Providing Child Care at a Gym | [How To, Pricing, Licenses] (2023)

Offering childcare in a gym or gym can make your hotel stand out and attract more clients while providing a competitive edge.

So how do you provide day care at the gym?To offer daycare at a gym, it must be licensed, staffed with a childcare area and employ a supervisory team. Preschools must follow local zoning laws and regulations and meet safety standards. Childcare areas often have babysitters or serve as unattended play areas.

Parents want to improve their physical fitness after giving birth, but the choices are limited to indoor fitness equipment and fitness apps. Providing them with daycare at the gym can add to your bottom line—if you have the extra space, setting up daycare is certainly possible.

Here's a little secret - parents are lookingaffordable child careThey come to your gym or fitness studio and become members. Offering childcare at a gym or gym will definitely increase membership.

In this comprehensive guide, I'll explain what you need to do to offer childcare at your gym or fitness studio. I will also analyze the pros and cons of childcare at your gym or fitness studio. Childcare at a gym or gym is a competitive advantage, and I'll give you the information you need to decide if gym childcare is right for you.

Why start offering daycare at your gym?

There is a huge market for people who want to exercise but can't because they can't leave their kids unattended. People who are in good health usually stop exercising for various reasons, such as preparing for pregnancy, giving birth, and raising children.

Babysitters will force parents to sign up for a gym or fitness studio — and some will even pay extra for the babysitter. You can even find stories online of people showing others how it is better to use a gym or exercise room that offers childcare than to pay extra for expensive childcare.

A nursery can be a small gym area with a children's playground or a large nursery with a caretaker with a large gym and fitness room.

The main downside is that there is an upfront fee for babysitting services at a gym or fitness studio. If the nursery is just an unattended playground, not hiring staff can save a lot of money. However, hiring someone to care for your children can add significantly to your costs, as you will have to pay the wages.

Benefits of College Day Care

Here are the key benefits of having daycare at a gym or fitness studio:

✔ Increase your income

Daycare at the gym costs money. A typical service fee is approximately 50% of the actual day care fee. Typically, gyms charge a base rate for 1-2.5 hours, with overtime charges if parents continue exercising.

example: If your gym subscription costs $200 per month, you can add a $100 per month kindergarten subscription. Parents will show up after get off work and bring their kids, and if they stay longer than your monthly fee allows, each appointment will earn you extra money.

✔ Gain a competitive advantage

Offering childcare means you are a quality gym that cares about its members. Visit the most prestigious gyms in your city and you'll find they all offer childcare.

By offering babysitting services or a playground, you will have an immediate market advantage as this will open up potential prospects for you.

✔ Make customers happy

Children are happy because they can play, and parents are happy because they can shape their bodies in the safety of their children.

You'll quickly notice that parents will spend the least amount of time at the gym, not exercising, but working or reading in the coffee/lounge area. As a daycare gym, you not only have to accept this fact, but encourage it to keep your customers happy.

Providing childcare can improve conditions in local communities—and it's not just about making money. You are directly helping dozens of parents recover. Plus, if one parent works out at this gym, there's a good chance another parent will join too.

✔ Easy to manage

Daycare at the gym is almost as easy. Providing daycare at a gym is different than running a full daycare because the kids typically show up for 1 to 2.5 hours, play, and then leave. On average, each child will be supervised for 1 hour or less.

Your parents are always around, which also lowers the stress factor. It is enough to hire someone to look after the children, and you can do it yourself if you don't have the money to hire someone else. If the gym is safe, you can leave the kids unattended in the general play area.

✔ Help the community

Gym owners are directly responsible for improving the health of their communities as they provide fitness services and exercise programs to those who need them most. Doing this is the best part of offering day care at your gym, and your clients will be infinitely grateful to you.

✔ Low initial cost

Babysitting at a gym may not be expensive. A nanny doesn't have to cost $100,000 to renovate, and you don't have to hire two people to babysit and pay a 6-figure salary.

