Small private day nursery
Open a small nursery with its own premises, offering full-day care and early learning for babies to 5 year olds.
- £30k-150k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
8,731 UK companies in this field, 12% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 85100 “Pre-primary education”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A purpose-prepared nursery in a leased or owned building, open for full days across the working week. You employ a team of early years staff and manage safety, learning and the day-to-day running.
Your first three steps
- Research local demand and competitors, including fees, waiting lists and gaps for baby or toddler places
- Speak to your local council about planning and change of use, and to the regulator about the registration process
- Write a business plan with staffing costs, rent and fill rates, and talk to a lender or business adviser
Who pays
Working parents and carers, plus local authority funding for eligible children where you are approved to offer funded places.
How it makes money
Monthly or daily fees per child, plus funded place payments where eligible. Income depends on how many places you fill against staffing costs and rent.
Skills that help
- Early years qualification and management experience
- Budgeting and staff management
- Safeguarding and health and safety awareness
Watch out for
- Registration with the right regulator before you take any children, which can take time
- Planning permission or change of use for the building, so check with the council before signing a lease
- Qualified staff, staff-to-child ratios, DBS checks and a named safeguarding lead
- Fire safety, food hygiene, insurance (public liability and employer's liability) and building adaptations
- Slow early occupancy while still paying wages and rent, so plan enough working capital
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: small private day nursery
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a day nursery?
Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £30,000 to £150,000, depending on the building, adaptations, equipment, insurance and how much working capital you set aside. Early occupancy can be slow while you still pay wages and rent.
How much can a small day nursery bring in?
Monthly revenue is typically around £15,000 to £70,000, depending on the number of places, how full you are, fees and any funded places you are approved to offer. These are estimates, and early occupancy may be slow.
What do I need to check before opening a nursery?
Check registration with the right regulator before taking any children, as it can take time. Also check planning permission or change of use, qualified staff and ratios, DBS checks, a named safeguarding lead, fire safety, food hygiene, insurance and building adaptations.
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