The first step in starting your own child care business is determining the answer to several important questions.  Ask yourself:

• What is your vision for this business?
• Will you have a partner in this venture?
• What are the needs in your community?
• Will you care for children of all ages? You may want to concentrate on a specific age-range:

• Care for babies and toddlers,
• Care for preschool children,
• Care for school-aged children.
• Care for children with special needs.
• Care using a special curriculum, such as Montessori, or religious- oriented instruction.

Types of child care:

The Washington State Department of Early Learning (DEL) licenses or certifies two types of child day care in Washington:

• Child care centers (including school age care), and
• Family child care homes.

Each type of care is subject to its own set of state licensing rules, including minimum standards for health and safety. Licensed programs are required to post their license.

The license shows the numbers and ages of children the caregiver can serve. If you would like a copy of licensing rules, contact the local DEL office listed in your phone book.

Centers have at least one site visit per year from an DEL licensor; family child care homes are visited once every eighteen months.

Certain types of care are not regulated by DEL. They include legal nannies, babysitters, informal parent cooperatives, play groups, part-time preschools, and non-certified schools and parks and recreation programs.

(Information taken from Choosing Child Care, DSHS publication)