How to Start a Daycare in Georgia (2026)

Last updated: April 2, 2026

Starting a daycare in Georgia requires state licensing through the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL), the agency that oversees all child care operations in the state. Unlike most Georgia businesses that only need a local license, daycare operators must complete an orientation program, pass background checks through DECAL’s Background and Fingerprinting (BFTS) unit, meet staff-to-child ratio requirements, and pass a facility inspection before caring for their first child.

Georgia also offers a revenue opportunity that doesn’t exist in most states: licensed child care centers for 4-year-olds can apply to become Georgia’s Pre-K providers, receiving lottery-funded state grants per classroom. Georgia was the first state in the country to offer universal, tuition-free pre-K — the program has operated since 1992 and now serves roughly 84,000 children annually. If you’re building a center-based daycare, that’s a meaningful enrollment and revenue stream worth understanding before you open.

This guide covers every requirement, cost, and strategic opportunity for starting and operating a daycare in Georgia, whether you’re opening a small family child care home or a full child care learning center.

Daycare Requirements in Georgia at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
CCLC License (Child Care Learning Center, 7+ children)	GA Dept. of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)	$50-$250/year (tiered by capacity)	Minimum 60 days processing
FCCLH License (Family Child Care Learning Home, 3-6 children)	GA Dept. of Early Care and Learning (DECAL)	$50/year	4-8 weeks
LLC Formation (Articles of Organization)	GA Secretary of State	$100 (online)	1-3 business days
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	Immediate (online)
Background Check (BFTS Fingerprinting via IdentoGO)	DECAL BFTS	Currently paid by DECAL for child care employees	2-4 weeks
Child Care Learning Center Licensing Orientation	DECAL	Free	Certificate valid 24 months
Director Pre-Service Training	DECAL-approved provider	$100-$300	20 hrs pre-service + 40-hr Director Training + 10-hr Health/Safety
CPR / First Aid Certification (Pediatric)	Certified training provider	$40-$80/person	Within 45 days of employment
General Liability Insurance	Commercial insurer	$400-$4,000/year	Same day
Fire Inspection	Local Fire Marshal	Varies by county	1-4 weeks
Zoning Approval	County/City Zoning Dept.	Varies (must be dated within 12 months)	1-4 weeks
Local Business License	County/City Clerk	$25-$200	1-2 weeks
Workers’ Comp Insurance (3+ employees)	Commercial insurer	Varies	Same day

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

Step 1: Choose Your Daycare Type

Georgia’s DECAL recognizes two main categories of licensed child care operations:

• Family Child Care Learning Home (FCCLH): Cares for 3-6 children in the operator’s own residence. License fee: $50/year. This is the lowest-cost entry point for new daycare operators in Georgia.
• Child Care Learning Center (CCLC): Cares for 7 or more children, typically in a commercial or dedicated facility. License fee: $50-$250/year, tiered by capacity. This is the standard license for center-based daycare operations.

Your choice determines your licensing path, facility requirements, staffing obligations, and startup costs. Family child care learning homes have the lowest barrier to entry, while child care learning centers require significantly more capital but offer greater capacity and revenue potential — including eligibility for Georgia’s Pre-K program and CAPS subsidies.

Note: Caring for fewer than 3 unrelated children in your home does not require a DECAL license. However, once you reach 3 or more unrelated children, you must be licensed.

Step 2: Form Your Georgia LLC

File your Articles of Organization online through the Georgia Secretary of State’s Corporations Division. Total cost: $100 when filed online. Processing typically takes 1-3 business days.

Your LLC name must include “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company” and must be distinguishable from existing entities on file with the Georgia Secretary of State. You’ll need a Georgia Registered Agent with a physical street address in the state.

If you want to operate under a different name (e.g., “Peachtree Kids Academy” instead of “Peachtree Kids Academy LLC”), file a Trade Name Registration with your county’s Superior Court Clerk.

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, file taxes, and hire employees.

