Business Start up Support Document Business Plan Business name Your name Address Telephone Date completed.. Date to be reviewed
Preface: Business Summary A summary of this plan: who I/we am/are, where I/we want to get to and the business idea. For an existing business this could be taken from your Ofsted Self Evaluation Form. Type of childcare Early Years Register Childminder Early Years Register Childcare on domestic premises Early Years Register Childcare on Non-Domestic Premises Childcare Register Compulsory Childcare Register Voluntary Will you be providing? Yes/ No Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No Yes/No Type of business Self employed Partnership Charitable constitution School Governors Limited company Reasons for choosing this option: 1
Personal Profile experience and qualifications List details of education, qualifications and experience relevant to the proposed business. Please insert a further page in relation to any other staff who have been appointed. Course title Owner/ Manager/ Childminder Deputy/Partner/Staff/ Assistant Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 & above Progress towards EYPS Paediatric First Aid Renewal date? Child Protection Renewal date? Food Hygiene Renewal date? Health & Safety Renewal date? SENCO TRAINING CRB NO / DATE OTHER Relevant experience 2
Personal Survival Budget This section is relevant if you are planning to be self employed and will therefore need to draw an income from the business. Completing the table will help you to determine how much money you need to draw from the business and this will inform your cashflow (see Appendix 4). Charities will normally be looking to break-even rather than making a profit so would have to ensure that their income at least meets their outgoings with an allowance for contingency and renewal of equipment. See cashflow forecast (Appendix 4). Monthly Outgoings Mortgage or Rent Council Tax Water Charges Gas, Oil and Electricity Telephone, Mobile, Internet, Insurances (house, life, health etc) Food Clothing Vehicle tax and insurance Vehicle costs fuel, servicing, breakdown cover etc TV licence, Newspapers, magazines, subscriptions, etc Leisure eating out, going out, etc Hobbies Holidays Gifts and festivals (eg Birthdays, Christmas, etc) Children (eg activities, sports etc.) Decorating, house maintenance Credit card/loan repayments Class 2 National Insurance Contingencies Other ( ) Other ( ) Other ( ) Total outgoings Income from partner Other income (e.g. pension) Other income (e.g. child tax credit) Net survival income necessary from business 3
Business Description and Objectives Name of business Describe the services to be provided (type of childcare and opening hours) Business aims and targets What I/ we plan to achieve in the short term (next year) and longer term (3 years ahead) 4
Market Research Competitors Information on competitors and how they compare in terms of price, location, service and quality with the proposed/actual business. For further information on provision in your area please contact the Family Information Service on 0800 5878191 or e-mail fis@cornwall.gov.uk You will need to liaise with others in area (eg. Schools, nursery, pre-school, childminders) Customers Market research on potential customers who and where the clients are, when and how they will access the service. Analysis of market research What have you learnt from the research above? Niche in the market identified Is there a gap which you can fill (early mornings, later pickups, weekends)? 5
Setting Fees When setting fees you need to consider the following: Personal budget (for self-employed). Costs These will be identified in your cash-flow forecast. They include fixed cost such as premises and management/core staff plus the variable costs such as additional staff and equipment. Remember hidden costs such as bank charges and payroll. Fees charged by competitors you should look at what other providers are charging to ensure that your business will be an affordable option for parents. Any additional services offered for example some childminders will charge an additional fee for early mornings or late sessions (before 8.00 am or after 6.00 pm). Will you be charging a separate fee for breakfast/lunch/tea or School pickups? Any discounts for example the full day rate may be cheaper than the hourly rate or sometimes a discounted rate is charged for siblings. Will you give a discount for prompt payment or payment by standing order? 6
Marketing Plan Advertising and promotion How the business will be promoted, costs of this promotion. Don t forget links to Family Information Service and local Children s Centre/Schools Marketing activities Plans for special offers, discounts, or other marketing/promotional activities. Accepting employer Childcare Vouchers Unique selling point What makes this business stand out from everyone else? Sales and marketing budget available and required Recruitment and management of staff How you will recruit and manage staff for the business/childminding assistants? 7
Premises Description of premises For existing settings this might be linked to Part A section 1 of your Ofsted Self Evaluation Form (SEF) Costs associated with the premises Rent and rates and any other overheads. Is a deposit required? Are any physical alterations needed to the layout? This information can be used to inform your cashflow forecast. Start up costs (premises) Planning Professional Fees Advance on rent/deposit Alterations to premises Equipment and resources (premises) Registration Telephone installation Overheads Rent, business rates/council tax Electricity Gas Water Telephone line rental Maintenance and repair Insurance 8
