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How to start a home daycare, state by state
Licensing is state law: the agency, the application, the child limits and the training hours all change at the state line. Pick your state for its licensing agency and the steps to open legally.
Alabama→Alaska→Arizona→Arkansas→California→Colorado→Connecticut→Delaware→Washington, DC→Florida→Georgia→Hawaii→Idaho→Illinois→Indiana→Iowa→Kansas→Kentucky→Louisiana→Maine→Maryland→Massachusetts→Michigan→Minnesota→Mississippi→Missouri→Montana→Nebraska→Nevada→New Hampshire→New Jersey→New Mexico→New York→North Carolina→North Dakota→Ohio→Oklahoma→Oregon→Pennsylvania→Rhode Island→South Carolina→South Dakota→Tennessee→Texas→Utah→Vermont→Virginia→Washington→West Virginia→Wisconsin→Wyoming→
The universal 7 steps
- Research your state’s rules — who licenses, how many children you may serve, and what your home must have.
- Check zoning, landlord and HOA rules before spending a dollar.
- Take the orientation and required training (CPR/first aid is required almost everywhere).
- Complete background checks for yourself and every adult in the home.
- Submit your application and prepare your home — safety gates, safe sleep space, fire extinguisher, first-aid kit.
- Pass the licensing inspection and receive your license or registration.
- Set up the business side — set your rate with our tuition calculator, join CACFP for meal reimbursement, and plan your tax deductions from day one.
Disclaimer: HomeDaycareTools.com provides free calculators and general information for planning purposes only. Nothing on this site is tax, legal or financial advice. Tax rules, CACFP rates and licensing rules change — confirm your figures with IRS Publication 587, your CACFP sponsoring organization, your state licensing agency, or a qualified tax professional before filing or signing anything.