We’re already catapulting our way through 2022 and I know that finances are top priority for many of you. I’ve written this blog focusing on tips for creating a successful finance routine in your childcare biz.
Any of these sound familiar? Perhaps you’ve been struggling in the past to keep on track with incomings and outgoings? Or maybe you constantly miss deadlines for taxes? Does your in-home daycare business have trouble collecting payments from your clients?
If you answered “yes” to any of the above, read on as I dive in and take a look at some ideas to help you get set up for success in 2022!
Time to get stuck into my top ideas for creating a successful finance routine, Ninja!
1. Separate your accounts!
It’s super important that you keep track of your business and personal finances. Set up a different bank account for your in-home daycare so you can manage your money better. Head to your local bank or credit union and open a new account.
Whenever you’re making payments for the business – resources, food, equipment, your team – do them from this account. Pay yourself from here too, so it’s really clear to see where you’re at financially. It helps you see what’s coming in and going out!
It also has the added benefit of making you feel more professional, and present yourself as a legitimate business to your clients. Keeps things on a serious level.
2. Pick a “money day”
One of the things that really helped me when I initially set up my home day care was allocating one day per week to focus on finances. Getting into a routine of checking your accounts, keeping on top of budgets and bills is key to making it all less scary.
Choose a day that’s maybe a little quieter and block out a couple of hours in your planner or Google calendar. Then spend that time going through invoices, paying bills, chasing payments and all of the things that used to get piled up and eventually done (badly) in a panic! Keep on top of your finances like this means that you’ll feel more confident in your decision making and when tax returns are due!
Set the scene for your fab finances day – diffuser on, door closed and keep focused! Let’s get into the habit of checking in on our finances every week.
3. Choose an accountant who understands Childcare!
A good accountant is worth their weight in gold! In my honest opinion though, it’s important to find one who understands how a childcare business works. Someone who is knowledgeable about the childcare industry! They’ve got to know what can or can’t be written off and they’ll be able to help you get the most out of the tax return.
Take the time to find the right accountant for you!
4. Have a budget
You might be killing it on your home budget, but do you keep that separate from your business? No?! Well now is the time to start. You need to keep things neat and tidy, so it’s easy to see what came out of where. Don’t mix up your budgets!
Try to make your day care finances and budget independent from your personal budget! Keep all receipts organized and filed away for your in-home daycare. Have a system in place to store and organize things, making it easier to find things when anyone asks.
It’ll save time and money if you keep things separate! Make your life and your accountant’s life easier by starting now! Keep reading for more tips for creating a successful finance routine!
5. Automate as much as you can!
Y’all know I’m all about the systems and automations. Why wouldn’t I love ’em?! After all, they’ve helped me grow from a home daycare into a multiple facility childcare business! But you don’t have to be bringing in the big bucks to put these things in place.
You can ensure you get paid as quickly as possible by automating! Quickbooks or PayPal (others also available!) can help you set up an automated invoices for your clients. These apps can bill them each month and makes them paying you more simple. They’re super easy to adapt and make changes for those times you’re putting your prices up. And you can set up reminders to ensure parents don’t forget to pay.
These don’t cost too much – a small percentage. But it’s worth it to take it off your to do list!
And finally, I’d highly recommend reading Profit First. Wanna know more? I wrote a blog about it here!
I hope you enjoyed reading my tips for creating a successful finance routine! Do you have any more tips to pass on?
Have you heard that we have a course starting next month?! Yaaaaasss Ninja! It’s time to learn! Find out more about our Phenomenal Foundations Course here.
While you’re here…Did you know that you can schedule a 20 minute chat to see how we can help you start and scale your childcare business?
And don’t forget that you can find strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining our community! You can hang out with like-minded and aspirational daycare owners in there and I go live regularly to talk about topics that’ll help you grow. 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!
If you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too. Or maybe email is your thang…JOIN OUR 💌 MAILING LIST HERE.
Also if you’re looking to reduce overwhelm, get organized and achieve your goals this year, you can get your 2022 CHILDCARE BUSINESS PLANNING SYSTEM right here.
Like every single adult with kids in their midst – whether they’re your own or your grandkids, or the ones in your daycare – the last couple of months have been all about Encanto. Am I right!? It’s EvErYwHeRe! There’s so many themes running through it that are hard resonating with grown-ups, not just kids.
