The All-in-One Daycare Success Bundle — TENNESSEE Edition
20 Powerful Daycare Business Resources + BONUS Daycare Income Roadmap
🔥 SALE: $17 — $347 Value
Stop buying daycare business resources one at a time. Get 20 guides, licensing roadmaps, editable-style templates, checklists, parent forms, compliance tools, and business-growth strategies designed to help you start, manage, organize, and grow your Tennessee daycare business, simplify daily operations, stay on top of important requirements, and discover new income opportunities.
What's Inside:
- Start Here: Which Tennessee Daycare License Fits You
- Tennessee Daycare Licensing Roadmap
- Ratio & Capacity Cheat Sheet
- Pre-Inspection Self-Audit Checklist
- Health & Safety Walkthrough Checklist
- Staff & Assistant Training Tracker
- Background Check Checklist
- Parent Handbook Template
- Daycare Enrollment Packet
- Attendance & Sign-In/Out Log
- Incident & Accident Report Template
- Medication Authorization & Administration Log
- Emergency & Evacuation Plan
- Emergency Drill Log
- Tennessee Child Care Certificate Program Guide
- Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Starter Guide
- CACFP Food Program Guide + Menu Planner
- Rates & Fee Schedule Worksheet
- Tuition Contract & Late Pickup Policy
- Annual Compliance Calendar
🎁 BONUS: Tennessee Daycare Income Roadmap — A four-page, step-by-step guide to help you put your resources into action, plan your income goals, fill enrollment openings, explore additional revenue opportunities, and build a more profitable Tennessee daycare business.
Everything in this collection has a combined stated value of $347.
🔥 Get the complete bundle today for just $17!
Save $330 and get everything in one convenient digital download.
1. Start Here: Which Tennessee Daycare License Fits You
Not sure which daycare license is right for you? This easy-to-follow licensing comparison guide breaks down Tennessee’s childcare pathways to help you compare requirements, understand capacity limits, and choose the best fit for your goals.
What's Included:
✓ Overview of Tennessee Childcare Paths
✓ Care Below the Licensing Threshold — Fewer Than 5 Children Not Related to You
✓ Family Child Care Home (5–7 children not related to you, in your home)
✓ Group Child Care Home (8–12 children; up to 15 with 3 approved school-agers)
✓ Child Care Center Licensing Basics (13 or more children; capacity set by 30 sq ft per child)
✓ Drop-In Child Care Center (15 or more at one time; no more than 14 hours per week per child)
✓ Capacity Limits, Ratios & Age-Group Considerations
✓ Tennessee-Specific Rules: Your Own Children Under Age 9 Count Toward Capacity
✓ Staffing Charts: How the Under-2 and Under-3 Counts Set Your Educator Numbers
✓ Side-by-Side Licensing Comparison Chart
✓ Step-by-Step License Selection Decision Guide
✓ Printable Decision Worksheet
✓ PDF Guide
Perfect for aspiring Tennessee daycare owners and childcare entrepreneurs who want to compare licensing options, avoid common planning mistakes, and confidently choose the right path to starting their childcare business.
#2 Tennessee Licensing Roadmap
Step-by-Step from Idea to License
Turn your dream of opening a Tennessee daycare into a clear, organized plan! This step-by-step roadmap walks you through TDHS’s ten pre-licensure steps — and your first 120 days — so you can understand what to complete, track your progress, and prepare for opening with confidence.
What’s Included
✓ Step 1: Contact the Pre-Licensure Unit — Email ChildcarePreLicensure.DHS@tn.gov and meet your Program Specialist — your guide through the whole process.
✓ Step 2: Instructions & Portal Account — Register as a user of the TDHS provider portal and read the Licensure Rules for Child Care Agencies (Chapter 1240-04-01).
✓ Step 3: eLicensing & Orientation Registration — Create your TDHS eLicensing account and register for the child care agency Orientation / Intake Session.
✓ Step 4: Orientation & Pre-Application Screen — Attend the full session, complete the pre-application screen, and start the pre-licensure training required for your role.
✓ Step 5: Small Business Academy — Complete the Academy, file your business paperwork with the Tennessee Secretary of State, and draft your written program description and proposed budget.
✓ Step 6: Application in eLicensing — Submit the full application and start fingerprint-based background checks — nobody works with children before the clearance letter arrives.
