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Learn more about Midwest Child Care Associations
Types of Child Care Businesses
The number of children you want to serve, where you want to work, the ages of children you want to serve, how much independence you want, and the hours you want to work all influence the type of child care business you choose.
Child care center
A child care center provides child care services, including early learning opportunities, for a fee in a non-residential setting. Child care centers are licensed by the Nebraska Dept. of Health and Human Services. Nebraska’s state licensing regulations give you guidance about the number of children you can enroll in the type of child care program you offer, the location you select and the policies you need to observe.
Family child care home
A family child care home provides child care services, including early learning opportunities, for unrelated children, for a fee, in a residential setting, usually in your own home. You are responsible for running your business. In a small family child care home, you are the only provider with a small number of children. Nebraska allows you to care for 3 children before you need to be licensed.
• If you operate a large family child care home, you and an assistant provide child care in a private residence for more children than are allowed in a small family child care home (usually up to 12 children). If you choose to be a family child care provider, you will need the support of your entire family.
• Decide the areas of your home that will be shared with the family child care children and families.
• Create a place where your own children can be alone and away from the other children when needed.
• Decide which toys will be shared with the family child care children and which toys will be reserved for your own children.
Specialty care
You can choose a special focus for your program that will help define your business.
• Ages of children: You can choose to offer child care based on the age of the children who attend your program. You can choose to offer care only for infants and toddlers (through 2 years of age), for preschoolers (3 to 5 years of age), or for school-age children who may need care before and/or after school and on other days when schools are closed. You can also choose to offer care for mixed-age groups of children.
• Hours of care: The hours for child care are usually between early morning and late afternoon or early evening. However, many communities need child care during "non-traditional" hours. You may choose to offer a program that helps parents who need child care in the evenings, on week-ends, overnight or for changing shifts, such as hospital staff, police, fire fighters or military men and women.
• Back up care or care for mildly ill children: Some parents need child care when their regular child care provider is ill or on vacation. Other parents need child care when their child is only mildly ill but is not able to attend regular child care.
• Inclusive child care: Many children with disabilities or special needs are able to be included in regular child care. Other children may need child care providers who have specialized training to handle chronic medical conditions or routine or emergency medical situations.
Legal structure
• Sole proprietorship: You own an unincorporated business by yourself.
• Incorporation: Your business is set up so shareholders exchange money, property or both for the corporation's capital stock. This structure protects your personal assets.
• Partnership: You join with two or more persons to own your child care business. You divide your profits and losses among partners.
• Tax-exempt: As a tax-exempt organization, any money after expenses is returned to the operation of the program. To claim this status, you must meet Internal Revenue Service (IRS) eligibility requirements.
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Midwest Child Care Association .
7701 Pacific Street . Omaha, NE 68114
(402) 551-2379 . (800) 876-1892
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, nation origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.