Approved after-school care service

Working parents and carers, mostly with the Child Care Subsidy passed through the fee. Some schools or councils also contract providers to run a service.

A daily or session fee per child, minus any subsidy paid through the government system. Income grows with enrolments, so you need enough children each afternoon to cover wages and venue hire.

• Confident with groups of children
• Organised, with good record keeping
• Clear communication with parents and schools

• Provider and service approval under the National Quality Framework, check the requirements and timeframes with your state regulator
• Educator qualifications and child-to-educator ratios, which depend on the rules in your state or territory
• Working With Children Check (or equivalent) and first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma training for staff
• Approval to receive the Child Care Subsidy, and the admin that goes with it
• Public liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Slow early weeks while enrolments build, so keep cash in reserve

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on your venue, equipment and how you set up the service. Enrolments can be slow in the early weeks, so it helps to keep cash in reserve.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $8,000 to $40,000, depending on enrolments, the hours you run and fees. Much of it may come through the Child Care Subsidy. The idea needs about 15 hours a week at minimum.

Check provider and service approval under the National Quality Framework with your state regulator, plus educator qualifications and ratios in your state or territory. Also check Working With Children Checks, first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma training, and approval for the Child Care Subsidy.