Licensed home-based child care and early learning

Working parents, either directly or through provincial child care fee-reduction or funded-space programs where your province offers them.

Monthly or daily fees per child. Income depends on how many children you are allowed to care for, your local fee levels and whether you join a funded program.

• Patient and warm with young children
• Planning simple learning activities
• Clear communication with parents
• Organised with routines, meals and paperwork

• Licensing or agency requirements, and limits on the number and ages of children, differ by province, so check yours before taking any children
• Unlicensed care may be restricted or limited to very few children in some provinces, so verify what applies
• Commercial liability and home insurance that covers child care
• Police and vulnerable sector checks, first aid training, and home safety inspections
• Long hours and a home that doubles as your workplace
• Check how funded-space programs work in your province, as they may set fee limits

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $2,000 to $8,000, depending on your home setup, safety equipment, training and insurance. Check commercial liability and home insurance that covers child care, plus first aid training and home safety inspections.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $2,500 to $8,000, depending on how many children you care for and your fees. The idea needs at least around 30 hours a week. Funded-space programs in your province may set fee limits.

Licensing or agency requirements, and limits on the number and ages of children, differ by province, so check yours before taking any children. Also check police and vulnerable sector checks, first aid training and home safety inspections.