Through her involvement in the Building Better Business (BBB) and Taking the Lead (TTL) programs, Makisha Binns has gained the tools and confidence to grow her family child care business.
Makisha Binns is the owner and founder of Kiddos Care, located in Belleville, IL. The reason Makisha named her business ‘Kiddos’ was that it was the nickname for her children. Her business came to be because of her move to Illinois with her 1-year-old child, which inspired her to continue teaching children.
Kiddos Care was established in 2014. Makisha ensures she stays up to date with her family child care business by investing in robust developmental and educational essentials.
Makisha’s vision for her business is to provide child care that embraces children’s natural desires to play. She aims to create an open space for them to spread their wings, develop friendships, and engage in appropriate play experiences.
Makisha was brought to Building Better Business (BBB) by the Austin Childcare Providers Network (ACPN), one of the two child care associations of which she is a member. She said the interactions and information provided by the BBB facilitators were informative, and she has learned new material to use within her business.
The effect of associating with BBB has been noticeable for Makisha. As she is facing low enrollment at the moment, she is using the marketing and budgeting strategies she learned from BBB to raise awareness of her business.
“Since completing BBB, I have updated a few of my marketing platforms such as Canva, Facebook, Instagram, and my Google Business Page,” she stated.
“The most important strategy that I loved is understanding the Redleaf calendar, which was provided by BBB, to stay on top of my monthly budget and income,” Makisha shared. She also said there were many other resources in the calendar to help with tax paperwork.
BBB is a 4-month learning program that offers 24 hours of expert assistance in building and sustaining a strong, high-quality family child care business.
With learning materials provided, participants gain practical tools, effective strategies, and a supportive professional network to help them make informed decisions, strengthen their programs, and confidently plan for long-term success.
While Makisha highlights many fantastic experiences with BBB, she was also a member of the sixth cohort of Taking the Lead (TTL), where she used the information she gained to strengthen her business.
TTL is a 9-month hybrid professional learning community created to help small businesses thrive and master tools to expand their knowledge and businesses. Through 119 total contact hours, TTL helps close the gaps, aiding in building systems, quality practices, and confidence that is both heart-led and financially sound.
Makisha said she would recommend TTL and BBB’s services to other business owners, especially those who are members of other child care associations that she is a member of, such as the Austin Childcare Providers Network (ACPN) and the Supporting Professionals Network Association (SPNA), located in Chicago, IL.
“Thanks so much, McCormick, for providing programs for professionals throughout Illinois,” she said.
