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
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Complete your listing
Add
Fees
Add
Hours
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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 New YorkExpected revenue before costs
3 paid spaces × $1,200, allowing 10% for empty time
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.
What to check in New York
Capacity and age conditions
A family day care home serves 3 to 7 children, or 8 only when 2 children are enrolled in school. Group family day care homes use 2 caregivers for 7 to 12 children and may add school-age children under additional conditions.
Licensing path
New York regulates family and group family day care homes through OCFS; ratios for children under 2 apply.
Source reviewed 2026-09-10. Confirm your approved capacity and any local zoning requirements during licensing.
New York State — regulated child care typesDo 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?
Background-check rules differ by state and by licensing status. Ask your state licensing agency who must be checked, which check is required, and how often it must be renewed. 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