How much does it cost to open a daycare center?

A licensed daycare center typically costs $50,000 to $300,000 to open, depending on the size of the facility and your state's licensing requirements. The largest expenses are the commercial lease, safety compliance build-out, and working capital to cover staff payroll before reaching full enrollment.

What are the licensing requirements for a daycare?

Every state requires a childcare facility license, which involves staff-to-child ratio compliance, facility safety inspections, background checks on all employees, CPR certification, and minimum space requirements per child (typically 35 sq ft indoors). The licensing process takes 2-6 months depending on the state.

How many children does a daycare need to be profitable?

Most small daycare centers need 20-40 enrolled children to cover expenses and generate profit, depending on tuition rates and staffing costs. At an average tuition of $800-$1,500 per month per child, a center with 30 children generates $24,000-$45,000 in monthly revenue.

Daycare Startup Cost Comparison

Great Falls, MT vs Chicago, IL

Great Falls, MT

$37,000 - $149,000

COL Index: 91.5

Chicago, IL

$57,000 - $235,000

COL Index: 107.8

Detailed Cost Comparison

Expense	Great Falls, MT	Chicago, IL	Difference
Business Registration & Childcare License	$1,000 - $5,000	$5,600 - $10,900	-64%
Commercial Lease (First + Last + Security)	$4,200 - $23,500	$15,700 - $88,000	-73%
Furniture, Equipment & Toys	$8,000 - $30,000	$8,000 - $30,000	Same
Safety & Compliance Build-Out	$4,300 - $21,300	$5,800 - $28,800	-26%
Business Insurance (Annual)	$3,000 - $12,000	$3,000 - $12,000	Same
Background Checks & Staff Training	$500 - $3,000	$500 - $3,000	Same
Marketing & Enrollment Drive	$2,000 - $8,000	$2,000 - $8,000	Same
Working Capital (3 Months)	$13,700 - $45,800	$16,200 - $53,900	-15%
Total Estimated Cost	$37,000 - $149,000	$57,000 - $235,000	-36%

Local Market Factors

Factor	Great Falls	Chicago
Cost of Living Index	91.5	107.8
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)	$8 - $16	$25 - $65
Labor Rate Index	0.85	1.15
Sales Tax	0%	10.25%
Minimum Wage	$10.30/hr	$15.80/hr
LLC Filing Fee	$70	$150

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