How To Begin

A Family Child Care Business 
In Your Home
Have you considered a home-based business as a way of gaining more satisfaction in your professional and personal life?  The field of child care is a home business option that you may want to consider, especially if you would like to be home with your own children.  You will be helping children get a good start in life while assuring parents their children are safe and secure.

As in any new venture, there are many things to consider before making a decision to start a home-based family child care business. The following questions are frequently asked:
Q: What do I have to do to start a new program?

A: If you plan to care for more than two unrelated children in your home, you will need to become registered or licensed. Registered family child care providers can care for seven to eight children, depending on the ages of the children, including their own. Licensed group family child care providers work with assistants and can care for twelve to fourteen children.

Child Care Solutions offers a monthly workshop, "First Steps to Family Child Care," that provides basic information about the two types of regulated family child care and how to establish a successful family child care business. The workshop will also help you to assess whether family child care is the right career option for you and your family. It includes topics such as the tax benefits of owning your own business, marketing skills, developing contracts and policies and average charges for child care in your area. For additional information on these classes you can contact the FCC team at 446-1220 ext. 318 or email us at ccs@childcaresyracuse.org.

To request an application contact our office or click on NYSOCFS for a direct link to the state site.

Q: How do I advertise my business:

A: Advertising your services in a local town paper or Pennysaver, circulating flyers, or using word of mouth are all good means of advertising your business. Child Care Solutions also provides parents with child care referrals. As a registered or licensed provider you will automatically go in our referral database. A Referral Specialist from our Parent Services team will call you to get all the details about your program.

Q: What if I just want to start out with a few children?

A: This is none as Legally Exempt Care and is a good way to try your hand at this profession. As long as you do not care for more than two children full time you can legally care for them as an exempt child care provider. If you find it is not what you expected, you can move on to something else. If you decide family child care is for you, you can become registered or licensed.

Q: What are the training requirements?

A: Before becoming registered or licensed you must complete a 15-hour Health and Safety Course.  Within the first two years you must complete an additional 15 hours for a total of 30 hours. The training requirements are described in more detail in the NYS Family Child Care Regulations.

 

Q: Are there available grants or funding to help me get started?

 

A: Child Care Solutions administers several grants to help people entering this field. These funds are available for health and safety needs, educational materials, equipment and other items your home may need in order to pass inspection. For additional information on grants you can call Rose at 446-1220 ext. 319. In addition, registered or licensed providers may participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, which provides partial reimbursement for nutritious meals fed to children enrolled in the day care program.  For additional information on this program you can call the Provider Services team at 446-1220 ext. 318.