As a home daycare provider, your work doesn’t stop when the last child leaves.
There are many behind-the-scenes tasks that count toward your total working hours—even when children aren’t present. Keeping track of this time is important because it can increase your time-space percentage, which means bigger tax deductions.
Here’s a list of work-related tasks you can include in your working hours when children aren’t in care:
CLEANING
Washing and replacing bedding
Sanitizing
Vacuuming
Emptying diaper pail
Cleaning windows
Loading/unloading dishwasher
Mopping
Sweeping
Cleaning bathroom
Wiping table and countertops
Cleaning entryway
FOOD
Writing grocery list
Meal planning
Putting groceries away
Freezing produce
Meal prepping
ENROLLMENTS
Parent interviews
Responding to parent inquiries
Sending applications
Sending handbook/contract
Scheduling interviews
RECORD KEEPING
Weekly record keeping
Quarterly spreadsheet updates
Preparing year end receipts
Sending weekly childcare receipts
Depositing checks
Transferring Venmo payments to bank
YARD UPKEEP
Landscaping
Clearing weeds
Lawn care
Snow removal
Leaf blowing
Planting flowers
Maintaining driveway
Picking up toys
Washing toys
SOCIAL MEDIA
Networking
Hosting live provider conversations
Educating other providers
Sharing product recommendations
Answering direct questions and offering advice to other providers
Sharing my handbook/policies/routines with other providers
Sharing my knowledge on daycare taxes
OTHER
Toy rotations
Online shopping for gifts/holidays
Research
Planning yearly calendar of days closed
Updating parent communication app calendar
Updating contract and handbook
Trainings
PLANNING AND PREPARING ACTIVITIES
TAX PREPARATION
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING
Questions? Please reach out to me on my socials or feel free to email me at [email protected]