How To Start a Daycare

[Interested]

What is involved with starting my own daycare? Are there regulations?

[michael]

Every state has differing standards when starting a daycare. Most require a license but not all depending on the number of children involved.

Some parents decide to start a "family" or "home" daycare which includes their children. This also factors in the caregiver to child ratio. I suggest you view you state's requirements. Here are the Licensing Standards listed on daycare.com: http://www.daycare.com/states.html

Also, there are separate requirements for daycare centers which generally are larger facilities and attendance.

[Interested]

I noticed a Daycare Starter Kit on the site. Is it worth purchasing?

[michael]

It is in file format which means it is a file download. It has been on the site for several years and many have used it to start their daycare. I believe for the price it is well worth it. You can find it here:
http://www.daycare.com/advertisers/startingadaycare/index.html

[Unregistered]

I have started a daycare center in Oregon. There are various dept that get involved in this process.
The City Planning Dept to see if the area is Zoned for child care
The City Building Dept to see if the Building Code needs to be changed
The Health Dept
The Fire Dept
Check the City Planning Dept for what kind of sign you can post
The Child Care Division in your state.
Once all of the criteria from these Dept were met, then you can open your doors for business.
There is the USDA food program that helps pay for some of the food served.
There are a multitue of website for curriculum and art activities.
There are some websites of other center or homes that can give you ideas on how to start up your business.
I am not stating this to deter you from opening, just to give you a perspective of what needs to happen. It can vary from state to state.

The best of luck! It is a fun adventure.

[Unregistered]

Thanks this was good info

[aaliyah]

im 28 and i what open up a daycare what r some of the things i need...

[michael]

Please see your state's requirements and contact numbers located at:
http://www.daycare.com/states.html

Daycare Startup Guide Kit:
http://daycare.com/advertisers/startingadaycare/index.html

Daycare Insurance:
http://daycare.com/advertisers/insurance/index.html

Accredited Daycare Classes:
http://www.daycare.com/advertisers/pennfoster/index.html

To add your Daycare listing Information:
https://daycare.com/php/start_new_signup.php

[vernonlexce]

my wife wants to start a daycare in lexington ky and she was wondering how much it cost to get it started without the lease of course. inspections and all

[michael]

The Division of Regulated Child Care is responsible for licensing and investigating complaints against child day care programs, residential child caring facilities and child-placing agencies. The division also is responsible for certifying and investigating complaints against certified family child care homes.

To apply for a license to operate a child day care facility, residential child caring facility, a child-placing agency or a certification for a certified child care home please contact the Division of Regulated Child Care at (502) 564-7962.

Child day care facilities can be licensed as either Type I facilities or Type II facilities. If care is provided in a dwelling for 13 or more children or in a non-dwelling for four or more children, the facility is a Type I. If care is provided in a dwelling (which is your home) for up to 12 children, the facility is considered a Type II. The fee for initial licensing for both Type I and Type II facilities is $50. The annual license renewal fee is $25.

The licensing fee for residential child caring and child-placing facilities is $100 for initial licensing and $50 for the annual renewal.
The certification fee for a certified family child care home is $10.

The regional offices of the Division of Regulated Child Care are responsible for conducting on-site visits of all licensed child care facilities and certified homes in the state to determine compliance with applicable licensing and certification regulations. Complaints concerning these facilities and certified homes are investigated by regional office staff.

[Unregistered]

what certificates and training do you need to open a daycare? do you need a degree in early childhood? cda? 40 hrs? directors license?

[michael]

Please see your state's requirements and contact numbers located at:
http://www.daycare.com/states.html

[Unregistered]

What is involved with starting my own daycare? Are there regulations?
I am interested in starting my own day care in westbury/new york, can you please tell me some of the things I need to know

[Unregistered]

I'm a 16 year old Female who lives in Florida. I am currently a Junior in High School and have decided to be a childcare provider after school. I want to open my own daycare facility, but have no idea where to start. I have taken Early Child Development in school and am currently in level 2-3 which is mostly assisting in running the preschool on grounds. In level 1 I took the Florida state tests for Pre-school Appropriate Practices, Behavioral Observation and Screening, Child Growth and Development, Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect, Health Safety and Nutrition, and Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations. I passed them all and have the certificates. Soon I will be taking the Infant/Toddler test to get certified for those ages as well. I am starting to look for a job in a local child care facility. What do I need to do to start my own daycare and are there any other certificates or classes that I need to take? Thanks for you help.

