Are you interested in opening a preschool in India? With growing awareness among parents and toddlers no more sitting at home, preschool industry is flourishing. Parents are understanding the importance of quality education in the early years of a child’s life. Starting a play-school in India can actually be an exciting and fulfilling business venture. With more and more working parents, India requires a lot of day cares and preschools to meet the needs and preferences of parents.
If you’re passionate about early childhood education and want to contribute positively to your community, opening a play-school can be the perfect way to do so. Even without a background in education, you can still set up a successful preschool by following a structured approach, understanding the market, and utilizing the right resources. This step-by-step guide will take you through everything you need to know to open your own play-school and run it successfully.
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Steps to Start a Preschool / Daycare
If you’re passionate about early childhood education and want to contribute positively to your community, opening a play-school can be the perfect way to do so. Even without a background in education, you can still set up a successful preschool by following a structured approach, understanding the market, and utilizing the right resources. This step-by-step guide will take you through everything you need to know to open your own play-school and run it successfully.
1. Investment Required to Open a Preschool
Starting a playschool can cost you between 7 to 8 lakh rupees, which will cover various initial expenses such as property, furnishings, utilities, and staff. While setting up a preschool, it’s crucial to set aside a proper budget to cover these costs and ensure that you have working capital for operational expenses. Keep in mind that you may need additional funds for marketing, teacher salaries, and miscellaneous costs.
2. Find the Right Location for Starting Preschool
The location of your school plays a vital role in its success. You can either start a home-based preschool or take a property on rent. To ensure you’re setting up in the right area, start by conducting thorough market research. Analyze the local population, income levels, and proximity to residential areas to determine the demand for a play-school.
- Research the local market: Identify areas with high demand for play-schools, where families might be looking for early childhood education options.
- Study your competition: Before starting preschool, understand what other schools are offering. Take note of their strengths and weaknesses so that you can tailor your services to fill any gaps.
- Analyse Target audience: Consider the lifestyle of the families in your area. Are people in your area looking for a play-school? Are they looking for a more structured or a more relaxed learning environment?
3. Make a Business Plan
- Why a business plan? It helps align your team, clarifies what needs to be done, and ensures everyone is on the same page.
- Evaluate the market weaknesses: It helps you be aware of the competition’s shortcomings and plan your approach to address them.
4. Decide Your Fees
The fees you charge will depend on the type of school you’re opening. If you’re running a branded school, you will be able to charge higher fees due to the recognition, trust and quality that comes with the brand name. However, if you’re starting a local, independent play-school, make sure your fees are competitive with other schools in the area.
- Research other schools: Understand the fee structure of play-schools around you to determine an appropriate fee for your target market. Look at what others are charging in your area and decide on a pricing model that fits your target audience.
5. Analyze Your Funds
Do you have enough funds to start your playschool, or do you need additional financial support? Assess your financial situation carefully. You may need to apply for a loan, seek a grant, or partner with an investor to raise the necessary capital.
- Funding options: Look into different funding options such as loans, government grants, or even investors who might be interested in supporting your venture.
- Avoid financial constraints: Opening a school with limited capital can lead to compromising in different areas, which could hurt the quality of education and service you provide. It’s essential to have sufficient funds for both setup and ongoing operations.
6. Hire a Property Dealer or Real Estate Agent
Finding the perfect location is crucial, and a real estate agent can help you in this process. Once you’ve shortlisted a property, make sure it’s suitable for your needs and budget. Consider the layout of the property, whether it is on long-term lease, parking space, accessibility, and safety features. State education laws like land-use change may vary. A good franchise brand can help you in this process keeping the state government norms in mind.
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7. Hiring an Interior Consultant
Once the property is finalized, work with an interior designer to ensure the space is both functional and welcoming for children. Don’t simply buy furniture; design the school in a way that promotes learning, focusing on safety and hygiene.
