Start a Daycare or Preschool in California

This page is INFORMATIONAL ONLY and we strongly recommend that you contact the Licensing Agency for California directly. Please visit the California Childcare Licensing Website today!

Where should you start?

The hardest part of starting a daycare is figuring out how to begin the process. Right?

Maybe you have searched around already and are puzzled by the state requirements. Don’t worry. We have been there and can simplify this process for you.

Below you will find 5 easy steps to get your California daycare (either YOUR home or another location) going.

Step 1: Contact the Child Care Resource and Referral Center for your county
Use the form provided in our “How to Start Your Daycare” program to get all the important questions answered. In California, they offer an online orientation class for $30 (which is required if you will be getting licensed) and will answer many of your questions. Well worth doing sooner, rather than later.

Step 2: Decide if you can start small and be an exempt provider
(See the details below for Exempt Family Child Care) In California, you are pretty limited. You can only watch 2 children and they need to be from the same family in order for you to be considered exempt. It’s still good to start there and then get licensed so you can add more children. Remember, the process for getting students won’t happen overnight. Why increase your costs right away?

Step 3: Begin the setup process for your daycare
Setting up, marketing and opening your new daycare can all be done within 2 weeks if you want to get up and running quickly. We offer step-by-step instructions, classroom design suggestions, forms,contracts etc. that you will need in our “Start a Daycare” System.

Step 4: Open your small daycare
Everyday management is explained and outlined for you in our program – accounting suggestions and fully customizable forms, contracts, and templates are included with our program.

Step 5: When you are ready, move to the licensed status
Let us know that you want to get registered or licensed and we can help you to do it quickly and affordably.

CA Exempt Childcare

Examples of child care which do not require a license;

• Programs which care for children from the same family.

CA Family Childcare Home

LINKS:

• California Family Home Childcare Rules and Regulations.
• California Family Home Childcare Licensing Quick Quide

General Requirements

Max # of Children: 2 – 8 children (any children you have that are 10 years old or younger are counted in this number)
Background Check: Required on all people over 18 years old (though fingerprinting is not necessary)
Ages: The exact number of children you can have is based on their ages. By default the number of allowed children will go down the younger the children in your group are.

Training Required

Orientation Class: Yes, $25 ( you can take an online couse instead of the physical course for $5 extra)
Abuse and Neglect Class: No
Adult / Infant First Aid and CPR: Provider must have pediatric CPR and first aid training. Someone with this training must be at the location at all times, so it is best to have your subs trained as well.

Inspections Required

State Inspections: Every 3 Years (or sooner if a complaint is filed)
Sanitation Inspection Required for License: No. You do not have to have the health department inspect your home – however, the childcare division will do a health and safety inspection to make sure your home meets the requirements. There is no cost for this.
NOTE: If you are not on public sewer / water, your well might need to be inspected. Your water heater might also need to be inspected by a service as well.

Costs

Application Fee: $66
Sanitation Inspection: N/A
Background & Fingerprinting: $50 – $80 (Live Scan Fingerprint INFO & Locations)

CA Group Childcare Homes

Ages: The exact number of children you can have is based on their ages. By default the number of allowed children will go down the younger the children in your group are.

General Requirements

Max # of Children: 8 – 12 children (this number includes any of your children that are under 9yrs old)
Background Check: Required on all people over 18 years old living in or regularly in the home but there is no fee for these background checks. They are not as indepth as the provider one listed below.

Training Required

Orientation Class: Yes ($25, you can take an online orientation if you would prefer for an extra $5)
Abuse and Neglect Class: No
Adult / Infant First Aid and CPR: Provider must have Infant / Child / Adult First Aid and CPR. Someone with this training must be at the location at all times, so it is best to have your subs trained as well.

Inspections Required

State Inspections: Every 2 Years (and yearly random inspections) Sooner if a complaint is filed
Sanitation Inspection Required for License: Yes.
Fire Inspection Required for License: Yes.

Costs

Application Fee: $100 approx (based on county and number of children)
Sanitation Inspection: TBD, based on county
Fire Inspection: TBD, based on county
Background & Fingerprinting: $50 – $80 (Live Scan Authorized Locations)

TN Center Based Childcare

To review the Tennesee Center Childcare rules and reglations summary, visit the Tennessee Website.

Maximum number of children:

Depended on the facility size and student / teacher ratios.

Ages:
The exact number of children you can have is based on their ages. By default the number of allowed children will go down the younger the children in your group are.

Director Qualifications

General Requirements

Max # of Children: Variable
Background Check: Required on all staff and volunteers left alone with children.
Director Qualifications: Click here to see Michigan Director Qualifications
(If you aren’t qualified as a director, you can hire someone that is until you meet the requirements.)

Training Required

Orientation Class: Yes (8 hours of free training)
Abuse and Neglect Class: Yes
Adult / Infant First Aid and CPR: Yes
Blood-bourne Pathogen Class: Yes

Inspections Required

State Inspections: Every year (or sooner if a complaint is filed)
Sanitation Inspection Required for License: Yes, yearly (Health & Safety Inspection and a Fire Inspection)

Costs

Application Fee: Depends on the number of children you want to have
Sanitation Inspection: Varies county to county
Fire Inspection: Varies county to county (sometime no charge)