How do I start my own home child care business?

I just moved to Oak Lawn, and I have a 4-month-old daughter who is very easy to care for, and I'm looking to care for maybe 2 other children, who are over the age of 1. I put up an ad on craigslist, but I've had no responses. What do I need to do child care and how do I get the word out there so I can start?

Public Comments

1. Before you even start advertising on Craigslist or anywhere else, I suggest you check first with your state on the regulatory requirements. Some states allow daycare facilities with less than 5 children not to get a license. But this is child care we're talking about, and it is best to check first with the authorities what you need to do for this business and whether your house is equipped to handle children. Remember, these kids will be under your care, and you can be sued if anything happens to them

   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

   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

   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