A well-designed space matters: Parents will be more likely to trust you with their children if the environment looks safe, organized, and well-maintained.
Franchise benefit: If you’re opening a franchise, you won’t need to hire a designer. The franchisor will provide you with a ready-made infrastructure that will impress both parents and children.
8. Install Utilities and Facilities
Once your school space is ready, it is important to ensure you install the necessary utilities like cctv, taps, sinks, and proper bathroom facilities. These should cater to the needs of young children and be accessible.
9. Ensure Accessibility and Safety
Your play-school should be inclusive and handicap-friendly. Install ramps for wheelchair access and ensure the building complies with safety and accessibility standards.
Fencing and boundary walls: Take proper safety measures. Your school’s perimeter should have secure fencing to keep children safe within the premises.
Outdoor play areas: Ensure that the outdoor areas are safe with non-toxic plants, fall-safe flooring, and proper maintenance of outdoor play equipment.
Shemrock and Shemford franchise offers complete guidance on creating a safe, secure environment for children.
10. Analyze the Surroundings
Take the time to evaluate the surroundings of your school. Are there any distractions like a highway or construction noise? If so, you might need to soundproof the building and ensure that noise doesn’t interfere with the children’s learning.
Classroom soundproofing: Install noise-insulating materials in the walls and partitions to ensure a quiet learning environment. Partition between rooms should not be too thin. Walls should not be open from top so that noise from one classroom goes to another because children are bound to be noisy.Â
11. Pest Control
After construction and woodwork, pests like termites and rodents can become an issue. One of the important steps to be taken is book a pest control. It’s crucial to arrange for regular pest control services to prevent any damage to the property.
12. Acquiring Government Approvals
You will need to ensure that your play-school complies with local educational regulations and acquire the necessary approvals / licence from government bodies. If you’re part of a franchise, this process can be streamlined with their guidance and they can make you understand all the policies and procedures in detail.
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13. Fire Insurance
We consider health and safety, but fire safety is often overlooked even though it is a critical component in any educational institution. Ensure that your school is covered by fire insurance in case of any mishaps.
14. Trademark Your Name
Protect your brand by registering for an intellectual property trademark. This will prevent other people from using your school’s name or logo without your permission and misrepresenting your brand.
15. Legal Structure – Trust or Society?
While starting a preschool in India, it’s important to consult with a CA (Chartered Accountant) to decide whether your play-school should be registered as a trust, society, or another legal structure. A franchisor can assist you while registering your preschool. It can also guide you to understand the local regulations and decide on the best option from the school’s perspective.
16. Curriculum and Academics
Choose an age-appropriate preschool curriculum with a lot of play-based learning activities for the holistic development of children. Options like International, Montessori or Waldorf can be considered.
Create your Own: While you can choose a philosophy, you need to design your curriculum, including holiday homework policies, assessments, and parent communication. With a franchise, you get a ready-made, proven curriculum that helps ascertain your school’s success.
Technology integration: Depending on the local infrastructure, decide how you will integrate technology into the curriculum to enhance learning.
17. Educational Materials
Parents look for preschools where holistic development of the child can take place. Stock up on educational materials such as books, toys, and teaching aids that will help in the cognitive development of children. Include a mix of play-based learning and structured activities.
18. Develop an Annual Calendar
Create an annual calendar for your play-school that includes special events, Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs), sports day, and other celebrations. Having a planned calendar will help you stay organized and give parents a clear picture of the school’s activities.
19. Set Up Social Media Accounts
Social media is an important tool for promoting your play-school. Create accounts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. If you’re part of a franchise, they can provide you with training and ready-made templates for easy promotion. The experience franchise team can help you with the website and social media, giving you admission guarantee.Â
20. Software for Attendance and Documentation
Invest in software that will help you manage staff and children’s records. This will help with attendance tracking, maintaining documentation, and reducing administrative burden.