✓ Step 7: Measuring Visit & Inspections — Host the measuring visit and clear State Fire, Environmental, and Choose Safe Places reviews, plus local Codes & Zoning.
✓ Step 8: Pay the License Fee — Statutory annual fees under T.C.A. § 71-3-507: $100 family home · $125 group home · $200 center under 100 children.
✓ Steps 9 & 10: The Two Walk-Throughs — Correct anything found across two walk-through visits; a compliant program is granted a Provisional License.
✓ Your First 120 Days — Four in-person monitoring visits during the provisional period lead to your continuous license — plus a tracking-dates worksheet.
Perfect for: Aspiring Tennessee child care providers who want a practical roadmap to stay organized, understand the process, and move toward opening their daycare one step at a time.
#3 Tennessee Ratio & Capacity Cheat Sheet
A printable, easy-to-use guide to Tennessee child care ratios and capacity limits, helping you stay organized and plan staffing with confidence.
What’s Included
✓ Family home staffing chart — educators required by children present and children under age 2 (1 educator for 7 or fewer children with 4 or fewer under 2; up to 12 present when every child above 7 is related to you)
✓ Group home staffing chart — 12 children plus up to 3 approved school-agers, staffed by your under-3 count
✓ Center ratios and group sizes by age group: infants 1:4, toddlers 1:6–1:7, 3 years 1:9, 4 years 1:13, 5 years 1:16, and school-age 1:20
✓ Multi-age group charts, including the tighter ratios that apply when a group includes even one infant
✓ Drop-in center ratios — its own chart, from 1:4 for infants to 1:22 for school-age children
✓ Space rules: 30 sq ft of usable indoor play space per child, and 50 sq ft of outdoor space per child behind a fence at least 4 feet high
✓ My Licensed Capacity Worksheet to work your space, ratios, and group sizes into your real licensed capacity
Perfect for: Tennessee daycare providers, directors, and staff who need a quick reference for daily staffing and capacity planning.
#4 Tennessee Pre-Inspection Self-Audit Checklist
Stay Prepared. Stay Organized. Keep Children Safe.
Prepare for unannounced Tennessee licensing visits with this easy-to-use self-audit checklist. Walk your program the way Tennessee licensing staff will — review key documents, required postings, staff clearances, and safety procedures to help keep your daycare inspection-ready.
What’s Included
✓ License & Postings — Your license and QRIS score posted near the main entrance, and your provider portal record current.
✓ People: Files & Clearances — Fingerprint-based background checks and clearance letters on file, pre-service training completed before unsupervised contact, training recorded in TNPAL, and first aid/CPR coverage on site at all times.
✓ Ratios & Supervision — Every group in ratio right now, infants never grouped with children older than 30 months, and a second adult available when more than 12 children are present.
✓ The Space — 30 sq ft of usable play space per child, outdoor area at 50 sq ft per child behind a fence at least 4 feet high, and room temperature between 68°F and 78°F.
✓ Health & Safe Sleep — Back-to-sleep in cribs or play yards, arrival illness and injury checks, and allergy action plans posted where the educator can reach them fast.
✓ Paperwork Licensing Will Ask For — Children’s files, attendance records, incident reports, medication logs, the multihazard plan and drill log, and inspection reports.
✓ Insurance Minimums — Declarations page on file meeting Tennessee minimums ($300k/$300k homes · $500k/$500k centers).
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care home providers and child care center operators who want to stay organized, maintain required documentation, and prepare for licensing visits with greater confidence.
#5 Tennessee Health & Safety Walkthrough Checklist
A practical checklist organized by daily, weekly, and monthly routines — keyed to Tennessee rules — to help Tennessee daycare providers identify hazards and maintain a safer childcare environment.
