How to Start a Daycare in Ohio (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a daycare in Ohio requires a license from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), and the process involves background checks, facility inspections, staff training requirements, and strict child-to-staff ratios. Ohio regulates childcare through three license types – Type A homes, Type B homes, and childcare centers – each with different requirements depending on the number of children you plan to serve.

This guide covers every requirement, cost, and step to legally start and operate a daycare in Ohio, from the pre-licensing workshop through final inspection. Whether you’re opening a home-based daycare for a handful of children or a full childcare center, here’s everything you need.

Daycare Requirements in Ohio at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
Pre-Licensing Workshop	ODJFS / County DJFS	Free	Required before application
Background Checks (BCI&I + FBI)	Ohio BCI / FBI	$50-$80 per person	4-6 weeks
Childcare License Application	ODJFS	Varies by type	60-90 days
Fire Inspection	State Fire Marshal / local FD	Varies	Part of licensing
Building Inspection	Local building department	Varies	Part of licensing
LLC Formation	Ohio Secretary of State	$99	3-7 business days
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	Immediate (online)
Workers’ Compensation	Ohio BWC	$120 minimum deposit	10 business days
General Liability Insurance	Private insurer	$1,000-$3,000/year	Same day

How to Start a Daycare in Ohio (Step by Step)

Step 1: Choose Your License Type

Ohio offers three childcare license types based on the number of children and your facility:

License Type	Children Served	Location
Type B Home	1-6 children	Provider’s own home
Type A Home	7-12 children	Provider’s own home (requires assistant)
Childcare Center	7+ children	Non-residential facility

Note: Type B home providers caring for 1-6 children from one or two families related to the provider may be exempt from licensing in some circumstances. Check with your county DJFS for specifics.

Step 2: Attend the Pre-Licensing Workshop

Before you can apply for a license, ODJFS requires you to attend a pre-licensing workshop. These are offered by your county Department of Job and Family Services and cover:

Overview of Ohio childcare licensing regulations
Application process and required documentation
Health and safety compliance standards
Available resources and support

Contact your county DJFS office to schedule a workshop.

Step 3: Complete Background Checks

Ohio requires comprehensive background checks for all individuals involved in childcare:

Who must be checked: The applicant/owner, all employees, volunteers who are unsupervised with children, and any household members (for home-based providers)
What’s required: Both BCI&I (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation) and FBI fingerprint-based background checks
Cost: $50-$80 per person (includes fingerprinting and processing)
Processing time: 4-6 weeks
Disqualifying offenses: Certain felony and misdemeanor convictions automatically disqualify individuals from working in childcare

Step 4: Meet Training Requirements

Ohio requires specific pre-service training before you can begin operating:

Pre-Service Training (before serving children)

First aid certification (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or equivalent)
Infant/child CPR certification
Communicable disease recognition and prevention
Child abuse recognition and prevention (minimum 1 hour)
Safe sleep practices (if caring for infants)

Ongoing Training (annual)

Center administrators: Minimum 6 hours per year of continuing education
Center employees: Minimum 6 hours per year
Type A providers: Minimum 6 hours per year
Type B providers: Minimum 6 hours per year
Training must be in topics approved by ODJFS (child development, health and safety, curriculum, etc.)

Step 5: Prepare Your Facility

Your facility must meet ODJFS requirements for space, safety, and environment:

Indoor Space Requirements

Minimum 35 square feet per child of usable indoor floor space (exclusive of hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and storage)
Age-appropriate furniture and equipment
Separate diaper changing area (if serving infants/toddlers)
Safe sleep area for napping children

Outdoor Space Requirements

Fenced outdoor play area (minimum 60 square feet per child using the area at one time)
Age-appropriate outdoor equipment
Shade available for outdoor play

Safety Requirements

Smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
Childproofing (outlet covers, cabinet locks, gate at stairs)
Safe storage of cleaning chemicals and medications
Posted emergency procedures and evacuation plan
Working telephone accessible at all times

Step 6: Submit Application and Pass Inspections

Submit your license application through the Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS):

Complete the application form and pay the nonrefundable application fee
Submit all required documentation (background checks, training certificates, insurance proof)
Schedule and pass fire inspection (State Fire Marshal or local fire department)
Schedule and pass building inspection (local building department)
Pass the ODJFS licensing inspection (comprehensive review of facility, records, and compliance)

The full licensing process typically takes 60-90 days from application to approval.

