by admin | Sep 16, 2022 | Blog, Uncategorized
It’s that back-to-school vibe here at Childcare Ninjas and right now we’ve got a focus on systems. And you KNOW I am all about using systems to bring bigger and better success into our childcare businesses. So how can we use systems to get more clients?
In this blog post I’m going to share with you how it’s possible and tell you exactly why you need to get systems in place right now!
What do you mean by “systems”, Nyckie?!
Systems are the things you put in place to keep you organized! Whether that’s automations or just a paper process, it’s important that you have something in place. Particularly if you need to have time off at any point. And systems are a huge reason why I’ve been able to grow my business over the years.
Your Daily operations, Vendor and Supplier management, Billing, Marketing, Curriculum and teaching roster, Profit and finance, Taxes, and managing your space all require some sort of system. Not to mention why we’re here today: Client onboarding & Client management!
Do systems really save you time?
I can hear you questioning whether this whole “systems” malarkey is any good! But I’d ask you another question in return – how long are things taking you right now?
After 15 years of running a home day care and multiple childcare businesses, I can say with all my heart that they reaaaaaaaaaaaallllly do! Having systems in your childcare saves you time and money and I’m so aware of how precious a commodity time is to us as business owners. We don’t have much of it, do we?! So why spend hours on something manual and stressful when you can get a system in place to speed things up and take it off your To Do list?
How can I use systems to get more clients?
You should be bearing enrollment in mind all year round. You shouldn’t just be on the hunt for clients when you find a family is moving away taking 4 of your 6 kiddos with them, or when 2 or 3 families have kids reaching school age and no longer need you…leaving you with no kids in your care. It’s time to get systems in place!
You can have an active waitlist of families who are looking for childcare set up. Let me show you how! No more freaking out when someone leaves! Have a family ready and waiting…
Use a marketing funnel to grow a waitlist
Don’t panic – it sounds much more complex than it actually is! Building a waitlist for those quieter times by setting up a funnel just means having an email list that you can then filter to separate out people who want and need a place in your day care.
You can offer tips and resources in exchange for the emails of potential clients. These are usually really handy things they’ve been on the look out for. They sign up for their freebie, agreeing that they want to keep in touch with you. And then you add their email to your list, opening up a super valuable line of communication.
Then you can send emails out to your list informing them of upcoming open day events, availability of spaces and keep them in the loop about your childcare facilities and any news. Ultimately, you want to stay relevant and in the forefront of the minds of your local families.
And I’ve got just the thing you need because…
…Childcare Ninjas have kickass systems to get more clients they’ll love!
What if you could create and implement systems into your business which free you up not just to work but to give you more time for your other passions?! When done properly, using systems can help you buy back your time and give you freedom to make more of those cherished memories you spent all summer making – but year round!
You can get access to incredible resources that’ll help you get systems started RIGHT NOW!
There’s even copy you can swipe for your funnel and templates for the lead magnet itself!! Plus videos to show you how to do it all.
And if you want MORE, creating systems that work is one of the trainings we cover in detail inside
The Childcare Flip Course. We’ll be opening up for the next cohort in a few weeks! So I’m sharing the link here for you to take a look and get ready to learn how to BUY BACK YOUR TIME Ninja!
Catch my live trainings on Thursday nights over in my free
Facebook group.
Join us in there and get connected with other childcare owners. Every week we’ll move your childcare
business forward by with tips and ideas! Hang out with like-minded and aspirational day care owners as well as resources and tips for success from me! Or if you prefer
Instagram, we share ideas and tonnes of other stuff there too.
We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup!
by admin | Mar 1, 2021 | Blog, Uncategorized
By now you’ll know that I believe systems and processes have a truly significant role in building your childcare business. They’re key to you growing and up-levelling! In the last 15 years, my main learning from being a childcare business owner has been that systems equals success!
Some of the most important factors of implementing systems in your business are to improve efficiency and organization. This is what enables you to monitor and manage your staff whilst staying connected to the operational strategies of the business. And you can keep taking a step back to make sure everything is working and in sync to help you achieve your vision.
