Another option is to run a nursery school. This would be more intellectually challenging, as preschool preparation is often an integral part of these facilities. Also, it demands a more structured day, more experienced and competent teaching personnel, and often children stay longer at the site. Parents feel comfortable leaving their children in the care of others for longer periods of time when the children are older. For this business, advertising is likely to be more formal and less on a word-of-mouth basis than for a home or group day care center for young children, as parents wish to find the most competent individuals to prepare their children for entering school. This would be more ideal for my previous sales, marketing, and managerial experience. I would be able to make decisions about how to shape and have an impact on the children's lives.

An after-school child care center would make further demands in terms of the intellectual enrichment activities required for children. Because the children are older, these facilities are likely to be larger, have fully certified teachers on hand for tutoring purposes, and can also offer a wider range of activities, given that the...

One disadvantage of this type of center is that the time demands upon the owner are much broader. Children may stay until 8pm some nights, if their parents work late or have late commitments, but the children may still come in early, if the center allows preschool children to attend, during snow days or holidays, or if the children come immediately from a half-day of kindergarten. Finding individuals to stay later and to staff the center for such a long period of time requires discretion and character judgment on the part of the owner, although such expanded hours can bring in more revenue. Students can be charged extra for various activities and tutoring services, and even when there is someone to watch them at home may come in because of their desire for assistance with their homework. However, given my desire to make a larger profit and perhaps open a chain of such enrichment facilities, coupled with a competitive drive and a willingness to take a loss during the first year or so of my business, this seems like the most appropriate choice for my personal background, temperament, and workforce experience.