If you are having thoughts about starting a daycare in your home, now is the time! The support that is out there now for providers that run daycares in their homes is huge. It is also a growing industry, will thousands of home daycares across the United States. Having an in home daycare is rewarding. You get to do what you love, taking care of kids, from the comfort of your home. And to top it off, you can make real income (you set your rates) and you get to be your own boss.

Does My Home Qualify To Run A Daycare At Home?

One of the first questions you may have is, “Does my home fit the criteria to fun an in home daycare?” Most people’s homes fit the criteria. As long as your space you are using for the daycare has two emergency exits you should qualify. Yes, there are other criteria’s that you will need to go through when you have your pre-license visit (check out my blog about documents needed for your pre-license visit). But, as long as you can provide a safe space and you have multiple exits in case of an emergency, you should qualify.

First Step: Get Licensed

To get your license, you do not have to have a long history of child care experience. You simply need to call your local job and family services to find out what their criteria is to apply. Here where I live there are a few trainings that do need to be completed before applying. Those trainings include: CPR/FIRST AID, Communicable disease (6hr course), Child Abuse (6hrs), FCC training, and a transportation training (if you choose to transport). The night thing about applying here in Ohio is that it’s ALL ONLINE. CPR and First Aid are done in person, but that is just for the initial. To renew, it can be done online.

The application to apply, honestly only took about 30 minutes. There are some forms to fill out and upload, but the process is harmless. Once you do apply, it is just a waiting game. You may have something come back that needs fixed and resubmitted. It only took me about 30 days to get my licensed approve, but that all depends on how involved and quick you are with responding.

Step 2: Set Up Your Home

Once you have gone through the process of applying and getting your training done. It is time to set your space with the things you would like to use for your daycare. Here is a breakdown of some of the areas you’ll need to have:

• Gross motor skills: Large soft blocks and climbers
• Fine motor skills: puzzles, play-dough, stuffed animals, dolls, and toy cars.
• Sensory play: Water tables, sensory sand, textured books, pinecones, rocks, etc. (Just make sure that nothing is a choking hazard for the little ones)
• Arts and crafts: Crayons, paints, paper, glue, scissors, etc.
• Dress up and pretend-play: A kids kitchen, dress up clothes, and puppets.

It is also important that you have cots, mats, pack & plays, etc. for nap time. If you choose to buy new things that is up to you and your budget. You can ask parents to provide them, but by your providing them that separates you from another provider that does. Now, is also a time to figure out what equipment you will want for outside use. Those pieces of equipment can be expensive and you may want to start budgeting now for it. Here are a few random things to buy that you may not think about: Changing table or mat, eating utensils, cups, plates, cubby space to store the kids stuff in, printer, and binders.

Step 3: Establish Your Daycare As A Business

You will want to either apply for an LLC or become a sole proprietor and apply for your EIN number. Your EIN number will be given to you when you apply for your LLC or if you choose to be a sole proprietor you’ll use your SSN. I did the sole proprietor route and the online portal I used to apply for my license is also where I filled out all my information.

This might also be the time that you may want to hire a CPA. It is important to understand what you need when it comes to filing your taxes at the end of the year. You are your own boss and CEO, so you don’t have anyone withholding money for taxes. It is very important to keep track of your income and expenses weekly or monthly. That way when you do sit down with a CPA than you have real numbers to give them. So make sure to keep all receipts and records of payments and money spent.

Step 4: Get Your Daycare Insured

It is very important that you make sure you have an insurance policy for your business. The last you want to happen is someone to sue you and you lose your home. Just like you need insurance for your car, house, life insurance, etc. get your business insurance. In my case, my home policy wouldn’t cover six kids plus my three. So, even if you choose not to get insurance, if something happens and they find out you had all these kids there, NOTHING will be covered because you’ll be out of compliance. Do your research and make some phone calls.

Step 5: Start Enrolling families

Don’t wait until you get to open your doors to start marketing and finding families. You want to start that as soon as you start the process of applying. You just give your families a timeline of when you will open. I found three families when I was working on finalizing everything with my license and I advised to them that I needed 3-4 weeks before I could actually start with them. They were totally find with that. If the first two families you tell can’t wait that long, that is fine. There are so many families out there that need care.

Starting a career and a business in childcare is so rewarding and challenging at times, but you will be happy you made the move. Being home more with my family, being my own boss, controlling my income, are just a few things that are rewarding about doing this business.