Let’s take a look at why systems equal success…
Why do you rave about systems, Nyckie?
Because they work!! (Can I get an amen?!) No matter what size your childcare business is, it no doubt includes multiple systems working together to achieve your goals. Systems and processes are essential to your business’ success, especially when it comes to growth. If you don’t have these to lean on then your growth will be super hard to achieve.
Trust me! To ensure you can train employees and delegate responsibilities, to offer a consistent high quality service, make sure things run smoothly in your day-to-day, you need systems!
Setting up systems is all well and good BUT if they don’t actually work, then what’s the point? 🤷🏾♀️
I recommend that you go over your systems at least every 6 months. Analyze and review them, make sure every part of the system is working towards its purpose. Once you’ve gone through the hard work of setting up all your systems, it can be very easy to put them on the back-burner and forget all about them. But we need to check in from time to time, to look at what’s working and what needs adjusting. As your business grows it’s to be expected that your systems need to adapt too.
In the generic biz world, they call this “System analysis”. Which is, essentially, studying a system or its parts in order to identify its objectives. Does it do its job properly? It’s basically a problem solving technique that helps you improve the system and ensures that all the components of the system work efficiently to accomplish their purpose. Analysis specifies what the system should do. I talk more about it here.
Optimize your childcare business processes
It’s important that you take time to understand the entire system in order to make changes to simplify the steps involved. By using a systems perspective, you can remove unnecessary steps and find effective short cuts which can save your childcare business money (and who doesn’t want to do that, right?!). You want to optimize your systems for ultimate success, not keep things as they’ve always been.
Think about it! What worked brilliantly when you had an in-home daycare with 4 children isn’t necessarily going to do the job when you’re set up in your first location. What worked for 3 team members, is unlikely to work when you’ve got multiple locations and several teams. So do take some time and go through your systems one by one and check if they need to grow with you so you can get to that next level of success.
Problem solving instead of problem dodging
One of the benefits of analyzing your systems—picking it apart and then adjusting as needed—is that your problem solving skills will improve. Instead of avoiding complexity, a systems approach helps you see problems as exciting opportunities. These problems offer potential ways to innovate and develop your creativity. If something isn’t working, what can you do to improve that element of the system? Brainstorm and think outside the box!
And this has a knock-on effect with your team. They see you modelling leadership from a problem solving angle, and it has an impact on the way they approach tasks too! Rather than shy away from difficult issues, your staff turn into active problem solvers. They also feel safer to try new ways of thinking because they can trust your systems.
Are your systems helping you achieve your objectives?
Another thing to consider is where you want to be—what’s your bigger vision?—and to see if your systems are leading to that goal. You want to be working a few steps ahead so that you’re ready for what’s coming.
When you only address one part of the problem, you’ll likely never find a long-term solution. By taking a step back, and looking at the interconnected dynamics of the system, you’ll discover a better way of organizing your business.
Systems thinking can help you revolutionize your childcare business across every aspect. If you put the systems approach to work in your childcare—however large or small!—a better and more efficient business could be right around the corner. And that means more revenue!
So, repeat after me: Systems = Success! Unless of course, they’re not working!
I’d love to know what the biggest change you’ve had to make in your childcare business is, as it’s grown? How did you manage to navigate it? Which of your systems needed adapting? Come and join in the conversation about systems over in the Childcare Ninja Facebook group!
And I have an awesome freebie, specially designed by my team of business ninjas to help you sort out your systems! Because smart systems in your business result in Success! So what are you waiting for?! Download your FREE Sassy Systems Workbook today!
We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Interested in becoming a part of the community? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for biz ideas and to take a sneak peek behind the scenes!
by admin | Feb 18, 2021 | Blog, Uncategorized
Last week I was talking about financial systems, but this week I’m focusing in on the general ones you need to have in place for your childcare business. I know I have mentioned systems before, but there’s a reason why I’m a huge advocate—THEY WORK!
