How to Start a Daycare in Florida (2026)

Last updated: April 2, 2026

Starting a daycare in Florida means navigating one of the most regulated small business categories in the state. Unlike many Florida businesses that only need a local business tax receipt, child care operations require state licensing through the Department of Children and Families (DCF) — not DBPR. You’ll need background screenings, mandatory training hours, facility inspections, and specific insurance before you can care for your first child.

This guide covers every requirement, cost, and step to legally start and operate a daycare in Florida, whether you’re opening a small family day care home or a full child care facility.

Daycare Requirements in Florida at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
DCF License — Family Day Care Home (3–10 children)	FL Dept. of Children and Families	$25/year registration	3–6 months
DCF License — Large Family Child Care Home (up to 12 children)	FL Dept. of Children and Families	$25/year registration	3–6 months (requires 2 years prior FDCH license)
DCF License — Child Care Facility (13+ children)	FL Dept. of Children and Families	$1/child, min $25, max $100/year	3–6 months
LLC Formation (Articles of Organization)	FL Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)	$125	3–5 business days
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	Immediate (online)
Level 2 Background Screening	FDLE + FBI	~$70–$100/person	2–4 weeks
40-Hour Introductory Child Care Training	DCF-approved provider	~$100–$200 (course) + $40 (exams)	Begin within 90 days of hire, complete within 1 year
CPR / First Aid Certification (Pediatric)	Certified training provider	~$40–$80/person	1 day
General Liability Insurance	Commercial insurer	$400–$4,000/year	Same day
Fire Inspection (non-residential facilities)	Local Fire Marshal	Varies by county	1–4 weeks
County Business Tax Receipt	County Tax Collector	$25–$150	1–2 weeks
Zoning Approval	County/City Zoning Dept.	Varies	1–4 weeks
Certificate of Occupancy (center-based)	County Building Dept.	Varies	2–6 weeks
Workers’ Comp Insurance (4+ employees)	Commercial insurer	Varies	Same day

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

Step 1: Choose Your Daycare Type

Florida’s DCF recognizes three categories of child care operations, each with different requirements and capacity limits:

• Family Day Care Home (FDCH): Cares for 3–10 children in the operator’s own residence. Registration fee: $25/year. This is the most common entry point for new daycare operators.
• Large Family Child Care Home (LFCCH): Cares for up to 12 children in a residence. Requires 2 years of prior FDCH licensure and at least one full-time assistant.
• Child Care Facility (CCF): Cares for 13 or more children, typically in a commercial location. License fee: $1/child, minimum $25, maximum $100/year.

Your choice determines your licensing path, facility requirements, staffing obligations, and startup costs. Family day care homes have the lowest barrier to entry, while child care facilities require significantly more capital but offer greater capacity and revenue potential.

Step 2: Form Your Florida LLC

File your Articles of Organization online at Sunbiz.org. Total cost: $125 ($100 filing fee + $25 registered agent fee). Processing takes 3–5 business days.

Your LLC name must include “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company” and must be distinguishable from existing entities on file. You’ll need a Florida Registered Agent with a physical street address in the state — you can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Florida address.

If you want to operate under a different name (e.g., “Little Sunshine Academy” instead of “Little Sunshine Academy LLC”), file a Fictitious Name Registration for $50.

Step 3: Get Your Federal EIN

Apply for a free Employer Identification Number at IRS.gov. You’ll receive it immediately when applying online. You need this to open a business bank account, and it’s required if you plan to hire employees.

Step 4: Complete Background Screening

Florida requires Level 2 background screening for all child care personnel. This is a comprehensive check that includes both FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) and FBI fingerprint checks.

• Who must be screened: All owners, operators, employees, volunteers, and household members age 12 and older (for home-based operations)
• Cost: Approximately $70–$85 per person
• Rescreening: Required every 5 years
• Disqualifying offenses: Certain criminal convictions permanently disqualify individuals from working in child care

Important: Background screening results must be obtained before an individual has unsupervised access to children. Do not delay this step — processing can take 2–4 weeks.

Step 5: Complete Required Training

40-Hour Introductory Child Care Training

All child care personnel must complete DCF’s 40-hour introductory child care training course. This covers child development, health and safety, behavior management, and Florida child care regulations.

• Course cost: ~$100–$200 (through DCF-approved providers)
• Exam fees: $40 total (multiple competency exams)
• Timeline: Must begin within 90 days of hire and complete within 1 year
• Delivery: Available online and in-person through approved providers

CPR / First Aid Certification

Pediatric CPR and First Aid certification is required for all child care personnel.

