Starting a daycare begins with your state child care licensing agency: deciding between a family child care home and a center, attending any required orientation, meeting space, safety and staffing rules, completing background checks and training, and passing the licensing inspection. Then add insurance, enrollment policies, a parent handbook, a tuition plan, food program enrollment if eligible, and a website that books tours.
Worked example: opening a licensed family child care home
Tasha has worked as a preschool teacher for eight years and wants to open a family child care home for up to the number of children her state allows. She starts with the state licensing agency's orientation, which explains the application, home inspection, fire safety requirements, required training such as CPR, first aid and safe sleep, and background checks for every adult in the home. She checks with her city whether zoning allows a home child care business and confirms her homeowners association rules.
She prepares the space: a play area with safe, age-appropriate toys, outlet covers, gates, a separate nap area with cribs that meet current safety standards for infants, and a fenced outdoor area. She writes a parent handbook covering hours, tuition, sick policy, pickup authorization, meals and discipline approach, and buys liability insurance for a home child care business. After her license is issued, she launches a website with her story, daily schedule, tuition range and a tour request form.
Setup steps in order
| Step | Done looks like |
|---|---|
| Licensing orientation | Requirements and application understood |
| Program type chosen | Family home or center |
| Zoning and HOA check | Use allowed at the address |
| Space prepared | Safety, nap, play and outdoor areas ready |
| Background checks and training | All adults cleared, CPR and first aid current |
| Insurance | Child care liability coverage |
| Policies | Parent handbook and enrollment forms |
| Licensing inspection | License issued |
| Food program | CACFP sponsor contacted if eligible |
| Website | Tour requests, schedule, tuition info |
Mistakes new providers make
- Enrolling children before the license is issued
- Taking more children than the license allows, even briefly
- Vague sick and late-pickup policies
- No written emergency plan
- Underpricing infant care that needs the lowest ratios
What this industry needs from a website
Program information and parent inquiry flow.
- Home
- Programs by age
- Tuition approach
- Tour request
- Staff
- Policies
- Contact
Free tools
Common questions
Do I need a license to watch children?
Most states require a license above a small number of unrelated children. Your state child care licensing agency sets the threshold.
Family home or center?
A family home has lower startup costs and fewer children; a center has more capacity but much higher costs and staffing needs.
What training is required?
Commonly CPR, first aid, safe sleep and health and safety training, plus ongoing hours. Your state lists the exact requirements.
Where can parents check my license?
Many states publish licensing and inspection records online; Childcare.gov links to state resources.
Sources
Sources checked October 6, 2026. Rules, fees and forms change; confirm details with the agency or provider before you act. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.
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