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Equipment, Materials, Services & Suppliers Equipment already owned and its value (link to insurance inventory) Equipment needed When it is needed, how much it will cost, and where it will be bought. Short term / long term. (paddling pool for summer / replace shed in 3 years) Materials and services already owned and their value Materials and services needed How much they will cost and where I will buy them. Internet, library, toy library membership, scrapstore Daily consumables Paint, paper, food, drink, nappies, paper towels, toilet rolls 10
Appendix 1 Management Systems for the Business Have you considered the following? These are all required under the Early Years Foundation Stage: Administrative systems Childcare Contract Child Record Forms Attendance Registers Accident/incident records 3 and 4 year old funding forms (if you are planning to provide funded sessions for 3 and 4 year olds) Income/Expenditure (journal/cash book) Receipts required if over 10 (goods purchased) Receipt book (for income/fees) Copy invoices for equipment, services related to the business. Arrangements for compliance with self-assessment procedure/charity commission returns and national insurance obligations. Customer care Complaints policy Display of current Ofsted poster Legal obligations as per EYFS, business use of premises, employment Daily discussions/diaries Registration and insurance documents on display Quality control Consultation with parents and children / young people Ofsted grading and report. Monitoring by local network consultants Demand to fill places. Link to the SEF 11
Appendix 2 Legal, Regulatory & Insurance Requirements Licences and permissions necessary for my business Childminders - CRB check for myself and other household members over the age of 16, also assistant if employed. Group settings CRB checks for committee/trustees/ owners. Also all staff. Ofsted Registration Certificate. Public Liability Insurance Vehicle insurance including business use. Up to date Paediatric First Aid Training. Registered with Environmental Health Department. Health and safety issues Risk Assessment (including outings) Secure premises Health & Hygiene Policy Nappy changing procedures Sick Child Policy Accident/Incident and Medication Records Preparation and storage of food Food Safety Certificate Smoke alarms and fire blanket. Evacuation plan and fire drill practice. Cleaning routines for toys and equipment (recorded) Insurances Public Liability Insurance Business use for vehicle use Employers insurance 12
Appendix 3 Guidance notes for completion of cashflow Insert Cash Flow Projections for Year 1, 2 and 3 (The figures for year one are as exact as you can make them. For years two and three estimate expenditure and income using an assumption of 5% inflation where appropriate.) To include INCOME: Fees (Annual fee increase, Fee paying policy, discounts, meals) see Market Research. 3 and 4 year old funding per hour, cost variations on ages, childcare vouchers SEN additional funding, ) Grants, Milk refund. Fundraising/donations EXPENDITURE: Drawings: For self employed. Salaries: Each staff members rate of pay per hour x number of contracted hours per week x number of weeks open + Holiday entitlement + Employers National Insurance Contributions (where applicable) = Total cost per staff member (remember to include any time paid for planning or meetings etc). Work out total cost for each staff member, add together to give total amount of salary costs. Cost of premises Utilities: - Water rates, Telephone costs (internet), Electricity, Oil, Gas, Business rates. Council Tax Cleaning: - Materials purchased specifically for cleaning Insurance costs/ofsted Public liability, buildings, contents, personal liability. Annual Ofsted registration fee. Administrative Costs: Postage, computer ink cartridges, copier paper, photocopying costs Meals/Snacks: - Milk, fruit, juice (healthy options) Consumables: - Paint, paper, glue, glitter, printer ink, etc. 13
Promotions/ Marketing/Advertising: Printing costs for setting s prospectus, purchase of staff uniforms Recruitment costs Repairs/Renewals: Annual inspection of electrical items, paint for outside shed/fence, labour costs etc. Equipment: Replacement of items of equipment Meeting costs: Mileage to Training/meetings, Childcare costs, Telephone calls, etc. Committee expenses. Training: Annual budget for each staff member and the committee where applicable. Each staff member required to undertake 24 hours of in-service training annually. Cost of course plus number of hours/travel refer to Training & Professional Development Policy. Subscriptions: TV Licence and license to show DVDs (exclusive use for business), magazine subscriptions, professional subscriptions, membership subscriptions Gifts for children you care for (Christmas, leaving, etc). Depreciation/wear and tear (expenses and allowances) Capital Allowances (new vehicle etc ) Costs to attend trips and external activities (if not paid direct by parent / carer) 14
Appendices/Supplementary Information Including any other information relevant to the business plan, e.g. evidence of orders, quotations from suppliers, certificates, details of loan agreements, etc. 15