When I implemented systems into my day cares, I was able to take a breath, and then begin to up my game! We’re halfway through quarter 1, and there’s still plenty of time to get around to organising your own so you can have your best year yet!
Hands up if you’re ready to get systematizing for a super successful 2021? If you’re in, read on!
What’s so great about systematizing?
What isn’t there to love about getting systems in place?! Who doesn’t want to have processes that will help you get organized and help your staff become more independent?!
Nailing your systematizing means you can take time off to relax, to follow your passions, all without guilt. No longer will you spend days out of office worrying about how everyone’s coping without you, leaving your cell phone on just in case. You’ll be able to take a deep breath and walk out of the day care center knowing that you’ve got things covered!
It’s good for everyone if you can de-stress — your staff will feel more empowered and valued and your business is bound to flourish! I’d love to encourage you to plan and brainstorm around creating your systems for a successful 2021.
Why start now?
We’re mid-February which I know is only a short month, but we’ve still got plenty of time! This really is the best time to start putting systems in place if you haven’t yet got around to it because we’re still early on in the year.
So I’d love to encourage you to start the year strong, you’ve probably already created your vision for the year and set your goals so systems come next to turn those into action steps. It’s an ideal time to do it at the beginning of the year as we have other planning going on as well so it makes sense to take some time and brainstorm.
Assess what you’ve already got in place
Look at what you have in place right now, what’s not working, how you’d like to see it work in 2021 and begin making changes.
Break down all the steps and processes that you have in place, adding in the things you’d like to improve. Now you’ve got a plan and a sort of flow chart to guide you through each area of your business. If you need a guide to help you with this process, download your free childcare business map here and get started building your systems.
So let’s take a step back, get some perspective and look at the systems we have in place. Note down all those little tasks – cleaning toys, writing a menu, invoicing clients…everything! What’s working? What’s not? Dig in and start making some changes.
Once you’ve got your systems all laid out, it’s time to call a staff meeting and get everyone singing from the same hymn sheet!
Up-level your organization NOW!
The systems are what’s going to help you reach your goals in 2021, the earlier the better. It’s already February, so let’s do it now! Let’s up-level those systems to create success in our Childcare business this year.
And there are so many brilliant ways you can get organized nowadays. From apps to incredible planners, you can get everything sorted out and in order! Systems don’t have to be stressful. But they can help you take your business to the next level!
So what’s stopping you from getting systems in place?
Would you like to chat with me about taking your childcare business to the next level? I’ve been where you are and I can help you grow much faster than I ever did, because I now have the road map. I’ve been coaching women like you and I have seen the progress they’ve made in a short space of time. You can too! All you have to do is book a free discovery call with me, Nyckie B here!
Come and let us know over in the Childcare Ninja Facebook group! I’m sharing tips on setting those systems up so you can actually grow your childcare business.
We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Interested in becoming a part of the community? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
by admin | Feb 5, 2021 | Blog, Uncategorized
February is well and truly here! It’s usually a chaotic month due to getting our taxes in order, so why not use this time to fix-up our finance systems? We’re still fresh in the year, and only just getting started — it’s the perfect time to revamp your systems!
Take some time out over the next couple of weeks to really analyse your current systems. Delve into what’s working, what is not working. Could you make things slicker and easier to manage?
In this post I’m going to share some practical tips for revitalizing your finance systems, read on if you’re ready to take action now!
Why do systems matter?
By getting systems all set up, you’re getting processes in place that will help you get more organized. It’s important that you can keep on top of finances, so having systems in place will help you find things at the drop of a hat. If a client asks you something, you can find the answer. When it comes to tax returns, all your information and data is in order. It keeps things simple.
Not only does it get you organized, but having systems helps your staff too. It enables them to know how things work, without having to ask you constantly! Once your systems are running smoothly, you’ll no longer have to worry about taking time off and chaos ensuing while you’re not there. You’ll de-stress, your staff will feel more in control and confident and—most importantly— your business will grow!
How do you work out systems?
If you’ve worked with me before, or you’ve read my previous blog posts, you’ll know I’m obsessed with systems! I love the sense of control and the load it takes off of my shoulders. So how did I get to this point, exactly?
