It is important to consider several factors before selecting a location for your daycare business. The first step you should take is to obtain a copy of the licensing requirements for your area from your local, state or provincial government responsible for childcare licensing. These requirements include rules and regulations that will affect site selection for your new daycare (e.g. daycare site requires playground space).
Below are several factors that you should consider when selecting a site:
Zoning & Site
To build a daycare center, the location must be zoned for childcare by the local zoning or building development office. This is the first major hurdle to be considered. It is best to avoid sites that require extensive re-zoning or change-of-use work. Extensive re-zoning or change-of-use work can become cost-prohibitive in terms of money and time, unless you have no other options.
If you are starting a home daycare, however, zoning is normally not an issue as long as you do not accept more than the allowable number of children as set by your local laws. You will need to contact the local authorities responsible for zoning to determine zoning and permitted-use regulations.
Playground Facility
Depending on childcare licensing requirements, a playground may or may not be required. In general, however, a playground adjacent to the candidate site is often required if you are running full-time (e.g. more than 6 hours a day) childcare programs. In addition, having an outdoor playground allows outdoor time for children, which makes your programming richer and more attractive to parents. Most parents do like their children to take part in outdoor activities as part of their daily schedule.
Home daycare centers do not normally have this problem since the home's backyard can be easily used as the playground.
Parking
Parking must be considered if you are starting a daycare center in a commercial complex. Applicable building codes or bylaws and regulations regulating parking vary from one municipality to another. Again, please contact the local authorities responsible for parking regulations, e.g. your local zoning or building development office.
Take note that it is possible that the number of parking spaces available to you may pose constraints on the license capacity (i.e. maximum number of children) of your center. If the parking becomes a constraint and does limit the number of children you can accept, the maximum revenue your daycare can achieve will be limited. In addition, it is important to ensure that the total revenue you can get from the limited number of children you can accept can cover all the operational costs (e.g. rent, utilities, etc.) associated with running the daycare business and provide you with a healthy profit for your work.
Competition
It is important to consider the nearby competition before deciding on a location. Competition includes childcare centers (both home and commercial daycare centers), private schools (those serving the same age-groups as the one intended for the site) and in-home care within a 1.25 mile or 2 kilometer radius of the potential site. Obviously, sites that have childcare demand being met by existing childcare providers are not recommended.
Below are several factors that you should consider when selecting a site:
Zoning & Site
To build a daycare center, the location must be zoned for childcare by the local zoning or building development office. This is the first major hurdle to be considered. It is best to avoid sites that require extensive re-zoning or change-of-use work. Extensive re-zoning or change-of-use work can become cost-prohibitive in terms of money and time, unless you have no other options.
If you are starting a home daycare, however, zoning is normally not an issue as long as you do not accept more than the allowable number of children as set by your local laws. You will need to contact the local authorities responsible for zoning to determine zoning and permitted-use regulations.
Playground Facility
Depending on childcare licensing requirements, a playground may or may not be required. In general, however, a playground adjacent to the candidate site is often required if you are running full-time (e.g. more than 6 hours a day) childcare programs. In addition, having an outdoor playground allows outdoor time for children, which makes your programming richer and more attractive to parents. Most parents do like their children to take part in outdoor activities as part of their daily schedule.
Home daycare centers do not normally have this problem since the home's backyard can be easily used as the playground.
Parking
Parking must be considered if you are starting a daycare center in a commercial complex. Applicable building codes or bylaws and regulations regulating parking vary from one municipality to another. Again, please contact the local authorities responsible for parking regulations, e.g. your local zoning or building development office.
Take note that it is possible that the number of parking spaces available to you may pose constraints on the license capacity (i.e. maximum number of children) of your center. If the parking becomes a constraint and does limit the number of children you can accept, the maximum revenue your daycare can achieve will be limited. In addition, it is important to ensure that the total revenue you can get from the limited number of children you can accept can cover all the operational costs (e.g. rent, utilities, etc.) associated with running the daycare business and provide you with a healthy profit for your work.
Competition
It is important to consider the nearby competition before deciding on a location. Competition includes childcare centers (both home and commercial daycare centers), private schools (those serving the same age-groups as the one intended for the site) and in-home care within a 1.25 mile or 2 kilometer radius of the potential site. Obviously, sites that have childcare demand being met by existing childcare providers are not recommended.