Starting a Babysitting Business: Practical First Steps

Is a Babysitting Business In Your Future?

Picture this. A friend calls in a panic because their sitter cancelled. You step in, keep the kids safe, handle dinner, and even get them to bed on time. On the way home, you start thinking, “People pay for this all the time. Could I turn this into a real business?”

That’s the moment many babysitting business owners start from. You enjoy being around kids, people already trust you, and you see a way to earn income on your own terms. Before you dive in, you’ll want to look at the bigger picture. Are you ready to run a business, not just take the odd babysitting job?

• Are you doing this because you love working with children, or only because you’re trying to escape a job you dislike?
• Are you ready for irregular income, evening work, and being fully responsible for safety?
• Is your family on board with your schedule and commitments?

If you want help thinking that through, take time with Points to Consider Before Starting Your Business. It walks you through the realities of owning any business, not just babysitting.

Passion matters here. When things go wrong, passion keeps you looking for solutions instead of exits. You can dig deeper into that with How Passion Affects Your Business so you’re honest with yourself before you commit.

Is Babysitting the Right Business for You?

Babysitting looks simple from the outside. You show up, play with kids, collect your pay, and head home. In practice, you’re taking responsibility for children, dealing with different parenting styles, and walking into many different homes and situations.

So ask yourself what you’re moving toward. Do you enjoy caring for kids, even when they’re fussy, tired, or testing limits? Or are you mainly chasing flexible income? That difference will show up on the tough days.

• Talk to people already in the childcare field in another area so you won’t be in direct competition. Ask them what surprised them most and what they wish they had known at the start.
• Use resources like this guide to getting an inside look at a business to plan the questions you’ll ask.
• Be clear about the age groups you’re comfortable with. Caring for an infant is very different from supervising school-age kids.

If, after that, you feel more interested instead of discouraged, that’s a good sign you might be a fit for this type of work.

Remember, you don’t need every skill on day one. You can learn many childcare, business, and communication skills or bring in help for areas you’re not comfortable with, such as bookkeeping or website work.

What a Babysitting Business Actually Offers

A babysitting business is usually a small, owner-operated service. Most people start solo, working directly with families in the family’s home. As you grow, you might add a small team or move toward an agency model, but most startups begin with one person handling it all.

Your service is more than “watching kids.” You’re selling peace of mind. Parents want someone reliable, prepared, and calm under pressure. It helps to be clear about what you offer and who you serve before you start taking on work.

• Typical services include evening and weekend care, after-school care, occasional daytime coverage, and overnight stays in the family’s home.
• You may also offer homework support, simple meal preparation for the children, bedtime routines, and supervision at events such as weddings or family gatherings.
• Your customers are usually busy parents, single parents, and families with irregular schedules who need someone they can trust on short notice or on a regular basis.

There are trade-offs to consider. On the positive side, startup costs are usually low, you control your schedule, and you can start part-time. On the challenging side, income can fluctuate, your work often happens during evenings and weekends, and you carry responsibility every time you accept a booking.

Take a few minutes to write down what attracts you to this work and what concerns you. That simple step will help you decide if this is a good path or if you should look at another kind of business.

Choose How You’ll Run Your Babysitting Business

Next, you’ll decide what your babysitting business will look like in practice. This is where you think about your business model and how big you want to grow over time. Many people are happy staying small and local. Others see it as a first step toward a larger childcare company.

Right now, focus on your first stage. You can always adjust later as you gain experience and see what works for you and your market.

• Solo sitter: You do all the work yourself, serving a limited number of families you can handle personally.
• Partner or small team: You and one or two trusted sitters share bookings so you can cover more families and times.
• Agency-style: You arrange jobs for a group of sitters. You handle marketing and client relationships and send sitters to the homes. This model is more complex and usually needs more registrations, policies, and systems.

Most people start solo, often as a sole proprietor, and only move toward a more formal structure as demand grows. If you think you’ll stay small at first, you can reflect that in your funding, registration, and setup choices.

If you plan to grow into an agency with employees or contractors, it becomes more important to speak with advisors about legal structures, tax accounts, and insurance from the start.

