Small bilingual preschool center

Working parents who need full-day or part-day care, and families who want their children to grow up bilingual.

Monthly tuition per child, sometimes with registration fees and extras such as after-care. Some programs may also qualify for state child care subsidy programs, which you would need to check.

• Fluent in two languages or able to hire teachers who are
• Early childhood education knowledge
• Hiring and managing staff
• Budgeting and parent communication

• State center licensing rules on staff qualifications, ratios, space per child, fire and health inspections vary widely, so check yours
• Zoning, building and fire code requirements for the space, which can mean costly changes
• General liability insurance, workers' compensation once you hire, and possibly abuse and molestation coverage
• Staff background checks and training requirements
• Tight margins while enrollment builds, since rent and wages are due from day one

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the space, any building changes, equipment and staffing. These are estimates, and margins can be tight while enrollment builds, since rent and wages are due from day one.

Monthly revenue is typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on enrollment and the size of your space. These are estimates, not guarantees, and running a center typically takes at least about 40 hours a week.

State center licensing rules on staff qualifications, ratios, space per child, and fire and health inspections vary widely, so check yours. Also check zoning, building and fire codes, staff background checks, training, and insurance requirements.