How to Start a Daycare in South Carolina (2026)

Last updated: May 3, 2026

Starting a daycare in South Carolina requires a license from the SC Department of Social Services (DSS), Division of Early Care and Education — a placement that distinguishes SC from states where childcare regulation sits under the education or health department. South Carolina licenses three types of childcare operations: family childcare homes (1-6 children), group childcare homes (7-12 children), and childcare centers (13+ children), each with different facility, staffing, and training requirements under SC DSS Regulation 114-500 (centers) and 114-510 (family and group homes). Every person with unsupervised access to children must pass SLED and FBI background checks before the first day of work. The licensing process takes approximately 60-90 days from application to approval, plus whatever time you need to prepare your facility.

South Carolina’s childcare demand is driven by its unique economy: Fort Jackson in Columbia processes 165,000 Army trainees per year and has thousands of permanent party families who need childcare; the BMW and Boeing manufacturing workforce in Spartanburg and North Charleston includes tens of thousands of workers on varied shift schedules who need flexible childcare; the Hilton Head and Myrtle Beach resort economies have large hospitality workforces with irregular hours; and the rapidly growing suburbs around Charleston, Greenville, and Columbia have far fewer childcare slots than the influx of dual-income households demands. South Carolina consistently ranks as having one of the most acute childcare shortages in the Southeast — meaning a licensed, quality facility in the right market can fill quickly and maintain high occupancy.

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 (DSS application)	SC DSS Division of Early Care and Education	See current DSS fee schedule	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
SC Central Registry Check (per person)	SC DSS	Per DSS schedule	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	Local health department	Varies	Scheduled during licensing
Local Business License	City/County Government	$50-$500+	Annual (May 1-April 30)
General Liability Insurance	Private Carrier	$1,000-$3,000/year	Before opening
Abuse/Molestation Insurance	Private Carrier	$300-$800/year	Before opening

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

Step 1: Determine Your License Type

South Carolina DSS licenses three types of childcare operations. Your capacity, setting, and business goals determine which type applies:

License Type	Capacity	Setting	Key Requirements
Family Childcare Home	1-6 children	Provider’s residence	1 caregiver minimum; provider’s children under 13 count toward capacity; governed by SC DSS Regulation 114-510
Group Childcare Home	7-12 children	Provider’s residence	2 caregivers minimum; may have 1-2 additional staff; governed by 114-510
Childcare Center	13+ children	Commercial or dedicated residential facility	Full-time director required; commercial building codes apply; governed by 114-500

Exempt from licensing (SC Code § 63-13-20): Programs caring for children from only one family, drop-in programs under 4 hours per day, religious programs meeting fewer than 5 hours per week, programs operated by public schools, and care of relatives’ children only (grandchildren, nieces, nephews). If you regularly care for even one unrelated child for pay beyond these exemptions, DSS licensing is required.

Step 2: Form Your Business Entity and Check Zoning

Register an LLC through Business Entities Online ($125 online, no annual report required). Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS. Get your local business license from each city or county where you operate (MASC lookup, May 1-April 30 period).

Zoning check is critical: Before signing a lease or committing to a location, verify zoning approval with your local planning and zoning office. Most residential zones in South Carolina allow family childcare homes with restrictions. Group homes often require a special use permit or conditional use approval. Childcare centers are typically allowed in commercial zones (C-1, C-2) or in residential zones with a special use permit. Building code compliance for centers typically requires review by the local building department for occupancy type, egress, fire rating, and ADA compliance. Budget 4-8 weeks for zoning and building review before beginning construction or renovation.

Step 3: Apply for Your DSS Childcare License

Contact the SC DSS Division of Early Care and Education to begin the application process. Your licensing specialist will guide you through the documentation requirements. The licensing process involves:

1. Submitting the application form and required documentation
2. Completing background checks for all required persons (see below)
3. DSS reviewing your documentation and scheduling a facility inspection
4. Passing fire and health inspections (coordinated through DSS)
5. DSS staff site visit to verify facility compliance
6. License issuance (typically 60-90 days total from application)

Background Check Requirements

South Carolina requires background checks for all staff, volunteers with unsupervised access to children, and all household members over age 18 in home-based programs. The full background check stack includes:

• SLED criminal background check — submitted through SC Law Enforcement Division
• FBI fingerprint check — conducted via IdentoGO, includes national criminal history
• SC Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect — DSS maintains this registry
• SC Sex Offender Registry — checked against SLED’s registry
• National Sex Offender Registry — required under federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act
• Checks must be completed before the person starts work or has unsupervised access to children
• Background checks must be renewed every 5 years

Out-of-state history: For staff with prior residences in other states, DSS may require out-of-state criminal background checks and child abuse registry checks from previous states. Budget additional time and cost for staff with multi-state work history.