Step 4: Complete the DECAL Licensing Orientation

Before applying for your license, you must complete DECAL’s Child Care Learning Center Licensing Orientation. This orientation covers Georgia’s licensing rules, safety requirements, and what to expect during the application process.

• Cost: Free
• Certificate validity: 24 months from completion date
• Required before: Submitting your KOALA application

Important: Your orientation certificate must still be valid (within 24 months) when you submit your application. Do not complete this step too early if your facility preparation will take an extended period.

Step 5: Complete Background Checks

Georgia requires comprehensive background checks for all child care personnel through DECAL’s Background and Fingerprinting (BFTS) unit.

• Who must be screened: All owners, directors, employees, volunteers, and household members (for home-based operations)
• Fingerprinting: Conducted through IdentoGO appointment locations
• Databases checked: GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) and FBI criminal records
• Cost: DECAL currently pays the fingerprinting cost for child care employees
• Rescreening: Required every 5 years
• Disqualifying offenses: Certain criminal convictions permanently disqualify individuals from working in child care

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

Step 6: Complete Required Training

Director Training Requirements

Directors of Georgia child care programs must meet specific educational qualifications and training requirements:

• Minimum qualification: One of the following: CDA (Child Development Associate), TCC (Technical Certificate of Credit), TCD (Technical College Diploma), AA in Early Childhood Education, or Paraprofessional Certificate
• Pre-service training: 20 hours before assuming director duties
• 40-Hour Director Training: DECAL-specific director training course
• Health and Safety training: 10 hours
• Cost: $100-$300 total (through DECAL-approved providers)

CPR / First Aid Certification

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

• Cost: ~$40-$80 per person
• Deadline: Must be obtained within 45 days of employment
• Must be pediatric-specific — adult-only certifications do not qualify
• Renewal: Typically every 2 years, depending on certifying organization

Annual Continuing Education

After completing initial training, all child care personnel must complete 10 clock hours of continuing education annually to maintain their credentials.

Step 7: Obtain Zoning Approval

Before submitting your KOALA application, you must obtain written zoning approval from your local county or city zoning department confirming your location is approved for child care use.

• Validity: The zoning approval letter must be dated within 12 months of your application submission
• Home-based operators: Check your county’s home occupation ordinances — some jurisdictions have specific rules for home-based child care, including parking, signage, and traffic restrictions
• Center-based operators: Confirm commercial zoning compatibility and any conditional use permit requirements

County variation matters: Georgia leaves fire inspection and local zoning processes to individual counties and municipalities, so timelines and requirements vary. Fulton County (Atlanta) and DeKalb County tend to have higher-demand planning offices with longer wait times for zoning confirmation. Gwinnett and Cobb have suburban commercial zoning that often accommodates child care use in standard commercial zones. Chatham County (Savannah) and Richmond County (Augusta) follow their own local processes. Budget extra time for local approvals in high-growth suburban counties like Forsyth and Cherokee, which have seen some of the fastest population growth in the country but face high permit volumes. Contact your county’s planning or zoning department before signing a lease to confirm your intended location is eligible for child care use.

Step 8: Prepare Your Facility

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

Space Requirements

• Indoor space: Minimum 35 square feet per child of usable floor space
• Outdoor play area: Must be fenced and age-appropriate
• Floor plan: Required as part of your KOALA application (Part A)

If you plan to pursue Georgia’s Pre-K program (see below), your facility must have licensed classroom space for a minimum of 20 children and a playground adequate for 20 children simultaneously — plan your facility layout with those requirements in mind from the start.

Safety and Equipment

• Age-appropriate furniture and equipment
• Fenced outdoor play area with impact-absorbing surfacing
• 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
• Separate diapering and food preparation areas

Step 9: Submit Your KOALA Application (Part A and Part B)

Georgia uses the KOALA online portal for all child care license applications. The application is submitted in two parts:

Part A

• Floor plan of the facility
• Zoning approval letter (dated within 12 months)
• Licensing Orientation certificate (valid within 24 months)
• Basic owner and facility information

Part B

• Background check clearance documentation
• Training certificates and director qualifications
• Proof of liability insurance
• Fire inspection report
• Additional facility and operational documentation

Processing time: CCLC applications take a minimum of 60 days to process after all documentation is submitted. Start your background checks, training, and facility preparation early to avoid delays.

