Start Home Daycare in Florida| Complete Roadmap for Newbies

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. All the information here is taken from the official site of the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).

First-time home daycare owners get overwhelmed when starting their business. 

Multiple expenses, a never-ending list of requirements from the state, and so many training and inspections drive people crazy. Then, the struggle to navigate your way through the state’s not-so-user-friendly website is frustrating. 

But you don’t have to do any of it. We’ve done all the heavy lifting for you and pulled out all the information from Florida’s state website and gathered everything in this article. 

Here, we present a step-by-step, easy-to-understand process to start your home daycare. From getting your license to inspections, insurance and marketing, this is your roadmap to start your home daycare business in Florida. 

Startup Cost

On average, a home daycare will cost you $1500 to $3000.

Your specific number will depend on how many expenses you have. For example, some people have to spend more to make their home according to the state requirements than others. 

Following will be your main expenses with their average cost.

• Insurance: $170 to $200
• Furniture and toys: $500 to $700
• License with its requirements: $250

Florida State Requirements For Home Daycare

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) requires every type of daycare to be authorized by the department before starting the operation. For home daycare, there are 2 options. Either you can be registered with the state, or you can be licensed. Both need to be renewed annually. You can run a home daycare with any of these permits. The choice is yours. 

We’ll discuss both options with their requirements and procedures in this article. 

However, the following 15 counties don’t offer registration. If you’re living in any of them, you’ll have to get a license. 

1. Brevard
2. Broward
3. Clay
4. Duval
5. Hernando
6. Hillsborough
7. Manatee
8. Miami-Dade
9. Nassau
10. Palm Beach
11. Pasco
12. Pinellas
13. Polk
14. Sarasota
15. Saint Johns

For more information, please refer to the DCF’s official page for home daycares.

Registered VS Licensed Home Daycare: How To Choose The Right One 

Here’s a quick difference between registered and licensed home daycares so you can make informed decisions. 

• Registration requires less training than licensing. For example, CPR and first-aid are recommended but not mandatory for registered home daycares.
  
• Registered daycares have fewer state requirements than licensed daycares.
  
• Due to less training and requirements, a registered daycare will cost you a little less than a licensed one. 
  
• As a licensed daycare, you might be able to charge more than a registered daycare. Plus, the School Readiness Program (financial assistance for parents) pays licensed providers a little more than registered. 
  
• Only licensed daycares can qualify for Florida’s Food Program. So, if you plan to offer food, the program can take a huge expense off your shoulders. 
  
• You must be a licensed home daycare for 2 consecutive years to expand and hire employees. So, registration limits growth opportunities. 
  
• Lastly, the license has more credibility than registration. That’s why parents can trust you more, and you can charge more. 

So, if you want to start as quickly as possible, with minimum time and money investment, registration is your option. But if you want more credibility and want to expand your business in the future, a license will be more helpful. 

Orientation

DCF offers a 3-hour online course called “Opening a Family Child Care Home Program”. It’s made to guide first-time home daycare owners on how things work. 

The course discusses 

• Operations
• Management
• Budgeting and finance
• Deciding the philosophy of your home daycare 
• Identifying the need for home daycare in your area

Action Item: To register for the course, please use this link: OPENH

Home Daycare Registration Requirements in Florida 

Registered home daycares don’t involve any on-site inspections.  

The application and annual renewal fee is $25.

All the below information is taken from the official document of DCF. To access the document, click here.

Eligibility Criteria

If you’ll be the operator of the daycare 

• You must be 18 or older. 
• The daycare should be run in the home where you reside. 
• You can’t work outside the home during the hours of operation.
• You’ll have to submit written proof of another qualified adult as a substitute in case of any emergency.
• You should annually provide a copy of a completed Health and Safety Checklist to every parent. 

You’ll also need to consider the following points. 

• Ensure there are no restrictions in your area regarding running a home daycare. You’ll need to get an attestation stating that there’s no restriction from the local government or landlord and that you comply with your Zoning Department’s rules. Here’s the attestation form.
  
• If you’ve rented your home. Make sure the owner allows your home daycare business. 
  
• Some cities and counties require an occupational license for operating a home daycare. Check with your local building and Zoning Department to see if it’s a requirement in your city. 

How Many Kids Can You Have In a Home Daycare In Florida? 

You can provide care to any one of the following categories. Note the number includes under 13 years of kids. If you’re caring for your child, count them in as well. 