What’s Included
✓ Opening walk-through of every room: hazards removed, cleaning products and chemicals locked away, cords and choking hazards out of reach
✓ Outdoor play area inspected before use — fence and gate at least 4 feet high, no standing water or broken equipment, sandboxes covered
✓ Safe sleep setup: cribs and play yards with a firm surface and fitted sheet only — no soft bedding, pillows, or toys
✓ Arrival health checks: every child checked for illness or injury, with marks and parent comments documented
✓ During-the-day practices: handwashing, ratios maintained through meals, naps, and transitions, and the allergy list posted where food is prepared and served
✓ Closing sweep: sign-outs complete, incidents documented and filed, and every area visually inspected so no child is left behind
✓ Weekly and quarterly routines: deep cleaning and toy sanitizing, fire extinguisher checks, and the quarterly staff evacuation walk-through
Perfect for: Tennessee daycare providers who want to strengthen daily safety routines and keep their childcare spaces inspection-ready.
#6 Tennessee Staff & Assistant Training Tracker
Keep Your Team Trained, Compliant & Ready!
Stay organized with this practical training tracker designed for Tennessee daycare providers. Track staff credentials, required training, expiration dates, and professional development in one convenient place.
What’s Included
✓ Before Unsupervised Contact — Fingerprint clearance letter on file, agency orientation, Shaken Baby / Abusive Head Trauma training, “Before You Begin” pre-service training, and SIDS training for infant caregivers.
✓ Provisional-Period Training — TN-ELDS (3 hours), New Director Training, First Aid & CPR, Transportation Training before transporting, and Personal Safety Training.
✓ Annual Hours by Role — Primary educators 18 hours, educators and assistants 12 hours, center directors 24 hours, assistant directors 18 hours — including health & safety and literacy minimums.
✓ TNPAL Tracking — Every hour recorded in the Tennessee Professional Archive of Learning (TNPAL), the state’s system of record.
✓ Minimum Ages & Education — Director and educator qualification pathways by program type, in one place.
✓ Training Log & Annual Hours Tracker — Record courses, dates, and hours per staff member and see at a glance who is on track.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers, center directors, and daycare administrators who want an easier way to manage staff training and maintain organized personnel records.
#7 Tennessee Background Check Checklist
Safer Children. Stronger Programs.
Stay organized with this practical background check checklist for Tennessee daycare providers. Tennessee’s review is fingerprint-based — understand who needs clearance, how the timing works, and how to track clearance letters and required documentation.
What’s Included
✓ Who Needs a Check? — Owners and operators, every employee, substitutes providing more than 36 hours a year, and every household member age 15 or older in family and group homes.
✓ The 90-Day Timing Rule — The check must be dated no more than 90 days before the person first has access to children — schedule fingerprinting so the timing lands inside that window.
✓ Clearance Letters — A Final Clearance Letter clears the person to work; a Conditional Letter means supervised-only until results are complete. File the letter before the first unsupervised shift.
✓ What’s Reviewed — Fingerprint-based state and federal criminal history, the Vulnerable Persons Registry, the Sexual Offender Registry, and Department of Children’s Services records — plus driving history for anyone who transports children.
✓ Renewals & Returns — Renewed at least every 5 years, and a fresh check is required after more than 180 consecutive days away.
✓ Background Clearance Log — Record names, roles, clearance status, dates, and notes.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and center directors who want to organize clearance records, track requirements, and maintain a safer childcare environment.
#8 Tennessee Parent Handbook Template
A Ready-to-Customize Guide for Daycare Families
Create clear expectations and build strong family relationships with this 15-section parent handbook template designed for Tennessee daycare providers. Simply fill in your program’s details and customize policies to fit your childcare business.
What’s Included
✓ Program Welcome & Licensing — Your childcare values, TDHS licensing information, and your QRIS score card.
✓ Enrollment & Required Paperwork — Enrollment application, Tennessee Official Immunization Certificate, and health history — on file before the first day.
✓ Arrival, Departure & Attendance — Sign-in/out rules, arrival health checks, and authorized pickup.
✓ Health, Illness & Medication — Illness care and pickup, communicable disease notification, medication rules, and safe sleep policies.
✓ Meals, Outdoor Play & Screen Time — CACFP-guided meals, daily outdoor play, and no electronic media for children under age 2.
✓ Guidance & Discipline — Positive guidance practices — corporal punishment is prohibited in Tennessee child care.
✓ Expulsion & Withdrawal — A written expulsion policy shared with parents and staff, as Tennessee requires.
✓ Emergencies & Transportation — Your multihazard plan, plus TDHS-approved transportation and signed field trip permission slips.
✓ Tuition, Fees & Late Pickup — Payment policies, tuition rates, late fees, and the Child Care Certificate Program option for qualifying families.
