How many teachers does a daycare need?

As many as your state's ratio requires for each room, for every hour you are open. A room of 10 children at 1 to 4 needs 3 teachers, because 2 would cover only 8. A room over the largest group your state allows has to be split, and each part counts its own staff.

How do I work out what to charge for daycare?

Add up a month of costs: classroom payroll for the staff your ratios require, payroll taxes and benefits, and everything else, from rent to food. Divide by the number of children. That is break-even tuition per child; add the margin you want to keep on top.

Why does the youngest room cost the most?

Infant ratios are the tightest, so each teacher covers the fewest children. The same pay is spread over fewer families, so each infant's share of payroll is the largest.

Does this count breaks, sick days and opening and closing?

No. It counts the staff the ratio requires while children are in the room, for the hours you enter. Cover for breaks, time off and a director or cook goes in your other costs.

Free tool

Daycare staffing and tuition calculator

Enter your rooms and your costs. You get the teachers your state's ratios require, what that payroll costs each month, and the tuition per child that covers it. Nothing you type leaves this page.

State

Your rooms

One age group per room, and how many children it has.

Room 1 ages

Children

Room 2 ages

Children

Room 3 ages

Children

Your costs

Teacher pay per hour

Payroll taxes and benefits

As a percent of pay. Your payroll provider or accountant has this number.

Hours open each day

Days open each month

Everything else each month

Rent, food, supplies, insurance, the director and the cook.

Margin you want to keep

As a percent of tuition. Leave it empty to see break-even.

0 teachers on the floor for 0 children

Add teacher pay to see payroll and the tuition that covers it.

Ratios from N.J.A.C. 3A:52, Manual of Requirements for Child Care Centers, 3A:52-4.3 and 4.4. Read the rule. The rule is what an inspector goes by.

Questions directors ask

How many teachers does a daycare need?: As many as your state's ratio requires for each room, for every hour you are open. A room of 10 children at 1 to 4 needs 3 teachers, because 2 would cover only 8. A room over the largest group your state allows has to be split, and each part counts its own staff.
How do I work out what to charge for daycare?: Add up a month of costs: classroom payroll for the staff your ratios require, payroll taxes and benefits, and everything else, from rent to food. Divide by the number of children. That is break-even tuition per child; add the margin you want to keep on top.
Why does the youngest room cost the most?: Infant ratios are the tightest, so each teacher covers the fewest children. The same pay is spread over fewer families, so each infant's share of payroll is the largest.
Does this count breaks, sick days and opening and closing?: No. It counts the staff the ratio requires while children are in the room, for the hours you enter. Cover for breaks, time off and a director or cook goes in your other costs.

One room of mixed ages? The staff ratio calculator uses your state's rule for mixing ages. Your state's full ratio table and licensing forms are on its state page.

Then run it day to day

Farlow counts every room against your state's ratios as children check in and out, keeps staff hours on the timesheet, and bills tuition on autopay.

Get Farlow for your center