Step 10: Pass Inspections, Get Insurance, and Open

Inspections

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

• Fire inspection: Contact your local Fire Marshal to schedule. Required before license issuance.
• DECAL inspection: A DECAL licensing consultant will inspect your facility for compliance with all child care regulations.
• Health inspection: May be required depending on your county and whether you prepare and serve meals on site.

General Liability Insurance

• 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 Georgia for businesses with 3 or more employees.

License Renewal

Your DECAL license is valid for 1 year and must be renewed annually by December 1. Renewal requires continued compliance with all DECAL standards, updated background checks, and current training records. A late fee of up to half the annual license fee applies if you miss the December 1 deadline.

Georgia Daycare Staff-to-Child Ratios

Georgia 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	Maximum Group Size
Infants (birth – 1 year)	1:6	12
1-year-olds	1:8	16
2-year-olds	1:10	20
3-year-olds	1:15	30
4-year-olds	1:18	36
5-year-olds and older	1:20	40

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

Note: Georgia’s ratios are less restrictive than some neighboring states (Florida requires 1:4 for infants, for example), but the maximum group size limits add an important layer of regulation that controls overall classroom density.

Rest periods: Georgia allows ratios to be doubled during scheduled daytime rest periods for children age 3 and older, but only if at least one staff member remains in the room providing direct supervision and all other required staff remain in the center and are available in an emergency.

Child Immunization Requirements

Georgia law requires that every child enrolled in a daycare have a current Georgia Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) on file. This form is issued by the child’s physician or local county health department and must document all required vaccinations for the child’s age group.

Children must have an up-to-date Form 3231 before starting attendance. The form must be kept in the child’s file and available for DECAL inspection at any time.

Quality Rated: Georgia’s TQRIS Program

Georgia’s Quality Rated program is a Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System (TQRIS) administered by DECAL. Programs that participate receive a rating of 1, 2, or 3 stars based on the quality of their learning environment, teacher-child interactions, and program administration.

The Three-Phase Rating Process

Every Quality Rated program goes through three phases:

1. Application phase: Submit licensing credentials to confirm eligibility. The program must be in good standing with DECAL.
2. Portfolio phase: An in-depth collection of documents and narratives covering staff education and experience, curriculum and assessment practices, and program administration. This is where programs demonstrate what they do, not just that they’re licensed.
3. Observation phase: DECAL-trained assessors visit the facility and use the Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) — a nationally recognized professional assessment tool — to evaluate practices, interactions, and the environment children actually experience.

What Each Star Level Means

Star Level	What It Requires	CAPS Payment Benefit
1 Star	Meets several quality benchmarks beyond state licensing minimums. Scores sufficiently on independent ERS observation. Shows commitment to quality improvement.	Base CAPS rate only (no C2Q bonus). No tiered reimbursement differential as of October 2024.
2 Stars	Meets many quality benchmarks. Scores well on ERS observation. Demonstrates stronger staff qualifications and curriculum practices.	Base CAPS rate plus quarterly Commitment to Quality (C2Q) bonus payment.
3 Stars	Meets numerous quality benchmarks. Scores high on ERS observation. Represents the highest tier of demonstrated quality in Georgia’s system.	Base CAPS rate plus higher C2Q quarterly bonus than 2-star programs.

Technical Assistance From DECAL

DECAL does not just assign ratings — they provide free technical assistance to help programs achieve and improve their star rating. This includes coaching visits from Quality Rated consultants, help interpreting ERS results, professional development resources, and guidance on building your portfolio. Programs that enroll in Quality Rated but haven’t yet received a star rating receive “provisional” or “probationary” status while working through the process.

