Small bilingual early learning centre

Parents of babies, toddlers and preschoolers who want quality childcare with a bilingual program. Many families use the Child Care Subsidy to help with fees.

Daily or weekly fees per child, with income driven by the number of licensed places and how full they are. Staffing is the biggest ongoing cost, so occupancy matters a lot.

• Early childhood education knowledge
• Fluent in two languages (or staff who are)
• Managing and rostering staff
• Budgeting and parent communication

• Provider approval, service approval, educator ratios and qualification rules, check with your state regulator and ACECQA
• Planning and building approval for the premises, check with your local council
• Required insurance, including public liability and workers compensation once you hire
• Working with Children Checks and child safety obligations for all staff
• High upfront cost and a slow fill-up period, so plan cash to cover months of low enrolments

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $150,000 to $600,000, depending on your premises, fit-out and staffing. Enrolments can fill slowly, so plan cash to cover months of low numbers.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $40,000 to $160,000, depending on your size, enrolments and fees. Because there is a slow fill-up period, revenue in the early months may sit well below this range.

Check provider approval, service approval, educator ratios and qualification rules with your state regulator and ACECQA. Also check planning and building approval with your local council, Working with Children Checks for all staff, and required insurance.