How to Start a Daycare in South Carolina (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a daycare in South Carolina requires licensing through the SC Department of Social Services (DSS), Division of Early Care and Education. South Carolina has three license types depending on your capacity: family childcare homes (1-6 children), group childcare homes (7-12 children), and childcare centers (13+ children). All caregivers must pass SLED and FBI background checks, and the licensing process typically takes 60-90 days from application to approval. South Carolina also participates in the ABC Quality rating system, a voluntary quality improvement program that can increase your reimbursement rates for families receiving childcare subsidies through SC Voucher.

Daycare Requirements in South Carolina at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
LLC Formation	SC Secretary of State	$125 (online)	1-2 business days
Childcare License	SC DSS, Division of Early Care and Education	$25 (application fee)	60-90 days
SLED Background Check (per person)	SC Law Enforcement Division	$25	1-2 weeks
FBI Fingerprint Check (per person)	FBI via IdentoGO	$40-$55	1-3 weeks
Central Registry Check (per person)	SC DSS	Included in application	1-2 weeks
CPR/First Aid Certification (per caregiver)	American Red Cross / AHA	$50-$100	1 day course
Fire Inspection	Local Fire Marshal or State Fire Marshal	Varies ($0-$100)	Scheduled during licensing
Health/Sanitation Inspection	SCDA or local health department	Varies	Scheduled during licensing
Local Business License	City/County Government	$50-$500+	Varies
General Liability Insurance	Private Carrier	$1,000-$3,000/year	Before opening

How to Start a Daycare in South Carolina (Step by Step)

Step 1: Determine Your License Type

South Carolina DSS issues three types of childcare licenses:

License Type	Capacity	Setting	Key Requirements
Family Childcare Home	1-6 children	Provider’s residence	1 caregiver minimum; owner’s children under 13 count toward capacity
Group Childcare Home	7-12 children	Provider’s residence	2 caregivers minimum; may have 1-2 additional staff
Childcare Center	13+ children	Commercial or residential facility	Full-time director required; must meet commercial building codes

Exempt from licensing: Programs caring for children from only one family, drop-in programs under 4 hours per day, religious programs meeting fewer than 5 hours/week, and programs operated by public schools. Caring for children of relatives (grandchildren, nieces/nephews) is also exempt.

Step 2: Form Your Business Entity

Register an LLC at Business Entities Online ($125 online). Apply for a free federal EIN. Get your local business license from each city or county where you operate (fees based on gross income).

Zoning: Check with your local planning/zoning office before signing a lease or converting a home. Many residential zones allow family childcare homes but may restrict group homes or centers. Commercial zones typically allow centers with proper permits.

Step 3: Apply for Your DSS Childcare License

Contact the SC DSS Division of Early Care and Education to begin the application process. The application fee is $25.

Background check requirements (for ALL staff, volunteers with unsupervised access, and household members over 18 in home-based programs):

SLED criminal background check: $25 per person via SLED
FBI fingerprint check: $40-$55 per person via IdentoGO
SC Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect: Included in DSS application
Sex Offender Registry check: Included in background screening
National Sex Offender Registry check: Required under federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act
Checks must be completed before the person begins work or has unsupervised access to children
Background checks must be renewed every 5 years

The licensing process typically takes 60-90 days from application submission to license issuance. DSS will schedule an on-site inspection of your facility.

Step 4: Meet Facility Requirements

SC DSS Regulation 114-500 (childcare centers) and 114-510 (family/group homes) set specific facility standards:

Space Requirements

Indoor: Minimum 35 square feet per child of usable indoor play space (excluding kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, storage)
Outdoor: Minimum 50 square feet per child of usable outdoor play space
Outdoor play area must be fenced (minimum 4 feet high) with a self-closing, self-latching gate

Safety and Health

Fire inspection: Must pass inspection by local or state fire marshal before opening
Health/sanitation inspection: Facility must meet standards for food preparation, water supply, sewage disposal, and general cleanliness
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors required on every level
Emergency evacuation plan posted and practiced monthly
First aid kit accessible and fully stocked
All cleaning supplies and hazardous materials locked and out of children’s reach
Swimming pools must be fenced and locked when not in supervised use

Step 5: Meet Staffing and Training Requirements

Staff-to-Child Ratios (SC DSS Regulation 114-500)

Age Group	Staff:Child Ratio	Max Group Size
Infants (0-12 months)	1:5	10
Toddlers (12-24 months)	1:6	12
2 years	1:8	16
3 years	1:10	20
4 years	1:13	26
5 years (kindergarten-eligible)	1:18	36
School-age (6+)	1:21	42

Director Qualifications (Childcare Centers)

Option A: Bachelor’s degree or higher in early childhood education, child development, or related field
Option B: Associate’s degree in early childhood education plus 1 year of experience in a licensed childcare facility
Option C: Child Development Associate (CDA) credential or SC Early Childhood Credential plus 2 years of experience
Option D: High school diploma or GED plus SC Director’s Credential from the Center for Child Care Career Development plus 3 years of experience

