Everybody is aware that big companies utilize huge spreadsheets to track their financial performance and other accounting. When I was working for Blockbuster Video, we had massive reports printed for each store. They included the numbers of the store’s bottom line, down to the smallest details such as how many refunds were granted for items not a movie.
Today, I assist my friend (Hi, Donna!) manage a daycare in her house, and to my delight I’m using Excel more frequently at this small daycare than I did when working for a major company. The top 10 items I have set up Excel to use in my friend’s daycare:
Scheduling
It’s pretty basic. You must be aware that there are more than two people present with kids at any given time and the day care of my friend takes it a step further, and ensures that one of the two is female always.
Inventory
Even a modest daycare at home is able to go through an astonishing quantity (and range!) of items every day. of products on a daily basis. Excel of products on a daily basis — or of course, the Email alerts I created to alert her when something was running low of a product — she wouldn’t be able to tell when she should purchase more of some thing.
Invoices
Donna employs several contactors in order to help take care of cleaning and collecting diapers, wash windows and ensure that the playground is in good shape. Excel provides her with a tidy and professional template for her invoices she issues to contractors.
Projekting Tuition
Excel’s ability to look through the history of numerous numbers, look at trends, and predict what they’ll likely appear to be in the near future is a huge help for Donna. She analyzes all of her costs from the past and projects them into the future, and then gets an idea of the total amount her future expenses will be which permits her to estimate the amount her tuition will need to be for her to be able to cover her budget.
Billing
Alerts via email to parents similar to those the Inventory spreadsheet provides to Donna herself is a great way to ensure that everyone is aware the due date for tuition, or when any other expenses that are special need for payment.
Immunizations
I also put together an activity tracker for all of her children to be able to demonstrate to anyone that her children are vaccinated at the appropriate age — or, if they don’t have them know what ones were skipped and the reason for it.
Attendance Tracking
Donna is a lovely woman, and she wants to be aware of whether someone is paying for services they aren’t using So she not only uses the attendance tracker I designed to make sure that nobody is missing out, she also provides refunds on tuition to children who are away for long periods of time.
Child and Family Records
Of of course, Donna needs to know all regarding her customers. After a lengthy discussion we decided on the details she was confident asking everyone about We then set up the Excel template that included every detail to allow her to call anyone either by family members or a child or with specific details anytime she required.
Meal Management
If you’ve ever had to feed your family, you’ll know how difficult it is to organize a range of nutritious and complete meals ahead of time. With a bit of assistance by an FDA database I was able develop an Excel program that lets Donna create healthy meals in a matter of weeks ahead of time.
Caregiver’s Records
Being aware of your employees is just as important in the world of day care than knowing your children and parents. Donna and I designed an excel spreadsheet like that of the Child and Family Records sheet however, we included everything an internet-based background test might reveal along with a variety of other information she requested during an interview. The end result was simple-to-retrieve as well as printable documents of each caregiver’s credentials.
Excel helps Donna’s work quite a bit more simple every day. Donna often tells me that she couldn’t have a business without my assistance. I laugh each time I hear it since she has no idea of how simple it is to get started.
