Day/Child care center. What is needed?

I am interested in owning, operating and managing a child care facility in my area. I would like to hire the care givers and make sure the children are safe and well cared for. Other than license's, insurance etc., what else is required from me in order to do this. Do I need to take a course in child care? If so, where do I start. Thanks for all answers. I am in the sunshine state. FLORIDA : )

Public Comments

1. You did not indicate your state. But the best way is to contact the regulatory or licensing agency in your state as their website lists all the requirements needed to operate a daycare or child care center

   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

   I suggest you 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/publications/p587/index.html