First thing you have to do is break down all the steps and processes that you have in place. Take a good long look at every little step. How is that working for you right now? Is there anything you could change to improve that step? Could you automate it? Once you’ve analysed where you’re at, start adding in the things you’d like to implement to make the systems better.
After you’ve broken it all down, you’ll see you’ve got a plan and a sort of flow chart to guide you through the finance systems you want in your childcare business. (If you need a guide to help you with this process, download your free childcare business map here and get started building your systems.)
How do I fix-up my finance systems?
There’s lots of ways you can fix-up your finance systems, and I’ll be going through this in the Facebook group soon. So for now I’ll just explain how to get started if you haven’t already. Or perhaps you can use it as an opportunity to refresh how things work at the moment.
Financial Tasks Overview: Get total control of your finances by creating a system for your tasks. By ensuring that we do the tasks we need to daily, weekly, monthly, and even quarterly, we are stopping overwhelm and procrastination in its tracks! So break every little task down. No matter how small!
Monthly Bill Report: Doing this will enable you to list all expenses your business has, and begin categorizing it so that a later stage when you have all the Fab Finances templates, you can complete your monthly budget and know exactly where you stand financially at any given time. Simple & Stress-free!
And don’t panic if you’ve not started yet! Head here for my Fabulous Finance templates, so your childcare business can run with ease! Which means you can focus on the strategic part of your business and get growing! Some of the daily templates include Inventory management, invoice tracking, income, and expense management.
What happens when you’ve got systems in place?
You might think that this is all a waste of time. I’ve heard childcare business owners complain about the effort it takes to get all set up. But I promise you that once you’ve found systems that work for you and they’re all in place and running like clockwork it’s a total game changer!
Since I got my systems fixed-up, I have been able to grow my childcare business empire. None of my focus goes on overwhelm or worrying about how things are doing, because I know already! My systems tell me what’s going on and I can take a look any time I fancy. I don’t have to stress about taking time off or if families are going to pay their bills, due to my simple systems and automations.
How do you feel about this? Are you ready to fix-up your finance systems? Or are you feeling stuck?
Come and let us know over in the Childcare Ninja Facebook group! Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing tips on setting those systems up so you can actually grow your childcare business. And I’ll be starting with Finances!
We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Interested in becoming a part of the community? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!
by admin | Nov 23, 2022 | Blog, Uncategorized
You might be wondering what the big deal about planning is. Why should I bother, Nyckie? It’s just another thing to add to my To Do list, right?!
WRONG!
I believe that to be an effective leader and childcare business owner, you ought to be taking charge of your business goals and planning for success.
So here are 7 of my top reasons why planning is so darned good for your biz!
1. Planning improves your business growth
It’s vital for your childcare business growth strategy to set targets and plan how you’ll meet those goals.
Once you’ve figured out what you’re aiming for and why, it’s time to set goals for how much you want to grow by.
Consequently, these goals should be based on your blue sky thinking aspirations, but also need to be achievable and somewhat realistic! Quantify your goals in terms of metrics and timeline. Aiming to “set up two new day care centers by quarter 4”. SMART remember!?!
2. Planning reduces stress
Childcare ownership can be super stressful at times.
Planning is proven to reduce stress and is the most effective stress management technique. What’s not to love?! Proactive planning for the win!
Although planning doesn’t have to be time consuming, trust me! It takes as little as 5 to 10 minutes out of your day, and that can make the whole day less stressful and far more productive. If you find yourself jumping from task to task with no solid plan in your mind, you can quickly get stressed. And that leads to burn out. Not cool.
Also, I’ve found that by mixing motivational and inspirational elements into your planning you’re able to go beyond reducing stress and step into finding joy in your work!
3. Planning boosts productivity
Using a planner helps you manage your time better, which can make you more efficient during the day. Time spent being effective and productive = great for your childcare business!
And there’s the added bonus that writing down your plans allows you to notice if any of your activities are slowing you down, and might indicate the need for support or a change in systems.
