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SBA has resources to help child care businesses—located in homes or centers—get started on strong footing and expand successfully.
Women's Business Centers
SBA's nationwide network of Women’s Business Centers helps small business owners start and grow a business positioned for long-term success. These centers offer training, counseling, networking, and resources that cover a variety of topics to help child care entrepreneurs, including:
- Creating a business plan
- Navigating business registration requirements
- Budgeting and financial operations
- Hiring and managing human resources
- Marketing
- Accessing capital
In 2025, these organizations will open specialized Women’s Business Centers focused on supporting child care enterprises.
- Business Outreach Center Network (NYC)
- Camp Fire West Michigan/Vibrant Futures (MI)
- Center for Rural Affairs (NE)
- Coastal Enterprises (ME)
- EO Companies/Shared Services Alliance (VA)
- International Rescue Committee (CA)
- George Mason University Education Foundation (VA)
- National Association for Family Child Care
- Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce (UT)
- Southwest Human Development (Arizona)
- Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative (WI)
- Women and Technology (ND)
- Women’s Business Development Council (CT)
- WESST Women’s Business Centers (AZ)
- Zero to Five Montana (MT)
Child care guides and resources
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Resource Guide: Starting and Operating a Child Care Business
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Child Care Resources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Child and Adult Care Food Program
- State Child Care Licensing/Administrators
- First Children’s Finance: Resource for loans, grants and business support
- National Children’s Facilities Network: Resources for space management
- National Association for Family Child Care: Professional development
- West Virginia Child Care Business Guides: Guides for starting a Child Care Center, Family Child Care Facility, or Family Child Care Home
- SBA Office of Advocacy: Issue Brief #21—The Childcare Industry
Funding and capital
Child care businesses can apply for any available SBA product for which they qualify.
- The CDC/504 Loan Program provides long-term, fixed-rate financing of up to $5 million to help obtain equipment and facilities.
- SBA’s 7(a) loan guarantees provide small businesses with vital working capital to purchase equipment, acquire inventory, and hire employees. To receive a list of authorized lenders in your area, use our Lender Match tool.
- The microloan program provides loans up to $50,000 to help small businesses start up and expand. The average microloan is about $13,000.
- Disaster assistance loans can help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters.
Many states offer special grants or loans to support childcare enterprises.
Contact your Women’s Business Center to learn about opportunities in your area.
Additional business support
SBA provides virtual and in-person free business training and counseling through a variety of partners.
Virtual Business Training: Learn at your own pace with SBA’s on-line resources.
- MySBA Learning Center provides free learning modules and courses to help small businesses develop skills for success in key management fields.
- Dreambuilder introduces participants to all areas of business ownership through an engaging on-line curriculum, featured in English and Spanish. At the conclusion of the program, women leave with a business plan.
Expert Business Advice: Find a business counselor in your local community.
- SBA District Offices. Each year, many SBA offices help small enterprises, including growing child care enterprises, to scale their business through an intensive business cohort training program called SBA T.H.R.I.V.E.
- Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) Program
- Women’s Business Centers
- Small Business Development Centers
- SCORE
Additional Resources for Women Entrepreneurs: Connect with additional resources to support your business journey.
Need help?
If you have questions, contact us at:
Office of Women’s Business Ownership
409 3rd St. SW
Washington, DC 20416
Email: owbo@sba.gov
Phone: 202-205-6773