Freelance parents - what's your dream childcare scenario - top 10 wish list

[semi]

I am a marketing/BD/creative -I think I've come up with what I think is a brand new concept in childcare that would allow working freelance mas and pas like me/you to work and look after their little ones - eg in an adjacent room. So the kind of kids cafe with a twist for you in that you've got an official 'office'....albeit it temporary - and visibility of/opportunity to network with others.

Would you be prepared to purchase something like this?

What kind of services would it need to provide?

How often do you think you'd use it?

Would be great to see if there are parents out there who would derive benefit from something like this.

thanks in advance - semi

People fall into two camps with this idea: those that think it's the best idea in the world and those that see no need for it whatsoever! I've been researching a similar idea down in Brighton (albeit as a social enterprise that would use skills/facilities/profits to support women without qualifications who wanted to start their own businesses).

The devil's not so much in the detail as the numbers. The charge for hotdesking space + the cost of childcare starts to make it too expensive to have mass appeal, so I think you need different levels of charging structure depending on type of customer, and supplementary income being generated from the space. Both are feasible.

Location's key, because you need accessibility (parking/public transport), access to alternate income sources and cost-effective premises.

Unfortunately I'm just too busy to push it forward because I launched my own business last year and have 3 small children, but I'm convinced there's mileage in it. It's just getting the costs and pricing right, although in london you may find people far less cost-sensitive.

offer 9.30am to 2.3opm nanny childcare thinking that would be great for mums that work from home etc but never got any interest? I thought self employed mums would be quite keen.... maybe I am not advertising in right places, any suggestions?