Be Realistic: Base your plan on realistic goals and capabilities.

Document and Provide Evidence: Do thorough research; document and detail your facts about child care operations.

Illustrate Uniqueness of Your Program: Describe what makes your program appealling, and the services you will offer that will keep your center in demand.

Present Your Plan as a Road Map: Your plan should provide ways to monitor your program constantly. It should have flexibility for modifications and changes when needed.

Technology at Work: Computer and computer software can be a tremendous help in creating your plan, particularly the financial plan.

Presentation and Packaging: The plan should be impressive, clean, conservative, and simple. Your document should be well prepared, clearly written, error-free, and appropriately bound. Use graphs and tables to illustrate data and finances. (For internal use, a 3-ring binder is convenient for updates.)