Starting a home daycare? How-to.

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Before starting a home daycare business, it’s important to research licensing requirements, health and zoning regulations, and tax laws. Home inspections, background checks, and first aid training may also be required. Creating contracts and offering educational and stimulating activities for children are also important steps.

Checking licensing requirements is a good first step for anyone looking to start a home daycare business. Future daycare providers should learn about health, zoning and licensing requirements before investing money to start a new business. Talking to others who operate a business from their home can also be helpful for someone looking to start a home daycare. Daycare providers represent likely sources of information on tax laws, effective accounting methods, insurance, and sample contracts between childcare providers and parents. Examining the average fees charged locally, offset by the company’s running costs, can indicate the expected income from a home day care business.

Most areas require home inspection and licensing before allowing a person to start home daycare. Inspectors determine that indoor and outdoor play areas are safe and that the home is clean and tidy. The number of children allowed can be tied to the square footage of the home and measurements can be taken. Any risk that could lead to denial of a license must be removed before anyone applies to start a home daycare.

Agencies that regulate childcare services often require investigations and fingerprinting of all adults living in the home. These licensing agencies usually also require that the person planning to start a home daycare is familiar with first aid and emergency resuscitation techniques. Getting these classes out of the way before applying for a license can save you time.

Anyone planning to operate a daycare from home should review the tax laws that affect self-employment. A conversation with a tax planner or accountant can help you plan how to keep good records for reporting income and expenses. Insurance needs can also be explored early to determine whether a homeowner’s insurance policy covers children attending day care.

Creating a contract with payment rate and payment terms is recommended as a crucial step in starting a home daycare. Contracts should state when payment is due, in advance or at the end of each week. May include a liability waiver and medical release for emergencies. Most childcare providers require the names of persons authorized to pick up children in place of the parents as a security measure.

Someone starting a home daycare should choose educational and stimulating toys and activities. By determining the ages of children who will be at home, appropriate physical and mental activities can be mapped. Nutritional snacks and meals can also be planned in advance. Some licensing agencies set nutritional standards for day care centers.

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