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

Seattle, WA vs Houston, TX

Seattle, WA

$63,000 - $272,000

COL Index: 147.1

Houston, TX

$46,000 - $192,000

COL Index: 96.5

Detailed Cost Comparison

Expense	Seattle, WA	Houston, TX	Difference
Business Registration & Childcare License	$2,800 - $12,200	$1,900 - $6,200	+85%
Commercial Lease (First + Last + Security)	$17,400 - $97,800	$11,000 - $61,600	+59%
Furniture, Equipment & Toys	$8,000 - $30,000	$8,000 - $30,000	Same
Safety & Compliance Build-Out	$7,000 - $35,000	$4,600 - $23,000	+52%
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)	$22,100 - $73,600	$14,500 - $48,300	+52%
Total Estimated Cost	$63,000 - $272,000	$46,000 - $192,000	+41%

Local Market Factors

Factor	Seattle	Houston
Cost of Living Index	147.1	96.5
Commercial Rent ($/sqft/yr)	$28 - $72	$18 - $45
Labor Rate Index	1.4	0.92
Sales Tax	10.25%	8.25%
Minimum Wage	$19.97/hr	$7.25/hr
LLC Filing Fee	$200	$300

View Full Details

Ready to Start Your Daycare?

Start your Daycare LLC in — free registered agent for 1 year.

Form Your LLC for $0 + State Fee →

Trusted by 500,000+ businesses · Excellent rating on Trustpilot