How to Start a Daycare in Massachusetts (2026)

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Massachusetts

Follow these in order. Each step is grounded in Massachusetts's childcare licensing rules.

1. 1

   Research your state's rules

   Confirm whether your program needs a license in Massachusetts. Massachusetts sets no "watch up to N unrelated children without a license" allowance; "Family Child Care" is defined as care in a private residence for no more than ten children younger than 14 years old (or younger than 16 with special needs), and any such regular care requires an EEC license, with the definition excluding only an informal cooperative arrangement among neighbors or relatives and the occasional care of children with or without compensation (606 CMR 7.02, definition of Family Child Care).

   Read the rule that defines license-exempt care before you do anything else — it determines whether you operate as a family child care home, a center, or an exempt arrangement.

2. 2

   Complete pre-service training & CPR

   Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. Massachusetts does not set a fixed numeric pre-service orientation clock-hour count in regulation; all educators must attend a Department-approved orientation to early education and care, and family child care licensees must hold current basic first aid and age-appropriate CPR certification prior to licensure, but no specific clock-hour minimum is stated (606 CMR 7.09).

   Plan for ongoing training too: Family child care educators must complete at least 5 hours of professional development per year if working more than 25 hours/year but fewer than 10 hours/week, and at least 10 hours per year if working 10 or more hours/week; small group and school-age educators must complete 10 hours per year; and large group educators of children younger than school age must complete 5, 12, or 20 hours per year depending on weekly hours worked (606 CMR 7.09(15)(f); 7.09(16)(c) for small group/school-age; 7.09(18)(d) for large group).

3. 3

   Pass background checks

   Submit fingerprint-based background checks for yourself and every staff member, volunteer, and (where applicable) household member before anyone has unsupervised access to children.

   Background-check clearance often takes the longest of any single step — start it early so it doesn't gate your opening date.

4. 4

   Prepare your facility

   Set up a space that meets Massachusetts's facility standards. Group child care programs must provide a minimum of 35 square feet of indoor activity space per child; family child care homes must provide at least 150 sq ft of approved activity space for 1-2 children, 225 sq ft for 3-6 children, and 35 sq ft per child for 7-10 children, and all programs must maintain an outdoor play area of at least 75 square feet per child outside at any one time (606 CMR 7.07).

   Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A single family child care educator may care for up to 6 children, with no more than 3 children younger than two years old (including at least one toddler who is walking independently); with an approved assistant, a large family child care home may care for up to 10 children, with no more than 6 younger than two years old and no more than 3 infants (606 CMR 7.10(4)(d); 606 CMR 7.10(4)(g)).

5. 5

   Submit your license application & fee

   File your application with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care and pay the licensing fee. Contact your Massachusetts licensing office to confirm.

   Include your parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and operations manual — inspectors ask for these at the initial visit.

6. 6

   Pass the licensing inspection

   Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Annual; unannounced monitoring visits; complaint investigations

   The inspector checks ratios, square footage, sanitation, emergency preparedness, and your written policies against the regulations.

7. 7

   Open your doors

   Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Massachusetts rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Infant (0-15 months) 1:3, Toddler (15-33 months) 1:4, Preschool (33 months-4 years) 1:9, Preschool (4-6 years) 1:10, School Age (6-14 years) 1:13

   Keep certifications current and your handbook updated — these are the items most often cited at renewal.

8. 8

   Enroll families

   Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Massachusetts-specific parent handbook signals professionalism and keeps you inspection-ready from day one.

   Required enrollment and admission forms must be signed before a child's first day — have them ready before you advertise open spots.

Keep researching Massachusetts

Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Massachusetts statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.