In Home Day Care Questions, Please advise

[Erinok]

I am thinking of starting an in home day care, but I have SOOOO many questions. I have 2 toddlers, and I am a single mom, so my resources are limited. I have been working outside the home part time for the past few months, but my babysitting fell through and I wont be able to go back next month. I would love to do in home day care, but my house isn't really set up for it (it's a very open floor plan). I have a large 2 car garage which I could have redone into a day care area, and a nice big fenced in yard. Would that require special permits, etc. how would I go about looking into that (I live in NY by the way, on Long Island). how does an in home day care effect your homeowners insurance rates. Is there a special insurance policy for this situation. How much can you hope to make as a licensed day care (I need to know if it is worth it). I have a masters degree and experience teaching at the university level, and as a parent educator, so I would love to include an educational component.

any advise or resources would be very much appreciated.

[h4ppyphant0m]

You're going to want to start here:
http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/becs/

Good luck, Mama! :

[Mrsboyko]

Well, some questions I can answer for you. My DD is in a homecare day care. They have a 1 car garage that they converted into the playroom and added a sliding glass door between the room and the rest of the house. We pay #130 a week and that is extremely low for hte area. She currently has 6 kids (including her 2, so 4 paying). $130x 4= $520/ week.

[inky leeuhhh]

sorry, not trying to steal this thread, but i was wondering if someone could tell me how taxes work with in home childcare? do you just put a certain amount aside and pay them out at tax time?

and to the op, in my area i think about 150$ a week is fair for a full time child (maybe on the lower end). i think it would depend on your set up, experience, etc.. also each area is different. and here big daycare centers charge WAY more than in home daycare.

im sure parents would love the idea of something like a preschool curriculum included. just be sure you know what is age appropriate and how the little ones need to learn, and you will be set to go.