• Total: 3 Infants (Maximum 4 children from birth to 12 months of age.)
• Total: 6 children (Maximum 3 children from birth to 12 months of age, and 3 kids of over 12 months.) 
• Total: 6 children (Maximum 6 preschool children if all are over 12 months of age.)
• Total: 10 children (Maximum 5 preschool kids, and of those 5, maximum 2 infants under 12 months of age. The rest 5 kids can be of any age under 13 years.)

Training Requirements 

You (the operator) are required to complete 30 hours of training, which is divided into 5 courses. You’ll have to take a test for each training. Most classes cost $10.

1. Health, Safety, and Nutrition: (HSAN – 8 hours) 
2. Child Growth and Development: (CGDR – 6 hours) 
3. Behavioral Observation and Screening: (BOSR – 6 hours)
4. Family Child Care Home Rules and Regulations: (FCHR – 6 hours)
5. Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect: (CAAN – 4 hours) 

You must also be trained in early literacy and language development. If you haven’t taken any such course before, DCF offers its own 5-hour online training. 

• Early Literacy for Children Birth to Three: 5-hour online course.

If you have any training in early literacy and meet any of the following criteria, you don’t have to take this training. 

• You have taken one of the DCF’s approved literacy courses. Check the approved courses here. or
• You have taken one college-level early literacy course within the last 5 years.

Once you have completed the training requirements, only then can you move forward to background checks and the application process.

Action Item: Here’s the training portal of DCF. You can create your account to register for these courses, take exams and get other information. 

If you need any help related to the portal or courses, you can contact the Child Care Training Information Center at 1-888-352-2842.

Background Checks

For background checks, you’ll need to submit the application form. All the background checks will be submitted with your application. The link and other information related to the application are in the next heading. 

1. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Check: 

The operator, substitute and the adult house members will need an FBI and FDLE check. This is done through Clearing House, a portal that streamlines the nationwide screening processes. 

Action Item: Head to the DCF’s step-by-step guide for accessing the portal and completing your screening. Here’s a video guide for accessing the clearing house. 

2. Child Abuse and Neglect Registry Check:

This check is for the operator, substitute and adult household members who have lived outside Florida for the last 5 years. 

Action Item: Here’s a list of all the states’ website links to get the child abuse and neglect check. 

3. Out-of-State Criminal Record Check:

This screening is also for operators, adult house members and substitutes who have lived outside Florida for the last 5 years.

If the state you or any other member have lived in participates in the FBI National Fingerprint File (NFF) program, your screening will be done through FBI criminal history. Here are the states that participate in NFF. 

If your previous state doesn’t participate in NFF, you’ll have to submit an out-of-state criminal history record to DCF.

Action Item: Submit the document in one of the following ways: 

• Fax: (850) 487-6030
• Email: bgs.outofstate.admin@myflfamilies.com
• Mail: Department of Children and Families Background Screening Program 2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 1176, Tallahassee, Florida 32303. 

4. Juvenile Records Check:

All the members aged 12 to 17 years are considered juveniles and need this background check. There’s a $8 to $10 fee to get the check done. 

You can get the juvenile record online through the FDLE public portal. It’ll ask you for an ORI number, which the DCF has provided. It’s FL721911Z. 

Action Item: DCF has given a step-by-step guide on how to request juvenile records. Click here to see it. 

5. Sex Offender Registry Checks: 

Required for operator, substitute and adult house members who have resided outside of Florida in the last 5 years.

Action Item: You can easily get this record for any individual through NSOPW’s portal.

6. Child Care Attestation of Good Moral Character (AGMC):

This also applies to the operator, adult members and substitute. 

Action Item: Here’s an AGMC form that you’ll have to fill out and submit with your application.

7. Mandatory Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Form

This form is only needed for substitutes. The operator will attest to these requirements as part of the application process. You’ll have to maintain this form annually. 

Action Item: Here’s the Mandatory Abuse and Neglect Form. You’ll submit this with your application.

If you have any screening-related queries, you can contact the Background Screening Information Center at 1-888-352-2849.

Daycare Registration Application Information for Florida

The application process to register your home daycare in Florida is entirely online. 

After you’ve applied, you’ll receive an email guiding you to the next steps. When all your screenings and application processes are done, you’ll get a registration letter from DCF, and then you can start your home daycare. 

If you’re facing any issues in the application process, contact 850-488-4900 to talk to the Childcare Program Office of Florida.

Action Item: Here’s the application portal. 