21. Financial Management System (FMS)
Set up a financial management system to handle expenses, revenue, and tax filing. Proper management will help you avoid financial issues and ensure transparency in financial operations.
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22. Meal Planning
Plan and offer healthy, balanced meals for children. Create a nutritious menu that adheres to dietary guidelines. Regular doctor checkups and teaching children about good eating habits are also important.
23. Teacher Hiring and Training
Hiring the right teachers is essential for the quality of education. Apart from educational qualifications, teachers should have love for children. Look for passionate, qualified individuals who align with your school’s philosophy and can contribute to child development. Also, provide continuous training to ensure your teachers stay updated.
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24. Staff Uniforms and Code of Conduct
Hire the right staff with proper background checks. Ensure all staff members have a uniform that is appropriate for their role. This will not only promote professionalism but also create a sense of unity and pride among the staff.
25. Ongoing Development for Teachers
Education and development is not just important for children, but teachers too. Provide opportunities for your teachers to attend seminars, workshops, and other professional development activities. Staff trainings will keep them motivated and improve the quality of education in your play-school.
26. Marketing and Promotion
Effective branding and marketing are essential to the success of your play-school. Create a consistent theme for your branding, from your logo to your prospectus, and utilize digital marketing tools to reach a wider audience.
Franchise advantage: If you’re opening a franchise, they will help with marketing strategies, promotions, and media coverage. Not to mention, a good brand name with an excellent system in place will get you ample admissions through word of mouth alone.Â
27. Equipment and Supplies
Ensure you have the necessary facilities and purchase all the equipment for your play-school, including cleaning supplies, educational tools, office materials, and outdoor play equipment. A well-maintained inventory system will ensure that you always have what you need.
Franchise advantage: If you’re opening a franchise, they will help with marketing strategies, promotions, and media coverage. Not to mention, a good brand name with an excellent system in place will get you ample admissions through word of mouth alone.Â
28. Technology and School Management Software
In today’s world, technology plays an important role and cannot be neglected in your journey of entrepreneurship in the education department. Invest in technology solutions like security systems, school management software, and devices that make running your play-school easier and more efficient.
29. Transportation
If you plan to provide transportation, arrange for school buses that are safe and comfortable for children. Ensure that vehicles are equipped with safety features like seat belts and GPS tracking. Some people might feel they can always call up the driver and find out their location. But a shortfall of this is that drivers may lie. With geofencing, you will get alerts as soon as the vehicle goes off-route.Â
30. Parent Engagement
Building strong relationships with parents is crucial. Regular parent-teacher meetings to update parents on child progress, social media updates to keep parents posted with school activities, and volunteer opportunities in sports day, annual day, community helpers’ day can help keep parents engaged. Testimonials from happy existing parents can help you get more admissions. A Shemrock or Shemford franchise provides strategies for effective communication with parents, ensuring their satisfaction.
Ready to Start your Preschool Business?
Opening a playschool is a profitable business that requires careful planning, research, and a commitment to providing quality education. By following these steps, you can create a safe, nurturing, and educational environment that will benefit children in your community. Whether you’re opening a franchise or an independent school, remember that your success depends on the quality of care and education you offer.
Choosing the Right Path- Start a Play School in India with a SHEMROCK Playschool Franchise
Want to open the best preschool? Franchising allows you to operate under an established brand’s trademarks and use their entire package of
systems and support, enabling you to run your school with ongoing assistance. SHEMROCK is one of India’s 1st Play School Chains, which is credited with revolutionising the concept of preschool education since 1989, by pioneering a vibrant and child-friendly system of learning. It’s an established brand with 35 years of experience. A reputed name in the education sector, Mr. Amol Arora – MD of SHEMROCK and SHEMFORD Group of Schools- has helped thousands of entrepreneurs open a pre-school. Experience the Unique Benefits of Owning a SHEMROCK preschool franchise and open the best play school in your area. All the best on your journey to open a successful preschool.