Do you enjoy playing with small children and teaching them the important lessons they need to know in life? Would you be interested in transforming your passion for childcare it into a career, or perhaps even a business?
As a preschool educator, you have choices. You could seek employment as a preschool teacher in either a public or private school, as there are public preschools in some areas in both the USA and Australia.
However, if you are willing to take responsibility for much more than just showing up to teach, running your own preschool has some definite advantages. You can work from home. You’ll be able to plan and direct the children’s learning agenda in the way that you think is best, rather than conforming to someone else’s ideas that you may not fully agree with.
If you’re a motivated businessperson, you also have the opportunity to earn significantly more money as the owner of the preschool rather than an employee. In the USA, preschool teachers were earning median annual salaries of $28,990 as of the year 2017. In contrast, preschool owners were earning average salaries of $37,000 per year in 2013, according to thenest.com.
In Australia, employed early childhood educators earn uncomfortably low wages that are below the national average, although the cost of childcare is disproportionately high. Childcare can cost parents as much as $190 AU per day, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. They report that Australian childcare facilities are earning a combined total of about $1 billion AU in profits every year. Clearly, childcare is a lucrative business in Australia.
Are You Qualified to Open a Home-Based Preschool?
In the United States, preschool owners must abide by both federal laws and the laws in the state where they will be operating their businesses. Qualifications and regulations differ from state to state. Zoning laws are some of the most important checks you’ll need to perform.
Most US states require preschool owners to obtain licenses. Preschool owners are also typically required to pass a background check. You will also be subject to obeying local health regulations and may be required to obtain CPR certification. Some states require specific training, while others don’t require any more education than a high school diploma. Health and safety permits may be required in some locations.
In Australia, a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the minimum academic credential for opening a daycare. This qualification is included on the list of government funded courses, which means that eligible students are able to obtain government subsidies to pay for this training. You will also have to comply with all the provisions of the National Quality Framework, as well as regional regulations and guidelines for service providers.
While there is clearly much more work involved with opening a daycare than there is with simply teaching preschool, the financial and other rewards can also turn out to be far greater. Many people have found success in the field. If early childhood education appeals to you, it would be worthwhile to consider whether a home-based preschool is the right type of business opportunity for you.
