Starting an at home day care?

Question

Right now I am working full time but I would really like to stay at home with my 1 yr. old more. I was considering starting an at home day care but i really dont know where to begin. I was wondering if there is anyone out there who currently is doing this and if they have any advice or tips to share with me.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

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.do…
http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/BPWORKB…
http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/CDCPLAN…
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/clis7…
How To Start Your Own Day Care Center" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/daycar…
Childcare.net http://childcare.net/indexnew.shtml
Starting a child-care services business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,46…
HOW TO START A QUALITY CHILD CARE BUSINESS http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mp-29.pd…

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/publications/p587/ind…

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/rego…

In Connecticut, for example, you would need http://www.dph.state.ct.us/Licensure/app…
- 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

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EDIT: Unfortunately, all links are not working and worse, they're cut off so you can't see all the URLs.

Answer 2

i'm not sure where state u are in but if your from los angeles......maybe considered calling this company i know (ONLY from time to time)they offer classes and to get your child care license too.

pathway
[phone]

ask them some info....for getting license.


good luck