food hygiene and early years training. Plus supplies - you have to have sufficient and varied toys & books and equipment to cover all ages, backgrounds and abilities, child-proofing items, extra cots for naps, baby and toddler plates etc, mats, wipes etc etc...it all adds up! Then there’s general wear and tear on your home.
Also as a parent a cm that’s too cheap would be a red flag to me, smacks of desperation, and inexperience. Value your ability and skills appropriately.
I would very much like to cater to ASD children and will design my play/outdoor area with that in mind. Can I advertise myself as a "ASD friendly Childminder" is that a thing? this is very tricky and from how you’ve worded that suggests to me you don’t actually have much knowledge or experience in this area, because even within one condition there can be great variety of ability and needs, inc equipment and layout needs. Think you need to research this much more.
Quite honestly you need to get experience as a “regular” childminder first, because you don’t yet know how you’re going to find actually doing it. Working in childcare in other settings is NOT the same. It’s quite another ball game doing it solo.