✓ Parent Acknowledgment Page — A signature section confirming the family has reviewed the handbook.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care center operators who want a professional, easy-to-customize handbook that communicates policies clearly and helps families understand what to expect.
#9 Tennessee Daycare Enrollment Packet
Keep It Organized. Make Enrollment Easy.
Make enrolling new families simple and organized with this practical enrollment packet designed for Tennessee daycare providers. Collect essential child and family information, document permissions, and prepare for a smooth first day.
What’s Included
✓ Child & Family Information Form — Child details, parent/guardian information, work hours, and business addresses.
✓ Health Information — Health history, diagnosed conditions, allergies and reactions, and physician information for emergencies.
✓ Tennessee Official Immunization Certificate — On file for children over 2 months — all required vaccinations completed by 18 months of age.
✓ Emergency Contacts & Release Authorization — Document approved pickup persons; children are released only to the people on the list.
✓ Consents & Agreements — Emergency medical care consent, transportation agreement, handbook and TDHS Summary of Licensing Requirements receipt, immunization and flu information, and kindergarten acknowledgment — initialed and dated.
✓ Enrollment Checklist (Office Use) — Application complete before the first day, preplacement onsite parent visit documented, and the allergy plan posted where the educator can reach it.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care centers that want to streamline enrollment, keep family information organized, and create a welcoming experience for new families.
#10 Tennessee Attendance & Sign-In/Out Log
Accurate Records. Organized Attendance. Easier Billing.
Keep daily attendance organized with this printable sign-in/sign-out log designed for Tennessee daycare providers — the daily record Tennessee licensing reads first. Record arrival and departure times, who brought and picked up each child, and maintain attendance records to support subsidy billing.
What’s Included
✓ Daily Attendance Log — Track the date, child’s printed full name, time in, and time out.
✓ Who Brought & Picked Up — Record the name of the individual who brought and picked up each child, as Tennessee requires.
✓ Classroom Attendance Lists — An individual attendance list for each classroom or group, kept on site or electronically accessible.
✓ Subsidy Billing Support — Exact attendance is the record behind every Child Care Certificate Program payment.
✓ Retention Rule Built In — Keep attendance records for 1 year after the child leaves.
✓ Printable Recordkeeping Sheet — Program, classroom/group, week, and educator header fields keep every week organized.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care centers that want to simplify daily attendance tracking, maintain organized records, and support accurate subsidy billing.
#11 Tennessee Incident & Accident Report
Document. Notify. Prevent. Keep Children Safe.
Keep clear, organized records of injuries, illnesses, and unusual incidents with this printable report form designed for Tennessee daycare providers. Document what happened, the care provided, parent notification, and steps to help prevent future incidents.
What’s Included
✓ What Happened — Record the date, time, location, and description of the event.
✓ Injury & Illness Information — Document the injury or symptoms, affected area, and the care provided.
✓ Same-Day Parent Notification — Tennessee requires incidents to be reported to the parent no later than the child’s release that same day — documented immediately, given to the parent the same day, and filed in the child’s record.
✓ Notifications Log — Track who was notified, when, and any medical care sought or recommended.
✓ Follow-Up & Prevention Plan — Identify what will change to prevent a repeat — supervision, environment, or routine.
✓ Confidentiality Built In — For biting or behavior incidents, the other child’s identity stays confidential in both reports.
✓ Printable Incident Report Form — Keep a record of the event, staff response, notifications, and follow-up actions.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care center staff who want a consistent way to document incidents, communicate with families, and maintain organized records.
#12 Tennessee Medication Authorization & Administration Log
Safe Medication. Healthy Children. Peace of Mind.
Keep medication records organized with this practical authorization form and administration log designed for Tennessee daycare providers. Document parent permissions, medication instructions, each dose given, and important emergency care information.
What’s Included
✓ Parent Authorization Form — One authorization per medication — child’s information, medication name, dosage and route, times to be given, start and end dates, and parent/guardian authorization.
✓ Dose-by-Dose Administration Log — Track the date, time, medication, dose given, and staff for every single administration.
✓ Designated, Trained Staff Only — Medication is received from the parent by a designated staff person and given only by staff trained in medication administration.
