8 Key SWOT Analysis Questions for your Childcare Business

A SWOT analysis is a strategic tool that helps you evaluate four key areas of your early childhood program: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Conducting a SWOT analysis is key to understanding your program's current position and making smart decisions. It helps you showcase your strengths, address weaknesses, capitalize on opportunities, and prepare for threats. Using these insights will enhance your marketing, attract more families, and boost enrollment and success.

Now let's get into our 8 key SWOT analysis questions to ask your center:

1. What does our preschool do better than others?

   • Here you would highlight any unique features of your school such as a specialized curriculum or unique enrichment classes offered such as weekly yoga or dance classes.

2. Why do parents choose our preschool over competitors?

   • Here you would share what your school does exceptionally well, such as highly educated staff, excellent parent engagement opportunities. You can use feedback from parent testimonials or reviews to highlight what families value most about your program.

3. Where do we fall short in providing quality care or services?

   • This is where you identify areas you know need improvement, such as high staff turnover rates or a limited outdoor play area. This information you can get from reviewing any regular feedback or concerns that parents have expressed either from surveys or looking at negative online reviews.

4. What complaints or concerns do parents have about our program?

   • This is where you identify areas you know need improvement, such as high staff turnover rates or a limited outdoor play area.

5. What early childhood education trends or local community needs can we tap into?

   • Here you can explore trends such as using new technology in your classroom. Also, community needs you could identify are greater demand for bilingual programs or extended day hours.

6. Are there ways to improve or expand our current program offerings?

   • This could include expanding your curriculum through more enrichment programs, STEM classes, or offering parent workshops.

7. What outside factors are hurting our enrollment or increasing our operational costs?

   • This can include issues such as increased cost of supplies or more competition from new childcare centers opening up nearby.

8. Are there any trends that might decrease the need for people seeking childcare services?

   • Keeping updated on trends such as more parents working remotely and therefore not needing full-time childcare.

Once you've answered these 8 questions, it's important to take these next steps:

1. Schedule a time to review and analyze your responses to these 8 SWOT questions.

2. Create a detailed action plan from the insights specific strategies based on your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

3. Your action plan should include clear goals, timelines, responsibilities, and a way to measure success, and to check in regularly on your progress.

If you're looking for more hands-on help with your childcare center's marketing needs, contact me at annieliuconsulting@gmail.com to discuss how I can help boost your program's enrollment!