Missouri Launch Guide

How to Start a Daycare in Missouri (2026)

Last updated: June 2026

Researched by the TotReady Research Team

Opening a licensed daycare in Missouri means applying to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood — Section for Child Care Regulation/Compliance (licensing of Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers under 5 CSR 25-500). Licensing authority and rulemaking transferred from the Dept. of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to the DESE Office of Childhood in 2021; the licensing rules were formally MOVED from 19 CSR 30-62 to 5 CSR 25-500 (Title 5, Division 25, Chapter 500) and the old 19 CSR 30-62 sections now read 'Moved to 5 CSR 25-500.XXX'. DHSS retains the day care immunization rule (19 CSR 20-28.040) and the Family Care Safety Registry., clearing fingerprint-based background checks, meeting facility and staff-to-child ratio rules, and passing a licensing inspection. This guide walks the process end to end, grounded in Missouri's licensing statutes.

Missouri Daycare Licensing: Fees & Key Numbers

The statute-cited figures that shape your Missouri launch budget and timeline.

Application fee
No application or licensing fee is set in Missouri's family child care home rules — 5 CSR 25-400.045 (Licensing Process) describes the free licensing orientation, application form, and inspection with no dollar fee, and DESE's official "Start a Family Child Care Home" page lists the free Child Care Licensing Orientation as the first step and states no application or licensing fee (5 CSR 25-400.045).
Annual renewal fee
No renewal fee is set in Missouri's family child care home rules — instead of a fee, the licensee must submit an Annual Declaration for Licensed Facility form to the department at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the anniversary date printed on the license, with no fee stated (5 CSR 25-400.055(1)(A)).
Pre-service training
No fixed pre-service clock-hour count is mandated; child care staff employed or volunteering on or after August 30, 2019 must receive a facility orientation within seven (7) days of employment or volunteering and before being left alone with children, and the prospective family-home provider must complete the department's free licensing orientation before applying (5 CSR 25-400.105(1)(J); 5 CSR 25-400.045(1)).
Annual training
The provider must obtain at least twelve (12) clock hours of child care-related training during each calendar year, and any assistant who works or volunteers more than five (5) hours per week must meet the same twelve-hour requirement (5 CSR 25-400.105(4)(A)).
License-exempt threshold
A person caring for six (6) or fewer children, including a maximum of three (3) children under the age of two, at the same physical address does not require a child care license; children who live in the caregiver's home and are eligible for enrollment in a public kindergarten, elementary, or high school are not counted in that total (RSMo 210.211.1).
Family child care capacity
A family child care home may be licensed for up to ten (10) children total, and the staff/child ratios are: with one caregiver — up to 4 children (max 4 under age 2), 5-6 children (max 3 under age 2), or 7-10 children (max 2 under age 2); with two caregivers — up to 8 children (max 8 under age 2) or up to 10 children (max 4 under age 2) (5 CSR 25-400.105(2)(A)).
Indoor square footage
For family child care homes, at least thirty-five (35) square feet of usable indoor floor space is required per child plus a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet of outdoor play area per child (5 CSR 25-400.085(2)(B)1 and (3)(A)2); for child care centers and group homes initially licensed for infant/toddler care, at least forty-five (45) square feet of usable indoor floor space is required for each infant and toddler (5 CSR 25-500.082).
Inspection schedule
Per DESE Office of Childhood: licensed child care facilities are inspected at least twice annually by the Section for Child Care Compliance for compliance monitoring, plus at least one annual fire safety inspection and at least one annual environmental sanitation inspection. The provider must permit department access to the facility, premises, and records during all inspections (5 CSR 25-500.042(20)). NOTE: DESE's official inspection-process page does not explicitly characterize the compliance visits as 'unannounced,' and the draft's cite to 19 CSR 30-62.032(1)(Y) for unannounced visits could not be confirmed under the current Title 5 rule.

The 8 Steps to Open a Daycare in Missouri

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

  1. Research your state's rules

    Confirm whether your program needs a license in Missouri. A person caring for six (6) or fewer children, including a maximum of three (3) children under the age of two, at the same physical address does not require a child care license; children who live in the caregiver's home and are eligible for enrollment in a public kindergarten, elementary, or high school are not counted in that total (RSMo 210.211.1).

    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. Complete pre-service training & CPR

    Finish the required pre-service training and certifications. No fixed pre-service clock-hour count is mandated; child care staff employed or volunteering on or after August 30, 2019 must receive a facility orientation within seven (7) days of employment or volunteering and before being left alone with children, and the prospective family-home provider must complete the department's free licensing orientation before applying (5 CSR 25-400.105(1)(J); 5 CSR 25-400.045(1)).

