Even with all of my experience, I’m not sure I could have opened Wee Play without NeighborSchools. It is so reassuring to have their help at each step of the process.
Deb Pacheco partnered with NeighborSchools to open Wee Play Infant Toddler Development in Gloucester, MA.
Programs@NeighborSchools.com
Beyond that, each provider and their program is beautifully unique—just like you!
Some come to NeighborSchools with 10+ years of experience in Montessori pre-schools. Others are certified early interventionists who are ready for the next chapter in their career. Others still are devoted mothers or grandmothers with a passion for childhood development. Some live in the same New England towns that their great-grandparents settled 100+ years ago, and others are recent immigrants from as far afield as Colombia, Ethiopia, or Bangladesh. Their stories, their dedication to children, and their ambitions to be small-business owners are what make them so special.
How to Start
a Home Daycare
Our 5-part guide will teach you how to get licensed in your state, start your business, and find your first families.
In this section:
Family Child Care Orientation course, Online Trainings, CPR & First Aid, Physical Exam, Professional Registry, & Application.
4 - 8 weeks
What's inside?
Use our guide as a starting point to launch your new business, find your first customers, and build the program of your dreams.
5-Steps for Success
Home requirements & inspection
Setup Your Home
In this section:
Children’s Furniture, Play Spaces, Nap Spaces, Supplies & Materials, Preparing & Serving Food, Safety Measures, Health Measures, and Fenced / Safe Outdoor Space
3 - 6 weeks
Register Your Business
In this section:
Liability Insurance, Zoning Verification, DBA Certificate, Tracking First Business Expenses, Minimizing Taxes
2 - 3 weeks
Find Your First Families
In this section:
Taking Photos, Getting Testimonials, Creating a Website, Giving Tours, Creating a Contract, Taking Deposits, Processing Payments
4 - 8 weeks
Note: Sections 1 and 2 are different for each state, so be sure to select the right state when downloading the guide.
The continuity of care and this partnership that develops between a provider who works with the child for a couple of years and a parent, that’s the magic of it. We think this is the model for the future of child care in America.
NeighborSchools’ CEO talking with Time Magazine about why people are turning to home daycare
Experienced educator, who “always dreamt of helping children who don’t have it easy.”
Est. 2019
Ms. Ana
Ms. Martha
Apply for Your License
Setup Your Home
Register Your Business
Find Your First Families
Opening Day & Beyond
Mom of 2, passionate about childhood development, ready to do it on her own.
Est. 2019
NeighborSchools helps caregivers open and run high-quality licensed home daycares. Since 2010, one out of every five home daycares in the US have closed permanently, leaving families with fewer options for child care when they need it most. Child care centers charge parents too much, and pay educators not enough. Home daycare is the solution.
We started NeighborSchools in 2018 to turn the tides and help the best educators and caregivers successfully launch their very own programs.
We are a mission-driven company, based in Boston. Want to learn more? Send us an email.
Experienced educator, who “always dreamt of helping children who don’t have it easy.”
Est. 2019
Veteran nanny and loving grandmother, offering English-Spanish bilingual programming
Est. 2018
Your income will be based on how many children you care for and the daily or weekly rate you set for families. Most Providers think in terms of a daily rate, which can vary widely based on where you live.* For instance, in Massachusetts, some Providers charge $50/day/child, while others charge over $80. In starting a home daycare it’s important to remember that it often takes over 6 months to get licensed, and it can take another 6 months before reaching full enrollment.
* For a more accurate estimate of local rates, after downloading the Guide you’ll be invited to take a “Readiness Quiz” which will estimate your earning potential based on your zip code and other factors.
The licensing process is different in every state. Download the guide for your state to learn how it will work for you. In most states, it takes 2-3 months and involves online trainings, background record checks, a home inspection, and filing a lot of paperwork with the state licensing body. But some states do everything in an online portal, and others are still using paper and pen for everything, so it’s really all over the place!
You’ll need a license if you’re going to be taking care of other people’s children in your own home on a regular basis. In certain states, you’ll only need a license for 3 or more children. But getting licensed is recommended either way, because, among other things, you can’t get liability insurance without a license.
Most new Providers have real experience with infants and toddlers. Many are moms with young children at home, and others are early-childhood professionals who have been working with children for years.
Each state has different requirements for prior experience, so download the guide for your state.
Opening my home daycare was a dream come true. I’m proud of my daycare and I know my parents appreciate me and my work.
Martha opened her home daycare in Dedham, MA in 2019.
Opening Day & Beyond
In this section:
Developing a Schedule, Handling Mixed Age Groups, Creating Routines, Working with Parents, Getting to Full Enrollment
2 - 4 weeks