Check Demand, Competition, and Profit Potential

Even a simple service business needs enough demand and enough profit to be worth your time. Babysitting is no different. You want to know that families in your area are looking for help and that they can pay rates that cover your costs and leave room for a reasonable income.

Instead of guessing, do some basic research. This doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should be deliberate.

• Look at how families in your area currently find sitters. Do they rely on friends, online platforms, local groups, or agencies?
• Note what others charge for similar services in your area and what’s included in those rates.
• Use this overview of supply and demand to think about how many sitters there are compared to how many families need help.
• Talk to a few parents you know and ask what they struggle with when finding childcare for evenings or special occasions.

Your goal is simple. You want to see that there’s enough demand in your area and that typical rates leave room to pay for training, supplies, travel, and your time.

If demand looks weak in your immediate area, you may still find a niche with special services, such as infant-only care, last-minute coverage, or event babysitting.

Estimate Startup Costs and Plan Equipment

Babysitting doesn’t require a commercial building or heavy equipment, but that doesn’t mean there are no startup costs. You’ll want to list what you need, attach pricing, and see the total before you move forward.

A structured approach can save you from surprises later. You can use this guide to estimating startup costs to walk through each category.

• Safety and health gear
  • Portable first aid kit with bandages, antiseptic wipes, and basic supplies.
  • Hand sanitizer and hand soap for regular handwashing when needed.
  • Disinfecting wipes or spray that’s safe for surfaces children use.
  • Disposable gloves for diaper changes and cleaning.
• Childcare supplies
  • Backup diapers in common sizes if parents do not always provide enough.
  • Wipes and diaper disposal bags.
  • Burp cloths or small towels.
  • Light blankets for naps when parents allow it.
• Activities and learning
  • Age-appropriate books and quiet games.
  • Coloring materials and simple art supplies.
  • Soft balls, building toys, or simple games for active play.
• Administrative tools
  • Reliable phone with a data plan.
  • Portable charger and charging cable.
  • Notebook or digital notes app to track visits, preferences, and incidents.
  • Digital calendar or scheduling system.
• Transportation (if you drive as part of the service)
  • Roadworthy vehicle with up-to-date registration and inspection.
  • Correct car seats and boosters when parents supply and approve them.
• Branding and communication
  • Business email address and dedicated phone number if you choose.
  • Business cards to hand out to families and contacts.
  • A simple website or profile that explains your services and area.

Once you list everything, attach pricing and add it up. That total tells you how much you need before you open your doors to clients.

If this process feels heavy, remember you can speak to professionals for help. You don’t have to guess at every detail yourself.

Build the Skills You Need (and Plan for Gaps)

You don’t have to be perfect to start, but you do need a safe skill base. Babysitting involves health, safety, and communication skills that you can learn and improve over time.

This is also where you think about what you’ll handle yourself and where you might bring in help, such as a bookkeeper, accountant, or web developer.

• Childcare skills
  • Understanding of basic child development by age group.
  • Safe infant care, including feeding, diapering, and sleep routines.
  • Behavior guidance for toddlers and children.
• Safety and health skills
  • Pediatric first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation from a recognized provider.
  • Safe cleaning and disinfection practices around children.
  • Emergency response, including when to contact parents or emergency services.
• Business and communication skills
  • Clear, calm communication with parents about expectations and incidents.
  • Time management and scheduling across multiple families.
  • Basic recordkeeping for income, expenses, and bookings.

If you’re missing some of these, that’s normal. You can take local courses, online classes, or ask someone more experienced to guide you.

The same idea applies to business skills. Use resources like building a team of professional advisors to see how accountants, lawyers, and other specialists can support you as you grow.

Choose a Business Structure and Handle Registrations

Even a small service business needs the right structure and registrations. Many babysitting businesses start very small and stay informal for a while. As you grow and the risk level rises, it often makes sense to formalize.

The rules for registration, licensing, and taxes vary by state and city, so think of this as a checklist, not legal advice. Use it to know what to research locally.