4. Planning promotes positivity.
Slipping into negative mindset can happen before you even notice. It can be bad for biz.
Funnily enough research shows that planning for things can make you happier. Hands up if you’re currently counting down to something special?! It is a relief to see it there in the calendar isn’t it?
Simply looking at your schedule and seeing an upcoming event or vacation to look forward to helps you feel more positive because it leads to anticipation and feelings of happiness!
5. Planning improves learning
Planning on paper apparently helps improve learning and memory, researchers found.
Because we know this, get on and write it down and plan it out! (Your brain thanks you in advance!) But using a digital planner is just as effective for most people.
6. Planning promotes mindfulness
Writing your plans down in a paper planner makes you slow down, unplug, and be more intentional and mindful.
However, if you set a timer and limit your screen time, using a digital planner is also mindful, because you’re using it with intention, not mindlessly scrolling.
Actually, it’s the process and repeated habit of planning every day that helps you promote mindfulness in your daily life.
(And that’s also because planning makes you more efficient and therefore gives you more time in your day to relax!)
6. Planning helps you meet your goals
It can be hard to stay on track when it comes to goals. Luckily, planning increases your ability to track your biz goals – both short and long-term.
Moreover using a planner also keeps you accountable, helping you lay out plans clearly and follow any steps needed for your childcare biz success.
Keep reading to see what I’ve got especially for you!
7. Planning helps you declutter.
Yikes! Studies show that clutter negatively affects your memory, mental health, and even eating habits.
So using a planner is a simple and effective way to download your mind onto the page so you can ditch the clutter and streamline all the other stuff!
Additionally, it makes it easier to physically declutter and organize your workspace, freeing you up to be your best self! More about decluttering here!
Hopefully you can see why I LOVE planning and how it’s going to help you smash your 2023 goals. Now I’ve got something you’re going to want in your life, STAT!
This year my Childcare Business Planner for 2023 will be in physical, printable, and digital format for the first time!
I know we all prefer to work and plan in different ways, so I wanted to make sure you were covered. If you’re more traditional you’ll probably go for the laminated letter-size spiral planner. You can use the inside financial checklist and back page for notes with a whiteboard pen!
However, if you like to print out just what you need and like the freedom of rewriting your plans then the printable option would be a good fit. Print off as many copies as you need.
Perhaps you’ll go Paperless?! Keep your plans with you at all times, on your iPad with a PDF reader like Goodnotes, Noteshelf, or on Android tablets Xodo. It looks like a printable but with tabs that are hyperlinked that you can click on to navigate to each month.
Inside all of the versions you’ll find:
Week on 2 pages
Month on 2 pages
Childcare form checklist on 2 pages
Curriculum
Mind your money financial overview
Inspiring
#NyckieSays each month to grow your biz & more
Enhance your productivity RIGHT NOW by effectively organizing your day and streamlining your workflows. Take notes, keep track of meetings, set your priorities, and hit those targets like the Childcare Ninja you are! Unleash the tools you need to plan ahead easily and effectively with our new latest planner selection.
Our exclusive planning system is designed with childcare biz owners in mind. It was frustrating not being able to buy one, so I desugned one for us all instead! My aim is to help fellow childcare professionals get organized!
Let’s take the boredom out of planning. Quickly and easily plan curriculum, menus, social media scheduling and so much more. Create your vision for next year with the awesome vision board section! This will inspire you to take daily action to grow!
Let’s get you all set up for 2023!
So if you’re looking to reduce stress, get organized and achieve your goals next year there’s finally a way to do it! Get your 2023 CHILDCARE BUSINESS PLANNING SYSTEM today and kiss procrastination goodbye!!
Find cheerleaders and support on your journey to success!
Even with the best planning system in the world, being a home daycare provider can sometimes feel lonely and overwhelming. Don’t forget that you can find strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining our community! Hang out with like-minded and aspirational day care owners in there. Plus I go live regularly to talk about topics that help you grow.
If you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too. Or maybe email is your thang…JOIN OUR 
MAILING LIST HERE. We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be!
