Starting a Licensed Child Care
Thank you for your interest in starting a licensed child care center – providing care to Wisconsin’s children is a valuable service to families and the community!
For more information about how the sale/transition of a child care business from one owner to another impacts Wisconsin Shares, visit the Ensuring Continuity web page.
For more information about starting a Certified Child Care Program, contact your local certification agency.
We strongly encourage you to access all resources electronically. However, if you would prefer a printed version of the inquiry packet, please complete and submit the Ordering Information – Child Care Licensing Inquiry Packets form English / Spanish.
Please read through all content below BEFORE you begin the pre-licensing process.
Am I eligible to open or start a child care business?
The child care background check law, Wis. Stat. 48.686, prohibits licensure when a license applicant, household member, or employee has a conviction or pending charges for certain serious crimes or a substantiated finding of abuse or neglect.
Review the department’s resources for information about crimes and offenses that could impact your ability to obtain a license:
- Potential Barriers to Obtaining a Child Care License (DCF-P-2562) English / Spanish
- Barred Offenses – Regulated Child Care (DCF-P-5206)
- DCF Background Check Checklist – New Providers (DCF-P-5302)
- Child Care Background Check Requirements web page
To find out if you or any adult who resides at your proposed child care center has anything in their record that could be a barrier to licensure, you may want to complete background checks in advance for yourself and each adult household resident. Several options for this include:
- Background Check Request (DCF-F-5296) English / Spanish / Hmong
- Circuit Court Automation Program Record Search
- National Sex Offender Registry
- iChildCare Portal website for prospective applicants, employees, or household members
Wis. Stat. 48.715 (7) requires the department to deny an application for a child care license if the applicant is liable for delinquent taxes or for delinquent unemployment insurance contributions.
If you have been certified delinquent, contact:
- For taxes: Wisconsin Department of Revenue
- For unemployment insurance contributions: Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
What type of child care license should I obtain?
Family Child Care – DCF 250
A child care program that provides care and supervision for less than 24 hours a day for at least 4 and not more than 8 children who are not related to the provider.
Group Child Care – DCF 251
A child care program that provides care and supervision for less than 24 hours a day for 9 or more children who are not related to the provider.
Day Camps for Children – DCF 252
A child care program that provides care and supervision to 4 or more children 3 years of age and older in a seasonal program oriented to the out-of-doors for less than 24 hours a day.
Child Care Regulation Fees
See the Child Care Regulation Fees page for information regarding the different types of fees associated with child care licensing.
PREPARATION
- DCF 250 Licensing Rules for Family Child Care Centers with Commentary
- Initial Licensing Checklist – Family Child Care Centers (DCF-F-CFS2241) English / Spanish
- Child Care Email Subscription
- Your Child Care – Is It Legal? (DCF-P-PFS503) English / Spanish
- Important Resources for Child Care Providers
- Child Care Information Sessions English / Spanish
PHYSICAL PREMISES
- Choose Safe Places: Helping Child Care Provider Applicants Choose Environmentally Safe Places (DHS-P-02287) English / Spanish
- Choose Safe Places: Voluntary Property Checklist for Child Care Providers (F-02410) English / Spanish
- Family Day Care Homes – Milwaukee Requirements & Analysis Form (for facilities in the City of Milwaukee)
- Occupancy Permit – City of Racine (for facilities in the City of Racine located in a residence)
- Vehicle Safety Requirements
- Equipment and Furnishing Resources
- Department of Natural Resources website
BUSINESS MODEL
- Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R)
- Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA) brochure English / Spanish
- Policy Checklist – Family Child Care Centers (DCF-F-CFS2356) English / Spanish
- Policy Sample – Family Child Care Centers Word / PDF
- IRS Tax Identification Number (FEIN) information
- YoungStar Contract Cover Letter
- YoungStar Contract – Family, Group, School-Age, and Day Camp Programs (DCF-F-5109) English / Spanish
- Early Childhood Health Consultation Services are available to help child care providers achieve best practices in child health and safety. For more information visit the ECHC webpage and see the flyer. This service is provided through a partnership between University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Department of Children and Families.
STAFFING & ADMINISTRATION
- Training Resources and Educational Requirements
- The Registry’s website
- Background Check Requirements
- iChildCare Portal
- Required Items for Family Child Care Centers (DCF-P-5414)
- Child Care Licensing Forms and Publications
PRE-LICENSING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
- Family Child Care Business Startup Worksheet English / Spanish
- Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA) website