[zosim]

Hi All,

I'm happy I encountered this forum. Thanks to all for the great info. I am planning on starting a daycare as well (in South NJ). Almost all of the resources I've looked at pretty much say the same thing... read the licensing requirements of the state first. But what seems to be missing for me is the fact that like in NJ, the first thing the licensing agency requires you to do is to find a location and then get a certificate of occupancy from that location.

How do you do that? If you need to find a location first, does that mean I need to:

1. Find a location
2. Have it inspected if it is feasible to be a daycare center
3. Talk to the municipal zoning board to see if it's zoned for childcare. if not, try to meet the requirements to get the zoning class you need.
4. To get the zone class changed, you'd need to hire an architect to design a plan for your daycare. The plan should meet all state regulation requirements.
5. Once you have an architectural plan, do you submit that first to the licensing board to get it approved, or do you go to the municipal board to get it approved?
6. While all of these are happening, will the landlord be patient enough to let you do all of this? I'm assuming there will be a clause in the lease contract that committing to the lease is dependent on whether a license will be issued by the state.

These are what I've understood as what needs to be done to even get to a point of getting the state to look into your request to get a license. Am I missing anything or have made some incorrect assumptions?

I hope those who have successfully opened a commercial daycare center can provide some insights.

Thanks!

[michael]

Caregivers in charge of a group: Must be at least 18 and must complete the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services approved introductory training course.

Introductory Training http://www.daycare.com/florida/training.html

http://www.daycare.com/florida.html

Daycare Startup Guide Kit:
http://daycare.com/advertisers/startingadaycare/index.html

Daycare Insurance:
http://daycare.com/advertisers/insurance/index.html

Accredited Daycare Classes:
http://www.daycare.com/advertisers/pennfoster/index.html

To add your Daycare listing Information to Daycare.com:
https://daycare.com/php/start_new_signup.php

[Unregistered]

I would like to open a Home Day Care in NC for 1 or 2 children (age group 2-3 years). I have myself 2 children (2 and 11 years). I am German and I don't really understand the page of the Licening standards for NC. It says: "Number of Children Allowed: 3-5 (plus 3 SAC)". Does it mean that I don't need a license and can start right away? How much of a weekly rate can I expect for one week?

[Unregistered]

SAC means "School-Age Care". The family ratio with School-age children for you seems to fit. You are within the regulations for cared children with your own included. You WOULD need a license. I am not sure of rates for your area. I would do a search on daycare.com using the zip code in your area and inquire as if you were looking to find care for your own children.

http://www.daycare.com/listing.html

Child Care Licensing Agency
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Division of Child Development
Regulatory Services Section
2201 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-2201
Phone: (919) 662-4499
Toll Free: (800) 859-0829 (within State)
Fax: (919) 661-4845

[Unregistered]

I live in north carolina and I already have an in home daycare. By the end of the year I will be married and we are moving to Georgia. I am licensed by the state of North Carolina and have a 3 star rating. Will this mean anything to state of georgia. I mean can I transfer licenses and all the classes I have to take to the state of Georgia or will I have to start at a one star again once I move. And if so why. I have been in business for 3 years and will have a diploma in Early Childhood Education by the end of the year. How would I get started?

[Unregistered]

What is involved with starting my own daycare? Are there regulations?
I am also interested in starting a daycare any idea on how to predict the number of students you can bring in each month.

[michael]

Ratios are icluded. Here are the Licensing Standards listed on daycare.com: http://www.daycare.com/states.html

[Unregistered]

I live in Los Angeles and would like to get start with a day care what is the first thing I need to do?

[Unregistered]

I am looking for a sample of a Daycare Business Plan which will allow me to focus on the possibility of starting a Daycare Center in North Florida close to Thomasville, GA line. Can you email me one?
lucy_61 @ yahoo.com. Very school oriented city - most people are phd but not enough jobs anyway. People just love to learn. Planning to include after school tutoring program for the late working parents. Looking for a plan to extend to a personalized education system for up to 8th grade.
Any help?

Thanks,
Lucy

[michael]

This one may get you started. http://www.firstbusiness.ca/guides/Daycare.pdf

[Unregistered]

I'm a 16 year old Female who lives in Florida. I am currently a Junior in High School and have decided to be a childcare provider after school. I want to open my own daycare facility, but have no idea where to start. I have taken Early Child Development in school and am currently in level 2-3 which is mostly assisting in running the preschool on grounds. In level 1 I took the Florida state tests for Pre-school Appropriate Practices, Behavioral Observation and Screening, Child Growth and Development, Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect, Health Safety and Nutrition, and Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations. I passed them all and have the certificates. Soon I will be taking the Infant/Toddler test to get certified for those ages as well. I am starting to look for a job in a local child care facility. What do I need to do to start my own daycare and are there any other certificates or classes that I need to take? Thanks for you help.??????????????????????????????????????????

