How to Open a Daycare Center in Ohio

Create a safe environment for small children.

Ohio Department of Job and Family Services licenses two categories of daycare centers; and categorizes two types of daycare homes. Daycare centers include centers caring for seven or more children and school-age centers caring for seven or more children from kindergarten age and up. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) licenses daycare centers provided by public and charter schools. Ohio regulations focus on the health and safety of children in licensed daycare centers and homes.

Things You'll Need

• ODJFS Childcare Center Manual
• ODJFS Electronic Manuals Help Guide

Instructions

Plan and Build Your Business

1. 

   Starting a daycare involves a lot of paperwork.

   Visit Entrepreneur Ohio online to find the local Small Business Development Center website and office. Center staff will help you locate local resources. For example, in Southeast Ohio, the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks (ACEnet) provides services for business start-ups.

   Contact the Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services (ODJFS), Child Day Care for guidance and for scheduling required training for staff.

2. 

   Schedule important inspections.

   Write your business plan with the help of the development center. Do market research. Search for a location that complies with Ohio and local regulations. File applications and necessary forms. Get help from an early childhood education expert to plan the daycare environment and purchase equipment and toys. Contact local agencies such as health and fire to schedule inspections.

3. 

   Every daycare center must have at least one fire extinguisher.

   Using your business plan, apply for grants and loans to fund the daycare center. Hire builders to create the indoor and outdoor space. Create developmentally appropriate indoor and outdoor learning and play spaces. Install fire extinguishers and all child proofing items such as fences, smoke alarms and outlet covers.

4. 

   Hiring compassionate staff is an important step.

   Fill out all necessary forms. Download the ODJFS Childcare Center Manual to be sure you do not miss something important. Use the sample parent handbook from the manual to create your center's parent handbook as required by ODJFS. Hire staff and do all necessary background checks. Train staff and apply for daycare center license from ODJFS.

5. 

   Market your daycare center as soon as possible.

   Market your daycare center. Some ideas include a ribbon-cutting, an open house, neighborhood fliers, direct mail, and a visit to the human resource departments of local businesses to detail your services. Develop a website for your daycare for marketing and communication with parents.

Tips & Warnings

• Create a checklist with the help of the Small Business Development Center to be sure no necessary steps are overlooked.

• Keep up with all recalls and health and safety warnings.

• Regular inspections are mandated by ODJFS. They also inspect whenever a complaint is received. Create a complaint and feedback system for your parents to eliminate unnecessary complaints.

References

• Ohio Department of Job & Family Svcs.: Child Care in Ohio
• Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development
• Ohio Department of Education Learning Supports: Licensing for Preschool Programs and School-Age Child Care (SACC)
• Ohio Small Business Development Centers: Entrepreneur Ohio

Resources

• Daycare.com: Ohio State Requirements
• Ohio Department of Job & Family Svcs.: ODJFS Electronic Manuals Help Guide
• Ohio Department of Job & Family Svcs.: Childcare Center Manuals
• Ohio Job & Family Svcs.: Childcare Manual Appendix
• Appalachian Center for Economic Networks