Could a home daycare work for your life?
Check the rules where you live, estimate what you could earn, and work through the decisions you need to make before accepting children.
Care for a few more.
Start with why you’re considering it
Start with a setup
that works for you.
You do not have to open at full capacity. One or two well-matched families can be a sensible place to begin and learn what feels manageable.
Staying home after parental leave?
Run the numbers for a small group before assuming you need to fill every legal space.
Already a nanny, babysitter, or ECE?
You may know the care. The next questions are capacity, policies, costs, insurance, and finding the right families.
The business side, in one place
You care for the children. We’ll help organize the rest.
Start with a professional listing, then keep family interest, conversations, and enrollment steps from getting scattered across texts and spreadsheets.
- A listing that explains your care clearly
- Inquiries, applications, and a simple waitlist
- Messages and family details together
- Available deposit and payment tools
Inbox
New inquiry
NewHi, I'm looking for toddler care starting in September. Do you have availability for 3 days/week?
Earlier message · replied
Also sent to your email
Complete your listing
Add
Fees
Add
Hours
0
Photos
Test a realistic scenario
Would it work
financially?
Estimate revenue using the number of paid spaces, your fee, likely empty time, and monthly operating costs. Compare the result with the income you need.
Check the rules for OntarioExpected revenue before costs
3 paid spaces × $1,200, allowing 10% for empty time
They generally count toward Ontario’s five-child limit.
Factor in your costs
Include food, supplies, insurance, utilities, and payment fees. Budget startup costs separately. Zero means you haven’t allowed for costs yet.
After the costs you entered, before tax $3,240
This is a planning estimate, not local fee data, a take-home-pay calculation, or a capacity decision. Confirm the rules, insurance, taxes, and likely demand where you live.
Make it manageable
Build the day around
what works for you.
You choose the size, ages, hours, and policies. Starting small is a valid business model—not a stage you need to rush through.
- 01
Start with fewer children
A smaller first group gives everyone time to settle in. You can add another family later if the routine feels right.
- 02
Choose families who fit your day
Set the ages and hours you genuinely want to offer. A clear listing helps the right parents find you.
- 03
Let simple policies do some work
Written expectations for payment, illness, closures, and pickup prevent many difficult conversations later.
Home daycare requirements in Ontario
Know your numbers
Ontario caps an independent provider at 5 children under 13. Your own kids under 4 count toward that cap, and no more than 3 can be under 2.
Plan the actual day
Ages, hours, meals, outdoor time, pickup rules, what happens in an emergency. Your city, insurer, landlord, or condo board might have their own rules on top of the province’s.
Give every family the required notice
Ontario requires you to tell parents in writing that your program is not licensed before care starts and keep proof for two years. DaycareOn keeps the wording handy, but you are responsible for giving the notice.
Set your business terms
Choose your fee, payment schedule, hours, closure policy, and deposit. Keep records of income and expenses and provide receipts when required.
The Ontario notice you must use
This child care program is not licensed by the Government of Ontario.
Give it to every parent in writing, electronically or on paper, and keep proof for two years. Ontario’s limits are not increased simply because another adult is present.
This page summarizes Ontario’s rules and isn’t legal, tax, insurance, zoning, or business advice. Confirm current requirements on the official pages linked above.
Ontario home child care limits pageOntario child care rules pageDo I need to be ready to open?
You can explore and make a plan while you’re still deciding. Nothing here publishes a listing or signs you up to provide care. Check your local requirements before you start operating.
Should I get a background check?
A vulnerable sector check is required for providers, residents, and other regular people in homes overseen by a licensed home child care agency. Ontario’s public guidance does not list it as a requirement for an independent unlicensed provider. Even when it is voluntary, a current police check can give families useful information. DaycareOn does not currently order or verify these checks.
Will my home address be public?
Home listings use an approximate map location by default. You’ll provide the actual address during registration, but the public listing is designed to show your neighbourhood instead of your exact street address.
What does DaycareOn help with?
Create a listing families can find, show your fees and approach to care, and manage inquiries and applications. You remain responsible for licensing, insurance, your home setup, and the care you provide.
I already run a daycare. Where do I start?
Find your existing listing first so you can claim and update it.Find my listing →
Take it one step at a time