✓ Safe Storage Rules — Medication kept inaccessible to children, never given in a bottle or infant feeder unless a physician authorizes it, and unused medication returned to the parent.
✓ Self-Administration Exception — A school-age child may self-administer only when a physician’s authorization for the current school year is on file.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care center staff who want to maintain organized medication records, follow documented instructions, and support children’s health and safety.
#13 Tennessee Emergency & Evacuation Plan — Multihazard Plan
Be Prepared. Keep Children Safe.
Protect the children in your care with this customizable multihazard emergency plan — the written plan Tennessee law requires (T.C.A. § 71-3-517), developed with local emergency management. Prepare for emergencies, organize evacuation procedures, and create a clear plan for keeping children safe and reconnecting families.
What’s Included
✓ Hazards Covered — Tennessee’s List — Fires, tornadoes, earthquakes, chemical spills, and floods.
✓ Evacuation & Relocation — Evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown procedures with relocation sites and routes.
✓ Accountability & Reunification — Account for every child and reunite children with their families.
✓ Special Accommodations — Plans for infants, children with disabilities, and other individual needs.
✓ Continuity of Operations — Emergency supplies checked and stored, backup communication if phones fail, and a plan for operating (or closing) after an event.
✓ Training & Drills — All staff trained on the plan annually, with quarterly evacuation walk-throughs.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care center operators who want an organized emergency plan, clear staff procedures, and a reliable process for protecting children and reuniting families.
#14 Tennessee Emergency Drill Log
Practice Today. Be Prepared Tomorrow.
Keep your daycare emergency drills organized with this printable log designed for Tennessee child care providers. Tennessee expects your team to be able to run the plan, not just file it — staff review emergency preparedness and fire procedures and physically walk through the evacuation process every quarter.
What’s Included
✓ Drill Types — Track quarterly evacuation walk-throughs and fire procedure reviews, plus vehicle emergency evacuation drills (quarterly if you transport).
✓ Drill Record Log — Document the date, drill type, total headcount, evacuation time, and any problems or concerns.
✓ Staff Plan Training — Record annual training on the multihazard plan for every staff member.
✓ Corrective Action Tracker — Record issues identified during drills and steps taken to address them.
✓ Printable Tracking Table — Maintain an organized record of drills and follow-up actions.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care center directors who want to document emergency practice, strengthen preparedness, and keep important drill records organized.
#15 Tennessee Child Care Certificate Program Guide
Support Families. Grow Your Daycare.
Learn how Tennessee’s child care subsidy program works and how to become a subsidy provider. Through the Child Care Certificate Program (also called Child Care Payment Assistance), TDHS pays you directly for the care a family’s certificate authorizes. This practical guide helps you enroll as a provider, set your rates, and maintain accurate billing records.
What’s Included
✓ Tennessee’s Subsidy Program — Overview of the Child Care Certificate Program, administered by TDHS with federal Child Care and Development funds.
✓ Who Qualifies — How families apply through their local TDHS office — and how to point them the right way.
✓ How to Enroll as a Provider — Hold a current TDHS child care license in good standing and complete your provider agreement (email ChildCare.Certificate.DHS@tn.gov).
✓ How the Money Works — TDHS pays its state rate — rebuilt from Tennessee’s market rate survey and set at no less than the 60th percentile of market rates — directly to you, never more than your published rate.
✓ Family Co-Payments — The family pays an assigned co-payment of about 5% of countable income (the lowest-income families are exempt) — collect it like tuition.
✓ Differentials That Add On Top — +15% for infant/toddler care, +15% for a child with disabilities or special needs, and a 15% child care desert differential.
✓ QRIS Bonus — Strong Quality Rating and Improvement System scores earn a bonus percentage on certificate rates.
✓ Subsidy Billing Tracker — Track certificates, authorized days and hours, and payments — exact attendance is the record behind every payment.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and daycare owners interested in serving families who receive child care assistance and building an organized subsidy payment process.
#16 Quality Rating and Improvement System Starter Guide
Know Your Score. Raise Your Score.
Discover Tennessee’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), the statewide quality system run by TDHS that replaced the old Report Card and Star-Quality Program. Every licensed agency earns a QRIS score through on-site visits across the year, summed up on a Child Care Score Card. This starter guide explains how scoring works, why the score pays, and how to get started raising yours.