Why Quality Rated Matters for Your Business

• CAPS eligibility: You must have a Quality Rated status to accept CAPS subsidy payments at all. Providers without a rating are not eligible to enroll CAPS-funded families.
• C2Q quarterly payments: Effective October 2024, 2-star and 3-star providers receive quarterly “Commitment to Quality” bonus payments from DECAL on top of their base CAPS reimbursement — paid as a lump sum, separate from regular CAPS payments, intended to reinvest in quality.
• Pre-K eligibility: Compliance with Quality Rated and CAPS is reviewed as part of the eligibility determination when applying to become a Georgia Pre-K provider.
• Public visibility: Quality Rated status is publicly listed on DECAL’s family search tool, helping parents identify higher-quality programs. In a market where parents are searching for credentialed options, star rating is a real enrollment differentiator.

Georgia CAPS: Childcare and Parent Services Subsidies

Georgia’s Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program is the state’s main child care subsidy program, helping low- and moderate-income working families pay for licensed child care. For daycare operators, CAPS-enrolled families represent a steady government-funded revenue stream. For families, CAPS dramatically reduces the out-of-pocket cost of care — the average monthly copay with a CAPS subsidy in Georgia is approximately $233.

Program Scale and Eligibility

Georgia currently serves approximately 60,000 children annually through CAPS, expanded by 10,000 slots through legislative action. Despite this, coverage remains limited: only an estimated 14.8% of income-eligible children statewide receive CAPS assistance. Georgia has an income eligibility threshold of roughly $72,000/year for a family of four.

The scale of unmet need matters for your business planning: roughly 364,000 potentially eligible low-income children exist statewide. Only one in seven qualifies for assistance. This means there is strong latent demand for child care in Georgia that subsidies have not yet captured, particularly for providers in high-poverty areas who can serve CAPS families.

The FY 2026 Georgia budget includes approximately $72 million for CAPS (up from $62.5 million in FY 2024) and adds 500 new scholarships. However, the program also absorbed the loss of over $170 million in federal COVID-era relief funding that expired in September 2024, which had previously supported an additional 22,000 slots. The net picture is a program with constrained capacity relative to need.

Reimbursement Rate Structure

Georgia’s CAPS reimbursement rates are set based on market rate surveys, with different rate zones across the state (Zone 1 covers metro Atlanta; other zones cover other regions at lower rates). The FY 2026 budget annualizes Georgia’s commitment to reimburse providers at the 60th percentile of market rates — a significant step up from the 25th percentile where the state was as recently as FY 2024. This means providers who accept CAPS families now receive reimbursement much closer to what private-pay families pay.

CAPS rates are age-tiered, with infant and toddler care reimbursed at higher rates than preschool-age care, reflecting the higher staffing ratios required. Rates also differ between full-time and part-time care, and between center-based and home-based settings. For current rates by zone and age group, log in to the CAPS provider portal or contact DECAL’s provider support team.

How Quality Rated Star Level Affects Your CAPS Revenue

As of October 2024, DECAL restructured how Quality Rated status affects CAPS payments:

• Unrated / Provisional / 1-Star: Receive the base CAPS reimbursement rate only. No quality bonus. The previous per-week tiered reimbursement differential has been discontinued.
• 2-Star providers: Receive base CAPS rate plus a quarterly Commitment to Quality (C2Q) lump-sum payment from DECAL, paid separately from regular CAPS payments.
• 3-Star providers: Receive base CAPS rate plus a higher C2Q quarterly bonus than 2-star programs.

The practical implication: if you plan to build a CAPS-dependent enrollment model, achieving a 2-star or 3-star Quality Rated rating increases your effective reimbursement per child. The C2Q payment is designed to offset the higher operating costs of running a higher-quality program and to incentivize reinvestment in staff and environment. Contact DECAL’s Quality Rated office at QualityRated@decal.ga.gov or 1-855-800-7747 for the current C2Q payment amounts by star level.

