How would I go about starting my own daycare?

Question

Any info and ideas will be helpful.

Answer 1

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

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
How To Start Your Own Day Care Center http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/daycare.htm
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

As 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 Connecticut, for example, you would need http://www.dph.state.ct.us/Licensure/apps/G_C_InitialAppReq.pdf
- child day care center initial application
- supplemental application
- lead testing (for pre 1979 buildings/houses)
- first aid course certification
- proof of worker's compensation form
- verification of experience for head teacher
- local health department approval
- fingerprints of staff
- many more

Answer 2

Go the department of human resources and fill out the application. That's the first step. Get the room where you are going to be keeping at fixed up like an daycare center. You will need cots, cribs, toys for the various age group, high chairs, swings. Ask your church members and people for help. Some people are willing to donate items for free or sell them at an reasonable price. My mom had an home daycare business for 16 years. If, you need any more information, you can email me and I will be glad to help you out. It's very good money with the daycare business, but you have to have patience dealing with children. Best Wishes and Good Luck!

Answer 3

Apply thru the local Social Services (welfare) Office they will run a criminal and credit check on you. They will give you a whole packet of papers that have to be filled out and turned in. But one good thing is that any child you get from their office in your day care pays $2.25 each and they also have programs to help with start up cost and costs of toys and play equipment.

Answer 4

1st step is to get ur child care certification before u do anything else. i am lost after that

Answer 5

hi have a small business in care too. maybe we can exchange
ideals