What’s Included
✓ What QRIS Is (and What It Replaced) — The star ratings are gone — today’s system scores every licensed center and family/group home, and participation is mandatory after your first year open.
✓ How Scoring Works — Four quarterly visits a year, each scored out of 100 points and averaged into your overall QRIS score.
✓ The Two Components — Health and Safety, plus Teacher-Child Interactions — the daily basics and how warmly and skillfully you engage children.
✓ Your Child Care Score Card — Post your score card with your license where parents can clearly see it.
✓ Why the Score Pays — A QRIS bonus percentage on Child Care Certificate Program rates for agencies with strong scores.
✓ Military Families — The DoD fee-assistance expansion (MCCYN-PLUS) requires a QRIS score of 80–100 — a high score unlocks military families’ tuition help at your program.
✓ How to Raise Your Score — Fix the lowest-scoring items after each quarterly visit and write the fixes into your routines before the next visit.
✓ My QRIS Tracker — Plus free coaching and technical assistance from the Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network — 9 sites statewide.
Perfect for: Tennessee family child care providers and child care center directors who want to understand their QRIS score, strengthen their programs, and turn quality into higher subsidy rates.
17. CACFP Food Program Guide + Menu Planner — Tennessee Edition
Learn how the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) works in Tennessee, how to qualify for meal reimbursements, and how to plan and track meals for your daycare.
✅ What's Included:
- CACFP Program Overview – How the food program works in Tennessee, administered by the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) — and why Tennessee requires every licensed agency’s food to meet USDA CACFP guidelines whether or not you claim reimbursement.
- Sponsor Guide – Family and group homes participate only under an approved sponsoring organization; centers may contract directly with TDHS as an institution or join under a sponsor.
- Tier I & II Reimbursement Guide – Eligibility and reimbursement rates — homes are paid at Tier I (higher) or Tier II rates, and your own children’s meals may be reimbursable if you meet the income rules.
- Meal Reimbursement Guide – Get reimbursed for up to 2 meals + 1 snack or 1 meal + 2 snacks per child daily.
- Meal Pattern Basics – Required components and serving guidelines, with a quick reference for ages 1–2 and 3–5.
- Enrollment Steps – How to apply and get started — enrollment records, daily meal counts, and menus are kept at your site.
- Two-Week Rotating Menu Planner – Plan nutritious meals and snacks two weeks at a time.
- Claims Through TIPS – Submit claims through the Tennessee Information Payment System (TIPS) with monthly reporting, and keep records that survive a sponsor visit.
Perfect for Tennessee daycare owners looking to reduce food expenses, stay organized, and take advantage of available meal reimbursements.
18. Rates & Fee Schedule Worksheet — Tennessee Edition
Learn how to calculate your daycare operating costs, determine profitable tuition rates, compare local Tennessee childcare pricing, and create a professional fee schedule for your business.
✅ What's Included:
- Know Your True Cost Per Child – Work out what care actually costs you — expenses, staffing, and space — before you set a price.
- Tennessee Market Rate Research – Compare local daycare rates and TDHS subsidy rates; Child Care Aware of America’s 2024 analysis put Tennessee family child care infant care at $9,415 a year (about $181 per week), with center infant care pricing higher.
- Rate Sheet Builder – Build your published rate sheet by age group — the same sheet TDHS and your families see.
- Age-Based Fee Schedule – Set rates for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children.
- Registration & Supply Fee Planner – Establish one-time or annual registration fees and a predictable annual supply/activity fee.
- Late Payment & Pickup Fees – Create clear policies and fee amounts, stated in the contract and enforced evenly.
- Subsidy-Family Pricing – TDHS pays its state rate up to your published rate and the family pays an assigned co-pay — decide your policy on any gap in advance and write it in.
- Drop-In & Part-Day Rates – Price part-week care above 1/5 of weekly tuition to reward full-time enrollment and fill odd days.
Perfect for Tennessee daycare owners looking to price their services confidently, cover operating expenses, and build a more profitable childcare business.
19. Tuition Contract & Late Pickup Policy — Tennessee Edition
Protect your Tennessee daycare business with a customizable tuition agreement that clearly outlines payment expectations, childcare schedules, late fees, and parent responsibilities.