• Decide whether you’ll start as a sole proprietor under your own name or form a legal entity such as a limited liability company once you grow.
• Use this guide on how to register a business to understand the common steps in selecting a structure and filing with your state.
• Check state and local rules to see whether you need a general business license as a home-based service provider.
• Confirm when childcare licensing applies in your state, especially if you care for multiple unrelated children in your own home.
• Review whether you need a federal Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service for your chosen structure or if you plan to hire staff.

If you’re not comfortable dealing with forms and agencies, that’s fine. Many accountants, lawyers, and startup consultants handle registrations for a living. The important thing is that the work gets done correctly, not that you do every step yourself.

Always use official government websites and, when needed, a qualified professional to confirm what applies in your state and city.

Create a Simple Business Plan and Pricing Strategy

Babysitting may be simple, but the money still matters. A basic business plan helps you stay focused on who you serve, what you offer, and how you’ll make enough to cover your costs and pay yourself.

You don’t need a long formal document to get value from planning. A short plan you actually use is more useful than a thick binder you never open.

• Use this guide on how to write a business plan to outline your services, target families, startup costs, and basic financial goals.
• List your expected monthly expenses, including training, supplies, transport, phone, and insurance.
• Estimate how many hours you expect to work in a typical week and what you need to earn per hour to reach your income goal.
• Use the guide on pricing your products and services to set hourly rates, surcharges for evenings or holidays, and any minimum booking time.

Writing this down keeps you honest. You can see if your plan depends on working hours you don’t actually want or on rates that are far above what families in your area can pay.

Keep your plan close and update it as you learn more. It’s there to guide you, not to impress anyone.

Set Up Banking, Insurance, and Professional Support

Once you decide on your structure, it’s time to separate your personal and business finances and think about protection. Even a small babysitting business benefits from clear records and a basic risk plan.

That doesn’t mean you need complex systems on day one. Start simple and add to it as you grow.

• Open a business bank account once you have your registrations and, if needed, your Employer Identification Number.
• Decide how you’ll track income and expenses. Some people use basic spreadsheets, while others prefer bookkeeping software.
• Review your personal insurance policies to see how they treat paid childcare and talk to an insurance professional about general liability and, if you drive children, your auto coverage.
• Use this guide on business insurance to understand what types of coverage are common for small service businesses.
• Meet with a tax professional early so you understand how to handle estimated tax payments and what records to keep.

If you plan to grow, consider building relationships with advisors now. A short meeting with the right specialist can prevent problems later.

You can keep your initial setup lean, but it’s worth doing the basics correctly from the start.

Choose Your Business Name, Branding, and Website

Your name and image affect how families see your babysitting business. A simple, clear name is enough at the start, but you want something that fits your area and audience and is easy to remember.

Once you choose a name, you can build out the basics: a matching web address if you plan a site, simple branding, and professional contact details.

• Use this guide on selecting a business name to choose something that fits your service and is available for use.
• Check if the name is free in your state, for web domains, and on key social platforms.
• Create a basic corporate identity using this corporate identity guide so your logo, cards, and documents share the same look.
• Consider a simple website that states who you are, what you offer, and how to contact you. This plan for building a website can help you think through the steps.
• Use this overview of business cards if you plan to hand them out at schools, events, or through friends and family.

Your goal here is not fancy design. It’s clarity. Parents should be able to tell at a glance what you do and whether you serve their area and age group.

If you’re not comfortable with design or web tools, this is an easy area to outsource so you can focus on childcare and client relationships.

Design Your Booking System, Policies, and Paperwork

Before you take on paying clients, decide how bookings will work and what rules you’ll follow. Clear policies protect you and give families confidence in your professionalism.

Policies don’t have to be complicated. They just need to be clear, written down, and shared before you start working.

• Create a short agreement that covers services you offer, your rates, payment terms, cancellation rules, and what happens if parents return late.
• Include what you expect in the home: who will be present, pets, smoking rules, and any safety points that matter to you.
• Set up a form for emergency contacts, allergies, medical needs, and routines for each child.
• Decide how you’ll confirm bookings. That could be an email, text, or booking software, as long as dates, times, and locations are clear.
• Plan how you’ll record incidents or injuries, even minor ones, so you can share accurate information with parents.