Step 4: Meet Facility Requirements

SC DSS Regulation 114-500 (centers) and 114-510 (family/group homes) set detailed facility standards. Key requirements:

Space Requirements

• Indoor: Minimum 35 square feet per child of usable indoor play and learning space. Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, and storage areas do not count.
• Outdoor: Minimum 50 square feet per child of accessible outdoor play space
• Outdoor play area must be fenced (minimum 4 feet high) with a self-closing, self-latching gate
• Play equipment must be age-appropriate and maintained in safe condition

Health and Safety Requirements

• Fire inspection: Must pass local or state fire marshal inspection before opening. Centers must comply with SC fire codes for occupancy type A-4 (assembly) including automatic sprinkler systems in facilities over certain thresholds.
• Health/sanitation inspection: Must meet standards for food preparation, water supply, sewage, and general cleanliness
• Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors required on every level
• Emergency evacuation plan posted and practiced monthly with children
• First aid kit accessible and fully stocked at all times
• All cleaning supplies and hazardous materials locked in childproof storage
• Medication storage and administration procedures documented
• Swimming pools and water features 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 for Centers)

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

These ratios must be maintained at all times — during outdoor play, field trips, nap time, and mealtimes. When children from multiple age groups are combined, the most restrictive ratio for the youngest children present applies. Violations of ratio requirements are among the most common DSS compliance findings.

Director Qualifications (Childcare Centers)

Centers must have a qualified director. South Carolina provides four pathways:

• 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 childcare experience
• Option D: High school diploma or GED plus SC Director’s Credential from the Center for Child Care Career Development (CCCCD) plus 3 years of experience

Staff Training Requirements

• CPR and First Aid: Current certification required for all caregivers. Pediatric CPR required for infant and toddler rooms. Renew every 2 years.
• Pre-service training: Required before staff care for children — covers emergency procedures, abuse and neglect identification and reporting, health practices, and administration of medications
• Annual continuing education: 15 clock hours per year for caregivers; 20 hours per year for directors. Training tracked through the SC Child Care Training System.
• Safe Sleep training: Required for all staff caring for infants
• Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting: All childcare workers are mandatory reporters under SC Code § 63-7-310. Training on recognizing and reporting abuse is required.

Step 6: Get Insurance Coverage

Childcare operations require multiple insurance coverages — childcare liability claims are among the highest-stakes in small business insurance:

• General liability insurance: $1M per occurrence / $2M aggregate. Covers premises liability (slip and fall, playground injury, allergic reaction). Typical annual cost: $1,000-$3,000 depending on capacity and services offered.
• Abuse and molestation coverage: Specialized coverage for claims of physical or sexual abuse or neglect. Essential for childcare operations — standard GL policies often exclude abuse claims. Cost: $300-$800/year. Some carriers bundle this with GL; others require a separate policy.
• Professional liability (errors and omissions): Covers claims of negligent supervision or failure to provide adequate care. Often bundled in childcare-specific package policies. $500-$1,500/year.
• Workers’ compensation: Required at 4+ employees under SC law. Childcare workers are classified under NCCI code 9059 (Child Day Care Services). Rates are moderate — daycare work involves physical risk but not the machinery or fall risks of construction trades.
• Commercial property insurance: Covers building, furniture, toys, equipment, and supplies against fire, theft, and weather damage.

Step 7: Enroll in ABC Quality (Strongly Recommended)

After receiving your DSS license, enroll in South Carolina’s ABC Quality program — the state’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system for childcare providers. ABC Quality rates facilities on a scale of A (highest), B+, B, and C based on program quality indicators including the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), curriculum quality, and professional development levels.

Why ABC Quality matters financially: Families receiving childcare subsidies through the SC Voucher program (South Carolina’s CCDF-funded childcare assistance program) receive higher subsidy rates at higher-rated ABC Quality facilities. An A-rated center receives significantly higher reimbursement per subsidized slot than a C-rated center. In markets with high subsidy-dependent populations — near Fort Jackson, in manufacturing communities, in lower-income suburban areas — ABC Quality rating directly affects revenue.

Additional ABC Quality benefits: Free professional development for staff and directors, access to equipment and materials grants, consultation services from SC Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) coaches, and marketing visibility through the SC child care finder at scchildcare.org. Enrollment is free and open after DSS licensure.