✅ What's Included:
- Tuition Terms – Tuition is charged for the slot, not by attendance — due in full for weeks that include holidays, absences, and listed closures.
- Registration & Supply Fees – Enrollment and annual supply fees, spelled out up front.
- Late Payment Policy – Grace period, late fee, suspension when an account is more than one week past due, and slot release after written notice.
- Late Pickup Policy – Fees calculated from closing time until departure, and how repeated late pickup is handled.
- Closures & Holidays – Define holiday schedules, planned closures, and payment expectations.
- Subsidy / Certificate Program Families – How Child Care Certificate Program payments and the assigned family co-payment work.
- Withdrawal & Termination – Notice periods, tuition due through the end of the notice period, and termination terms tied to the written expulsion policy.
- Rate Change Notice – Annual review with at least 30 days’ written notice of any increase.
Perfect for Tennessee daycare owners looking to protect their income, establish clear parent expectations, and maintain professional childcare agreements aligned with applicable state requirements.
20. Annual Compliance Calendar — Tennessee Edition
Stay organized and keep your Tennessee daycare business on track with an annual compliance calendar designed to help you monitor licensing requirements, training renewals, safety inspections, and important deadlines throughout the year.
✅ What's Included:
- Always-On Requirements Tracker – License and QRIS score posted, attendance kept on site, background checks before access, and your provider portal record kept current.
- License Renewal Tracker – Monitor Tennessee licensing renewals, applicable fees, and deadlines — from the 120-day provisional period to your continuous license.
- CPR & First Aid Renewals – Track certification expiration and renewal dates.
- Annual Training Hours Tracker – 18 hours for primary educators, 12 for educators and assistants, 24 for center directors — logged in TNPAL and audited every November.
- Quarterly Evacuation Walk-Throughs – Staff review fire procedures and physically walk the evacuation process four times a year.
- Fire & Environmental Inspections – Schedule annual inspection renewals before they lapse.
- Insurance Renewal Tracker – Monitor liability insurance coverage and renewal dates.
- January Subsidy Rate Chart Check – The new TDHS rate chart typically takes effect in January — confirm your rates, co-pays, and differentials.
- CACFP Renewal Tracker – Monitor food program paperwork and renewal requirements.
- Month-by-Month Planner – January through December — from mid-year immunization and allergy-plan audits to heat-season checks, flu information, and the October personal safety curriculum.
Perfect for Tennessee daycare owners looking to stay organized, avoid missed deadlines, maintain important records, and keep their childcare business running smoothly.
21. Daycare Income Roadmap (BONUS) — Tennessee Edition
Discover how to grow your Tennessee daycare business, increase enrollment, explore additional income opportunities, and build a plan for long-term profitability.
✅ What's Included:
- Tennessee Example Rate — $181 per Week – Child Care Aware of America’s 2024 Affordability Analysis put Tennessee’s full-time family child care infant price at $9,415 per year — a real published market figure used throughout this roadmap.
- Tennessee Daycare Earnings Examples – See projected gross revenue at the example rate — from a 7-child family home ($65,884 per year) to a 12-child group home ($112,944) and a 20-child small center ($188,240), before expenses.
- Tennessee’s Staffing Reality Check – Why a family home with no more than 4 children under age 2 shines with one educator — and when the staffing chart requires a second or third educator.
- Before/After-School Care – School-age children at 1:20 in centers, and group homes may add 3 approved school-agers — high-margin care around the school day.
- Income That Stacks on Top of Tuition – Certificate Program payments, +15% infant/toddler, special needs, and child care desert differentials, the QRIS rate bonus, CACFP meal reimbursement, and military family fee assistance (MCCYN-PLUS).
- Money to Start – The Establishment Grant routed through CFMT, free CCR&R Network and TECTA training, and modest statutory license fees ($100 family home / $125 group home / $200 small center).
- Your Numbers Worksheet – Work your own rates, enrollment, and staffing costs into a realistic income plan.
- The Providers Who Win in Tennessee – Stay in ratio without panic, take certificate children, claim every CACFP meal, protect the QRIS score with daily habits, and raise rates a little every year.
Perfect for Tennessee daycare owners looking to maximize enrollment, explore new revenue opportunities, and build a more profitable childcare business.
