Start a Family Child Care Business

Family child care providers work in their own homes caring for the children of other working parents. Providers offer an essential service to the community and work in a profession that allows them to:

Earn an income while spending time with their own children
Enjoy the independence of owning their own business
Work in a career which can be personally and financially rewarding
Join the USDA Food Program and be reimbursed for some of the cost of food served to children.
Take advantage of tax credits for a home-based business
Reduce expenses for transportation, clothing and other items typically associated with working outside the home
Work at a job they love.

There are two ways to operate a family child care business:

A Fairfax County Family Child Care Permit is for providers who care for five or fewer children
A state license is for providers who care for six or more children. Call State Licensing at 703-934-1505 or visit their Web site.

You can have either a county permit or a state license, but not both at the same time.

To help family child care providers start and maintain their businesses, the Office for Children provides:

Assistance with the Family Child Care Permit application
Family child care business workshops
Child care business forms
Ongoing training in the health, safety, education and development of young children
A child care search feature on the Office for Children Web site where child care providers’ information can be found by families searching for child care.
Tips on how to market your business with flyers.

Contact Us: General (Office of Public Affairs) | Technical (Web Administrator) | Directed Inquiries (County Agencies)
Phone: County Main Number - 703-FAIRFAX (703-324-7329), TTY 711 | County Phone Listing

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Start a Family Child Care Business