    Plan for ongoing training too: The provider must obtain at least twelve (12) clock hours of child care-related training during each calendar year, and any assistant who works or volunteers more than five (5) hours per week must meet the same twelve-hour requirement (5 CSR 25-400.105(4)(A)).

  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. Prepare your facility

    Set up a space that meets Missouri's facility standards. For family child care homes, at least thirty-five (35) square feet of usable indoor floor space is required per child plus a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet of outdoor play area per child (5 CSR 25-400.085(2)(B)1 and (3)(A)2); for child care centers and group homes initially licensed for infant/toddler care, at least forty-five (45) square feet of usable indoor floor space is required for each infant and toddler (5 CSR 25-500.082).

    Match your enrollment plan to capacity limits: A family child care home may be licensed for up to ten (10) children total, and the staff/child ratios are: with one caregiver — up to 4 children (max 4 under age 2), 5-6 children (max 3 under age 2), or 7-10 children (max 2 under age 2); with two caregivers — up to 8 children (max 8 under age 2) or up to 10 children (max 4 under age 2) (5 CSR 25-400.105(2)(A)).

  5. Submit your license application & fee

    File your application with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood — Section for Child Care Regulation/Compliance (licensing of Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers under 5 CSR 25-500). Licensing authority and rulemaking transferred from the Dept. of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to the DESE Office of Childhood in 2021; the licensing rules were formally MOVED from 19 CSR 30-62 to 5 CSR 25-500 (Title 5, Division 25, Chapter 500) and the old 19 CSR 30-62 sections now read 'Moved to 5 CSR 25-500.XXX'. DHSS retains the day care immunization rule (19 CSR 20-28.040) and the Family Care Safety Registry. and pay the licensing fee. No application or licensing fee is set in Missouri's family child care home rules — 5 CSR 25-400.045 (Licensing Process) describes the free licensing orientation, application form, and inspection with no dollar fee, and DESE's official "Start a Family Child Care Home" page lists the free Child Care Licensing Orientation as the first step and states no application or licensing fee (5 CSR 25-400.045).

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

  6. Pass the licensing inspection

    Schedule and pass your pre-licensing inspection. Per DESE Office of Childhood: licensed child care facilities are inspected at least twice annually by the Section for Child Care Compliance for compliance monitoring, plus at least one annual fire safety inspection and at least one annual environmental sanitation inspection. The provider must permit department access to the facility, premises, and records during all inspections (5 CSR 25-500.042(20)). NOTE: DESE's official inspection-process page does not explicitly characterize the compliance visits as 'unannounced,' and the draft's cite to 19 CSR 30-62.032(1)(Y) for unannounced visits could not be confirmed under the current Title 5 rule.

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

  7. Open your doors

    Once your license is issued, you can legally begin caring for children under Missouri rules. Maintain the staff-to-child ratios at all times: Birth through 2 years (infants/toddlers, birth to 36 months, mixed) 1:4, max group size 8 (5 CSR 25-500.112), 2-year-olds only (groups solely 24–36 months) 1:8, max group size 16 (5 CSR 25-500.112), 3 through 4 years 1:10, max group size 20 (5 CSR 25-500.112), 5 years and older 1:16, max group size 32 (5 CSR 25-500.112), Mixed ages 2 years and up 1:10 (max group 20) with no more than four 2-year-olds; 1:8 (max group 16) when more than four 2-year-olds are in the group (5 CSR 25-500.112)

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

  8. Enroll families

    Use your compliant enrollment paperwork to bring in families. A complete, Missouri-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.

What You Need to Apply in Missouri

Missouri licensing requires these documents and forms at the initial application and inspection.

  • MO 500-3293 — Application for License to Operate a Child Care Facility
  • MO 500-3291 — Annual Declaration for Licensed Facility
  • MO 500-3290 — Center Director / Group Child Care Home Provider Approval Request
  • MO 500-3296 — Center Director / Group Child Care Home Provider Certification Request
  • MO 500-3294 — Religious Organization Child Care Facility Notice of Parental Responsibility
  • MO 500-3295 — Request for Revision
  • MO 500-3307 — Child Care Facility Overlap Request
  • MO 500-3303 — Child Medical Examination Report (Infant/Toddler/Pre-School) (kept on file)
  • MO 500-3304 — Medical Examination Report for Caregivers and Staff (kept on file)
  • MO 500-3317 — Child Care Enrollment Form (kept on file)
  • MO 500-3299 — Comprehensive Background Check Notification form (submitted to OCBackgroundChecks@dese.mo.gov per RSMo 210.1080)
  • Imm.P.14 — Missouri DHSS Immunizations In Progress form (per 19 CSR 20-28.040); related exemption forms are Imm.P.11 (Parent/Guardian exemption) and Imm.P.12 (Medical exemption)

