How much does it cost to run a childminding business?

[TeWiDoesTheHulaInHawaii]

I'm thinking particularly of the insurance, but also registering with Ofstead, courses, maintaining equipment, anything else I've not thought of?

If anyone has any ball park figures it would help me a lot! Thank you.

I'm just starting up as a cm and in the early stages. I would suggest contacting your local authority. Mine (West Sussex) runs an info session before you have to commit to anything further which gives a rough idea of the costs - excluding things like car/household insurance. Here there is a £75 charge for the training day run by the local authority which covers that day, the crb check, access to non-qualification courses run by the authority til April (then has to be renewed) and application for a bursary to cover the cost of the CYPOP5 course which (from Sept) will have to be done before registration. The cost of the course at one local college is £130 or online via ncma is £190 (bursary will not cover all the cost of the online course). Then there is the 1st aid course - not sure on cost but I'm sure someone here will help. Ofsted reg is £35 a year. You need a health declaration from your doc which could be anything up to £80! Membership with ncma/public liabilty insurance package is £95. I haven't checked yet re car/contents insurance but I guess it varies. That excludes any extras you may need to purchase like stairgates or other safety equipment, first aid kits etc. I'm sure more experienced cm's will have alot more ideas but this is what we were told on the info session last week. hth

There's also ICO registration at £35 p.a,

Trudi your CRB is covered by Ofsted and is included in the cost of your application for registration. AFAIK it's not done by your LA.

My doctors form was £93, doctors can charge what they like, I did the ncma membership for a year but now just do Morton Michel insurance for £43 ish? Them there's the extra on your home insurance mine went up a lot when I became a childminder. Then advertising a lot of sites are free to advertise but my best advertising has been my website (£9.99 every 2 years for the site name and £2.99 a month) and a leaflet drop.

Thanks Flisspaps - I just know its not an extra for that on top! I'm still in the muddled first stages!!

Remember though other crb checks have to be paid for, I had mine paid for but had to pay for dh and 2 Dcs.

wish There's meant to be a cap of £87.50 on getting the medical form signed (unless it's gone up in the last 18m) so GPs can charge what they like up to the cap but no more. My GP wanted £87.50 so I changed to a nearer surgery that charged £35.

Keep all of your invoices/receipts for this stuff TeWi as it can go as an expense in your accounts.

thebody DH's was paid for by Ofsted too - my understanding is they pay for any over 16yo who lives with you.

Have just renewed my first aid and it cost £80, but the local early years team have just emailed everyone to say they are nolonger arrnaging them so childminders will have to sort themselves out - average having a quick google takes it up to £90 odd

Thanks all - very helpful and not as bad as I thought it might be!

I got the info on 1st Aid today and ranges from £65-£90 from the 4 providers. I was also told dh's crb would be covered (although I thought I was going to have to pay for both so one is better than nothing if it turns out that way.

Sorry yes fliss, had to pay for dsc not dh, story of my life...