1. Little Steps Daycare
By: Zach Levy
Nichols College
Business & Society
(MGMT 100-01)

2. Introduction
• Interviewed Lisa Levy
• Little Steps Daycare
• I know her because she’s my mom

3. Description
• Sole Proprietor
• This was the best option because she runs the daycare through
her home
• Service
• Little Steps Daycare has been in business since June 1999

4. Background of Business
• Started the daycare business because she wanted to be home
with her kids
• Need a daycare license through the state of Massachusetts
• CPR & first aid certified
• License costs $100, renewed every 3 years
• Home also needs to be inspected (Daycare certified)
• Changes:
• Price of service has gone up
• Hours have changed
• Originally 7 AM – 6 PM, now 7:45 AM – 5:30 PM
• More clients now than ever before

5. Successes
• Met some great clients who turn out to be good friends
• Feels rewarding to assist parents in raising their children
• Also rewarding that she got to be home with her own kids as
well
• Having a good name amongst other local daycare providers
leads to success

6. Challenges
• Most challenging aspect is having a child adapt to a daycare
environment
• Make them feel comfortable
• Some parents have problems with hours
• Especially picking up children late
• Overcome challenges by trying not to burn bridges with clients
• Find a solution to the problem

7. Competition
• No specific competitors, but any local home daycares are the
main competitors
• Keeping communication open between daycare providers can
have help use each other as “referrals”
• Many clients come from being referred to by another provider
• Keep clients satisfied by giving their children the best possible
care
• If the children are happy at the daycare, it makes the parent more
comfortable leaving their child there

8. Marketing/Staffing
• Putting ads in the newspaper is a great way to gain knowledge
of the business
• Leaving business cards at businesses around town also gain
knowledge of the business
• Doesn’t have anyone working for her, easier for her to do it on
her own

9. Future
• If Lisa continues what she’s done over the last 14 years, she
hopeful the daycare will continue its success
• Plans to run her daycare until her own children are completely
done with college (5 Years)
• Hopes to possibly get a realtor license and start in that
business once her daycare days are done

10. Unique Questions
• What did you have to do to the house to make it “daycare
certified”?
• Cabinet Locks (So kids cant get into stuff)
• Gates put at all staircases
• Cleans and safe environment
• Have you ever had a problem with another daycare provider?
• One time a women pretended to interview for her child to be in
daycare, when in fact, she was just taking all Lisa’s daycare ideas to
use as her own
• How long do your clients usually stay around for?
• Usually until the child goes to pre-school or kindergarten is when the
children leave the daycare

11. Summary
• Lisa’s advice to the class is if you truly have a passion to start
your own business, then go for it
• You will have some bumps in the road but the process in a
whole is worth it
• What I learned:
• Lisa was determined to build a highly recognized home daycare
• It’s more than just the money
• Assisting someone in something so important can make you feel
good about yourself everyday