Am registered but very much a newbie need help!!

[littlenutmegs]

I have been registered since August but have yet to get business off the ground. Due to some domestic problems went to work whilst waiting for certificate to come then when it did kept puttingit off getting started. I have now got a plan to start for July but need some support with what to do next really.

I still have to send my form off to NCMA to get my insurance and pack, which I plan to do this weekend. I then plan to advertise heavily from then on. Not sure how to proceed after that is it just sit back and wait for the phone to ring?

I am hoping to sign a couple of mindees up before I give notice at work so hopefully will not drop too much in money between transistion.

I was wondering if any of you had any advise you could offer me or have you been in a similar situation??

[Pauline]

If you are planning to start in July I would get some posters up offering school holiday care, many parents have to start planning for the long holidays well in advance and if you are advertising then you could get noticed.

If you are able to offer early starts or late evenings that will stand you in good stead as lots of holiday clubs etc. don't start early enough for parents who go to work at 7.30 - 8 am or stay open late enough for those who work till 6 or 7 pm

Don't forget to make sure you are on the Children's Information Service website, that is one of the main places you will get work from. Make sure your entry sounds good as this is the first impression of you that many parents will get, so spelling mistakes and poor grammar can make a big difference!!

There are quite a few threads on here regarding advertising that might help you and I've just added another idea called Getting Business - Idea, which might be of interest.

Good luck, let us know how you get on and do ask if you have more questions, we love to help if we can.