Earn either your bachelor's degree or an associate's degree form an accredited university or college. You can also earn a Child Development Associate or Certified Childcare Professional credential. Experience in caring for children and other educational accomplishments may also be considered by the state of Colorado.
Turn in your identification card and your Colorado daycare licence application to the Department of State of Colorado. Also bring a license and application fee: as of 2011, the fee is $50 if you plan to care for one to eight children, $200 if you plan to care for nine to 25 children and $400 if you hope to care for more than 25 children.
Request information on the types of taxes that you will have to pay as a business owner, which will be affected by how many employees you have working under you. Fill out the questionnaire that the Department of State provides and hand it in. Also, you must pass a criminal background check performed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for an online payment of $6.85 or a mailed payment of $13.00.
Obtain a building or space for your daycare center. Be sure that the space is up to code with Colorado law and that it will pass all zoning, building, fire and health tests. Hire employees to assist you in the daycare business and make sure that they are qualified and professional; determine what work schedules will be, what employee to child ratios best suits your daycare and how much your employees will get paid.
Get up-to-date on your immunizations. Turn in the proof of your up-to-date immunization record to the Colorado Department of Human Services; your employees must also turn in proof of their up-to-date immunization records.
Write a business plan and include your goals and objectives for your daycare, as well as your daily schedule and routine. Attract clients by advertising through fliers, business cards and the Internet.
Obtain the equipment and tools that you will need to run your daycare efficiently, such as chairs, tables, mats, toys and books. Clients may want to tour your facility, so set up your equipment as soon as possible. Launch your Colorado daycare center.