25 Childcare Business Ideas You Can Start Today [2024]

Updated: July 24th, 2023

Interested in starting a childcare business in 2024?

We put together 25 of the best childcare businesses you can start in today.

For each business idea, we’ll show you real-world examples of other childcare businesses to help you see what it really takes.

Here's the full list:

1. Start a dog walking business

Are you a dog lover? If so, you can turn your passion for animals into a profitable side hustle that allows you to earn extra income for your mortgage, a vacation, or paying off student loans.

As a dog walker, sitter, or boarder, you can earn an average annual income of between $10,000 and $30,000 by offering your services to dog owners in need of a caregiver for their furry friends.

To get started, register on a credible dog-walking app and create a compelling profile that showcases your experience, skills, and love for dogs.

With your dedication and expertise, you can help dog owners ensure their pets receive the care and attention they need while building a thriving business that fulfills your passion for animals.

How much you can make: $15,000 — $54,000/month

How much does it cost to start: $1,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week

How I Started A $54K/Month Pet Sitting And Dog Walking Business

Furry Fellas Pet Service LLC is a successful pet sitting and dog walking business that brings in over half a million dollars in sales per year, boasts 3,500-4,000 social media followers, employs 42 individuals and has been voted in the top 3 pet sitting/dog walking companies in the RI/MA area for eight years in a row.

About
Melodi started Furry Fellas Pet Service LLC almost 18 years ago
Revenue
Melodi grew the business to $54K/month
Costs
It cost Melodi $500 to start the business
Read by 19,322 founders

2. Start an aspiring babysitters training program business

3. Start a home tutoring business

A home tutoring company is an educational company that offers private tutoring from a tutor who visits the students at the student’s home.

Home tutoring is a growing business opportunity for motivated people and comes with the flexibility of working anytime, anywhere, and creates a passive income.

If you love teaching and helping others, one way to make money is to start a home tutoring business. Whether you want to tutor kids or adults, there’s a niche for you.

Once you have started your home tutoring business, promote it by putting fliers at other stores and on bulletin boards at colleges and libraries. Also, engage parents and guardians for home tutoring opportunities.

4. Start a daycare

Daycares provide educational, medical, and social services for the children of working parents either during school hours or when the parents are out of the home for an extended period of time. This can be a lucrative enterprise if you start a daycare in an area where it is needed.

As the growth of families has become dependent on two incomes, the need for quality daycare has skyrocketed. Starting a daycare business is challenging but rewarding. You will face many challenges but can overcome them as long as you are ready to make the sacrifices required.

5. Start a story books supplying business

6. Start a babysitting business

Babysitting service entails providing baby care to infants and children either in their homes, with registered caregivers, or in a child care center. A babysitting service requires a low startup cost and is a low overhead business with high profit margins.

The target market includes affluent and middle-income families where both parents are working. Baby sitters earn a fixed monthly income or are paid per hour depending on the agreement that suits both sides.

7. Start a home schooling business

The home-schooling business involves providing educational services to students in the comfort of their own homes. This can be done through various methods, such as online tutoring, in-person tutoring, or a combination of both.

To run a successful homeschooling business, the founder must have a solid educational background and a passion for teaching. It is also essential to be organized and create a structured learning environment for students.

One tip for running a successful homeschooling business is to create a clear and concise curriculum that aligns with the student’s goals and needs. Flexibility and adaptability are also essential, as each student will have unique learning styles and needs.

Another tip is to build a strong network of resources, such as educational materials and tutors, to ensure that students have access to a wide range of learning opportunities. It is also important to establish strong communication with parents to ensure that they are fully informed about their child’s progress and any concerns or issues that may arise.

Overall, the homeschooling business is an excellent opportunity for those passionate about education and who want to make a difference in students' lives. With careful planning and a commitment to excellence, this business idea has the potential to be very successful.

8. Start a nanny placement service business

Starting a nanny placement service can be a rewarding and lucrative business idea for anyone passionate about helping families find the best care for their children. This type of business involves matching qualified nannies with families needing childcare services.

To start a nanny placement service, you will need to understand the local market and the needs of families in your area. You will also need to be well-connected with nannies and have a thorough screening process to ensure that you only work with the most qualified and reliable candidates.

To run a successful nanny placement service, you will need to have excellent communication skills and build relationships with families and nannies. You will also need to be able to negotiate fair wages and contracts and be able to handle any conflicts that may arise.