So when I was talking to a friend about it, I was thinking about how there’s a few lessons in there to use when it comes to running our childcare businesses too.
Curious? Read on to discover the 6 things I’ve learned from Encanto.
1. You can’t carry the weight of everything yourself
This is a lesson that’ll help you build a sustainable childcare business. It’s very easy for us to forget that help is available. We get caught up in controlling everything and being independent. After all, it’s our business and the buck stops with us, right?
However, Luisa in the movie has a whole song about how much pressure she’s under. She’s trying her hardest to protect her family and feels like she’s worthless if she can’t be of service. It’s super important, however to remember that you don’t always have to be the problem solver, and you don’t have to be strong all the time.
Don’t forget that you’re not weak if you show vulnerability. It’s absolutely normal to admit you’re struggling. No one is let down by you sharing the burden of running a business and being honest about it. I know from my own experience that honesty and authenticity will bring your people closer.
So remember: when you’re finding things challenging, you’re allowed to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone.
2. Nothing’s ever going to be perfect
Urgh. Perfectionism, be gone! People pleasing, disappear! Something many of us struggle with – especially in the early days of growing our businesses.
In the movie, Isabela tries her hardest to make her family proud. To the point where she’s considering marrying someone she doesn’t love in order to please her grandmother. Yikes.
However, the take away here is learning that you’ll never be good enough for some people. No matter what you do or how perfect you are. Instead of letting that get you down, let it inspire you to do your own thing! In setting up your childcare business, you need to limit whose advice you seek and stop caring so much about people’s opinions. At the end of the day, they’re not the ones who you want shaping the direction of your business.
Lesson? Do your own thing, Ninja!
3. Don’t compare yourself
Oooof comparison is often lurking nearby isn’t it?! You open up your Instagram and there’s the business woman from down the road who’s “smashing it!” Or the entrepreneur you met at networking a while back who raves about their new car. What you’re not seeing is the other side of things. We only see a snapshot on there. That business woman? She’s on depression meds. That entrepreneur has just lost his kids in the divorce.
In Encanto, Mirabel sings about how she’s unable to heal what’s broken and how she can’t move mountains. She’s got a severe case of comparisonitis. She’s seeking some signs to show her which path to take for her life to have some sort of meaning, looking to others. But she can’t see her own magic. Mirabel constantly compares herself to others.
As the old adage goes, “the grass is always greener on the other side”. So the lesson here is stay in your lane! Mind your business and focus on you.
4. Try not to be defined by just one thing
Number 4 on my list of things I’ve learned from “Encanto” you can use in your childcare business is particularly relevant! It’s so hard in this day and age not to get tied down to just one thing. By all means be memorable, but give yourself the flexibility to pivot if you need to.
This movie is a reminder to us all that humans are complicated beings! We can’t be defined by simply one thing. Your previous career doesn’t define you. Or your family name. Neither do your talents define you. And it’s the same for your childcare business. There are so many brilliant things you could do!
Don’t be afraid to stand for more than one thing!
5. Listen to your heart
All the characters in Encanto are trying far too hard to please Alma – the matriarch of the story. However this behavior makes them feel utterly miserable. It was only when they started listening to their own hearts not all the “shoulds” that they found happiness.
In our businesses it is easy to get caught up in the expectations of other people. Whether it’s investors or pressure from the community, or even your family members, it’s important that you try to focus on w
My takeaway? You shouldn’t feel pressured to do what is expected of you and instead do what feels right to you.
6. You can always bounce back
Right towards the close of the movie the family home falls apart. But it’s not the end of the world because the characters are able to rebuild. I believe it’s a reminder that you’ll be able to bounce back, no matter what you’ve been through.
And this is so relevant to us as biz owners! Running a business can be outright hard. There’s no getting away from that. Sometimes we face real challenges that knock us right down. But you are strong, Ninja. You are resilient. You will persevere. If something doesn’t work, it might just be the wrong time. Don’t give up, try again.
Final lesson – Don’t always assume that one setback means it’s not meant to be.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog! Never thought I’d be writing about 6 things I’ve learned from “Encanto” or any Disney movie, actually!
