Metro Vancouver has strong, ongoing demand for child care, especially for infant/toddler spaces and out-of-school care, yet many new operators (and buyers) get stuck on the same questions: Which city is best? What capacity is realistic? How much revenue can I generate? What will my margins look like after wages and rent? What licences do I need?
This guide is written by our business writer for people who want to start a daycare or buy an existing daycare in Metro Vancouver and want the numbers, the licensing path, and a practical plan to move forward confidently.
Picture credit: Pexels.com
When choosing where to open or what daycare to buy, start with the reality that municipal rules, leasing costs, zoning, parking, and facility requirements vary by city (sometimes significantly). Metro Vancouver’s own survey highlights how local governments differ in requirements like parking, staffing considerations, and indoor/outdoor space expectations, and notes that some municipalities have additional facility guidelines beyond provincial minimums.
Common Metro Vancouver cities where StartCan clients often explore daycare opportunities:
Vancouver (including Marpole, East Van, Mount Pleasant, Downtown, Kitsilano)
Burnaby (Metrotown, Brentwood, Edmonds)
Surrey (Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, South Surrey)
Instead of guessing demand by “what feels busy,” evaluate:
Neighbourhood density + new housing growth
Proximity to transit and employment hubs
Competition and waitlists (many providers maintain waitlists across the region; this is common for large operators as well) Check out YMCA website to learn more about the waitlists.
What the city will allow in that specific zone/building type - Click the following link 2023 Survey of Licensed Child Care Spaces in Metro Vancouver
Metro Vancouver’s regional reporting also notes persistent demand for new child care spaces as a top challenge identified by municipalities.
Best when you want:
A clean setup (your brand, your systems, your staffing model)
The right facility design from day one
Time to build enrolment and stabilize cashflow
Main challenges:
Licensing timeline and facility readiness
Finding a location that fits both licensing and city requirements
Getting a realistic budget and breakeven plan (most people underestimate wages + occupancy ramp-up)
Best when you want:
Existing enrolment and operational history
A known location and licensed setup
Faster launch (sometimes)
Main challenges:
Verifying the real numbers (not “seller stories”)
Confirming the licence and what changes trigger re-approvals
Hidden risks (lease terms, staffing stability, compliance history, facility upgrades)
StartCan Tip: If you’re buying, you should treat it like a due diligence project, financials, lease, licence type/capacity, staffing, and program eligibility all need verification.
In BC, if you care for three or more children, you typically require a licence (with limited exceptions). Click here for rules for operating a licensed child care facility.
Licensing is governed under BC’s framework and regulation (this is the foundation you must align with).
What this means practically:
Your location, floor plan, outdoor space, safety setup, staffing, and policies must align with licensing rules
Your local Health Authority licensing team is central to the process (e.g., Vancouver Coastal Health for many Metro Vancouver areas).
A lot of new operators hear “government grants” and assume there’s a big blank cheque. In reality, funding often comes through specific programs with eligibility rules and documentation requirements.
Here are the most common starting points:
BC has a Start-Up Grants program designed to support people who want to become licensed child care providers (particularly in-home / personal residence models), with a base amount and additional amounts tied to licensed spaces and participation in certain operating programs.
BC’s Child Care Operating Funding supports eligible licensed providers via base funding and initiatives aimed at affordability and wage enhancements.
Metro Vancouver’s survey also reports that many municipalities provide non-financial supports (and some provide financial supports), including access to municipal building space for child care in certain cases.
The key takeaway are: Funding programs usually require a clean package:
Proper licence pathway
A credible operating plan
A detailed, defensible budget and projections
Many daycare founders (and buyers) come to us with:
No real startup budget
No clear monthly operating budget
Uncertainty about capacity vs. staffing vs. revenue
A rough idea of rent—but not the full occupancy/breakeven math
That’s risky, because child care profitability is usually driven by:
Licensed capacity (and the age mix)
Staffing ratio requirements and wage structure
Lease cost + facility operating costs
Occupancy ramp-up (how quickly you fill spaces)
Program participation and fee strategy (where applicable)
Metro Vancouver’s reporting also points to challenges like funding constraints and staffing shortages/wages; which directly impact the numbers.
We help you compare areas like:
Vancouver vs. Burnaby vs. Surrey vs. Richmond
North Shore (North Vancouver / West Vancouver) vs. Tri-Cities
Transit-oriented hubs vs. residential pockets
Capacity is not a “wish.” It’s shaped by:
Licence category, space, and facility layout
Outdoor space access
Staffing plan and operational hours
City and building constraints
This is where clarity happens:
Startup budget (leasehold improvements, equipment, supplies, licensing prep, professional fees)
Monthly operating budget (wages, rent, insurance, food, utilities, software, admin)
Revenue model (fee assumptions, occupancy curve, sensitivity scenarios)
Breakeven point and profitability targets
A good funding path is usually a mix:
Program eligibility review (grant study)
Documentation readiness (budget + projections + business plan narrative)
Loan planning if needed (some operators explore programs like the Canada Small Business Financing Program depending on the deal structure and lender requirements)
The daycare must be more than a licence—it must be manageable:
Staffing plan + scheduling logic
Enrollment and waitlist process
Parent communication systems
Policies, daily routines, compliance readiness
If you’re purchasing an existing daycare, we typically help clients assess:
Financial reality
Revenue verification (not just 'gross income')
Payroll reality (including coverage, substitutes, overtime risk)
Lease details (renewal, escalation clauses, assignment conditions)
Licence and capacity
Confirm current licence and capacity
Understand what changes trigger additional approvals or inspections
Risk check
Staffing retention risk
Facility upgrades required
Any compliance issues or operational weak spots
StartCan Business Consulting is based in Metro Vancouver, and we support clients across Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, and beyond.
We identify realistic funding options and build a clear funding pathway based on:
Your licence type and operating model
Your location and facility type
Your readiness and documentation needs
We previously developed a comprehensive article regarding the grants for daycare facilities under the title Grants and Funding Opportunities for Day Care Start-ups in Metro Vancouver that is definitely worth checking out.
We develop a complete daycare business plan with:
Local market and location analysis (Metro Vancouver)
Operational plan (capacity, staffing, hours, policies)
Launch strategy and enrollment plan
Risk management and compliance planning
We build clean, professional spreadsheets including:
Startup budget + sources/uses of funds
Monthly operating forecast
Break-even and profitability analysis
Scenarios for different capacities and occupancy rates
This is the piece that makes lenders, partners, and even landlords take you seriously.
If you’re unsure whether you should choose:
Vancouver vs. Burnaby vs. Surrey
A small licensed setup vs. a larger facility
…we model the financial outcomes so your decision isn’t based on guesswork.
In many cases, yes; particularly if providing care to three or more children (with specific rules/exceptions).
There are programs, but they’re eligibility-based and documentation-heavy. Start-Up Grants and operating funding are common starting points.
Almost always: wages + occupancy assumptions that weren’t modeled properly plus underestimated startup costs and lease realities.
If you’re serious about launching in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Richmond, Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Delta, Langley, Maple Ridge, or White Rock, StartCan can help you go from idea → location plan → licensing pathway → business plan → full financials → funding strategy.
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