Staff-to-child ratios you must maintain

Missouri requires these maximum staff-to-child ratios, enforced by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood — Section for Child Care Regulation/Compliance (licensing of Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers under 5 CSR 25-500). Licensing authority and rulemaking transferred from the Dept. of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to the DESE Office of Childhood in 2021; the licensing rules were formally MOVED from 19 CSR 30-62 to 5 CSR 25-500 (Title 5, Division 25, Chapter 500) and the old 19 CSR 30-62 sections now read 'Moved to 5 CSR 25-500.XXX'. DHSS retains the day care immunization rule (19 CSR 20-28.040) and the Family Care Safety Registry.: Birth through 2 years (infants/toddlers, birth to 36 months, mixed) 1:4, max group size 8 (5 CSR 25-500.112), 2-year-olds only (groups solely 24–36 months) 1:8, max group size 16 (5 CSR 25-500.112), 3 through 4 years 1:10, max group size 20 (5 CSR 25-500.112), 5 years and older 1:16, max group size 32 (5 CSR 25-500.112), Mixed ages 2 years and up 1:10 (max group 20) with no more than four 2-year-olds; 1:8 (max group 16) when more than four 2-year-olds are in the group (5 CSR 25-500.112).

Skip the 80-hour paperwork grind

Get your Missouri licensing kit

The inspector asks for a parent handbook, staff policies, enrollment forms, and an operations manual — all Missouri-specific. The TotReady Startup Bundle gives you every document you need to apply, ready to customize in about 30 minutes.

See the Startup Bundle →

One-time purchase · Missouri-specific documents

Starting a Daycare in Missouri: FAQs

Do I need a license to start a daycare in Missouri?
A person caring for six (6) or fewer children, including a maximum of three (3) children under the age of two, at the same physical address does not require a child care license; children who live in the caregiver's home and are eligible for enrollment in a public kindergarten, elementary, or high school are not counted in that total (RSMo 210.211.1).
How much does it cost to get a daycare license in Missouri?
No application or licensing fee is set in Missouri's family child care home rules — 5 CSR 25-400.045 (Licensing Process) describes the free licensing orientation, application form, and inspection with no dollar fee, and DESE's official "Start a Family Child Care Home" page lists the free Child Care Licensing Orientation as the first step and states no application or licensing fee (5 CSR 25-400.045). Renewal: No renewal fee is set in Missouri's family child care home rules — instead of a fee, the licensee must submit an Annual Declaration for Licensed Facility form to the department at least thirty (30) calendar days prior to the anniversary date printed on the license, with no fee stated (5 CSR 25-400.055(1)(A)).
Who issues daycare licenses in Missouri?
Childcare licensing in Missouri is handled by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood — Section for Child Care Regulation/Compliance (licensing of Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers under 5 CSR 25-500). Licensing authority and rulemaking transferred from the Dept. of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to the DESE Office of Childhood in 2021; the licensing rules were formally MOVED from 19 CSR 30-62 to 5 CSR 25-500 (Title 5, Division 25, Chapter 500) and the old 19 CSR 30-62 sections now read 'Moved to 5 CSR 25-500.XXX'. DHSS retains the day care immunization rule (19 CSR 20-28.040) and the Family Care Safety Registry.. You apply to this agency, pay the licensing fee, and schedule your inspection through them.
What training do I need before opening a daycare in Missouri?
No fixed pre-service clock-hour count is mandated; child care staff employed or volunteering on or after August 30, 2019 must receive a facility orientation within seven (7) days of employment or volunteering and before being left alone with children, and the prospective family-home provider must complete the department's free licensing orientation before applying (5 CSR 25-400.105(1)(J); 5 CSR 25-400.045(1)).

Keep researching Missouri

Missouri Licensing Requirements

Full handbook sections, ratios, immunization rules, and penalties for Missouri.

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How to Start a Daycare: Complete Guide

The cross-state playbook, from choosing a program type to opening day.

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License-Exemption Thresholds by State

Compare when a license is required across all 50 states.

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Licensing Fees by State

Application and renewal fee data for every state we track.

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Licensing rules change. The figures above are compiled from Missouri statutes and agency materials and are provided for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Office of Childhood — Section for Child Care Regulation/Compliance (licensing of Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers under 5 CSR 25-500). Licensing authority and rulemaking transferred from the Dept. of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to the DESE Office of Childhood in 2021; the licensing rules were formally MOVED from 19 CSR 30-62 to 5 CSR 25-500 (Title 5, Division 25, Chapter 500) and the old 19 CSR 30-62 sections now read 'Moved to 5 CSR 25-500.XXX'. DHSS retains the day care immunization rule (19 CSR 20-28.040) and the Family Care Safety Registry. before applying. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal advice.