How to start a baby proofing business

Every year, more than 300,000 babies are born in Australia. With so many baby hazards in the average home environment, that leaves a lot of families who could benefit from baby proofing services.

Starting a baby proofing business can be a rewarding venture. There's flexibility in your work hours along with the chance to earn a good income. Plus, you get to help first-time parents safeguard the health of their babies. Let's look at what you typically need to get started.

What is a baby proofing business?

A baby proofing business offers services to make a home safe for babies and young children. Baby proofing involves identifying the potential dangers to an infant's health in a home, then potentially installing products to reduce the risk of injury.

Get the right skills

You first need to decide if you'll just provide consultation and analysis or also offer installation services. You'll need to know a few important things to start your business, including how to do the following:

• Identify potential baby hazards in an ordinary home. These include power outlets, windows, staircases, sharp furniture edges, drawers and railings.
• How to use baby proofing items. These are products that keep babies away from hazards. They include gates on staircases, furniture guards, drawer latches, power outlet covers and rail or banister guards.
• Install and service these proofing items. Your clients may not know how to install these products or may simply lack the time to do it. Your business can step in and install them throughout their homes.

Practical know-how isn't all that's going to make your business successful. Some of the other skills to help grow your business include:

• Marketing so you can sell yourself to new clients. Read more about marketing tools for small companies.
• People skills in order to deal with parents, some of whom may be demanding.
• Customer service skills to meet your clients' needs.

Courses and qualifications

The good news is that you do not need any specific qualification or a degree in the field to start a baby proofing business. However, you will need some training. Self-training could include:

• Books. You could start by purchasing books on baby proofing homes. You can find many of them on Amazon. Read as many as possible to give you an introduction to the business itself.
• Videos. Watch baby proofing videos online or attend training workshops by leading baby proofing companies.
• Hazards. Learn about the types of home baby hazards, the risks they pose to children and the corrective measures parents should take.
• Marketing. Learn how to market yourself, how to offer exemplary customer service and how to grow your business.
• Competition. You could research other baby proofing businesses to see the services they offer. If they publish baby proofing guides, sign up and learn what they know.

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Buy the right equipment and software

Startup costs for your business can be minimal. Baby proofing equipment can include:

• Baby proofing items. You may need to purchase some baby proofing products to show clients what they'll need to buy (if you're planning to suggest product sales to them). You can buy products from retailers such as BIG W, Amazon, IKEA, The Safety Store Australia and Target. You may also be able to get discounts on some items from eBay and Bubs Warehouse.
• Training materials such as books and guides.
• Website. If you're not joining a franchise, you'll want to create a website and brand to advertise your business. If you don't have web skills, you're likely to need to look into hiring a web designer. You will also need to pay web hosting fees.

Choose a business structure

Before starting any business in Australia, you need to know what business structure is ideal for you. Many baby proofing businesses are run from home by individuals, so registering as a Sole Trader may be best for you as you begin.

• Sole Trader. A Sole Trader is a one-person business. This person is responsible for all aspects of the company.
• Partnership. A Partnership is when two or more people choose to start a business. All members have equal responsibility and control of the company.
• Company. A Company is its own legal entity and is owned by shareholders. Being set up as a Company offers some protection from personal liability.

You can find out more about how to structure your business here.

Once you know what structure you will use, there are some other considerations:

• Business name. You'll have to come up with a business name. Consider whether the name is already trademarked, whether there are businesses with similar names and whether the domain name is available.
• ABN. You'll also need to register your business to get an Australian Business Number (ABN). You can register the business online at register.business.gov.au.
• GST. You may also need to register for taxes such as goods and services tax (GST). Find out more about small business taxes in our guide.

Legal matters

As a new business, you'll need certain legal documents to operate in compliance with consumer laws:

• Terms and Conditions. One of these is your website's Terms and Conditions.
• Privacy Policy. This policy assures clients that you will safeguard their data and includes a disclaimer which limits your liability for claims made.
• Employment Contracts. As your business grows, you're likely to need additional legal documents such as Employment Contracts when you hire staff.
• Deeds of Release. When letting go of staff, you will need a Deed of Release.
• Legal advice. You may also need legal assistance choosing an ideal business structure, registering your business and setting up your tax information. The type of structure you choose will have regulatory and tax implications. You may want to speak to a commercial lawyer for guidance on the best structure for your business, given your location and other financial information.

You can get customisable templates of legal documents together with legal counsel from one of the following services:

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Lawpath		Legal documents and templates, Access to lawyers, Legal guides, Legal advice	$79 per month	Essentials: $288, legal advice: $828	You can view samples for free and you can create your first document for free.	Choose an annual plan from just $288 and get unlimited revisions to your legal or business documents. Plus, unlock exclusive partner offers.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
LawDepot		Legal documents and templates, Legal guides	$4.99 per month	$59.88	Free one week trial available which gives access to hundreds of documents.	Customise and download legal documents in as little as five minutes. Plus, LawDepot offers peace of mind with two service guarantees.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
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LegalVision		Legal documents and templates, Legal guides, Legal advice	$49 + GST per week	$2,548 + GST	No	Your business can take advantage of unlimited lawyer consultations, fast turnaround times and free legal templates with LegalVision.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...
Law Central		Legal documents and templates, Legal guides	Free for the Silver membership	Gold: $99	You can view samples and create your own document for free with the Silver membership.	Law Central offers a large number of legal templates for super, trusts, estate planning, employment and commercial uses.	Go to site More Info		loading Fetching your data...

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How to get new customers

There are a few ways you can attract customers:

• Advertising. You can market yourself through social media ads or through print ads in local magazines.
• Baby events. You can even attend baby care events or gatherings with many first-time parents in attendance. When you do find clients, offer great service to turn them into advocates for your brand.
• Online marketplace. You can also list your services on an online marketplace such as Airtasker or hipages. These marketplaces connect business owners with paying clients who want their services.
• Business directory. You can also take advantage of business directory listings that receive thousands of visitors every month such as Yellow Pages, True Local and Yelp.

How to make money

• Consultancy. You may choose to charge a consultancy fee for identifying baby hazards in homes and recommending proofing products.
• Installing products. You can open new business streams by selling parents baby proofing products and charging them service fees for installation.
• Check out the competition. Look up the consultancy fees that competitors in your local market charge and see if you can offer a better price or service.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need insurance for my baby proofing business?

Yes, as a bare minimum that'll include Liability Insurance. There is potential for litigation arising from child injuries, so make sure you research your insurance options with care and ensure that any cover you get will be sufficient.

When should I advise parents to start baby proofing their homes?

At the very latest, parents tend to baby proof their homes when their babies are about to start crawling and exploring. They should continue baby proofing up until the baby turns four years old. As children grow, parents should re-evaluate the precautions they have taken to safeguard their infants and toddlers.