Do you have to be licenced for a home daycare in Ok.?

Question

I would like to get started with a home daycare what are the rules for ok. Also If I have to be licenced does it cost money and can I start watching children while I'm in the process.

Answer 1

Most states now require you to be licensed to do day care. I live in CA. And here you go to your local Social Services. and fill out some paper work. Most states will do a criminal background check. My daycare person did not have to pay to get licensed, but she did have to take a class, but it was free. And she said all total it cost her approx $150..00 to get started. She had to child proof her house. And they limit the number of children you can care for at any one time, do to the amount of room you have in your house. She was able to care for my son while she was going through getting her license. But I stuck with her because I knew her from a family member. I would check with your local Social services office to find out the requirements for your state and area. Good Luck.
I forgot, she also had to have some one come out and inspect her home to make sure it was safe.

Answer 2

For the licenses and requirements in your state, the Administration for Children and Families provide a state by state listing of contacts for licensing and regulations governing child care businesses:
http://www.nccic.org/statedata/dirs/regoffic.html

In Oklahoma, the agency to contact is

Department of Human Services
Division of Child Care
Sequoyah Memorial Office Building
P.O. Box 25352
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0352
Phone: [phone]
Tollfree: 800-347-2276
Fax: [phone]
Web site: http://www.okdhs.org/childcare/ProviderInfo/provinfo_licensing.htm

Their page on OK Childcare licensing is http://www1.okdhs.org/en/programsandservices/cc/lic/ and the licensing requirements can be found here http://www1.okdhs.org/en/programsandservices/cc/lic/docs/licensing.htm

The first step is to prepare a business plan. Even if you will not be applying for a bank loan, a business plan helps you to think through your business - what it needs, who it will benefit, how much it will cost, and what is its potential. Here are free business plans on childcare business that you may want to look into:

http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mp-30.doc
http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/BPWORKBK.pdf
http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/CDCPLAN.pdf
http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/sbic/bplans.htm

You may want to read the free article "How To Start Your Own Day Care Center" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/daycare.htm It covers various aspects of starting and running a daycare center including the demand for daycare centers, how to start this business, shoestring strategies, how to operate a daycare center, tips on caring for the children, income potential, how to manage your daycare, marketing your business and other additional income potential. There are so many things to learn about the business that the first step is to read everything you can find.

Other articles you may want to read:

Starting a Child Day Care Business http://www.libsci.sc.edu/BOB/class/clis748/Studentwebguides/ss02/pollack2.htm
Childcare.net http://childcare.net/indexnew.shtml
Starting a child-care services business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,290241,00.html
HOW TO START A QUALITY CHILD CARE BUSINESS http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mp-29.pdf

For in-depth information, I suggest checking out the following books:

- Start and Run a Profitable Home Day Care
- The Daycare Provider's Workbook
- Start Your Own At-Home Child Care Business
- So You Want to Open a Profitable Child Care Center :
Everything You Need to Know to Plan, Organize and Implement a Successful Program

It is also important that you learn the tax rules affecting daycare centers, especially if you are going to open one from your home. Here is the IRS page on child care centers: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/industries/content/0,,id=99878,00.html

Answer 3

All day care facilities must be registered with the State.
You must contact your state for the price of a license. Home must be certified. All income must be reported.

Answer 4

If you take care of 6 or less children related by blood, you don't need a license-otherwise you do.

Answer 5

Yes, I think so.