Tiny Tots, Big Profits: Starting a Successful In-Home Daycare with Just a Few Kids

Turn your love of children into a thriving home‑based business—even on a shoestring budget.

The U.S. child‑care market was worth around $61.7 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow nearly 6 % annually through 2030 as parents return to offices and demand more quality care. Globally, the children’s day‑care services sector is expected to add more than $180 billion in value by the end of the decade. Meanwhile, the average price of child care in the U.S. is over $13,000 per year—about 10 % of a married couple’s income and 35 % of a single parent’s income—making affordable home‑based options especially appealing.

Tiny Tots demystifies every step of launching your own in‑home daycare. You’ll learn how to:

• Treat your daycare as a real business—not just babysitting

• Capitalize on the small‑scale advantage: caring for up to five children maximizes quality and profits while keeping stress low

• Start up for just $3–5K—no commercial rent or big payroll

• Charge around $175 per child per week, earning roughly $51,600 per year with a lean 86 % profit margin

• Navigate licensing, ratios, safety standards and background checks with confidence

• Market your business authentically without flashy advertising

Real examples and worksheets help you set prices, manage operations and build parent trust—so you can transform childcare passion into a profitable, scalable side hustle.