Services aimed at parents likely to grow

It may take a village to raise a child, but a lot of the villagers aren’t volunteers.

America’s “parental outsourcing industry” is likely to grow from $55.8 billion in 2010 to $61.5 billion in 2013, says IBIS World, a marketing and research company in Los Angeles. The biggest part of the industry is child care, said George Van Horn, a senior analyst with IBIS World.

Child care centers already generate $22.8 billion in revenue and as the nation returns to work, it should see a 3 percent annualized growth in the next three years, he said.

“Nanny and baby-sitting services,” another major sector representing $16.2 billion, should see a similar expansion.

Other growth industries are sports coaching, exam preparation, tutoring, educational consulting, driver’s education and language instruction.

The term — parental outsourcing industry — is a new one used by IBIS World, Mr. Van Horn said.

The federal government has long tracked certain services aimed at parents, but they don’t bring them together as an umbrella industry, he said. But it seems logical to combine them, since they are all in the business of helping parents raise children.

With 92.9 million children younger than 21 — accounting for nearly 30 percent of the U.S. population — the potential market for businesses in the parental outsourcing industry is huge, added Mr. Van Horn.

In fact, the universe of parental outsourcing gets even bigger if businesses that do household chores, potty training, and taking care of the elderly are included, according to Entrepreneur Magazine, which in January listed parental outsourcing as one of its top 10 trends to watch.

“More people than ever are paying professionals to do their domestic chores,” the magazine said. Even in a recession, about 10 percent of all U.S. households have hired cleaning help — and a record number are having twice-a-month visits.

“From an entrepreneurial perspective, this is very good news,” the magazine said, noting that start-up costs for a tutoring business can be “as little as $4,000.”

Only a few media stories have been written on “parental outsourcing,” although more than a few social commentators — such as Pamela Paul in her 2008 book “Parenting Inc.” — are sounding an alarm about parents and excessive consumerism.

But there seems to be no end to professionals willing to be mother’s little helper in any arena, if the price is right: Among the businesses lined up to assist parents are those to eliminate thumb sucking, offer “batting” lessons and teach a child to ride a bike.

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