How do I go about opening my own in home daycare?

Where can I go to get licensed in Home Daycare in the Chicago area?

• I am thinking of opening a home daycare, but do not know how to start. Any information about colleges, workshops, and assistance for home daycare would be appreciated. Thank You!

• Answer:

  The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is responsible for licensing of daycares. Contact them in Chicago at Chicago Headquarters 100 West Randolph Street 6-200 Chicago IL 60601 tel: 312.814.6800 TTD 312.814.8783 DCFS Day Care Information Hotline: 877-746-0829 You can read the licensing standards here for daycare homes http://www.state.il.us/dcfs/library/com_communications_sumlicen_dch.shtml The first step is to prepare a business plan. Even if you will not be applying for a bank loan, a business plan helps you to think through your business - what it needs, who it will benefit, how much it will cost, and what is its potential. Here are free business plans on childcare business that you may want to look into: http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mp-30.doc http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/BPWORKBK.pdf http://www.misbtdc.org/documents/CDCPLAN.pdf http://sbdcnet.utsa.edu/sbic/bplans.htm Other articles you may want to read: Starting a Child Day Care Business http://www.libsci.sc.edu/BOB/class/clis748/Studentwebguides/ss02/pollack2.htm How To Start Your Own Day Care Center" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol40/daycare.htm Childcare.net http://childcare.net/indexnew.shtml Starting a child-care services business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,290241,00.html HOW TO START A QUALITY CHILD CARE BUSINESS http://www.sba.gov/library/pubs/mp-29.pdf For in-depth information, I suggest checking out the following books: - Start and Run a Profitable Home Day Care - The Daycare Provider's Workbook - Start Your Own At-Home Child Care Business - So You Want to Open a Profitable Child Care Center : Everything You Need to Know to Plan, Organize and Implement a Successful Program