How many kids can I watch before I have to get a home day care license?

I think that you should get your licence first. This will help with liability sakes. I don't think that one child is practical. If you're wanting to run a daycare, you need to have at least enough liability to handle 3-4 children or more.

In California it's not the number of kids, it's the number of families other than your own that they come from. The limit is one (family other than your own.) If you have five kids of your own you can still keep five more, as long as they are from just one family. But even just four kids, coming as you describe from four different families, is more than the law allows without a license.

I am in Arizona and you can have 8 kids not including your own per adult. My sister in law and I do day care together.. Try looking on the California guidelines for child care

This varies state to state. You may only have X amount of infants and X amount of toddlers at one particular time. You would have to contact your city's business licensing department and ask these types of questions. It is better if you get the license as well as insurance to protect your self. If a child is injured at your home and the state finds out you have been running a unlicensed daycare facility you could possibly face legal reprecussions. You need to be very careful when dealing with children in this manner, parents can be crazy you know LOL!