You can simply purchase equipment and have the gym area equipped with toys for the kids to play with while the patrons work out. This model is known as "unsupervised day care." You can also hire a part-time supervisor during the day. In this case, the only additional costs are for toys and playground equipment.

Cons of Offering Day Care at a Gym

I won't be silent on the facts - there are some downsides to offering day care in gyms and fitness studios. If you hire child care providers, the process of applying for a license is time-consuming and can be costly to start up.

✖ Supervision costs

The biggest cost of starting childcare at gyms and fitness studios is hiring a full-time babysitter. Hiring a supervisor is a must if you have a large facility with many children to supervise. meaning isThe annual salary of childcare workers is $38,587. For new clubs that are not yet profitable, paying $40,000 a year to hire a director can be difficult.

✖ Insurance costs

Gym owners must purchase additional insurance because they work with children. Providing child care will increase your liability insurance premiums because you are responsible for your child's safety. Parents can file a complaint if their child is injured or leaves the gym.

Gym Daycare Prices

A price list is one of the first things you will develop for your preschool kindergarten. Gyms typically charge parents for 1 or 2 hour classes, with an additional hourly fee. If the price is $12 for 2 hours (average time spent at the gym), the gym might charge $5 for each additional hour.

observe:It is common to offer free child care for a certain number of hours each week. For example, your gym might offer 2.5 hours of free child care per week as long as parents are present.

Example child care price list:

Gym babysitters are charged differently than regular babysitters because you are billed by the hour rather than by the day. Some gyms offer free childcare, while others have a pricing structure. First, I recommend developing a basic pricing structure.

There are some creative ways to work out the price structure for daycare at your gym or gym. Instead of charging patrons with children a flat fee, you can offer a Child Care Club membership that entitles them to one month of child care at your facility.

example: Parents can pay a flat fee of $150 for an unlimited monthly subscription to "Childcare Club" where their kids can play while you take them to the gym [limited hours per day]

Typically, gym owners charge a fee50% of long-term care workers.In order to compete with caregivers, you need to price gym daycare appropriately. If the average cost of an average preschool in your city is $20 an hour, your gym should cost between $10 and $15 an hour. If the average price in your city is lower, adjust accordingly.

observe: Other variables determine the price of daycare at your gym -- for example, size. If you only have a small room where the kids can play unsupervised, you probably won't be able to charge that much.

Instead, if you have a large kid's area that's well-lit and filled with toys, you can charge a monthly childcare fee.

The 3 Best Childcare Models for Gyms: Supervised, Unsupervised, and Shared

Model #1) Supervised

Supervised parenting means having a senior supervisor, also known as a nanny or babysitter, who takes care of the child while the parents exercise. This type of day care is the same as regular day care in a day care center; the main difference is that the children stay for a few hours instead of a full day.

Supervised daycare is ideal for medium to large clubs that have extra space and can hire a daycare provider. Caregivers must have childcare experience and must be certified, including first aid certification.

Opening a supervised nursery at a gym is the most difficult option because you have to get licenses, pass safety inspections, and hire staff.

The process of setting up a childcare facility at your facility can take anywhere from a few months to a year. Just start offering supervised childcare to established clubs who can afford to pay the excess profits of expansion costs.

You first need to obtain permission and buy toys, games, movies and other entertainment for children. You must also protect the area from fire, install security cameras and secure children's toys.

There will be other costs such as additional liability insurance in addition to your existing liability insurance at the College. The city then sends out inspectors, who take an average of 4-6 weeks to report.

Supervised daycare is the solution for medium to large for-profit clubs because they can charge top rates for monthly subscriptions or hourly childcare.

There should be at least one staff member dedicated to childcare and day care when parents are also on site.

Model 2) Day care at the gym without supervision

Unattended daycare means kids are left unsupervised at the gym. However, that doesn't mean they are dangerous. Child care is often unsupervised meaning that children can play in the child care area without adult supervision, which is also fun for them.

Gyms often offer unsupervised daycare for children over 6-7 years old. If you offer unaccompanied day care at your college, you must set an age limit for children who can be left unattended at your facility.