Georgia Pre-K: A Revenue Opportunity Most States Don’t Have

Georgia’s Pre-K program is one of the most established and well-funded state pre-K programs in the country. Georgia was the first state in the United States to offer universal, tuition-free pre-kindergarten to all four-year-olds, launching the program in 1992 (expanded statewide by 1995). It is funded by the Georgia Lottery for Education — meaning it is insulated from annual general fund budget cuts in a way that most state programs are not.

The program currently serves approximately 84,000 four-year-olds per year, operating through roughly 3,800+ Pre-K classrooms statewide. Research shows participants score 0.4 standard deviations higher on third-grade reading tests than non-participants. Participation in the program covers approximately 60% of Georgia’s 4-year-old population.

Critically for daycare operators: the program operates through a public-private partnership. Licensed child care learning centers can apply to host Pre-K classrooms alongside their regular licensing. If approved, DECAL awards a grant per classroom. This means a private center can receive state lottery funding to operate a Pre-K classroom as part of its daily program.

Eligibility to Become a Pre-K Provider

To apply to host a Georgia Pre-K classroom, your facility must:

• Hold an active DECAL Child Care Learning Center (CCLC) license
• Have licensed classroom space capable of accommodating a minimum of 20 children
• Have an outdoor playground sufficient for 20 children simultaneously
• Be in good standing with DECAL across all programs (Child Care Services, CAPS, Nutrition Services, Audits)
• Have no significant compliance issues on record

Teacher Requirements for Pre-K Classrooms

Georgia’s Pre-K program requires more from lead teachers than standard DECAL licensing does. Lead Pre-K teachers in private child care centers must hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a related field (an associate’s degree is only grandfathered for teachers already in the program from earlier years). As of October 2024, lead teacher salaries must follow the State Salary Schedule for Georgia’s Pre-K Lead Teachers, which is aligned to the K-12 teacher salary schedule. Assistant teacher salary is set at approximately $25,741 annually for FY2025. These payroll requirements are built into the grant funding DECAL provides.

Class Size and Structure

The FY 2025-2026 school year operates with a maximum class size of 20 children per classroom (reduced from 22, part of a four-year phase-in). Each Pre-K classroom requires one lead teacher and one assistant teacher. Grant funding covers teacher salaries, classroom materials, and startup costs per the DECAL rate chart for the applicable school year.

How to Apply

Applications to become a Pre-K provider are submitted through the KOALA portal — the same system you use for your CCLC license. The Pre-K application is visible in KOALA once your CCLC license is active. Applications for a given school year typically close before that school year begins; the 2025-2026 application is already closed. Plan to apply for the 2026-2027 school year as a new CCLC provider. Grant awards are subject to funding availability and demonstrated need for additional Pre-K classes in your geographic area. Contact DECAL’s Pre-K team at prek@decal.ga.gov for timeline and availability information.

The strategic takeaway: If you are opening a center-based daycare in Georgia focused on 3- and 4-year-olds, the Pre-K program is not an afterthought — it is a potential stable revenue stream that can significantly lower the effective cost of filling your 4-year-old classroom. Build your facility with the 20-child classroom minimum from day one.

Georgia Childcare Market Context

Georgia is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. The Atlanta region alone added 64,400 residents between April 2024 and April 2025, with the 11-county metro population approaching 5.3 million. Fulton County added 18,800 residents, Gwinnett added 15,200, and fast-growing exurban counties like Forsyth and Cherokee each grew at 2.4% — among the highest rates of any counties in the United States. Georgia added approximately 143,000 residents statewide in the 2023-2024 period.

This population growth is directly translating into childcare demand. 65% of Georgia children have all available parents in the workforce, creating a structural need for child care. Yet the state’s licensed capacity covers only a fraction of potential need: Georgia has roughly 8,000 licensed child care facilities, but licensed slots across the state totaled approximately 368,000 in a recent survey period against a potential demand of more than 1,115,000 children under 13 with employed parents.

