Should I get an in-home daycare license even if I want to keep a very small ratio?

[Anonymous]

Former nanny here. I have a 2-year-old son, and I am thinking about starting a tiny in-home daycare at my house. I also have Montessori certifications, so I am aiming for it to be Montessori-inspired. Right now, I think I would only like 1-2 children, preferably toddlers. So technically, I wouldn't need a license, but I thought it might ease parents' minds. I live in a townhouse community with an HOA. I don't want to contact them about this because I don't plan on having lots of clients. I've read as long as you don't have any more than six children, it's not considered a commercial business. Feel free to share advice on things you would expect to see at an in-home daycare. I have my stairs gated. No pets. I thought it would be nice to have a camera so parents can view it through an app on their phone.

[Anonymous]

I would probably consider it a nanny share situation.

[Anonymous]

It’s in your home, therefore an in-home daycare. You need to check local regulations, because some places only allow 3 children total, while others allow up to 8, and everyone has different rules for when to license.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I found a job with a neighbor. I will go to their house. Pay is excellent, and I can bring my child. I have been searching for a job like this forever. I'm so happy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I found a job with a neighbor. I will go to their house. Pay is excellent, and I can bring my child. I have been searching for a job like this forever. I'm so happy!

Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would probably consider it a nanny share situation.

I see that OP has already found an alternative position, but I just wanted to point out that there are differences between what OP was propsing (an inhome daycare) and a nanny share.

In a nanny share, the parents are the boss, and have "say so" over the aspects of their child's care. If OP was to take in children from two different families, in a nanny share the families would have some say in whether or not to accept the other family. In a small in home daycare, it would be the daycare owner who decides whether or not to accept the other family.

And congratulations on finding a great position, OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I found a job with a neighbor. I will go to their house. Pay is excellent, and I can bring my child. I have been searching for a job like this forever. I'm so happy!

Did you also start the thread in the main preschool and daycare forum about wanting to start an unlicensed daycare in your townhome?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I found a job with a neighbor. I will go to their house. Pay is excellent, and I can bring my child. I have been searching for a job like this forever. I'm so happy!

Did you also start the thread in the main preschool and daycare forum about wanting to start an unlicensed daycare in your townhome?

op here. yes, and I found out yesterday my hoa does allow in-home daycare.