An unattended playground is a cost-effective option because you don't have to worry about hiring staff and can only have specific areas of the gym with children's play areas. This area should be easily accessible and close to the main gym so parents can regularly check on what their children are doing.

Childcare in unsupervised gyms has two major disadvantages:

The city's cheapest gym offersFree Unaccompanied Day Care, while the more premium ones will offer fully supervised childcare. If you want to charge for unattended day care, you probably won't be able to charge a higher membership fee than other gyms.

However, there is still great value in childcare at an unattended gym. People who wouldn't go to the gym because they had to leave their kids at home unsupervised can now do so.

The safety aspect is also real as young children cannot be left alone unsupervised in the area. Providing unattended child care can also increase insurance costs—check with your liability insurance company for more information.

Model #3) Shared/Reference Gym Daycare

Sharing preschool activities is a less popular option, but if you have a center near you that you can partner with by sending a referral, it might be worth it. You can partner with a local daycare to offer childcare to gym members for a 50% discount.

You can include childcare costs in your gym membership package and pay directly to your childcare partner.

example: If the nursery charges $20 per hour and the parents take them for 2 hours, you can charge $20 for 2 hours based on the cooperation with the kindergarten. If your gym is in a commercial area with many other businesses, there may be a partner nursery nearby.

The Three Most Important Steps to Taking Care of Your Kids at the Gym

Here are the key steps you need to take to offer child care at your gym or fitness studio:

Provide child care at your facility. Step 1) Space and Zoning Licensing

The first step is to designate a place that is available for childcare. There are no federal minimum space requirements for child care. You can do this in a spare room in your gym that can be converted into a lounge area. You just need a main area where the kids can play.

However, if you have more space, you can designate separate bedrooms for naps and meals. This will prepare the children for a long stay, just like in a normal kindergarten.

More space is desirable as the child wants to run around which is good for development. The area should be accessible so that children can easily move around it. The interior should be equipped with furniture, toys and safety equipment.

local zoning ordinance

Gyms or fitness studios must comply with local zoning regulations. You must apply to the council and obtain local permission before you can upgrade a room to a nanny room. The city will send inspectors to inspect fire protection equipment and similar safety features to ensure installations meet local standards. The check may take up to 2 months.

If the facility does not meet local standards, the council will give you the opportunity to fix it and allocate child care appropriately. Consult a business attorney to help you obtain zoning permits. Once the hardware is ready, it's an easy process.

Council will require safety measures such as proper electrical coverage, smoke detectors in the ceiling and evacuation plans. These are the basic safety factors that all preschools must implement in order to be licensed.

If you want to add to the appeal of your gym daycare, consider installing security locks for lockers and baby changing stations.

The city typically orders multiple inspections before granting a permit. These checks will come from various departments to ensure you are complying with local property and health and safety laws.

Typically, daycare facilities must pass inspections such as fire inspections, sanitation inspections, and environmental impact inspections. But again, the exact nature of the license required depends on your state.

expert tips: Always consult a business attorney in your city to learn about local laws and regulations. Sometimes special permits are required to open playgrounds, even if they are free.

Nursery Licensing and Insurance

Some cities may require a child care license before providing child care, whether for-profit or not.

If you run a daycare, you may need a license similar to what you need. If your daycare has passed all municipal inspections (such as fire and sanitation inspections), you will still need a childcare permit.

There are no federal licensing laws and all licensing occurs at the state level. To obtain a daycare license in your city, you'll need to familiarize yourself with your state's licensing requirements and find out which licenses are specifically needed.

In some states, obtaining a license requires proper insurance. You may not be able to get rid of your current liability coverage and may have to double your liability coverage or buy a separate plan.

Before the state grants you a license to care for children, they will require separate liability insurance for the day care business. Having this insurance provides peace of mind for your gym clients and gives you financial security in the event of an accident at the nursery. Your local licensing board can tell you the exact coverage you need.