In metro Atlanta specifically, research from the Reinvestment Fund found a shortage of 161,000 Quality Rated slots across the five-county core (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett). Only 97,500 slots exist in Quality Rated programs against far greater demand. Even as Quality Rated program participation has nearly doubled since 2017, the gap remains substantial. Lower-income communities, areas with high concentrations of Hispanic households, and lower-income suburban areas face disproportionate shortages.

The economic weight of this shortage is measurable. Georgia loses an estimated $5.2 billion annually in productivity and earnings because parents cannot access affordable, quality child care. This is not an abstract statistic for a new provider — it is evidence that demand is not the constraint. The constraint is supply.

What This Means for New Providers

Georgia is not an oversaturated childcare market. It is a market with documented, persistent undersupply — particularly for quality-rated programs and infant/toddler care in high-growth suburban corridors. Opening a Quality Rated center in Gwinnett, Forsyth, Cherokee, or Henry County positions you in some of the highest-demand ZIP codes in the state. Opening an infant-focused program in any metro Atlanta county addresses the category with the most acute shortage relative to supply (infants require the most restrictive ratios, making them the hardest for existing centers to serve profitably). The business case for a new provider in Georgia is grounded in real supply-demand data, not speculation.

What Georgia Daycares Charge: Tuition Benchmarks

Understanding what comparable programs charge is essential for setting your own tuition and projecting revenue. The following reflects current market data from multiple sources.

Statewide Averages

Age Group	Average Annual Cost	Average Monthly Cost
Infants (under 1 year)	~$11,066/year	~$922/month
4-year-olds (preschool)	~$9,666/year	~$805/month

These figures reflect full-time, center-based care averaged across the state. Actual market rates vary significantly by location, facility type, and quality level.

Typical Ranges by Age and Setting

Care Type	Monthly Range	Notes
Infant (center-based, full-time)	$950-$2,200/month	Highest cost due to 1:6 ratio requirement; most constrained supply
Toddler (center-based, full-time)	$800-$1,500/month	5 days/week, full-day
Preschool/Pre-K (center-based)	$700-$1,300/month	Lower ratios allow more enrollment per staff member
Home-based family daycare	$500-$1,000/month	Typically lower than center rates

Geographic Variation

Rates are meaningfully higher in urban and high-cost suburban areas than in rural Georgia:

• Atlanta metro (Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Cobb): Full-time childcare averages $845-$1,200/month depending on age and center quality. Premium programs in Buckhead or affluent Gwinnett and Cobb suburbs can charge $1,400-$2,200/month for infant care.
• Midsize cities (Savannah/Chatham, Augusta/Richmond, Columbus): Generally 20-30% lower than Atlanta metro rates. Full-time infant care typically runs $750-$1,200/month.
• Rural and small-town Georgia: Rates are lowest — often $500-$900/month — but supply is also thinner, so competition is lower and occupancy may be easier to build.

Georgia infant care costs more annually than average in-state college tuition — a fact reported by local media. This context drives both the demand for CAPS subsidies and the opportunity for operators to charge premium rates at high-quality programs with strong Quality Rated scores.

Common DECAL Inspection Violations: What Gets Centers Cited

DECAL conducts two inspections per year for every licensed facility — one monitoring visit and one licensing study. With approximately 66 inspectors overseeing more than 4,283 licensed centers and homes, that’s a significant inspection workload. Each inspection covers more than 400 checklist items.

In a recent fiscal year, DECAL revoked the licenses of 48 centers and fined 438 others. Many additional facilities received counseling or consent agreements for violations — DECAL’s stated philosophy is to improve facilities rather than simply close them, which means violations often result in correction plans rather than immediate closure.

