Budget and Record-Keeping

Early care and education programs that use effective business and professional practices are more likely to provide a high-quality learning environment, stay in business, and interact more sensitively with children and families.

Good planning for any organization, including child care, includes budgeting and record-keeping. Budgeting provides a road map for implementing program goals and objectives. Thoughtful planning, accurate recordkeeping, and continuous review is essential to effectively manage an early education program. 

Tools to help create a Family Child Care budget

Tools to Help Family Child Care Programs Create Budgets (with FAQs)

Herramientas para ayudar a los programas de cuidado infantil familiar a crear presupuestos (con preguntas frecuentes)

• Part A: Budget Worksheet to Estimate Family Child Program Expenses (Template)
• Part A: Example Worksheet
• Parte A: Hoja de Trabajo para Estimar Gastos de Programa para Presupuesto de Guardería Familiar

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• Part B: Creating a Budget, Step by Step (Family Child Care)
• Part B: Example Budget
• Parte B: Creando un Presupuesto, Paso a Paso (Cuidado infantil familiar)

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• Part C: Line Item Budget 
• Part C: Example Worksheet
• Parte C: Presupuesto de partidas individuales

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• Part D: Comparing Estimated Expenses to Actual Expenses
  • List of Sample Income and Expenses for Family Providers
  • Template for Comparing Estimated Expenses to Actual Expenses Monthly
• Part D: Example
• Parte D: Comparando Ingresos y gastos estimados Ingresos y gastos actuales

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• Part E: Actual Expenses Worksheet
• Part E: Example Worksheet
  • Definitions of Actual Expenses
  • Keeping Track of Hours Worked in the Home (Business Hours)

Tools to help create a Group Child Care budget

• List of Sample Income and Expenses for Group and School-Age Programs
• Templates:
  • Line-Item Budget Template
  • Line-Item Comparison of Estimates to Actual Income and Expenses Worksheet
  • Comparison of Estimates to Actual Income and Expenses Template
  • Sample Budget
  • Sample Budget Justification

Tools to help create a School-Age and Day Camp budget

• List of Sample Income and Expenses for Group and School-Age Programs
• Templates:
  • Line-Item Budget Template
  • Line-Item Comparison of Estimates to Actual Income and Expenses Worksheet
  • Comparison of Estimates to Actual Income and Expenses Template