The Business of The Nursery, setting up a nursery, tips and links

 Nursery age targeted businesses in the UK can be quite lucrative, but their profitability can vary significantly depending on various factors such as the business model, target market, and operational challenges¹²³.

In 2023, the children’s day nursery market experienced a great degree of heightened activity, with quality early years businesses, especially small- to medium-sized regional groups, being highly sought-after¹. This resulted in bidding wars fuelled by intense buyer demand¹. However, not all childcare and education markets have returned to pre-pandemic levels, with many businesses continuing to face a host of operational challenges¹. In 2022, while some businesses were sold for high prices, others struggled due to financial, workforce, and capacity issues which resulted in an increase in business closures¹.

Private sector (for-profit) nurseries in England generated an estimated income of £4.7 billion in 2021⁴. However, the profitability of a nursery can be heavily influenced by local demographics and capacity limitations alongside other micro and macro factors¹.

To make a nursery setting more profitable, it’s important to consider the business model, target market, and how well-suited they are to each other³. It’s also crucial to develop a profit mindset without overlooking the educational focus of the nursery³.

In conclusion, while nursery age targeted businesses in the UK can be profitable, they also face various challenges and require careful management and strategic planning¹²³. It’s always recommended to conduct thorough market research and financial planning before starting such a business¹²³.

Starting a successful nursery business in the UK involves several key steps¹²³:

1. Make Sure It’s the Right Decision for You: Running a nursery can be extremely rewarding, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. You need to have a passion for the industry and be prepared for things to go wrong¹.

2. Qualifications and Experience: If you plan to be involved in the day-to-day managing of the nursery, you must have at least two years’ experience as a qualified nursery nurse, one to two years’ experience in a supervisory role, and a relevant nursery qualification¹.

3. Choose the Type of Day Nursery You Want to Start: This could be a home-based nursery, a group-based nursery, or a nursery school³.

4. Check Whether It’s Financially Viable: You need to consider the costs of starting and running the business, including premises, staff, equipment, and regulatory compliance³.

5. Market Research: Understand the demand for nursery services in your area and identify your target market⁴³.

6. Business Premises: Choose a suitable location that meets all health and safety regulations²³.

7. Business Plan: A strong business plan is crucial. It should cover your business model, financial projections, marketing and branding strategy, and operational plan¹⁴.

8. Register Your Nursery: Your nursery will need to be registered with the specific regulator in your country¹².

9. Meet Regulatory Requirements: If you are registered on the Early Years register, you must meet the early years foundation stage framework standards².

10. Hire High-Quality, Qualified Employees: The success of your nursery will largely depend on the quality of your staff⁴.

Remember, starting a nursery business can be a complex process and it’s always recommended to seek professional advice when needed¹²³.

Learn more

1highspeedtraining.co.uk2gov.uk3startups.co.uk4businessyield.co.uk5startups.co.uk

Attracting parents to your nursery business involves a combination of effective marketing strategies and providing high-quality services¹²³⁴. Here are some strategies you can consider:

1. Understand Local Needs: Tailor your services to meet the needs of local parents. This could involve offering early opening hours, wraparound care, or specific age group places depending on the demand in your area¹.

2. Identify Your Unique Selling Points (USPs): Determine what sets your nursery apart from others. This could be your welcoming staff, home-cooked food, large outdoor area, or any other strengths. Highlight these USPs when promoting your setting¹.

3. Promote Your Business: Use various avenues to get your setting known. This could include free listings of early years settings provided by local authorities, community groups, or early years organizations¹.

4. Leverage Social Media: Advertising short-term places on social media can help fill places quickly and spread messages throughout your network of parents².

5. Offer Specialist Sessions: For quieter periods, consider offering specialist sessions with experienced leaders, such as music and movement, football, gymnastics, and language lessons².

6. Online Presence: Most parents search online to find out about local childcare. Ensure your online presence gives parents a positive feel about your setting and makes your business feel caring, professional, and approachable¹.

7. Improve Communication: Having open communication channels and being transparent about your objectives can help build trust with parents³.

8. Develop a Reputation: A good reputation can attract more parents. This can be achieved by consistently providing high-quality services and maintaining a positive relationship with parents³.

Remember, the key to attracting parents is to understand their needs and expectations, and to communicate effectively how your nursery can meet these needs¹²³⁴.

Learn more

1nurseryworld.co.uk2gov.uk3nurserystory.co.uk4nurseryconsultancyuk.co.uk