Step 7: Staff-to-Child Ratios

Ohio mandates strict staff-to-child ratios that must be maintained at all times:

Age Group	Staff:Child Ratio	Max Group Size
Infants (birth-12 months)	1:5	12
Toddlers (12-18 months)	1:6	12
Toddlers (18 months-2.5 years)	1:7	14
Preschool (2.5-3 years)	1:8	16
Preschool (3-4 years)	1:10	20
Preschool (4-5 years)	1:12	24
School-age (5-11 years)	1:18	36
School-age (11-15 years)	1:20	40

Nap time exception: Ratios may be doubled once during a 24-hour period for up to 1.5 hours during nap time, with a staff member present and all children resting.

If mixing age groups, the ratio for the youngest child in the group applies.

Step 8: Get Insurance and Business Registration

Ohio LLC: $99 through the Secretary of State
General liability insurance: $1,000-$3,000/year (childcare-specific coverage)
Professional liability: $500-$1,500/year (covers negligence claims)
Workers’ compensation (Ohio BWC): Required for any employees. $120 minimum deposit.
Property insurance: Protects your facility, equipment, and supplies

Step Up To Quality (SUTQ)

Ohio’s Step Up To Quality program is a voluntary quality rating system for childcare providers. While not required for licensing, SUTQ ratings (1-5 stars) help attract families and may qualify you for higher reimbursement rates if accepting publicly funded children. Learn more at childrenandyouth.ohio.gov.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Ohio

Item	Cost	Notes
Ohio LLC formation	$99	No annual report fees
Federal EIN	Free	Apply online at IRS.gov
Background checks (per person)	$50-$80	BCI&I + FBI for all staff and household members
Pre-service training (CPR, first aid)	$50-$150	Per person; must be current
License application fee	Varies	Nonrefundable; check ODJFS for current amount
Facility lease/mortgage	$1,000-$5,000/month	Center-based; home-based may be lower
Facility renovation/buildout	$5,000-$50,000	Safety modifications, fencing, bathroom additions
Furniture and equipment	$3,000-$15,000	Cribs, tables, chairs, play equipment
Outdoor play equipment	$2,000-$10,000	Fencing, playground equipment
Educational materials and toys	$1,000-$5,000	Age-appropriate curriculum materials
General liability insurance	$1,000-$3,000/year	Childcare-specific coverage
Workers’ comp (BWC)	$120+ deposit	Plus ongoing premiums for employees
Fire safety equipment	$200-$1,000	Extinguishers, smoke detectors, exit signs

Estimated total startup cost: $10,000-$30,000 (home-based Type B) to $50,000-$200,000+ (childcare center)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What type of daycare license do I need in Ohio?

It depends on how many children you’ll serve and where. Type B Home (1-6 children in your home), Type A Home (7-12 children in your home with an assistant), or Childcare Center (7+ children in a non-residential facility). All require licensing through ODJFS.

What background checks are required for Ohio daycare workers?

All owners, employees, volunteers with unsupervised access to children, and household members (for home providers) must pass both BCI&I (Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation) and FBI fingerprint-based background checks. Cost is $50-$80 per person with 4-6 week processing time.

What are Ohio’s staff-to-child ratios for daycare?

Ratios vary by age: infants (birth-12 months) require 1 staff per 5 children, toddlers (18 months-2.5 years) require 1:7, preschoolers (3-4 years) require 1:10, and school-age children (5-11 years) require 1:18. If mixing age groups, the ratio for the youngest child in the group applies.

How long does the Ohio daycare licensing process take?

Typically 60-90 days from application to approval. This includes background check processing (4-6 weeks), facility inspections (fire, building, ODJFS), and documentation review. Attending the required pre-licensing workshop before applying helps avoid delays.

Do I need insurance to run a daycare in Ohio?

While not all insurance types are legally mandated for every provider, general liability insurance ($1,000-$3,000/year) is practically essential and often required by your licensing agreement. If you have employees, workers’ compensation through Ohio BWC is mandatory. Professional liability and property insurance are strongly recommended.

What is Ohio’s Step Up To Quality program?

Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) is Ohio’s voluntary quality rating system for childcare providers, using a 1-5 star scale. While not required for basic licensing, SUTQ ratings help attract families, demonstrate quality, and may qualify you for higher reimbursement rates if accepting publicly funded children.

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About the Author

Robert Smith has run a licensed private investigation firm for 8 years from the Florida-Georgia state line - where he learned firsthand how wildly business licensing rules differ between states just miles apart. He personally researched requirements across all 50 states and D.C., reviewing hundreds of government sources over hundreds of hours to build guides he wished existed when he started. Not a lawyer or accountant - just a business owner who has done the research so you don't have to.

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