Home Daycare Licensing Requirements for Florida

DCF administers the Licensing of all dayacres in Florida except the following 5 counties. These counties have their own local regulatory bodies for licensing and managing daycares. 

All these counties must meet the licensing requirements of DCF. However, they can have a few additional prerequisites. You can visit your county’s official website to check their requirements. 

1. Pinellas 
2. Broward
3. Sarasota
4. Palm Beach
5. Hillsborough

Licensing and registration have almost the same requirements. So, we’ll refer you to the registration section for similar information.

For more information about home daycare licensing, visit the DCF’s official page.

All the following information is taken from DCF’s pdf guide on licensing home daycares. 

Eligibility Criteria

Classification

There are 2 types of home daycare licenses. 

1. Family home daycare license
2. Large family home daycare license

The second one isn’t for first-time owners. To start a large home daycare, you need to be a licensed daycare for 2 consecutive years. So we won’t be discussing that. We’ll talk about the family home daycare license, which is for first-time daycare owners.

Eligibility

Licensing eligibility criteria are the same as for registration. 

Training Requirements 

You (the operator) and your substitute, if they work more than 40 hours a month, are required to complete the same 30-hour training and literacy course required for registration. And you’ll have to pass a test for each of these courses. 

If the substitute will work less than 40 hours a month, they don’t need the above training. They only need 1 following course.

• Family Child Care Home Rules and Regulations: (FCHR – 6 hours)

1. CPR and first aid training:

The operator and substitute must complete an online or on-site First Aid and CPR training. For CPR, an on-site assessment test is required. You must maintain records of your training and on-site assessment.

2. Annual In-service training

The operator will have to complete a 10-hour or 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) of annual in-service training. This isn’t a requirement for licensing, instead, you’re required to complete this within your licensing year.

Here’s a record form and information on what courses classify as in-service training.

3. Safe Sleep/Shaken Baby Syndrome Training:

If you enroll infants, you and your substitute need to be trained in safe sleep. You can take any of the following DCF’s courses: 

1. Health, Safety and Nutrition Course: HSAN – 8 hours
2. Safe Sleep Practices for Child Care: SAFE – 1 hour
3. Early Learning Florida’s Safe Sleep Practices: SSPELFL – 1 hour

You’ll have to complete this training within 30 days of licensing.

4. Fire extinguisher training: 

You and the substitute will need training in using and operating a fire extinguisher. This also needs to be completed within 30 days of licensing. 

DCF doesn’t offer this training, so you’ll have to find a provider.

Action Item: All these training will also be through the CCL portal.

For more information about training and finding a provider, visit DCF’s official page.

If you need any help related to the portal or courses, you can contact the Child Care Training Information Center at 1-888-352-2842.

Background Checks

1. Employment History Check: 

The operator and substitute will fill out an employment history form.

Action Item: Here’s the form link. Submit it with the licensing application.

2. Central Abuse Hotline Records Search (CAHRS): 

The operator and all household members will need to fill out this form.

Action Item: Get the CAHRS form here. You can submit it to any of the 7 agencies mentioned in the form.

3. Mandatory Abuse and Neglect Reporting Requirements Form: 

The operator and substitute need to complete this form,

Action Item: Here’s the link to the form. You’ll submit it with your application. 

4. Out-of-State Criminal Record Checks

The complete process and information are the same as in the registration section. Only the mailing address is different, according to the licensing guide. 

Action Item: Mail: Department of Children and Families Background Screening Program 1317 Winewood Boulevard, Building 6 Floor 3, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0700.

The information and record-checking process for the following screenings is the same as stated in the registration section.

4. Juvenile Records Check
5. Sex Offender Registry Check
6. Child Abuse and Neglect Registry Check
7. Child Care Attestation of Good Moral Character (AGMC) 
8. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Check

If you have any screening-related queries, you can contact the Background Screening Information Center at 1-888-352-2849.

Daycare Licensing Application Information for Florida

Manual: 

You’ll have to complete the application form, attach the required documents and the fee and mail it to your local childcare licensing office. 

Action Item: This is the application form for a licensed home daycare in Florida.

Online: 

Florida now accepts online applications as well through their portal called CARES. There’s a $50 fee for the licensing application. 

Action Items:

• Here’s the CARES portal to create your account. 
• If you need help in account creation, have a look at this DCF’s guide.
• Once you’ve created your account, follow this step-by-step process to apply online.

Incomplete applications are returned within 30 days, along with instructions. Once you have submitted the completed application, you’ll get a response within 90 days. And within that time, the department will inspect your house to see if your house meets the criteria.