In addition to these skills, you will also need a solid business plan, including marketing strategies and financial planning. You will also need to be able to handle the administrative tasks involved in running a business, such as billing and payroll.

Starting a nanny placement service is a great business idea for anyone who is organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about helping families find the best childcare solutions. With hard work and dedication, you can create a successful and fulfilling business that helps families and nannies alike.

9. Start a children toys distribution business

10. Start a children special needs daycare business

11. Start a cartoonist business

How much you can make: $100 — $4,700/month

How much does it cost to start: $475 (?)

How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)

How We Started A $4.7K/Month Business Selling Custom Hand-Drawn Avatars

Avatoon.net founders share how they started a $4.7k/month business selling custom hand-drawn avatars and grew to an average of $5,000 per month with ~100 clients through SEO-focused marketing and serving returning companies.

About
Zoltán started Avatoon almost 6 years ago
Revenue
Zoltán grew the business to $4.7K/month
Costs
It cost Zoltán $800 to start the business
Read by 8,013 founders

12. Start an after school daycare services business

13. Start a lullabies recording business

14. Start a crèche business

15. Start a professional babysitting networking platform business

16. Start a preschool daycare services business

17. Start a lesson plans business

The lesson plans business idea is a service that provides educators with customized lesson plans and teaching materials. The business idea is centered around the need for teachers to access high-quality, relevant, and engaging lesson plans and teaching materials to use in their classrooms.

To run a successful lesson plans business, founders should consider the following tips:

Identify a niche: It is essential to narrow the target audience and focus on a specific subject area or grade level. This will help the business stand out in the crowded education market and make it easier to market to potential customers.

Research the market: Founders should research current trends in education and the needs of their target audience to ensure that their lesson plans are relevant and meet the standards of the education industry.

Collaborate with educators: To create high-quality lesson plans, founders should collaborate with educators to get feedback and input on the materials. This will ensure that the lesson plans are practical and useful for teachers.

Use technology: With the increasing reliance on technology in education, founders should consider using technology to create and deliver their lesson plans. This could include using online platforms or creating digital resources that can be accessed on various devices.

Market the business: Marketing is key to the success of any business, and founders should ensure to promote their lesson plans to potential customers effectively. This could include using social media, creating a website, or attending education conferences and events.

Overall, the lesson plans business idea is an excellent opportunity for educators to create and sell high-quality lesson plans and teaching materials to other educators. By identifying a niche, researching the market, collaborating with educators, using technology, and effectively marketing the business, founders can create a successful and profitable business.

18. Start a music classes business

19. Start an early childhood education specialist business

How much does it cost to start: $2,500 (?)

How long does it take to build: 365 days (?)

20. Start a martial art school

The martial arts school is a business idea that teaches various martial arts styles and techniques to students of all ages and skill levels. Martial art includes karate, taekwondo, judo, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, among others.

To start this business, you will need a space to hold classes, such as a gym or studio. You will also need to hire instructors or be an instructor yourself with knowledge and experience in the martial art(s) you plan to teach. Depending on your martial art style, you may also need to purchase equipment, such as mats, gloves, and pads.

To operate this business successfully, you must market your school to potential students through social media, word of mouth, or local advertisements. You will also need to keep your instructors updated on the latest techniques and trends in the martial art industry and ensure that they provide students with a safe and welcoming environment.

In addition to offering classes, you could host tournaments or events, such as belt testing or sparring tournaments, to provide additional opportunities for students to showcase their skills and progress. Providing a variety of classes and events will help keep students engaged and interested in your martial art school.

21. Start an art & crafts classes business

22. Start a baby nursery business

If you're looking to start your own business, starting a baby nursery might be the perfect fit.

Baby nurseries are places where mothers can take their children to have them cared for while they work or go shopping. They can be profitable businesses because they include many different services that offer a wide range of potential clients.

Starting a baby nursery business is a great way to make the most out of your parenting experience. You can spend more time with your kids, grow your own business, and make extra money to help you afford all the other things that come with having children.

23. Start a dance classes business

How much you can make: $8,400/month

How Jennifer Sobel Males A Six Figure Income By Selling Belly Dancing Course

Learn how a belly dancing coach turned her passion into a six-figure business using digital marketing strategies, with hundreds of women on TheBellyDanceSolution.com achieving positive body goals, confidence, and self-esteem.

About
Jennifer started The Belly Dance Solution over 5 years ago
Revenue
Jennifer grew the business to $8.4K/month
Read by 874 founders

24. Start a textbook sales business

25. Start an education toys business

meet the author
Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.