Ninja, while you’re here, I wanted to make sure you know all about the free resources I’ve created especially for you!
I’ve been creating these to help both start up owners and those further down the road. You can sign-up for them 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! Interested in becoming more involved in the community and to grow your business? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too!
It was Simon Sinek who did a TED talk about the importance of the WHY in business. And it matters because it’s your motivation to succeed and your reason to persevere. So what’s the why behind your childcare business?
It’s that time of the year where we reflect and consider what we’re grateful for. I’m utterly grateful for the opportunity to bless my family, watch them grow and be blessed and bless others.
The WHY of my business is my family. One hundred percent. And I’m so thankful for it all, especially the ideas and inspiration they’ve been exposed to and experienced through me being a childcare business owner.
Here’s the scoop, Ninja.
As childcare ninjas we have been working hard ALL.YEAR.LONG. I’m not gonna lie. It can sometimes be really tough! Being key workers throughout a global pandemic and helping keep this country moving has not been easy.
But here’s why I do it:
And this is why most of us do it, right?! Our family or loved ones! When I look at this photo I’m reminded of where I used to be and where I am at right now. Through my childcare business I’ve been blessed to live a very nice life and experience some wonderful things with my family. I can provide for them, and ensure they have the best future possible. That matters to me.
Every single day I’m really grateful for what my childcare business has been able to provide my family. It’s a wonderful thing and I’m highly thankful and highly grateful for both opportunities.
But, do you know what?! I’d love to know YOUR big why!
So tell me, Ninja, what’s the why behind YOUR childcare business?
Maybe you’re the same as me and have a brood you want to provide for and be a role model for. You can certainly do that with a successful childcare business.
Perhaps you wanted to create a job that gave you greater flexibility to care for elderly relatives? Is it that you want to build a legacy to leave behind? Or maybe you have dreams of a house by the beach…
Whatever your WHY is, it’s important to keep reminding yourself of it. I highly recommend creating a vision board to help keep you focused for 2022. Keep your WHY at the front of your mind and stay motivated to achieve your goals.
Ever wondered how your childcare business really affects your family?
Well, this week you get to find out! Join me and two very special guests inside as we take a look at so me of the ways our families are affected so that we can better balance family and business for a fully successful 2022.
In case you’ve not snapped up your planning system for 2022 yet, I just wanted to let you know that the price will be going up to $149 soon. Grab yours now at the special holiday price ——–> HERE! My planning system also includes a physical Letter size laminated wire-o planner, so if you’re more of a handwritten kinda Ninja, then that’s for you! For free!
This exclusive planning system is specifically set up to help today’s childcare professionals easily and quickly plan curriculum, menus, social media scheduling and so much more. Let’s get you organized and systematized in 2022!
Getting connected with other childcare owners is a game changer!
Even with the best planning system in the world, being a home daycare provider can sometimes feel lonely and overwhelming. Gain strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining a community! That’s why I set up my Facebook group, where you can hang out with like-minded and aspirational daycare owners. Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be!
Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips 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!
I know it’s so hard at this time of year juggling the business and family commitments… So I’m just popping by to remind you why it’s important to prioritize your family and to cherish this time of year. We’ll never get the holidays perfect and that is a-ok! But what we should put our time and energy into is being present with our nearest and dearest.
The days are short and the nights are long, but the years are flying by. Now is the time to really enjoy the presence of your family! It’s the end of the calendar year and it’s our last chance to truly slow everything down and spend that quality time with our loved ones.
I know we have all the things to do at home and at the daycare too, but let’s not forget what’s truly important.
Why spending time with your family matters
I don’t think I need to explain this one, but good ol’ Google likes me to spell it out! And after the last two years dealing with THE C WORD (not Christmas, the other C word!) and many of us losing family members or friends, it’s more essential than ever that we cherish the time we have.
We all work so hard throughout the rest of the year, ensuring we make ends meet. Which means an awful lot of our time is spent away from our loved ones and instead caring for those of others. “But I run a home day care” – so what?! Even if you have a home daycare you’re still spending a massive amount of time with family that isn’t yours. And that has a huge impact, meaning less time with our own families.
