Title: How to Start a Family Child Care Business – Business Services
Headings: How to Start a Family Child Care Business
How to Start a Family Child Care Business
What is a Residential Family Child Care Business?
Steps to Opening a Residential Family Child Care Business
Step 1. Obtain a Business Income and Receipts
Step 2. Obtain Commercial Activity License
Step 3. Obtain a Zoning/Use Permit
Step 4. Attend Health Department In-Home Food Safety Training and receive an In-Home Food Safety Certificate
Step 5. Obtain Lead Safe Certificate
Step 6. Schedule and Pass your Health Department Inspection
Step 7. Apply for City of Philadelphia Family Child Care License
Step 8. Pass your Department of Licenses and Inspection Facility and Fire Inspection and receive Verification of Compliance
Step 9. Apply for Certification with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Document Checklist
Best Practice Resources

Content: You can also view our video series on Opening a Child Care Business. What is a Residential Family Child Care Business? What is a Residential Family Child Care Business? A Residential Family Child Care Business is a child care business operated in your home. You are considered providing “childcare” if you care for any child between the ages of 0-15 years old, who is not your child, step-child, grandchild or foster child, for any period of time (including the after school hours). This includes day care, after school care, and after school programs. For purposes of Child Day Care licenses, “RELATED TO YOU” means the provider’s child, step-child, grandchild, or foster child only. A Residential Family Child Care Business is: In a building that is zoned Residential
In the business owner’s primary residence (i.e., you live there)
A maximum of 6 children who are not related to the business owner (except in City Council Districts 6 and 10, where the limit is 4 unrelated children)
You may have up to 12 children in some City Council Districts if approved by the state. These are called Group Residential Child Care businesses.