Starting A Childcare Center



Do what you love. When it comes to starting a new business, love is secondary. First of all, you must have an understanding of the business. You love spending time with kids. You have love for finger painting. You really enjoy playing ring-around-the-rosie. A child care centre might seem to be the right business for you. However, you can’t even survive without the ins and outs of the business. You are going to have fun with kids. You are also going to manage and run a business.


It takes special skills and knowledge to be at the helm of a daycare business. Ownership of a daycare brings great perks of working from home and staying with kids. However, you have to be a special person. If you are a kind, patient person who knows at least the basics of the business, you can consider starting a child care centre.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that this business will see the fastest employment growth through 2020. Do you know what does it mean? This is the best time to start a child care centre. If you are considering opening an in-home child care centre, you will get to work from home and you will also be able to spend time with your kids.

Even when you have no children but you love the little ones, an in-home child care centre can be the best business for you. In the modern world, both husband and wife go out to make money. You can make money while staying home and taking care of their kids. Working parents always look for caring and responsible people. 


Considering a Franchise

Starting a daycare business involves a lot of steps. However, purchasing a daycare franchise allows you to skip these steps. Most people find it a cost prohibitive option. Even the cheapest franchises can be pretty expensive. This usually costs more than tens of thousands of dollars. So, an in-house daycare is ideal for people who cannot spend that much money.

Following are the benefits of running an in-house daycare business:

  • Fewer expenses
  • Flexible hours
  • Convenience

Learning About Licensing

Learning About Licensing
Getting license is the very first step to starting a business. So, contact the local Daycare Licensing Agency. Different states have different requirements and guidelines. You have to meet these requirements and follow these guidelines. So, if your home is going to be your workplace, don't forget weighing the pros and cons. There are some states in which you do not require any license. However, all states have respective registrations which you have to complete. The number of children you are going to care for is one of the most important factors affecting your chances of getting a license. So, the very first task is to determine the number of kids you will be caring for at once.

In many states, you do not need to apply for a license if you are caring for less than 5 children. Many people drop the numbers to skip the licensing process.

However, if you don't want to keep your enrollment low, you have to go through the licensing process. A lot of daycare owners drop numbers and some people quit their businesses. So, get an idea of the requirements and guidelines of the state. In many states, there are minimum and maximum number of kids you can have. This will help you in creating the right plan for your child care business.

Following are some of the licensing requirements examples:

  • Depending on the age, there are indoor and outdoor physical space requirements such as minimum square footage per child.
  • There are some health requirements such as maintaining immunization and annual medication examination for kids and staff.
  • You have to follow fire regulations such as documented fire drills and posting evacuation plan.
  • There are education or training requirements such as early childhood education certification, professional development of staff and more.
Once you are aware of all the requirements, learn about other financial aspects such as child care centre budget template, income and expense, and so on. You can also book an appointment with a child care licensing specialist to get answers to your questions. He can guide you through the complete licensing process. When it comes to the budget, you can download child care centre budget template. This will help you in creating the right daycare financial plan.