Training Requirements

CPR and First Aid: Current certification required for all caregivers (pediatric CPR for infant/toddler rooms)
Pre-service training: Required before caring for children (orientation on emergency procedures, abuse/neglect reporting, health practices)
Annual continuing education: 15 clock hours per year for all caregivers (20 hours for directors)
Safe Sleep training: Required for all staff caring for infants
Training tracked through the SC Child Care Training System

Step 6: Get Insurance Coverage

General liability insurance: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate. Typical cost: $1,000-$3,000/year depending on capacity and services.
Professional liability: Covers claims of negligent supervision. Often bundled with general liability. $500-$1,500/year.
Abuse and molestation coverage: Specialized coverage for allegations of abuse. Essential for childcare operations. $300-$800/year.
Workers’ compensation: Required at 4+ employees. Daycare workers are classified under NCCI codes with moderate rates.
Commercial property insurance: Covers building, furniture, equipment, and supplies.

ABC Quality Rating System

SC’s ABC Quality is a voluntary quality improvement program that rates childcare providers on a scale of A (highest), B+, B, and C. Benefits of participation include higher reimbursement rates for families using SC Voucher childcare subsidies, free professional development, and materials/equipment grants. Enrollment is free and begins after you receive your DSS license.

Cost to Start a Daycare in South Carolina

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation	$125	Online via Secretary of State; no annual report
Federal EIN	Free	IRS, immediate online
DSS License Application	$25	One-time application fee
SLED Background Check (per person)	$25	Required for all staff and household members 18+
FBI Fingerprint Check (per person)	$40-$55	Via IdentoGO; renew every 5 years
CPR/First Aid Certification (per person)	$50-$100	Required for all caregivers; renew every 2 years
Local Business License	$50-$500+/year	Based on gross income
General Liability Insurance	$1,000-$3,000/year	$1M/$2M coverage
Abuse/Molestation Coverage	$300-$800/year	Essential for childcare operations
Facility Setup (furniture, equipment, supplies)	$5,000-$25,000+	Varies by capacity and type
Fencing (outdoor play area)	$1,500-$5,000	4-ft minimum with self-closing gate
Fire Extinguishers, Smoke/CO Detectors	$200-$500	Required on every level

Estimated total startup cost: $3,000-$8,000 (family childcare home) or $15,000-$50,000+ (childcare center, excluding lease/build-out). The wide range depends on capacity, facility type, and whether you need to renovate or build out a commercial space. Ongoing costs include staff salaries, food, supplies, insurance, and continuing education.

Related South Carolina Business Guides

← Back to all South Carolina business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many children can I care for without a license in South Carolina?

South Carolina does not have a specific number threshold for unlicensed care. Licensing is required for any regular childcare operation caring for children from more than one unrelated family. Exemptions exist for care of relatives’ children only, drop-in programs under 4 hours/day, and religious programs under 5 hours/week. If you regularly care for even one unrelated child for pay, you should obtain a license.

How long does it take to get a daycare license in South Carolina?

The licensing process typically takes 60-90 days from application submission to license issuance. This includes time for background checks (1-3 weeks), fire and health inspections, facility review, and DSS staff visit. You can prepare your facility and gather documentation before applying to speed up the process.

What are the staff-to-child ratios in South Carolina?

Ratios vary by age: 1:5 for infants (0-12 months), 1:6 for toddlers (12-24 months), 1:8 for 2-year-olds, 1:10 for 3-year-olds, 1:13 for 4-year-olds, 1:18 for 5-year-olds, and 1:21 for school-age (6+). These ratios must be maintained at all times, including during outdoor play, field trips, and nap time.

What qualifications does a daycare director need in South Carolina?

There are multiple pathways: a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or related field; an associate’s degree plus 1 year of experience; a CDA or SC Early Childhood Credential plus 2 years of experience; or a high school diploma plus the SC Director’s Credential plus 3 years of experience. All directors must also have current CPR/First Aid certification and 20 hours of annual continuing education.

What is the ABC Quality rating system?

ABC Quality is South Carolina’s voluntary quality rating system for childcare providers, administered by SC Child Care Resource & Referral. Programs are rated A (highest), B+, B, or C. Benefits include higher SC Voucher reimbursement rates, free professional development, and equipment grants. Enrollment is free after you receive your DSS license.

How much does it cost to start a daycare in South Carolina?

A family childcare home (1-6 children) can start for around $3,000-$8,000, including licensing ($25), background checks ($65-$80 per person), insurance ($1,000-$3,000/year), and basic furniture/supplies. A childcare center (13+ children) typically costs $15,000-$50,000+ for setup, excluding lease or build-out costs.

More South Carolina Business Guides

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.

Learn more about our research process