Having this ready before you start sends a strong message. It shows that you take both safety and professionalism seriously.

If you’re unsure how to structure agreements, a local lawyer can review or draft one for you so you’re confident it fits your situation and local rules.

Plan Your Day-to-Day Work and a Typical Day

It’s easier to prepare for a babysitting business when you can picture a normal day. While every schedule is different, there are patterns you can expect once you’re working regularly.

Thinking through a day in advance helps you set your availability, pricing, and energy levels so you don’t overpromise.

• Morning
  • Check messages and confirm any bookings for the day or evening.
  • Review notes for each family you’ll see, including routines and special needs.
  • Restock your babysitting bag with first aid items, wipes, and activities.
• Afternoon
  • Travel to after-school jobs, allowing for traffic and parking time.
  • Help with snacks and homework if that’s part of your service.
  • Communicate with parents about evening plans or any changes.
• Evening
  • Prepare simple meals for the children as agreed.
  • Lead playtime, calm activities, and bedtime routines.
  • Tidy child-related areas before parents return.
  • Record the visit in your notes and track payment status.

On top of that, you’ll spend regular time each week on scheduling, planning, updating your records, and staying in touch with families.

This is still a small, owner-operated business at this stage. You’re handling care, communication, and basic administration yourself.

Pre-Launch: Test, Refine, and Spread the Word

Before you announce your babysitting business widely, it can help to run a quiet test phase. A short trial with a few families lets you see what works and what needs adjusting.

This doesn’t have to be formal. The point is to learn and improve before you rely on the business for your main income.

• Start with a small group of families you already know or those referred by someone you trust.
• Use your agreements, forms, and policies with them so you can see how they work in real life.
• Pay attention to any confusion, delays, or safety concerns and adjust your systems.
• Set up basic invoicing and payment processes so everyone is clear on when and how payment happens.
• Ask for honest feedback about what parents liked and what they found confusing.

When you’re ready to step out of the test phase, you can invest a bit more in marketing. That might mean improving your website, handing out cards, or asking satisfied clients for referrals.

You can also review this guide on mistakes to avoid when starting a small business to check for common issues before you fully launch.

Final Pre-Opening Checklist

At this point, you’ve done the thinking, planning, and setup. Before you consider yourself “open for business,” run through a quick checklist so you don’t miss anything important.

Take your time with this step. It’s easier to fix gaps now than once you’re busy with regular bookings.

• Personal readiness
  • You’re clear on why you’re starting this business and what you expect from it.
  • Your family understands the schedule and safety responsibilities involved.
• Legal and financial basics
  • You’ve chosen a business structure and dealt with any required registrations in your state and city.
  • You’ve set up a business bank account and a simple method to track income and expenses.
  • You’ve spoken with an insurance professional about coverage for your situation.
• Operations and safety
  • Your babysitting bag is stocked with safety supplies, cleaning items, and age-appropriate activities.
  • Your first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training is current, or you’re enrolled to complete it.
  • You have clear written policies and emergency contact forms.
• Branding and marketing
  • Your name, contact details, and any website or profiles are ready and accurate.
  • You have business cards or a digital card ready to share.
  • You have a simple plan for how you’ll let people know you’re open for bookings.

A babysitting business is usually a small-scale operation that you can start on your own with careful planning and realistic expectations. As you grow, you can always bring in more help, adjust your structure, and refine your services.

The important thing is that you start with safety, clarity, and the willingness to keep learning. From there, you can build a solid, trusted service one family at a time.

101 Tips for Running Your Babysitting Business

Running a babysitting business is more than enjoying time with children; you are also running a service that families rely on.

These tips are designed for first-time entrepreneurs in the United States who want to treat babysitting as a real business, not just casual work.

Use them to plan, operate, and improve your service so it stays safe, professional, and sustainable over time.

