This is the second part of the Home Business Idea of the Week featuring the Day Care Business.

If you are interested in running your own day care center at home, then you will need to make a business plan. As you write that plan down, ask yourself these questions.

• What exactly will your day care center do? Today's day care centers have meals for their wards, along with games, a playground, story time, nap time, and an occasional guest to deliver a talk on how the world works. You need to know what you will be treating your clients' children to, so that you can better outline how much money you need to start your home business.

• How much money do you need? A day care center will not only require its own kitchen and play area, but an office to field calls and inquiries as well. You may need to renovate a part of your home, or rent a nearby space while running office work out of your home office. You will also need to pay taxes to the government, and have your center inspected and evaluated by various agencies. Take note of these costs as you work your budget out.

• How much do you expect to make? With a budget, along with the food you need to purchase, utensils you need to have, books and toys you need to buy, and even taxes and overhead expenses, you can work out your pricing scheme. This can help you determine your return on investment (ROI) and can allow you to adjust your prices or give incentives to parents who might ask for discounts.

• What is your center's floor plan? You will need to make the entire center convenient for parents to reach, and for children to stay in. You will need classrooms, play areas, rest areas, and waiting rooms. Your center, moreover, has to be located in an area far away from noise and pollution. To determine the viability and suitability of your center, you may need to check with your state's building requirements.

• What employees do you need? You will need to outline how many teachers, baby sitters, and guards that you have to hire and pay. Although you will need qualified teachers and even nurses to participate in your day care home business venture, you need not be a qualified teacher to head or operate one. You need to be skilled in taking care of children, coordinating with your faculty on what lessons have to be taught, and carrying out simple accounting at the end of the day. You will also need to market your day care center actively, by handing out brochures, posting advertisements both online and in your local newspaper, and by inviting the local press to your grand opening.