It’d be super easy to be negative and focus on what you’ve missed out on because of work. So forget that! That’s not my vibe! We’re here for moving forward and focusing on the positive. What can we do to make it better? Well…
Take time out of the business
It might sound obvious, but taking time out from your day-to-day business shenanigans to spend time with loved ones is key to your mental health. Constantly working is a sure-fire way to head straight to Burnout Central and trust me, you don’t wanna go there.
So when we have these opportunities to recalibrate, we should snap them up. Often we see it as a hindrance, like the holiday season is here to get in the way of our goals. But I promise you that some time out for family and to cherish moments with them won’t be wasted.
Spend time with family, but also take a moment to reflect
I’d like to encourage you not only to spend some quality time with family, but also to pause and reflect for YOU.
By taking the time to focus inward, on ourselves, it’s almost like hitting “reset”. You’ve worked your socks off this year and some reflection time is necessary. What’s gone really well for you and your business this year? What would you like to make more time for? What would you like to do less of?
Don’t forget to make some space for self-care – take those daytime baths, catch up on your book club’s latest, pop on some old records and dance. If you’re a person of faith then perhaps you’ll spend a bit of time reflecting spiritually too.
I’d suggest that you go for some wintery walks – no podcast or chat, just you and the outdoors. Be mindful and see what you notice – sights, smells, sounds… – it’s incredible what you miss when you’re in a rush to be somewhere!
Be in the moment
Take this time to be in the moment, enjoy it, appreciate it, because we never know when we won’t have that time again and ought not take it for granted. Take it from me, you’ve got to cherish this time of year. Each and every moment you spend with them is a memory you can hold onto.
Try to turn off your screens – laptops, iPhones, iPads…and make eye contact with those that you love. Play games, enjoy home-cooked food, be silly! Hug each other (if it’s safe to do so!) and take walks together. Savour reading out jokes and catching up, or snuggling up on the sofa and watching a cheesy holiday movie! Maybe bake some cookies or work together making decorations.
However you choose to spend the time…
…Don’t forget to cherish this time of year, Ninja!
It’s that time of the year when we need to go against the grain and slooooooooow right down! If you’re feeling that stress of rushing around buying food or presents…here’s your permission slip to take a deep breath.
Breathe in. Breathe out. And slow down.
Choose what matters most, right now at this moment, and I promise you all that other stuff and nonsense can wait.
However, if you’re feeling a little lonely this holiday season, try getting connected with other childcare owners. There’ll be other daycare owners in the same boat, and they’d love to hang out online with you. That’s why I set up my Facebook group, it’s a place where you can meet like-minded childcare business owners.
Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips 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!
You want to make 2022 your best Childcare Biz year yet, but you say the same every year. Does it seem like no matter what you do, when it comes to planning your goals and actually reaching them, something just isn’t working for you?
“Goals” is nearly always the buzzword during December, while January is constantly “New Year New You”. This is the time of year when we are meant to reflect on the progress we made towards goals set at the beginning of the year, and I’m a HUGE fan…but I am finding more and more, we set goals, plan goals and, year on year, don’t achieve these goals. So, instead of continuing to do something that isn’t working…if this is you…then this blog post is for you!
Let’s make 2022 your best year yet by doing goal setting the right way!!
Nyckie, why is goal setting so important?
Goals provide you with focus so that when you set them, you can take control of the direction of your life and your business. Every decision you make and all the little actions you take ought to bring you closer to achieving those goals.
By setting goals, you’ll stay motivated, usually see an increase in your happiness, and you’ll notice improvement across your business and day-to-day living. When you set yourself goals, you’re creating a vision of what your your childcare business could look like. And if you want to get the bet results possible, you start pushing yourself and your team that little bit harder and can celebrate all the mini-goals on the journey.
So how come goals don’t always work out?
Lots of us write down our goals in December or January, but by March they’ve often fizzled out. So why is that? What things do you notice hold you and other people you know back from actually reaching the goals you’ve set?
There are a few reasons why people fail to accomplish their New Year goals. Sometimes it’s down to circumstances (uh hello pandemic!) but more often than not it’s because you’ve not set goals properly. I’m going to outline several of them below and you can figure out which one’s you’re guilty of!
So here are a few dos to help and don’ts to avoid so you can crush your goals in 2022!
