How do you start an at home daycare?
Asked by Heart
I work full-time as a nurse but I am getting married this year and plan on starting a family in the next year or so. I would like to stay at home with my child when they are young and was curious as to what it takes to start a daycare. What are the requirements, how much you typically charge per child and any other information you may have for me. Thank you for everything!

Best Answer:
My neighbor has had an in-home preschool since the birth of her first child in 1981. She has to go through all sorts of zoning procedures (she used to plant a sign in her yard each year - but I've either grown so accustomed to seeing it or she no longer does it). She's accredited and licensed, there are courses, hoops, all manner of legal, ethical and insurance issues (down to a handicapped parking area in her lower driveway). She raised her own children while teaching others and has made a wonderful life of it. Every time a new (commercial) day care center opens up nearby - she calls them to ask if they are accredited and checks their prices to ensure she remains competitive. What to charge will be what the market can bear in your particular area. It's brilliant, really - she has the fire department out with the truck occasionally, she has first aid/CPR classes for the parents (or anyone interested) and puts on a show with the kids every year for the families. She takes all regular school holidays and works with the local elementary school. Very aware. Many of the parents who's children she's taught over the years remain her friends - I see them on occasion at gatherings. She is a respected member of our community and writes a child-care column in our local paper. Your profession will be a marvelous asset in such an endeavor! I've provided a few links below that might be helpful. Good luck to you!
Starting and Operating a Child Care Business: http://www.childcare.gov/xhtml/links/g_3/t_22.html Resources for Child Care Providers: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ccb/providers/index.htm National Child Care Information Center: http://www.nccic.org/index.html NIH Child Health & Human Development (National): http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
Answered by pepper

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Answered by mrebonysmoove

First you need to know the legal requirements in your state (and perhaps even your town). House inspection, food handler's permit, etc. Call your state licensing bureau and ask for the info. As for pricing, just have a friend call a few homecare places and ask what they charge, and what they provide.
Answered by danhughes1

since states, counties, cities all may have regulations or laws governing home daycare, contact the agency that licenses in your area. they will have all the skinny on how to get started, education requirements, licensing, etc. as for what to charge, call around to other daycares in your area and that should give you an idea of what the going rates are.
Answered by vjaxxon

First you need to research laws in your city, county, and state regarding daycare. There are some cities which require a business license and some that require you register with the state. I have also heard of cities that limit the number of children and that require certain inspections of your property. You can research this by going to your state's Secretary of State website. The majority of states have information on home businesses. As for how much to charge, read your local paper for ads from other people running a daycare out of their home. You may also want to contact one of these people and see if you can get first hand info. I think the fact that you are a nurse is great for a daycare. Have you thought of working at one of the local daycare centers until you have your family? Good luck to you.
Answered by CatLaw

WIthout knowing the state you live in, I can't be sure that this is good advice for you... however Penn State offers a program called Better Kid Care that offers courses that are FREE for Pennsylvania residents. I think there is a small charge for those out of the state. The link is: http://betterkidcare.psu.edu/ If this isn't helpful to you, I would check to see if your state university or local colleges have a smiliar program. You can take most of the courses right online and while some course are very basic, they are overall quite helpful. Good luck with your marriage and family and your work too!
Answered by trollunderthestairs

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 How To Start Your Own Day Care Center http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/daycare.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/publications/p587/index.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
Answered by imisidro