How to Start a Daycare in Missouri (2026)

Last updated: February 25, 2026

Starting a daycare in Missouri is regulated by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood. The good news: Missouri charges no application fee and no licensing fee for child care facilities – one of the few states where the license itself is free. Missouri offers three license types based on capacity: family child care home (up to 10 children), group child care home (11-20 children), and child care center (21+ children). The main upfront costs are background checks ($57 per person), training, and facility preparation. Missouri is also in the process of eliminating 177 licensing rules to reduce regulatory burden, with changes expected in late 2026 or early 2027.

Daycare Requirements in Missouri at a Glance

Requirement	Agency	Cost	Timeline
Child Care License	DESE Office of Childhood	Free	Begin 30+ days before opening
FBI Fingerprint Background Check	MO State Highway Patrol / FBI	$41.75/person	7-10 business days
Family Care Safety Registry	MO DHSS	$15.55/person (online)	Lifetime registration
Fire Safety Inspection	MO Division of Fire Safety	Free (state-funded)	Annual
Sanitation Inspection	Local health department	Free	Annual
CPR/First Aid Certification	AHA / Red Cross	$50-$100/person	Within 90 days of hire
Annual Training (12 hours)	DESE-approved providers	Varies	Each calendar year
LLC Formation	MO Secretary of State	$50 (online)	3-5 business days
General Liability Insurance	Private Carrier	$1,500-$3,000/year	Before opening
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	Immediate (online)

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

Step 1: Choose Your License Type

Missouri offers three child care license types through the DESE Office of Childhood:

License Type	Capacity	Key Details
Family Child Care Home	Up to 10 children	1 provider: max 6 children (max 3 under age 2). With assistant: up to 10 (max 4 under age 2), or up to 8 if all under age 2.
Group Child Care Home	11-20 children	May be at a location other than the provider’s residence.
Child Care Center	21+ children	Capacity tied to director education level. Requires more staffing and facility space.

Center director qualifications affect capacity:

Up to 20 children: CDA credential minimum
Up to 60 children: 60 college credits (12 child-related)
Up to 90 children: 90 college credits (18 child-related)
120+ children: 120 college credits (24 child-related) – essentially a bachelor’s degree

Details: DESE Director Qualifications

Step 2: Complete Background Checks

All child care workers must complete two background checks before having contact with children:

1. Family Care Safety Registry (FCSR):

Register at health.mo.gov/safety/fcsr
Fee: $15.55 (online, one-time lifetime registration)
Screens against child abuse/neglect central registry, sex offender registry, and other databases
Must be repeated annually (30 days before your anniversary date)

2. FBI Fingerprint Background Check:

Submit fingerprints through the MACHS portal (Missouri Automated Criminal History Site)
Fee: $41.75 per person
Processing: 7-10 business days
DESE reviews results and issues an eligible/ineligible determination

Total background check cost per staff member: approximately $57.

Details: DESE Background Check Process

Step 3: Get Training and Certifications

CCDF Health & Safety Training: Must be completed within 90 days of hire and before having sole supervision of children
CPR/First Aid: Current Pediatric First Aid and Infant/Child CPR certification required. Must include an in-person skills assessment ($50-$100 per person)
Annual training: 12 clock hours of DESE-approved training per calendar year for all child care staff
Professional Development Registry: All caregivers must obtain a Missouri Professional Development (MOPD) ID number for training tracking

Details: DESE Training Information

Step 4: Prepare Your Facility

Space requirements:

Indoor: Minimum 35 square feet of usable floor space per child
Outdoor: Minimum 75 square feet per child, free of hazards

Staff-to-child ratios (child care centers):

Age Group	Staff:Child Ratio
Infants (6 weeks – 12 months)	1:4
Toddlers (13-24 months)	1:8
Two-year-olds	1:8
Three-year-olds	1:10
Four-year-olds	1:10
Five years and older	1:16

Inspections before opening:

Fire safety inspection: Annual, conducted by the Missouri Division of Fire Safety at no cost
Sanitation inspection: Annual, conducted by local health department at no cost
Compliance inspections: Licensed facilities are inspected twice per year by DESE

Step 5: Apply for Your License

Submit a license application to the DESE Office of Childhood. Missouri charges no application fee and no licensing fee – the license is completely free.

Begin the process at least 30 days before your planned opening
Pass all pre-opening inspections (fire, sanitation, compliance)
All staff background checks must be cleared
License is renewed annually by submitting an Annual Declaration form

Contact DESE Office of Childhood: (573) 751-4212 or visit dese.mo.gov/childhood/start-child-care-program

Step 6: Form Your Business Entity and Get Insurance

Register an LLC with the Missouri Secretary of State ($50 online, no annual report). Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS.

General liability insurance is required for licensed child care facilities. Typical cost: $1,500-$3,000/year depending on capacity and coverage level.

Workers’ compensation is required if you have 5 or more employees. Daycare is not classified as construction, so the standard threshold applies.

Cost to Start a Daycare in Missouri

Item	Cost	Notes
Child Care License	Free	No application or licensing fee
FBI Fingerprint Check (per person)	$41.75	Via MACHS portal
Family Care Safety Registry (per person)	$15.55	One-time lifetime registration
CPR/First Aid Certification (per person)	$50-$100	Must include in-person skills assessment
Annual Training (12 hours/person)	$50-$200	DESE-approved providers
Fire Safety Inspection	Free	State-funded
Sanitation Inspection	Free	Local health department
LLC Formation	$50	Secretary of State (online)
Federal EIN	Free	IRS, immediate online
General liability insurance	$1,500-$3,000/year	Required for licensed facilities
Facility setup (toys, furniture, safety equipment)	$2,000-$10,000+	Varies by capacity
Workers’ comp (if 5+ employees)	Varies	Required at 5+ employees

Estimated total startup cost:

Family child care home (solo): $2,000-$5,000 (minimal facility prep, lower insurance)
Child care center (21+ capacity): $10,000-$30,000+ (facility build-out, multiple staff background checks, equipment)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a daycare license cost in Missouri?

Missouri charges no application fee and no licensing fee for child care facilities. The license is completely free. Your main costs are background checks ($57 per person for FBI fingerprints + FCSR), CPR/First Aid certification ($50-$100), and liability insurance ($1,500-$3,000/year).

What are the staff-to-child ratios in Missouri?

Missouri requires 1:4 for infants (6 weeks-12 months), 1:8 for toddlers (13-24 months) and two-year-olds, 1:10 for three and four-year-olds, and 1:16 for children five and older. These ratios apply to child care centers. Family child care homes have specific capacity limits based on the number and ages of children.

What background checks are required for daycare staff in Missouri?

All child care workers must complete two checks: FBI fingerprint background check ($41.75 via MACHS portal) and Family Care Safety Registry registration ($15.55, lifetime). FCSR screening must be repeated annually. Both must be completed before staff have contact with children.

How many children can I care for in a home daycare in Missouri?

A family child care home allows up to 10 children. A solo provider can care for up to 6 children (max 3 under age 2). With an assistant, capacity increases to 10 children (max 4 under age 2), or 8 if all children are under age 2.

What training do I need to start a daycare in Missouri?

You need CCDF Health & Safety Training (within 90 days of hire), Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification with in-person skills assessment, and 12 hours of DESE-approved training per calendar year. Center directors must meet education requirements based on capacity level.

Are there any daycare regulation changes coming in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri reviewed over 1,400 child care licensing requirements and identified 177 rules to eliminate (79 for family homes, 98 for centers). Full implementation is expected in late 2026 or early 2027. These changes are designed to reduce regulatory burden while maintaining child safety standards.

More Missouri 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.

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