Child Care Business Lab: EXPLORE

Find out whether a Child Care Business is right for you

In the Child Care Business Lab Explore program, we’ll help you figure out if owning a child care business is right for you.

You have so many questions.

How do I get started?

How much money can I make?

How much money do I need to get started? 

How many children can I be licensed for?

So many decisions to make – and even more documents to fill out.  It can seem overwhelming at times.

We’ll break down the process into chunks that make sense to you. You will learn about

  • The differences between family and facility child care settings
  • How much money you need to start your business and how much you can expect to make
  • What documents you need to start preparing for your license
  • The experiences of past Child Care Business Lab participants

We will be there along the way to answer your questions and coach you through the process.

Explore the Possibilities of Child Care Ownership

The first step of the Child Care Business Lab Explore program is attending a group intro session where you will meet members of our team and hear stories from current child care providers. Here you will learn about what it takes to open a child care in your home (known as “family child care”) or in a space outside your home (known as a “facility”).

After the end of this session, if you’ve decided child care ownership is for you, then it’s time to start your homework for the licensing process. Through this independent work, you will validate that you and your family are ready for you to embark on the journey to child care business ownership. During this time, you’ll be completing a few of the documents required to earn your license.

Many people can complete the Child Care Business Lab Explore program in just a few weeks. For others with multiple family, work, and school commitments, it might take 3 or 4 months. We have programs starting throughout the year to suit everyone’s timeline and are available to help you along the way.

“I’m a mom of two girls and I’ve worked full-time since they were born. I dreamed about opening a child care for a long time, knowing how hard it is to find someone you can trust to take care of your littles. The Child Care Business Lab helped me created strong policies, so I could be sure I was creating a good job for myself. Now, I can spend time with my girls, while running a business.”

– SAPHIRA PLUMADORE, WILDFLOWERS FAMILY CHILDCARE

Take the first step!

Your Name(Required)

Want to talk to someone about whether the Child Care Business Lab Explore program is right for you?

image of Little Bird Child Care

Little Bird Child Care

“In 2019, Stephanie was pregnant with her first child and knew that she wanted to return to work after the child was born, but despite searching her town of Calais and the surrounding…”

image of Little Learners Homestead

Little Learners Homestead

“Passionate about farms, food and children, Anna Wardwell, owner of Little Learners Homestead, LLC, in Hampden, Maine, had always dreamed of running a…”

image of Mis Primeros Pasos

Mis Primeros Pasos

“This fall, we celebrate with Thania Centeno as she realizes her dream in starting a childcare center – Mis Primeros Pasos (Spanish for…”