What to Do Before Starting

1. Clarify why you want to run a babysitting business, and make sure your main reason is that you like working with children and want control over your work, not just a quick escape from another job.
2. Review your weekly schedule and decide honestly how many evenings, weekends, and holidays you are willing to work, because demand is often highest when other people are off.
3. Talk to local parents to learn how often they need sitters, what they struggle to find, and what they usually pay, so you understand demand and typical rates in your area.
4. Decide which age groups you are comfortable caring for and whether you are willing to support children with special needs, since these choices shape your training, policies, and pricing.
5. Complete a pediatric first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation course from a recognized provider so you can respond to emergencies with infants and children, and renew it on the schedule recommended by the course provider.
6. Consider a structured babysitting or child care class that covers feeding, diapering, safety, and emergency response so you start with tested best practices instead of trial and error.
7. Review your state’s child care licensing information to understand when occasional babysitting becomes regulated child care, especially if you plan to care for several unrelated children or work from your own home.
8. List your likely startup costs, including training, safety supplies, transportation, and business registration, and make sure you have funds set aside so you are not relying on your first few bookings to cover them.
9. Choose an initial business model, such as solo sitter, small partnership, or agency style, because your choice affects how complex your operations, registrations, and recordkeeping will be.
10. Decide where you will work most of the time—clients’ homes, your own home, or event venues—and check which of those settings might trigger additional local rules or insurance needs.
11. Interview child care providers or babysitters in other neighborhoods or towns to learn about typical challenges, risks, and rewards before you commit your time and savings.
12. Discuss your plans with your household so everyone understands the evening and weekend schedule, safety responsibilities, and the need for quiet time before or after late jobs.

What Successful Babysitting Business Owners Do

13. Arrive a few minutes early for every job to allow time for updates from parents and a quick safety scan, which builds trust and reduces rushed decisions.
14. Keep certifications and training current by planning refreshers before they expire so your skills and paperwork are always ready when parents ask about them.
15. Maintain a dedicated babysitting bag with first aid items, hygiene supplies, and age-appropriate activities so you show up prepared for different situations.
16. Use a simple system to record each family’s routines, allergies, and preferences, and review it before every visit so you never rely only on memory.
17. Set clear personal boundaries around tasks such as heavy cleaning, pet care, or transporting children, and communicate them calmly so families know what to expect.
18. Follow consistent routines with children—such as snack, play, and bedtime steps—while respecting each family’s rules, which helps kids feel secure and cooperative.
19. Give parents a brief, factual update after each visit so they know how the time went and feel confident scheduling you again.
20. Limit how many late nights you accept each week so you can show up rested and attentive, instead of being exhausted and more likely to miss safety details.
21. Focus on building strong relationships with a core group of families, because repeat bookings are usually more stable and efficient than constantly chasing new clients.
22. Review your services every few months and notice which jobs you enjoy and handle well, then lean into those strengths instead of trying to be everything to everyone.

Running the Business (Operations, Staffing, SOPs)

23. Create a written checklist for each visit that includes arrival steps, a quick home safety review, key routines, and closing tasks so your work stays consistent across families.
24. Use a calendar or scheduling app to record every booking and block out travel time between homes so you do not accidentally double-book yourself.
25. Build a standard onboarding process for new families that includes an initial phone call, an information form, and a first visit procedure so every relationship starts in the same organized way.
26. Keep each family’s emergency contacts, health information, and key instructions stored together in a secure place so you can access them quickly if something happens.
27. Define how you will handle doorbells, deliveries, and unexpected visitors while you are babysitting, and follow the same approach in every home for safety.
28. Write out your rules for giving medications, including the need for written instructions from parents and clear documentation of timing and doses, and follow any state guidance that applies to you.
29. Plan meals and snacks only within the limits set by parents and allergy information, and avoid introducing new high-risk foods without explicit permission.
30. If you bring in additional sitters, get professional advice on whether they are employees or independent contractors so you handle payroll taxes and liability correctly.
31. Confirm each booking in writing at least a day in advance, restating the date, address, start time, end time, and number of children so there is no confusion.
32. Record your hours and payments in the same format every time so you can track income, spot missed payments, and prepare for taxes more easily.
33. Keep an incident log where you briefly note any falls, behavior issues, or unusual events you need to discuss with parents later, so details are not forgotten.
34. Clean and disinfect the toys, books, and supplies you take from home to home using methods consistent with guidance for child care settings.
35. Protect sensitive client information by limiting who can access it and by using passwords or locked storage instead of leaving notes in public view.
36. Check local zoning and home-business rules if you ever provide care in your own home so you understand any limits on traffic, signage, or group size.
37. Keep a short list of trusted sitters or colleagues you can refer jobs to when you are booked, which helps families find care and builds goodwill in your network.

