Should I purchase a daycare home?

[kppzbw]

Need opinions...should I purchase a home to run my daycare out of? Would really like to get the mess out of my home and a nearby property is for sale. Pros/cons. Thank you!

[Meeko]

It all depends on your state/city regs.

Some can have a home daycare in a separate house with no problems (BlackCat does)

In my state, you must live in the home you do daycare out of. We used to have a second home we did daycare out of. To make it legal, our son was the licensee and lived there.

We are now back in one home, after converting our basement to a daycare.

Check with your licensing folks to make sure what you can and can't do.

[Mister Sir Husband]

I have to live in the house as well to be a home daycare, but if you bought it and ran a small day care center? Is a whole new book of forms to complete, and different inspection criteria. You would have to promote yourself to "director" and deal with different tax laws... but it is possible.

[coolconfidentme]

I purchased mine & love not having a mess at my place. I don't have to worry about the knock on the door on days I'm closed. I do have double utilities, maintenance & property taxes which is a downfall. (I paid cash for it.) I have an apartment upstairs if needed. I thought about renting it out for extra income, but the tenant would have to go though the same hoops as an adult family member.

[craftymissbeth]

Yep, check with both licensing and your city/county. Here, licensing is ok with you not living in the home, but the city I live in requires that the owner of a home business actually lives in the home.

(To be honest, from watching the way licensing and the fire marshal inspected my home, it would be super easy to stage the bedrooms as if we live here... but I definitely don't suggest it )

[spinnymarie]

Aside from the licensing (I know IL has the same law about living in the home) I would worry a lot more about making enough money to cover mortgage, utilities and taxes as well.
Pros, though are easy enough, right? leaving work at the end of the day; who cares if people show up when you are closed, since no one is there anyway; not having double-use rooms or areas; being able to install a tiny toilet in one bathroom and a regular size one somewhere else....