[Unregistered]

There are a lot of forms. I am trying to start my own daycare and I have to go though all kinds of things like people coming here and looking my place over. You have to make sure you are really ready for this and your mind to it. If you really want to do it, you can.

What is involved with starting my own daycare? Are there regulations?

[Unregistered]

Legal issues should also be detailed in the business plan, as there are unique legal issues faced by day care business. As with insurance, it is important for the business owner to research any legal coverage that may be required before the business opens. For much more information on <a href="http://www.daycaresurvey.com/">day care business</a>...

[Amanda J]

Please help me to get start.I need kids age starting at 5mth to 6yrs. ago .

[Unregistered]

Thanks. This was very useful.

Happy Kidz daycare and learning center.
www.happykidzdaycare.com
Fremont, CA

[daycaremom1998]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum, but I would like to jump in here if I may. I have owned an in-home daycare for a very long time. I always have friends asking me how they can start their own home daycare, and one thing that I always recommend that they do first is contact their city agency to see what their requirements are for home daycare. Yes, I agree that you need to know your state requirements, but if you don't meet your city requirements as well, you are really waisting your time.

I hope this helps.

[daycaremom1998]

I think I need to clarify the "contact your city agency" as mentioned in my above post. What I mean is that I recommend that people call their City Government usually located at City Hall and ask to speak to the department that handles small business licences. Once transfered to this department, you can ask questions about what the requirements are in your city for having a daycare in your home.

Sorry, I just felt I needed to clarify this a little more.

[anicam]

i believe with you DAYCAREMOM1998. there is need for contacting the city agency or else the work of having a day care will be a time blow out.
Actually i dont run a daycare currently but i really luv the business and have always keep my time reading article that get related to it.
Staying with kids have always been what i am enjoying at my leisure. Moreover never forget we have articles that can lecture more on this subject. try get reading to enhance your understanding.

[shaheena]

What is involved with starting my own daycare? Are there regulations?
i want to open a day care but i dont know how

[michael]

Some Useful Tips Starting a Home Daycare Business Please see your state's requirements and contact numbers located at:
http://www.daycare.com/states.html

Daycare Startup Guide Kit:
http://daycare.com/advertisers/start...are/index.html (http://daycare.com/advertisers/startingadaycare/index.html)

Daycare Insurance:
http://daycare.com/advertisers/insurance/index.html

Accredited Daycare Classes:
http://www.daycare.com/advertisers/p...ter/index.html (http://www.daycare.com/advertisers/pennfoster/index.html)

To add your Daycare listing Information:
https://daycare.com/php/start_new_signup.php

[Kara]

I have been working at a daycare in Alabama since Feb. 2008.I am wanting to open up my own.I saw where you have to work at a daycare for a year.Does this year include previous daycares you worked at or does it have to be a year straight at one daycare?

[Unregistered]

In addition to contacting your local child care licensing agency, you should also contact your Child Care Resource and Referral Agency. Every state, and most areas, have a Resource and Referral Agency that exists to help parents find child care and to provide assistance to child care providers. Most of the services are free or low cost. You can find your local "R&R" at http://www.naccrra.org/

Best of luck!

[Unregistered]

A friend and I are interested in starting a daycare in Los Angeles, CA. I need to know what to do in order to get started.

[kidcentric]

Contact your child care licensing office. You can find address/phone number at: http://www.ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/CClistingMaster.pdf

[Dee]

I would like to know about starting a large day care center in a commercial setting. Is the location required to have a outdoor play area? I have many more questions.

[kidcentric]

I don't know of any states that do not require outdoor play space--usually it's 75 square feet per child. In some urban areas, where space is at a premium, there is a possibility of doing a play area on top of a building. Sounds wild, but I have seen it done.

[Unregistered]

I would like to know about starting a large day care center in a commercial setting. Is the location required to have a outdoor play area? I have many more questions.

I would like infomation on how to start a family daycare in my home.what do i need to start.

[Unregistered]

Can someone please tell me where and how do get my license? I'm interested in opening a center and I'm having problems getting started. I'm located in Atlanta, Georgia.

Thanks..

[michael]

Information for Georgia licensing standards are located at:
http://www.daycare.com/georgia