What to Know About the Industry (Rules, Seasons, Supply, Risks)

38. Learn how your state defines licensed child care so you know when regular babysitting arrangements cross the line into care that must meet licensing standards.
39. Identify which state agency oversees child care licensing, and check its website for plain-language explanations of requirements for home-based providers.
40. Expect demand to rise during school breaks, teacher workdays, and holidays when regular programs are closed, and plan your schedule and pricing accordingly.
41. Prepare for more last-minute requests and cancellations during illness seasons, and decide in advance how you will handle changes that come with little notice.
42. Follow national health guidance on handwashing and hygiene in early care settings, because families pay close attention to how you manage germs and cleanliness.
43. Recognize that the biggest risks in babysitting often involve supervision lapses around water, streets, stairs, or playground equipment, so your procedures should be strongest in these areas.
44. Understand that many families expect standards similar to licensed providers, such as background checks and training, even if the law does not require them for casual babysitting.
45. Remember that liability is a real business risk when working with children, and factor that into your decisions about insurance, policies, and which jobs you accept.
46. Know that the supply of babysitters changes as students move, graduate, or change schedules, so staying reliable and consistent is a strong advantage.
47. Track patterns in your own work year by year so you understand your personal busy seasons instead of relying only on general industry patterns.

Marketing (Local, Digital, Offers, Community)

48. Define your ideal families by location, children’s ages, and typical schedules so your marketing speaks directly to the people you want to serve.
49. Write a short description of your services that highlights safety training, experience levels, and the age ranges you handle best, and use that same wording in all materials.
50. Start marketing with your existing circles by telling friends, neighbors, and colleagues that you are taking on clients, and ask them to share your details with parents they know.
51. Create a profile on one or two reputable babysitting or neighborhood platforms rather than many, so you can keep your information accurate and respond quickly to inquiries.
52. Use clear, professional photos that show you as approachable and responsible, avoiding any images of specific clients’ children to protect privacy.
53. Offer a limited-time introductory discount or shorter first session so cautious parents can try your service with less risk.
54. Ask satisfied parents for short written testimonials you can quote, using only first names and general locations, not exact addresses or school names.
55. Print business cards with your name, contact information, and a simple service line, and keep them with you at community events and activities frequented by parents.
56. Introduce yourself to staff at local preschools, after-school programs, and activity centers, and ask about appropriate ways to let families know about your services.
57. Highlight your training, background checks, and experience honestly in your marketing, making sure every claim can be supported if a parent asks for proof.
58. Build a simple website or information page where families can read about your services, policies, and availability even when you are not available to talk.
59. Share useful child safety or activity ideas on social media so parents see you as a resource, not just someone selling babysitting hours.
60. Record how each new family heard about you, and focus more time on the channels that consistently bring in good clients.
61. Review your marketing materials at least once a year to update training, experience, rates, and any changes in your service area.

Dealing with Customers (Trust, Education, Retention)

62. Use the first call or meeting with a new family to ask about routines, discipline approaches, screen time rules, and any house rules that matter to them.
63. Request a walk-through of the home on your first visit so you can see exits, bedrooms, bathrooms, and any off-limit spaces before the parents leave.
64. Ask parents for written details about medications, allergies, and medical conditions so you have clear instructions to follow if something happens.
65. Confirm every booking in writing with the date, address, start time, end time, and number of children so there is no room for misunderstanding.
66. Send a short summary after each job that covers meals, sleep, activities, and any issues so parents are not left guessing what happened while they were away.
67. If a child has special needs, ask parents what signs of stress to watch for and which calming strategies work best, and note these so you can use them consistently.
68. Set a clear process for extending bookings, such as a text confirmation and updated end time, so both you and the parents know what is expected if plans change.
69. Recognize repeat families as your core clients by learning their routines deeply and being as consistent as possible with how you care for their children.
70. When problems occur, explain calmly what happened, what you did at the time, and what you are changing to reduce the chance of it happening again.
71. Ask trusted parents occasionally what they value most about your service and what they would change, and use that feedback to refine how you work.

