Opening A Day Care Center

[Unregistered]

I am in Michigan and wanting to open a daycare in my town (we currently have zero daycares in our city).
Ive been researching for a few months now and starting tomorrow, I am going to look at a few buildings. I just feel very lost on what to do first and where to start. Anybody own or run one that can help me? Thanks!!

[Thriftylady]

I would start by seeing what your state regulations are. You also need to factor in other things for start up costs. I have a home daycare which is very different in some ways but some things are the same. You will need toys, storage, food service items. You will also have to consider staff in a center. The building will be an important but small part of the puzzle. I probably wouldn't spend any time looking at any until I knew the regs, so you will know what you need to be looking for.

[Unregistered]

I would start by seeing what your state regulations are. You also need to factor in other things for start up costs. I have a home daycare which is very different in some ways but some things are the same. You will need toys, storage, food service items. You will also have to consider staff in a center. The building will be an important but small part of the puzzle. I probably wouldn't spend any time looking at any until I knew the regs, so you will know what you need to be looking for.

I have spent hours on end reading regulations and I am not worried about the start up costs. I guess I am just mostly confused BY the regulations. As in, what order to go in and also, the "program director" part. Do you have to have a program director? I am not looking into having a huge child care, mostly just want a place outside of my house to watch kids but the way I am reading it, you either have to have a degree or a certification for it.

[MunchkinWrangler]

I have spent hours on end reading regulations and I am not worried about the start up costs. I guess I am just mostly confused BY the regulations. As in, what order to go in and also, the "program director" part. Do you have to have a program director? I am not looking into having a huge child care, mostly just want a place outside of my house to watch kids but the way I am reading it, you either have to have a degree or a certification for it.

The regs are different for every state but most do require an ECE degree. Especially for a center, you normally have to offer formal preschool, that's where the money is. You have to start from #1 that is always how licensing works. Have you attended a licensing orientation yet? That would be the absolute first step, at that meeting is when you learn about what is required to start the process and get your name in with the state, they also help guide you with what is needed. I honestly wouldn't even look into buying a building, even if money isn't a concern, you need to know if your qualified first. Owning a center is also going to require you to have employees. There is a lot of business stuff that goes along with just watching children for a living.