If you love kids, this is a wonderful business to start—your start up costs are minimal, and if you have kids of your own, it's a great way to watch them grow while also earning some money and being your own boss. That brings up another issue, however - you need to have a whole lot of patience to get into this kind of business, and you need to be happy staying at home for most of the day. While other types of homebased businesses - for instance, one that involves a great deal of sales - allow some flexibility in terms of getting out of the house, with an in-home child-care service, you'll generally be tied to your home with only little ones to chat with throughout the day.

If you're confident you'll not only have the patience for this type of business, but you'll also provide a stimulating and enjoyable environment for the children - in other words, you have a good understanding of child psychology, development and the like—then this should be an ideal business for you. You say you've been certified; you should also take some courses in CPR and pediatric first aid if you haven't already done so (even if it's not required). And don't forget about all the safety devices - smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, gates around pools and the like, first-aid kits and outlet covers are just a few considerations. Call in a professional if you want to be sure you've covered everything.