Provide child care at your gym Step 2) Purchase equipment

Outfit the childcare area of ​​the gym with toys, furniture, and safety equipment. You'll need lots of toys to keep the kids entertained, and furniture for them to rest and move around the room.

First aid kits are essential as they allow paramedics to act quickly in emergencies. Here are the basic items you'll need to buy to outfit your gym or fitness studio with a nanny area:

furniture

Daycare centers often have furniture such as cubicles where children can store backpacks and clothes. You'll also want to buy small tables and chairs where the kids can sit, draw, or talk to each other.

You'll also want to buy shelves for toys and shelves for books. The toy storage rack holds all the toys and makes it easy for kids to take them out.

Books should also be accessible to children.

children's equipment

Babies require special care, even more so than toddlers. Most large gyms have a kids' section next to the kids' section. You must purchase equipment such as swings, cribs, loungers and chairs.

These essentials will ensure you can meet the needs of parents with children. Remember that babies are fragile when it comes to their health, so make sure the equipment is new and meets all hygiene standards. Introduce a routine equipment sanitation process in child care areas.

kids toys

Toys keep kids entertained and make them look forward to visiting the nursery. Toys should be suitable for children of different ages and genders.

Make sure the toys are safe, as kids can step on them and hurt their feet (think Legos). Invest in some books and art to keep your kids creative - books for kids of all ages.

After outfitting the area with toys and educational content, develop an organizational system to keep toys organized. Clean toys regularly to keep them hygienic, as many children will touch them.

First aid kit

If your child is injured and you need to save their life, a first aid kit can help. These packages include patches, pills, and other hardware.

There are first aid kits specially designed for children, which exclude potentially dangerous chemicals that may be harmful to children.

If you're hiring a supervisor, make sure they take a CPR/First Aid certification course (average $150) and purchase the necessary first aid equipment. A first aid kit can save a child's life.

Make sure you have at least one first aid manual handy in case a supervisor needs to remember the basics.

management software

You will need software that can be used to manage childcare details such as hours and names. usuallygym management softwareUse does not include children, a separate program is required to record information about children attending the childcare area of ​​the gym.

management softwareHelps with tax preparation, and also lets you keep track of kids going to kindergarten and properly settle accounts for parents.

hurry upstudio development, parents can easily add child care at checkout when purchasing a lesson pack or subscription. You can also track the revenue generated by your gym's daycare services on the dashboard. We offer a 14-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee!

Offer Child Care at Your Gym Step 3) Hire a Nanny

If you want to offer childcare at your gym or fitness studio, you'll need to hire a full-time nanny who can take care of the kids, prepare meals, and act in an emergency. A caregiver is usually someone with experience caring for children, such as nannies, nannies and teachers.

These individuals have experience working with large groups of children.

Guardians will ensure that children play in safe conditions. Children are allowed to roam outside the facility without a guardian. This can make parents question the safety of childcare. In the worst case scenario, you will be forced to return your money or go to court.

expert tips: Be careful when hiring babysitters. Perform a background check to ensure the janitor has a clean record, as you will be legally liable for your actions on the job.

Qualification Factors for Facilities Managers

Create a daily schedule

To keep your gym running especially well, create a schedule for the day ahead of time. So parents bring their kids at certain times of the day.

A daily schedule will add extra structure to the college's daycare, and you can trust your supervisor to arrange a regular schedule.

One day the nursery may allow free play, which could be called a "fun day." On another day, children will focus on learning, which can be called "learning day".

Scheduling class time can engage children more than letting them do what they want. Consider talking to parents and asking what their child might like, and consulting your supervisor to implement this plan.

Most gyms never make their daycare available to their members. Doing these little things will give you a competitive edge and help attract a steady stream of new members.

application

Providing babysitting at the gym is a great idea if you can handle the additional complications that come with it.

While this can significantly increase revenue and increase your gym's selling point over the competition, you will have to deal with the potential costs of hiring a daycare provider, obtaining permits, and furnishing the nursery with furniture and toys.