1. Pick your state
Start with the state layer, because child count, age mix, assistants, and even your own children are treated differently across jurisdictions.
Find your home-daycare license path.
DaycareDesk gives home-based providers a calm first pass before they spend money on the wrong setup. Pick your state, answer a few plain-language questions, and leave with a source-aware checklist built for family child care, not center licensing.
Use this for a first pass
- See whether you likely fit a family child care, group home, or lighter home-based path.
- Spot which buckets matter first, from capacity and staffing to checks, inspections, and safety.
Source-aware by design
Every state summary shows the source authority, source URL, and as-of date, so the tool never pretends changing rules are timeless.
What you get
A short path, a grounded checklist, and links back to the real source.
2. Describe your setup
Answer plain-language intake questions about the home setting, child count, ages, helpers, and stage of planning.
3. Get a grounded next-step plan
See your likely path, the buckets to review first, and the official places to confirm before you spend on training, inspections, or marketing.
Requirement buckets preview
The checker keeps the decision clear by grouping the work.
Capacity and staffing
Instead of dumping policy text on the page, DaycareDesk surfaces the first questions most home providers need to answer in order.
Training and background checks
Instead of dumping policy text on the page, DaycareDesk surfaces the first questions most home providers need to answer in order.
Inspections and home safety
Instead of dumping policy text on the page, DaycareDesk surfaces the first questions most home providers need to answer in order.
State guides
Start with an overview if you are not ready for the checker yet.
California
California uses family child care home categories. Capacity changes based on children enrolled, assistant coverage, and whether the provider meets large-family-child-care conditions.
Read the California guideTexas
Texas distinguishes listed homes, registered homes, and licensed homes. The right path depends on child count, relationship to the children, and how many unrelated children you plan to serve.
Read the Texas guideFlorida
Florida supports family day care and larger family child care homes. Capacity and assistant needs shift with the number and ages of children in care.
Read the Florida guideNew York
New York uses family day care and group family day care categories. The line between them depends on child count, assistant use, and age mix.
Read the New York guide