• Cost: ~$40–$80 per person
• Must be pediatric-specific — adult-only certifications do not qualify
• Renewal: Typically every 2 years, depending on certifying organization

Annual In-Service Training

After completing the initial 40-hour course, all child care personnel must complete 10 hours of in-service training annually to maintain their credentials.

Step 6: Prepare Your Facility

Florida has specific space and safety requirements for child care facilities. Ensure your location meets these standards before applying for your DCF license:

Space Requirements

• Indoor space: Minimum 35 square feet per child (for buildings constructed or renovated after 1992)
• Outdoor play area: Minimum 45 square feet per child
• Bathrooms: 1 toilet + 1 sink per 15 children

Safety and Equipment

• Age-appropriate furniture and equipment
• Fenced outdoor play area
• Working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
• Childproofing (outlet covers, cabinet locks, safety gates as needed)
• Safe sleep environments for infants (if serving children under 1)
• Secure storage for cleaning supplies, medications, and hazardous materials

Step 7: Pass Inspections

Before your DCF license is issued, your facility must pass several inspections:

• Fire inspection: Required annually for non-residential (center-based) facilities. Contact your local Fire Marshal to schedule.
• Health inspection: May be required depending on your county and whether you provide meals.
• DCF inspection: A DCF licensing counselor will inspect your facility for compliance with all child care regulations.

Ongoing requirement: You must conduct monthly fire drills and document them. DCF inspectors will verify drill records during annual inspections.

Step 8: Apply for Your DCF License via CARES Portal

Submit your license application through the CARES (Child Care Administration, Registration, and Evaluation System) portal at myflfamilies.com.

Required documentation includes:

• Completed application form
• Background screening clearance letters for all personnel
• Training certificates (40-hour course, CPR/First Aid)
• Fire inspection report (for center-based facilities)
• Proof of liability insurance
• Zoning approval documentation
• Floor plan of the facility

Timeline: The full licensing process typically takes 3–6 months from initial application to license issuance. Start your background screenings and training early to avoid delays.

Step 9: Get Your County Business Tax Receipt and Zoning Approval

Visit your county Tax Collector’s office to apply for a Local Business Tax Receipt. This is your primary local business license in Florida.

• Cost: $25–$150 depending on your county and business classification
• Zoning approval: Required before the business tax receipt is issued — confirm your location is zoned for child care use
• Certificate of Occupancy: Required for center-based facilities operating in commercial spaces
• Renewal: Annual, due by October 1

Home-based daycare operators: Check your county’s home occupation ordinances. Some counties have specific rules for home-based child care, including parking requirements, signage restrictions, and drop-off/pick-up traffic limitations.

Step 10: Get Insurance

General Liability Insurance

Florida requires daycare operators to carry general liability insurance with minimum coverage of $100,000 per occurrence / $300,000 aggregate.

• Home-based daycare: $400–$1,500/year
• Center-based daycare: $1,100–$4,000/year
• Important: Standard homeowner’s insurance does not cover business activities — you need a separate commercial policy or a specific child care endorsement

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

Required in Florida for non-construction businesses with 4 or more employees (including LLC members and corporate officers).

• LLC members and officers count toward the employee threshold
• Owners can file for an exemption through the FL Division of Workers’ Compensation

Florida Daycare Staff-to-Child Ratios

Florida mandates strict staff-to-child ratios based on the age of children in care. These ratios must be maintained at all times, including during outdoor play, field trips, and transitions:

Age Group	Staff-to-Child Ratio
Birth – 1 year	1:4
1 – 2 years	1:6
2 – 3 years	1:11
3 – 4 years	1:15
4 – 5 years	1:20
5+ years	1:25

Mixed age groups: When children of different ages are in the same group, the ratio for the youngest child in the group applies.

Child Immunization Requirements

Florida law requires that every child enrolled in a daycare have a current DH 680 form (Florida Certification of Immunization) on file before the child begins attendance. There are no exceptions for provisional enrollment — the form must be on file from day one.

Sales Tax: Child Care Is Exempt

Child care services are NOT subject to Florida sales tax. You do not need to collect or remit sales tax on tuition, registration fees, or child care service charges. This applies to all types of licensed child care operations in Florida.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Florida

Home-Based Family Day Care (3–10 Children)

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation (Sunbiz)	$125	One-time
Fictitious Name (DBA)	$50	Optional, valid 5 years
Federal EIN	Free	Online at IRS.gov
DCF Registration (FDCH)	$25/year	Annual renewal
Level 2 Background Screening	$70–$85/person	All personnel + household 12+
40-Hour Training Course + Exams	$140–$240	Course + exam fees
CPR / First Aid Certification	$40–$80	Pediatric-specific required
County Business Tax Receipt	$25–$150	Annual renewal
General Liability Insurance	$400–$1,500/year	Min $100K/$300K required
Facility Prep (childproofing, equipment, supplies)	$1,500–$10,000	Varies widely
Marketing / Website / Signage	$200–$1,000	Optional at start
Estimated total: $3,000–$15,000

