Open or grow a licensed daycare in California, in English or Chinese

There are two parts. Startup costs: for a family daycare, mostly home preparation, safety equipment, training, insurance and the state licensing fee; a center adds a lease, renovation, equipment and staff, which costs far more. Then Waymaker's consulting partnership: $900 per month for a family daycare and $2,100 per month for a center. For state licensing fees, check the latest CDSS information.

By our generous estimates, about 3–6 months for a family daycare and about 6–12 months for a center, longer with construction. These are estimates, not official processing times; the state does not guarantee a timeline, and yours depends on your application, background checks, inspections and local permits.

A family daycare serves roughly 6 to 12 children. Under California Department of Social Services rules, a small home may care for up to 6, or up to 8 if at least 2 are school-age and no more than 2 are infants; a large home may care for up to 12, or up to 14 if at least 2 are school-age and no more than 3 are infants, and requires an assistant. Beyond that, you need a child care center licence.

A family daycare (family child care home) operates in the licensee's own home, where they must live, with roughly 6 to 12 children. A child care center operates at a non-residential site, usually for 12 or more children, and needs city or county permits where required, a fire clearance, and a qualified director and staff.

The licensee must live in the home where care is provided. Renters in California may be able to apply, with rules such as notifying the landlord. Check the official sources, and we can look at your situation together in a consultation.

It is a monthly partnership: $900 per month for a family daycare and $2,100 per month for a child care center. It covers every service listed for that path and regular check-ins, until you are licensed and enrolling. State licensing fees, insurance and setup costs are separate. The first consultation is free.

We actively work with more than 20 daycares today, including every daycare listed on this site.

No, and nobody honestly can. Licenses are issued by California's Community Care Licensing Division. What we do is help you prepare your application and site so there are fewer surprises.

Join the Waymaker partner network for a bilingual profile and online tour booking, or let us help you move from a small to a large family daycare, or step up to a center.

Yes. Consultations, explanations and templates are available in English or Chinese.