The violation categories DECAL identifies as most serious — and most commonly cited — include:

• Supervision and watchful oversight failures: Staff not maintaining visual and auditory supervision of all children at all times. This is the most frequently cited serious violation category and the one most likely to trigger enforcement action.
• Staff-to-child ratio violations: Not maintaining the required ratios for the age group in the room. This is easy to drift into during transitions, outdoor time, and when staff call out sick.
• Safe sleep practices: Infants placed in unsafe sleep positions, use of non-approved sleep surfaces, or objects in sleep areas. Georgia follows AAP safe sleep guidelines.
• Hazardous materials accessible to children: Cleaning supplies, medications, or other hazardous items not locked or secured out of reach.
• Incomplete or outdated records: Missing Form 3231 immunization records, lapsed training certificates, incomplete staff files, or attendance records not current. DECAL inspectors check documentation thoroughly.
• Inappropriate discipline: Any form of physical discipline, emotional abuse, or humiliation. This is a disqualifying offense and can result in immediate license action.
• Playground safety non-compliance: Inadequate fencing, unsafe surfaces, damaged equipment, or failure to supervise outdoor play adequately.

Operational takeaway: The majority of DECAL violations are preventable with strong internal systems. Maintaining a current licensing binder, running daily ratio checks, conducting staff training refreshers on supervision standards, and auditing your records quarterly before inspections will put you well ahead of the average licensee. Invest in these systems before you open, not after your first citation.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Georgia

Home-Based Family Child Care Learning Home (3-6 Children)

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation (Secretary of State)	$100	One-time, online filing
Trade Name Registration (DBA)	$0-$50	Optional, filed with county
Federal EIN	Free	Online at IRS.gov
DECAL License (FCCLH)	$50/year	Annual renewal by Dec 1; late fee applies after deadline
Background Check (BFTS)	Free	DECAL currently pays for child care employees
Training (Director/Staff)	$100-$300	Pre-service + Director Training + Health/Safety
CPR / First Aid Certification	$40-$80	Pediatric, within 45 days of hire
Local Business License	$25-$200	Varies by county/city
General Liability Insurance	$400-$1,500/year	Child care-specific policy
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

Small Center-Based Child Care Learning Center (15-40 Children)

Item	Cost	Notes
LLC Formation + EIN	$100	One-time
Trade Name Registration (DBA)	$0-$50	Optional
DECAL License (CCLC)	$50-$250/year	Tiered by capacity; late fee applies after Dec 1
Background Checks (all staff via BFTS)	Free	DECAL currently covers cost
Training (Director + all staff)	$500-$2,000	Per staff member costs vary
CPR / First Aid (all staff)	$200-$640+	$40-$80/person, 5-8 staff
Local Business License	$50-$200	Annual
Zoning Approval	$50-$500	Varies by jurisdiction; budget extra time in high-growth counties
General Liability Insurance	$1,100-$4,000/year	Child care-specific policy
Workers’ Comp Insurance	Varies	Required at 3+ employees
Lease Deposit + Build-Out	$10,000-$50,000	Location dependent
Furniture, Equipment & Supplies	$5,000-$25,000	Cribs, tables, play equipment, etc.
Outdoor Play Area (fencing, surfacing, equipment)	$3,000-$15,000	Fenced, age-appropriate required; size for 20+ if pursuing Pre-K
Marketing / Website / Signage	$500-$3,000	Professional presence
Estimated total: $50,000-$150,000 (small center), $100,000-$200,000 (medium), $250,000+ (large)

Key Georgia Agencies for Daycare Operators

Agency	Role	Contact
DECAL	Licensing, Quality Rated, CAPS subsidies, Pre-K program	888-442-7735
CAPS Provider Portal	CAPS enrollment, reimbursement, C2Q payments	CAPSProviderSupport@decal.ga.gov
Quality Rated (DECAL)	TQRIS ratings, technical assistance, C2Q payments	QualityRated@decal.ga.gov / 1-855-800-7747
DECAL Pre-K Program	Georgia’s Pre-K provider applications and grants	prek@decal.ga.gov
GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation)	Background check database	Via DECAL BFTS
DPH (Dept. of Public Health)	Immunization records (Form 3231), health inspections	Local county health department
Local Fire Marshal	Fire safety inspection	County fire department
Local Zoning Department	Zoning approval for child care use	County/city planning office

Related Georgia Business Guides

• Starting a Business in Georgia: Complete Guide

← Back to all Georgia business guides

Frequently Asked Questions

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

You need a license from the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL). There are two types: a Family Child Care Learning Home (FCCLH) license ($50/year) for 3-6 children in your residence, or a Child Care Learning Center (CCLC) license ($50-$250/year, tiered by capacity) for 7 or more children. Apply through the KOALA online portal at decal.ga.gov.