South Carolina Childcare Market: Where the Demand Is

Fort Jackson and Military Families (Columbia Area)

Fort Jackson is the largest U.S. Army basic training installation, processing 165,000 trainees annually and hosting a permanent population of active duty service members, their families, civilian employees, and contractors. Military families in the Columbia metro (Richland, Lexington, Kershaw counties) face the same childcare challenges as civilian families but with added complexity: frequent relocation (PCS orders) disrupts family childcare networks, deployments create single-parent care situations, and non-traditional duty hours require care options beyond standard 7am-6pm windows. Childcare centers near Fort Jackson that offer flexible hours, infant care, and SC Voucher acceptance serve a high-demand, low-turnover family population.

Manufacturing Workforce Families (Upstate and Lowcountry)

BMW’s North American headquarters and assembly plant in Spartanburg, together with the tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers clustered throughout Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties, employ tens of thousands of workers on production shifts (typically 6am-2pm, 2pm-10pm, 10pm-6am). Standard 9-5 childcare does not serve this population. Centers in the Upstate that offer extended hours (6am-7pm or later), weekend care, or shift-flexible arrangements serve a significant and underserved population that includes a large percentage of working parents in manufacturing.

Boeing and Charleston Area Growth (Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester Counties)

The Charleston metro is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country. Boeing’s 9,000+ employee workforce is concentrated in North Charleston; the accompanying supply chain, logistics, and service industry workforce has pushed residential growth into Summerville, Goose Creek, Ladson, and Moncks Corner. Childcare slots in the Charleston metro are chronically undersupplied. The combination of high household incomes (Boeing engineers and managers), dual-income families, and a growing population means private-pay childcare centers in this market can sustain rates of $1,500-$2,200/month for infant care and $900-$1,400/month for preschool — rates that support viable center economics.

Resort and Tourism Workforce (Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head)

The hospitality workforce serving Myrtle Beach’s resort hotels, restaurants, and attractions is one of the lowest-paid workforces in South Carolina. Many hospitality workers rely on childcare subsidies (SC Voucher) to access care. Providers near Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head who accept SC Voucher and maintain ABC Quality ratings serve a workforce with high need and often have better occupancy rates than private-pay-only centers in the same market. Hilton Head also has a significant affluent year-round and seasonal population with demand for premium private-pay care.

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	Per current DSS fee schedule	Contact DSS for current 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; often excluded from standard GL
Facility Setup (furniture, equipment, supplies)	$5,000-$25,000+	Varies by capacity and type
Outdoor Fencing (required 4+ ft)	$1,500-$5,000	Self-closing, self-latching gate required
Fire/Safety Equipment	$200-$500	Fire extinguishers, detectors, evacuation signage

Estimated startup cost: $3,000-$8,000 for a family childcare home (1-6 children). A childcare center (13+ children) typically costs $15,000-$50,000+ for setup, excluding lease deposits, build-out costs, and pre-opening payroll. The build-out of a commercial childcare center can range from $50,000 to $500,000+ depending on size, condition of the space, and local construction costs. Budget conservatively and have 6 months of operating expenses in reserve before opening.

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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 family care. Licensing is required for any regular childcare operation serving children from more than one unrelated family. Exemptions exist for: care of relatives’ children only, drop-in programs under 4 hours per day, and religious programs under 5 hours per week. If you regularly care for even one unrelated child for pay beyond these exemptions, DSS licensing applies.

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

The licensing process typically takes 60-90 days from application to license issuance. This includes time for background checks (1-3 weeks per person), fire and health inspections, facility review, and a DSS staff site visit. Starting background checks and facility preparation before submitting the application can reduce the timeline somewhat.

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

Ratios under DSS Regulation 114-500: 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 apply at all times including outdoor play, field trips, and nap time.

What is the ABC Quality rating system?

ABC Quality is South Carolina’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system for childcare providers, administered through SC Child Care Resource and Referral. Facilities are rated A (highest), B+, B, or C. Higher ratings earn higher reimbursement rates for families using the SC Voucher childcare subsidy program. Enrollment is free after DSS licensure. Benefits include professional development, equipment grants, and a listing in the statewide childcare finder.

Does South Carolina have childcare subsidies I can accept?

Yes. The SC Voucher program (funded through the federal Child Care and Development Fund / CCDF) provides subsidies to eligible low-income families. Licensed childcare providers can become Voucher-eligible to serve subsidized families, with higher reimbursement rates for ABC Quality-rated facilities. Contact the SC DSS Child Care office or your county DSS office to begin the process of becoming a Voucher-eligible provider.

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 background checks, insurance, and basic supplies. A childcare center (13+ children) typically requires $15,000-$50,000+ for setup, plus lease, build-out, and pre-opening payroll costs that can add $50,000-$500,000 depending on scale. Budget 6 months of operating expenses as reserve before opening.