Is There A Time Of Year When Biz Picks Up?

[jenh171]

Perhaps not an accurate title for this thread, but I'd like to know from those doing child care for many years...have you noticed any pattern in terms of a time of year where a lot of people seem to be looking for child care? I always have my ads on craig's list, facebook, biz cards at the stores, and sometimes it seems I get a lot of inquiries and other times it's quiet. I'm in my third year and trying to pay attention to whether or not there is a rhythm to the responses...are more people apt to be looking at certain times of the year? And btw, I only take infants-4yrs...no school age kids.

[lil angels]

It seems for me I get more calls in the spring and around the first of the yr. I have been doing this for almost 11 yrs.

[SilverSabre25]

Last year, my first year doing this, I got a lot of responses in the Spring, and a lot more in the fall. I also do not take school agers.

[AfterSchoolMom]

I take infants and SA's. For me, things always pick up in August and January (right after the school's Winter break).

[Cat Herder]

It used to be "approximately 9 months from the last long term power outage" for infants ::

I guess there is some truth to it since all 6 of my DCK's were born in Dec. and Jan.... (our area gets hit with severe storms alot in March )

[Zoe]

It used to be "approximately 9 months from the last long term power outage" for infants ::

I guess there is some truth to it since all 6 of my DCK's were born in Dec. and Jan.... (our area gets hit with severe storms alot in March )

Hmmmmmmm........you may have something there catherder. Both of my kids were born in December! ::::

[Zoe]

Oh, and btw, I really hope you guys are right about the spring thing. I STILL haven't gotten any bites on any of my ads so I still have just the one family. Thank God we can pay our bills with the income I've got but I'm getting a little nervous here.

[Meyou]

I find I get the most calls in the spring too although alot of that business ends up being new clients for the fall. People tend to look for care about 6 months in advance here.

I don't take new clients between June 1 and Sept 1 though. Our summers are too busy with outings and the lake for me to integrate a new little one into the mix. They need to learn the everyday rules first before we venture into outing protocal.

[treehugger82]

I'm hoping that spring brings some new clients as well! One of the providers in my town said she gets a lot of calls in the spring and fall, so I'm hoping the same goes for me!!

[MyAngels]

I've always found January, May and late August, early September to be the times that I get the most calls. I've been in the business for 19 years.