Customer Service (Policies, Guarantees, Feedback)

72. Write a clear cancellation policy that explains how far in advance families should cancel and when fees apply, and share it before they book you.
73. Set a late-return policy that explains when extra time becomes billable and at what rate, while leaving room for genuine emergencies handled case by case.
74. Decide how you will handle non-payment or delayed payment before it happens, and document your steps so you can follow them without emotion when needed.
75. Explain your safety rules—such as keeping personal phone use minimal and never leaving children unattended—so parents know what you prioritize while on duty.
76. Consider offering a simple first-time guarantee, such as a partial credit toward a future session if the family feels you did not follow agreed instructions.
77. Keep a record of positive comments, notes, and text messages from families so you can draw on real phrases when updating your marketing later.
78. Develop a standard approach to complaints that starts with listening fully, restating what you heard, and then offering a concrete step to improve things.
79. Notice which policies generate the most confusion, and adjust your wording or how you explain them so parents understand them more easily.
80. Give families advance notice when you tighten or change a policy, and explain the reason, such as safety concerns or repeated last-minute changes.

Sustainability (Waste, Sourcing, Long-Term)

81. Choose sturdy, reusable toys, books, and activity supplies so you are not constantly throwing away broken items or single-use materials.
82. Plan your daily routes between homes and errands so you reduce unnecessary driving, which saves fuel costs and time you can spend on paid work.
83. Schedule regular time off, including some evenings and weekends, so you can rest and return to work alert and patient with the children you supervise.
84. Set aside a portion of each payment into separate savings for taxes and slower seasons so your business can survive booking dips without panic.
85. Invest in quality safety equipment and up-to-date training rather than relying on outdated skills or low-quality supplies that may fail when needed.
86. Review your rates at least once a year to reflect rising costs, added experience, and new certifications so your income keeps pace with your effort.
87. Write down where you want your business to be in three to five years and check your current jobs against that direction so you do not drift away from your goals.

Staying Informed (Trends, Sources, Cadence)

88. Sign up for updates from national health or child care organizations so you hear about new guidance on topics like handwashing, illness, and cleaning practices.
89. Check your state’s child care licensing information a few times a year so you know about any changes that might affect home-based providers or regular babysitting arrangements.
90. Follow reputable training providers so you can enroll in new babysitting or child care courses that deepen your skills and keep your resume current.
91. Join local or online groups for childcare professionals, and use them to hear about trends and challenges while always double-checking important claims with official sources.
92. Review your emergency procedures, first aid knowledge, and safety routines every few months so you stay ready for rare but serious events.
93. Keep a short file or notebook of helpful guides, checklists, and articles about child care business practices so you can revisit them when planning changes.

Adapting to Change (Seasonality, Shocks, Competition, Tech)

94. Track your bookings month by month so you can see real patterns in busy and slow periods, then adjust your savings and availability based on those numbers.
95. Create backup plans for common disruptions, such as weather events, school closures, or transportation issues, so you are not starting from zero when they happen.
96. When new babysitters or agencies enter your area, focus on improving your skills, communication, and reliability instead of reacting with sudden price cuts.
97. Test simple technology tools such as scheduling apps or secure messaging services to reduce back-and-forth and keep parent communication in one place.
98. After any major disruption to your business, review what went well and what did not, then update your checklists and procedures so you are better prepared next time.

What Not to Do

99. Do not accept jobs where you feel unsure about safety, whether it is the environment, the people present, or requests that conflict with your standards for supervising children.
100. Do not exaggerate or invent certifications, background checks, or experience, because parents often verify these details and trust can be lost in a single incident.
101. Do not ignore signs of exhaustion or resentment; adjust your workload, rates, or service focus before long-term stress pushes you away from a business you could otherwise enjoy.

Sources: American Red Cross, CDC, ChildCare.gov, U.S. Small Business Administration, Child Care Aware of America, American Public Health Association, Internal Revenue Service