Center-Based Child Care Facility (25–75 Children)

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation + EIN	$125	One-time
Fictitious Name (DBA)	$50	Optional
DCF License (Child Care Facility)	$25–$100/year	$1/child, min $25, max $100
Level 2 Background Screening (all staff)	$350–$850+	$70–$85/person, 5–10+ staff
40-Hour Training + Exams (all staff)	$700–$2,400+	Per staff member
CPR / First Aid (all staff)	$200–$800+	Per staff member
County Business Tax Receipt	$50–$150	Annual
Zoning Approval + Certificate of Occupancy	$100–$500	Varies by county
General Liability Insurance	$1,100–$4,000/year	Min $100K/$300K required
Workers’ Comp Insurance	Varies	Required at 4+ employees
Lease Deposit + Build-Out	$5,000–$40,000+	Location dependent
Furniture, Equipment & Supplies	$5,000–$25,000	Cribs, tables, play equipment, etc.
Outdoor Play Area (fencing, surfacing, equipment)	$3,000–$15,000	Must meet 45 sq ft/child
Marketing / Website / Signage	$500–$3,000	Professional presence
Estimated total: $20,000–$100,000+

Florida-Specific Tips for Daycare Owners

Start Your Background Screenings First — They’re the Bottleneck

The Level 2 background screening (FDLE + FBI) can take 2-4 weeks for results, and no one can have unsupervised access to children until clearance is received. This includes you, your employees, and household members if you’re home-based. Start fingerprinting the day you decide to open a daycare. Every week you delay is a week added to your timeline.

The School Readiness Program Can Fill Your Enrollment

Florida’s School Readiness (SR) program and Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) pay licensed providers directly for eligible children’s care. Becoming a SR/VPK provider through your local Early Learning Coalition gives you access to a pipeline of families who need care but can’t afford full private-pay rates. The reimbursement rates won’t make you rich, but they provide a steady enrollment base — especially valuable in your first year when private-pay families are still finding you.

Monthly Fire Drills Are Mandatory — and Inspectors Check the Log

Florida requires monthly fire drills for all licensed child care operations, and DCF inspectors will ask to see your drill log. Many new operators don’t realize this until their first inspection. Start logging drills from your first day of operation, including the date, time, number of children present, and evacuation time. It takes 5 minutes to run a drill and 1 minute to log it — don’t let this be the reason for a citation.

Your Homeowner’s Insurance Won’t Cover a Home Daycare

Standard homeowner’s or renter’s insurance does not cover business activities — and some policies include exclusion clauses that can void your coverage entirely if you operate a business from home. You need a separate commercial liability policy or a specific child care endorsement. DCF requires proof of insurance before issuing your license, so this isn’t something you can defer.

Related Florida Business Guides

• Starting a Business in Florida: Complete Guide

← Back to all Florida business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need to open a daycare in Florida?

You need a license from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) — not DBPR. There are three types: a Family Day Care Home registration ($25/year) for 3–10 children, a Large Family Child Care Home license for up to 12 children (requires 2 years prior FDCH experience), or a Child Care Facility license ($25–$100/year) for 13 or more children. Apply through the CARES portal at myflfamilies.com.

What are Florida’s daycare staff-to-child ratios?

Florida’s required ratios by age group are: Birth–1 year: 1:4, 1–2 years: 1:6, 2–3 years: 1:11, 3–4 years: 1:15, 4–5 years: 1:20, and 5+ years: 1:25. For mixed age groups, the ratio for the youngest child in the group applies. These ratios must be maintained at all times.

Do I need a background check to run a daycare in Florida?

Yes. Florida requires a Level 2 background screening (FDLE + FBI fingerprint check) for all child care personnel, including owners, employees, volunteers, and household members age 12 and older. Cost is approximately $70–$85 per person, and rescreening is required every 5 years.

Is daycare taxable in Florida?

No. Child care services are exempt from Florida sales tax. You do not need to collect or remit sales tax on tuition, registration fees, or child care service charges.

How much does it cost to start a daycare in Florida?

A home-based family day care typically costs $3,000–$15,000 to start, including licensing, background screening, training, insurance, and basic facility preparation. A center-based child care facility (25–75 children) typically costs $20,000–$100,000+ due to lease costs, build-out, commercial equipment, and staffing multiple employees.

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

The full DCF licensing process typically takes approximately 3–6 months from initial application to license issuance. The timeline depends on how quickly you complete background screenings, training requirements, facility preparation, and inspections. Starting your background screenings and 40-hour training course early can help minimize delays.