Increase Enrollment in Your Childcare Center in 5 Steps

5 Steps to Increase Enrollment in Your Childcare Center

Are you struggling to consistently bring in new families to your childcare center? Wondering how to increase enrollment?

 

Every childcare center is different!

 

There are various methods and strategies out there, but over the years, I’ve gathered five key steps you need to take to increase enrollment and consistently maintain a waitlist. Curious what those are? Keep reading to find out!

 

1. Look at the man in the mirror.

 

As the visionary and CEO of your business, it’s your duty and responsibility to set the standard from day one. 

 

Truly think about your processes that you are using to enroll new children in your center. Ask yourself: How is your business being represented and perceived by potential enrollees? How are you addressing parents’ issues? How is your team showing up every day? 

 

I always say that what doesn’t get inspected gets neglected. It is crucial to be able to look at your business from all angles to ensure that you are not only living up to other people’s expectations, but also, most importantly, your very own standards. 

 

Put yourself in the shoes of the parents you’re serving. Is your environment something that feels worthwhile and worth investing in? This is crucial to increase enrollment. If your answer is no, it’s time to reassess and put in the work to get there. 

 

2. Use your team to grow your business.

 

Teamwork truly makes the dream and the vision you have for your childcare center come to life! This is why your hiring process is incredibly important. Your team plays a crucial role in dictating how valuable your center truly is. 

 

It’s OKAY to be selective in your hiring process! Take the time to assess your hiring process and make note of any patterns that you’re seeing.

 

Remember, these parents are paying a good amount of money for their children to get the best care possible and they will pay what it takes to do just that. It doesn’t matter where your childcare center is located, valuable team members will make the experience worth every penny! 

 

3. Continue investing in professional development for yourself and your team.

 

Professional development is not a one-time thing. To continue evolving, growing, and becoming the best version of yourself for your business, you and your team need to continue pouring into yourselves away from the center.

 

Attend conferences, seek out workshops, and continue to do what is necessary to elevate all of your skills across the board. 

4. Position your center as the premier childcare business in the area.

 

Having the mindset that your center is the best childcare business in the area is one thing, but proving it is another. 

 

Make your presence known at community events, networking events, back-to-school festivals, and more. You never know who you’re going to run into and who is looking for childcare services! Putting yourself out there is an excellent way to make a name for your center to increase enrollment.

 

5. Set goals.

 

Setting goals is essential for accountability. It’s an excellent way to document your growth and fast-track your business’s success. You have to set goals for how much money you want to bring in weekly over time.

 

I was able to watch my tuition jump from $13,000 a week to $40,000 a week because I was very intentional about how many new enrollments I needed to hit my targeted goal. 

 

Additionally, I focused on what I call the three P’s – the people, the processes, and the product – in order to attract new enrollments and the best employees. 

 

The Bottom Line 

 

When it comes to finding ways to increase enrollment in your childcare center, intentionality is key. It’s important to have a solid plan and the right mindset so you can offer the best childcare services for the community that you serve.

 

If your processes aren’t where they should be, identify the steps you need to take to strengthen them. If you follow these five steps, I guarantee you, you will see a significant difference in your bottom line.

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