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

Georgia’s required ratios by age group are: Infants: 1:6 (max group 12), 1-year-olds: 1:8 (max 16), 2-year-olds: 1:10 (max 20), 3-year-olds: 1:15 (max 30), 4-year-olds: 1:18 (max 36), and 5+ years: 1:20 (max 40). 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 Georgia?

Yes. Georgia requires comprehensive background checks through DECAL’s BFTS (Background and Fingerprinting) unit for all child care personnel. Fingerprinting is done through IdentoGO and checked against GBI and FBI databases. DECAL currently pays the fingerprinting cost for child care employees. Background checks must be renewed every 5 years.

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

A CCLC license application takes a minimum of 60 days to process after all documentation is submitted through the KOALA portal. However, the total timeline from initial planning to license issuance is typically 3-6 months when you factor in completing the orientation, background checks, training, facility preparation, and inspections.

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

A home-based family child care learning home (3-6 children) typically costs $3,000-$15,000 to start, including licensing, training, insurance, and basic facility preparation. A small center-based child care learning center typically costs $50,000-$150,000, a medium center $100,000-$200,000, and a large center $250,000 or more.

What is Quality Rated and do I need it?

Quality Rated is Georgia’s voluntary Tiered Quality Rating and Improvement System (TQRIS), administered by DECAL. Programs receive a rating of 1, 2, or 3 stars based on a three-phase process: portfolio submission, and independent classroom observation using Environmental Rating Scales. While participation is voluntary for licensing, it is required if you want to accept CAPS (Childcare and Parent Services) subsidy payments. Additionally, 2-star and 3-star providers receive quarterly Commitment to Quality (C2Q) bonus payments on top of base CAPS reimbursement rates.

Can my daycare participate in Georgia’s Pre-K program?

Yes, if you hold an active CCLC license and have classroom space for a minimum of 20 children, you can apply through the KOALA portal to become a Georgia’s Pre-K provider. Georgia was the first state in the country to offer universal pre-K and now serves approximately 84,000 four-year-olds annually. Pre-K grants are funded by the Georgia Lottery and cover teacher salaries and classroom costs per DECAL’s rate chart. Grant awards are subject to funding availability and geographic need. Contact DECAL at prek@decal.ga.gov for current application timelines.

What does CAPS pay Georgia daycares for subsidized families?

Georgia’s CAPS reimbursement rates are set by zone (Zone 1 is metro Atlanta; other zones cover the rest of the state) and vary by age group and care type. As of FY 2026, Georgia reimburses at the 60th percentile of market rates — significantly higher than the 25th percentile where the state was as recently as FY 2024. Infant and toddler care is reimbursed at higher rates than preschool-age care. Providers with 2-star or 3-star Quality Rated status also receive quarterly C2Q bonus payments on top of the base rate. For current rate schedules, contact DECAL’s CAPS provider support at CAPSProviderSupport@decal.ga.gov.

What do Georgia daycares typically charge for tuition?

Full-time infant care in Georgia averages approximately $922/month statewide, with center-based infant care ranging from $950-$2,200/month depending on location and quality. Toddler care runs $800-$1,500/month and preschool/Pre-K care runs $700-$1,300/month. In Atlanta metro, full-time childcare averages $845-$1,200/month, with premium programs charging more. In midsize cities like Savannah and Augusta, rates are generally 20-30% lower than metro Atlanta. Rural Georgia rates are lowest, often $500-$900/month.