Childcare Center Operations
Run a profitable daycare or childcare center. Covers licensing, staffing ratios, tuition pricing, facility requirements, parent retention, and growth — built from real operator data.
| Age Group | Weekly Tuition (Metro) | Weekly Tuition (Suburban) | Teacher:Child Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Infant (6wk-12mo) | $350-$500 | $225-$375 | 1:3 to 1:4 |
| Toddler (12-24mo) | $300-$425 | $200-$325 | 1:4 to 1:5 |
| Two-year-olds | $275-$375 | $175-$300 | 1:5 to 1:6 |
| Preschool (3-4yr) | $250-$350 | $150-$275 | 1:8 to 1:10 |
| Pre-K (4-5yr) | $225-$325 | $140-$250 | 1:10 to 1:12 |
| School-age (before/after) | $125-$200 |
| $100-$175 |
| 1:12 to 1:15 |
Annual revenue per child (infant): $13,000-$26,000 Annual revenue per child (preschool): $7,800-$18,200 Average center revenue: $500,000-$2,000,000 (60-150 enrolled children)
| Role | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Center Director | $45,000-$75,000 | Required by most states |
| Lead Teacher | $30,000-$45,000 | CDA or degree required |
| Assistant Teacher | $25,000-$35,000 | High school diploma + training |
| Floater/Sub | $24,000-$32,000 | Covers breaks and absences |
| Cook | $28,000-$38,000 | If serving meals on-site |
| Admin/Front Desk | $30,000-$40,000 | Billing, enrollment, parent comms |
Labor as % of revenue: 55-65% (largest expense by far) Turnover rate: 26-40% industry average — retention is survival Retention tactics: Tuition discounts for staff children, PTO, health benefits, CDA sponsorship
State licensing (all states require):
Federal:
Accreditation (optional, premium positioning):
| Metric | Target |
|---|---|
| Enrollment capacity utilization | 85-95% |
| Net profit margin | 10-18% |
| Labor cost | 55-65% of revenue |
| Occupancy/rent | 10-15% of revenue |
| Food cost | 5-8% of revenue |
| Supplies & curriculum | 3-5% of revenue |
| Insurance (liability + workers comp) | 2-4% of revenue |
| Marketing | 2-3% of revenue |
| Annual tuition increase | 3-5% |
| Item | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Facility buildout/renovation | $150,000-$500,000 |
| Licensing & permits | $2,000-$10,000 |
| Furniture & equipment | $30,000-$75,000 |
| Playground equipment | $20,000-$60,000 |
| Curriculum materials | $5,000-$15,000 |
| Technology (cameras, software) | $5,000-$20,000 |
| Insurance deposits | $3,000-$8,000 |
| Working capital (3 months) | $50,000-$150,000 |
| Total | $300,000-$850,000 |
Stage 1: Single Center (60-80 kids, $500K-$1M)
Stage 2: Optimized Single (100-150 kids, $1M-$2M)
Stage 3: Multi-Site ($2M-$5M)
Stage 4: Regional Brand ($5M+)
More operations intelligence: https://afrexai-cto.github.io/context-packs/