Home › Start a Daycare › Indiana

How to Start a Home Daycare in Indiana

Starting a family child care home in Indiana means getting licensed by the state, preparing your home to pass inspection, and setting up the business properly. National directories list roughly 3,704 home daycare providers in Indiana — here is how to join them, step by step.

Licensing agency: Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. Rules, fees and forms change — always confirm the current requirements on the agency's official website or with your local licensing office before you apply.

License types in Indiana: Licensed Child Care Home (up to 16 children with a second caregiver).

Step-by-step: getting your Indiana home daycare license

  1. Read Indiana's family child care rules. Start with the licensing agency above: capacity limits by age, required square footage, and which homes are exempt. Note the rules for your own children — in most states they count toward capacity under a certain age.
  2. Check local permission. Zoning rules, city or county business permits, landlord approval if you rent, and HOA restrictions can all stop a daycare before licensing does. Clear these first.
  3. Complete orientation and pre-licensing training. Most states require an orientation plus training hours in child development, health and safety, and CPR/first aid certification before or shortly after opening.
  4. Background checks for every adult. You, your substitute, and adult household members will typically need fingerprint-based background checks and child-abuse registry clearances.
  5. Prepare your home. Safe sleep equipment for infants, outlet covers and gates, a stocked first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and working smoke/CO detectors, fenced outdoor play space where required, and hazards (medicines, cleaning products, cords) secured.
  6. Application and inspection. Submit your application and fees; a licensing specialist inspects the home and reviews your policies. Correct any findings and your license or registration is issued.
  7. Open like a business. Set tuition with our rate calculator, write a parent contract and handbook, get liability insurance, enroll in CACFP for meal reimbursement, and start the records that drive your tax deductions — including your time-space percentage — from your first day.

Indiana licensing checklist

  • State rules and capacity limits reviewed
  • Zoning / landlord / HOA permission confirmed
  • Orientation and required training completed (incl. CPR & first aid)
  • Background checks submitted for all adults in the home
  • Home prepared: safe sleep, safety equipment, detectors, first aid
  • Application and fees submitted to Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning
  • Inspection passed and license/registration received
  • Contract, handbook, insurance and CACFP enrollment in place

Frequently asked questions

Who licenses home daycares in Indiana?

Family child care licensing in Indiana is handled by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. You apply through that agency (in some states, through your county), complete background checks and training, and pass a home inspection before enrolling children.

Do I need a license to watch children in my home in Indiana?

In most cases, yes — if you regularly care for unrelated children in your home, Indiana requires a license or registration, with limited exemptions (for example, caring for only one or two children, or relatives). Operating without a required license can bring fines and will cost you the IRS business-use-of-home deduction. Confirm the current exemption rules with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA), Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

How long does it take to get licensed in Indiana?

Timelines vary with application volume, training schedules and inspection backlogs — a few weeks to several months is typical. Starting your training and background checks early, and preparing your home against the agency’s checklist, is the fastest way through.

Explore another state: all 50 states + DC.

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.