If your application is accepted, you’ll get a license from DCF to operate your home daycare. If not, you’ll receive a letter containing the reason for the denial and how to correct it. 

If you’re facing any issues in the application process, contact 850-488-4900 to talk to the Childcare Program Office of Florida.

Register the Business With the State of Florida

Disclaimer: There are multiple business types, each with its own pros and cons. We suggest you consult an accountant or attorney to decide what’s best for you. For more information on different business structures, visit the Division of Corporations.

One of the most common options for a home daycare owner is to work as a sole proprietor. According to Divison of Corporations, it means you’re the only owner and operator of your business. 

If your business name isn’t your legal name, which is the case with 99% of daycares, you’ll need to register a fictitious name with Florida’s Divison of Corporations. 

Registration Process

The process is extremely simple. You can either apply online or mail the form. The registration charges are $50.

Action Item:

• Online: Here’s the link to the online application form. You must pay the fee with a credit card.
• Mail: Here’s the application form to register a fictitious name in Florida. Fill it out and mail it to the Division of Corporations. 

For more information about registering a fictitious name, visit the official page of Florida’s Division of Corporations. 

Liability Insurance

As a small business, liability insurance is the best option for you. It covers legal claims, reputational harm, property damage, and medical bills. 

On average, its starting price is $2000. 

Inspections

All the inspections are only for licensed daycares. Registration doesn’t include any on-site inspections. 

So, for licensed home daycares, you’ll have one inspection before licensing within 90 days of application processing. And then, the following 2 inspections are after licensing. 

1. Radon Testing

If you live in a county that qualifies as an Intermediate or Elevated Radon Potential area, you’ll have to get radon testing done. 48 out of 67 counties are in these 2 categories. Here’s a color-coded map showing which counties need Radon testing.

You need the testing done within the 1st year of your license. Contact the Radon Program at 800-543-8279 to complete your testing and submit the results to the Health Department of Florida through the DH1778 form. 

2. Key Indicator Inspection

After licensing, some daycares that meet the criteria qualify for key indicator inspection. 

Here’s a link to get more information on Key Indicator Inspection.

The Subsidy Provided to Daycare Businesses

We couldn’t find any official subsidies the State of Florida offers daycare owners. 

Daycare Setup

All the indoor and outdoor home daycare requirements are taken from the DCF’s health and safety guide.

Indoor

• You need to employ smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher.
• If there are any firearms, they should be locked and inaccessible to kids.
• You’ll need trashcans to dispose of diapers, and they should be inaccessible to kids.  
• Your classroom area shouldn’t have chemicals or hazardous materials like cleaning supplies, paint, medicine or gardening chemicals.
• A first-aid kit is a must.
• There should be at least 1 emergency exit.
• Your sleeping mats should be at least 1 inch thick. 
• You’ll have to provide cribs or port-a-cribs for sleeping and a playpen for playing to children under 1 year. 

Outdoor

• A 4-foot high fence should surround your outdoor play area. If it’s not, you’ll have to install one.
• You should look for harmful insects in the outdoor play area. If there are any, take proper measures to eliminate them. 
• You’ll also need alarms for water hazards.
• If you have a pool more than 1 foot deep, you’ll need at least a 4-foot high fence around it. 
• All the gates leading to the pool should be locked and baby-proofed. 

Marketing

Once everything’s set up, you’ll need some sort of promotion and marketing. Even if you have initially acquired children from neighbors or relatives, you need to have some sort of digital presence to keep people coming. 

If you don’t want to do any marketing at all, do yourself a huge favor and list your daycare in Google My Business. People finding daycare often search terms like home daycare near me or home daycare in [your area]. If you’re listed, your daycare will pop up in the searches. 

Want to get a step further? Make your social media pages. Instagram and Facebook are the best places for daycares. 

We have a complete guide for marketing daycares. Here’s a list of marketing channel ideas for daycare to get your creative juices flowing. And here’s how you can fully leverage those channels.

Staff and Training Requirements

We couldn’t find any staff hiring and training requirements for registered and licensed home daycares in Florida. 

Conclusion

We know it’s a lot of information to digest. But that’s the process you’ll have to follow to start your home daycare business in Florida. 

Take one thing at a time. Start with checking your area restrictions and homeowner acknowledgement, then move to business registration and training cause you need it before licensing or registration, and then finally move to background checks and the application process. 

You might need clarification about a few things. Note them and contact DCF to get first-hand information.