1. Be SPECIFIC with your goals
When it comes to your goals it is vital that you set out super clear ones. If your goals are not specific, your action steps won’t be focused enough and then your achievements will be wishy-washy too! The more specific you are, the easier you can plan, be accountable and actually end the year having moved forward.
So set SMART goals (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound). Make your goal specific so you can easily track your progress and know whether you met the goal. The more specific you can be with your goal, the higher the chance you’ll complete it.
For example, if you’re setting goals to earn a certain amount, but don’t decide how much money you want to bring in, or when you want to accomplish this goal…then you’re going to struggle to achieve it at all! Because what is “it”?! So get specific! Instead try something like: “I want to bring in $25000 by the Fourth of July.” This goal provides an exact amount of money you are aiming for AND an end date to get it done by.
So remember: vague goals give vague results!! And that’s not going to help you make 2022 your best Childcare Biz year yet, is it?!
2. Don’t let a lack of FOCUS hold you back
Remember when you focus on all the things you achieve absolutely nothing. So, instead I’d like to encourage you to set fewer really great goals and focus on getting those achieved. Sometime we set ourselves up for failure by writing down so many goals we can never find the time to dedicate to all of them. And this lack of focus holds so many of us back from achieving great things!
Wouldn’t you rather achieve a few brilliant goals than 20 unfinished goals? I know which camp I’m in. If you’re going to do something, do it well! So give your goal the focus it deserves!
3. Taking ACTION is paramount!
I’m the first to acknowledge that mindset and positivity are incredibly important, however I also know that sometimes people get caught up in all the mindset work. They actually end up using it as a form of procrastination. It’s not going to help them, in fact it’s distracting them from doing the work.
So I’m recommending that instead of getting lost in a whole lotta background and planning, TAKE ACTION! Because taking those first steps towards your goal will give you the momentum and confidence you need to keep going.
ACTION gets you results and it’s time to be honest, are you actually putting in the hard work? Would you rather be binging Netflix or planning your marketing for your childcare business? If you said Netflix, then I want you to have a rethink!! Do the work, Ninja!
Make 2022 your best Childcare Biz year yet by taking focused action to achieve your goals!
4. Stop making excuses.
This might seem a little harsh, but bear with me. I talk with hundreds of childcare business owners every month and I’ve lost count of the amount of times I hear people blaming other for their lack of achievement. Sometimes life is going to throw you curveballs (I know because I’ve had more than my fair share!) but there’s no point in wasting time and energy on being the victim.
At the end of the day, this is your life, your childcare business, your goals and your legacy. So blaming everyone and everything for your failures is not going to get you any closer to reaching your goals. In fact, I’m pretty sure it will push you further away.
5. Be ACCOUNTABLE.
This is one of the most important things to do. If no one knows about your goals except you, it’s easy for you to let yourself down. Have someone to hold you be accountable. Organize meet ups with them to discuss your progress and help you find solutions to any challenges that come up. It could be a business friend or a coach!
Something that’s really helped me to achieve my goals is investing in myself and getting support and accountability. I can no longer sneak my unachieved goals past my brain, because I’ve got people looking out for me, ensuring that I’m motivated towards achieving bigger and better things. So invest in yourself. I guarantee this will be the best thing you’ll ever do for your childcare business.
Make 2022 your best Childcare Biz year yet by joining my Childcare Ninjas free Facebook community and get the accountability you need from like-minded daycare owners!
I talk more about why your childcare business goal planning ISN’T working in my latest YouTube video:
Earlier you read about how important accountability and planning SMARTer is. And I’ve got just the thing to give you a head start! This is no ordinary paper planner. It’s specifically designed with Childcare Business owners in mind. Because I got sick of having to tweak the ones aimed at other industries!
And because I know a planner is zero use without accountability, I’ve added an accountability piece to my new and improved Nyckie B’s 2022 Childcare Business Planner System!
Sometimes being a home daycare provider can feel pretty isolated and massively overwhelming. Getting connected with other childcare owners is a game changer! Gain strategies and tips to move your childcare business forward by joining a community! That’s why I set up my Facebook group, where you can hang out with like-minded and aspirational daycare owners. Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be!
Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips 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!
