Making a real go & the most at CM'in business

[Cwmbranchildminder]

Advice from all u experienced CM'er

I am newly starting out but wanted your advice on how to make a real go at my business.
Long term my husband wants to work as a CM from home with me & I know we'd make a fab team - but thats in the future as I need to have the demand firstly.
My friend has mentioned working for me? How does that work? Im sure you dont get more children if she is just an assistant but pls correct me if im wrong? How do u work out paying an assistant?
I know Katymac is very successful and would love to aim to do the same?
How long do u think it takes to become establised? Do u think its feasable working as a husband wife team? and earning enough to make a living?
All views comments advice help welcome

Well I am 3.5 yrs in

Last year I made less than £6K

I like working with DH but I'm glad we don't work 5x10hr days together - you might be different

I don't have any under 5's myself (dd is 9...today)

I think DH would have to register to get the extra children then you could use an assistant (that's what we did)

when u say less than 6k is that after all expenses taking into accoutn?
how much would u pay an assistant?

Yep

I pay min wages for assistants and hger for childminders

katymac thought you had been going longer!!
i was going to employ staff but its too much hassle
working with your dh could work well for you i hope the demand is high for you soon

I'm not a childminder, but my dd's cms are a married couple.

They seem to be making a living out of it (couple of foreign holidays a year, nice house), but of course, I don't know anything about their financial status.No assistants as far as I've seen. They are registered for up to 12 children , but of course that depends on the ages concerned.

Both are registered. He has a minibus, and does the school run in the mornings and afternoons, they look after pre-schoolers during the day. We pay upwards of £100 a month for the school run, and the minibus is full most days.Add to that a few preschoolers (at least one is pretty much full time from what I've seen). If they have paid for their house or it's a council house, then that seems like a fairly healthy income. (Obviously generalising a bit here).

ok thanks for that bit of info!
Think it will work with dh if I have the demand. May well put off an assistant as it does seem to be a lot of hassle and dishing money out when they are not adding to the number of children I can have.

i am allowed 6 under 5's with an assistant!

oh thats interesting - have u got a big hse though?

3 bed semi? gets crowded at times. Must say though.......... got a couple going soon and am not replacing. earn more without the asst.

If you are registered for three under 5s, and assuming that you have enough space, having an assistant (not another registered childminder as such) means that you could have a total of six children under 5 - but you wouldn't be able to have any in the 5 - 8 years bracket. My dh and dds are registered as my assistants, but only really to cover for any emergencies or school holidays (when my dds are around). My dh can also work from home for odd days if I'm asked to have an extra child as a one-off. (I'm still the one doing the childcare, but he's physically in the house sending good vibes through the walls!) As brilliant as my dh is with children, I would go mental working with him because he wouldn't want to do things my way!!

In terms of getting established - I think you can obviously make that happen sooner if you are out and about promoting yourself (toddler groups, local schools/nurseries etc). You obviously get better known the longer you are childminding, and you certainly need to be known for being a reputable minder. I also became a mentor for new minders, local vacancy co-ordinator, and am on county committee, which all makes you sound Really Important and positive. And it means everybody knows your name (and is probably sick to death of it too!)

I couldn't earn as much money as I do childminding if I went out and got a grown-up job. If I was on my own, I could certainly support myself and dds.

thanks for that TP.
I get kind of worried when people say they are only earning 6 to 8 grand - cos I know of a couple of cm's near me doing extremly well. I know I wont earn mega to start but I need more than the above!