Hot property

before deciding on where to establish a club in terms of premises, you must check that you are planning to open in the right geographical area, where there is demand for your services. Conducting initial market research is an important step - skip it at your peril!

The national charity 4Children (see 'further information') gives new clubs advice on how to conduct market research. Also, your local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership can help you research the facts and figures of childcare places currently offered and demanded, according to their data.

It is also helpful to distribute questionnaires to local families. Many clubs do this via the free 'pupil post' of appropriate schools. Be sure to plan specific questions carefully to gain the most valid answers. For instance, if you ask parents if they would be likely to use your club 'three times a week', you may get an unrealistic amount of 'yes' replies if you have not also mentioned how much this is likely to cost families. You can also take the opportunity to gain feedback on wider issues - for instance, what times would families want a club to open?