Starting a Daycare in Metro Vancouver

Metro Vancouver has steady demand for quality child care and for many immigrant entrepreneurs, launching a daycare is a practical way to build financial independence, create flexible work, and grow a real local business.

This guide walks you through:

• Where to open (best-fit Metro Vancouver cities)

• BC licensing requirements (what regulators expect)

• Funding + loan options (how daycare owners typically finance start-up costs)

• How daycare can fit into BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration (for newcomers/investors)

1) Best Cities in Metro Vancouver to Start a Daycare

When choosing a location, your goal is simple: strong demand + family-friendly neighborhoods + realistic lease costs + smooth zoning.

Here are Metro Vancouver cities to consider (and why they often work well for daycare businesses):

High-demand, dense family markets

• Surrey (fast growth, many young families)

• Langley (City & Township) (new developments, family-oriented communities)

• Burnaby (density near transit + lots of working parents)

• Richmond (high demand + diverse communities)

• Coquitlam / Port Coquitlam / Port Moody (Tri-Cities family market, strong school networks)

Premium pricing + strong household incomes

• Vancouver (high demand, but higher rent and tighter space)

• North Vancouver / West Vancouver (higher-income families, premium positioning)

Often-overlooked opportunities

• New Westminster (central, transit-friendly, growing density)

• Delta (family neighborhoods and steady demand)

• Maple Ridge / Pitt Meadows (growing families + more space options)

Tip: If your target is 'women-led home-based daycare' look for areas with family housing, parks, schools, and limited daycare supply and compare lease costs to your expected monthly revenue before committing.

2) Daycare Models You Can Start (Pick the Right Fit)

Your business plan (and licensing path) changes depending on your model:

• Licensed Family Child Care (home-based)
  Lower start-up cost, simpler staffing, great for first-time owners.

• Licensed Group Child Care (centre-based)
  Higher revenue potential, but needs a stronger team, leasehold improvements, and more compliance.

• Multi-age vs. infant/toddler vs. school-age
  Each has different staffing ratios, room setup expectations, and parent demand patterns (especially before/after school care).

Cick HERE to understand the different types of daycare in BC

3) Licensing Requirements in BC (What You Must Know)

In British Columbia, childcare facilities are regulated under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act and the Child Care Licensing Regulation. 

You generally need a licence if:

You’re providing care to 3 or more children who are not related to you. (Health authorities publish this clearly in their licensing guidance.) Click HERE to read a guide by Fraser Health about this.  

Who licenses daycares in Metro Vancouver?

Licensing oversight typically comes through your regional health authority (for Metro Vancouver, that commonly includes Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health areas). For example, Vancouver Coastal Health provides a licensing overview and references the key legislation operators must follow. Click HERE to read through the guide by VCH.

Common compliance areas (plan for these early)

While each licence type has specific rules, most operators must plan for:

• Facility suitability (space design, washrooms, safe play areas, emergency plans)

• Policies + procedures (illness, supervision, releases, records)

• Criminal record checks (for staff and others “ordinarily present”)

• Staffing/qualifications (often tied to ECE requirements, depending on model)

• Health & safety standards (ongoing compliance inspections)

4) Funding & Programs in BC That Daycare Owners Should Know

A) Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF)

BC offers Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) to eligible licensed providers. It’s designed to support operating costs, fee reductions for families, and wage enhancements. 

CCOF includes elements like:

• Base funding

• Fee reduction initiative

• Wage enhancement supports 

Why it matters: CCOF can materially improve your monthly cash flow once you’re eligible and approved—so your financial projections should reflect how and when you may qualify.

B) ChildCareBC New Spaces Fund (important but limited eligibility)

The New Spaces Fund supports creation/expansion/relocation of licensed child care spaces, but eligibility often focuses on specific applicant types (e.g., not-for-profits, public bodies, Indigenous governing entities, etc.). 

What to do: If you’re planning a bigger centre, consider whether partnering with an eligible organization is possible.

5) Loans for Starting a Daycare (Common Options in BC)

A) Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)

The CSBFP is designed to help small businesses access financing through lenders by sharing risk.
BC also provides a helpful overview of CSBFP loan categories and limits.

This program is commonly used for:

• Leasehold improvements (renovations to a leased space)

• Equipment purchases (play structures, furniture, kitchen items, security systems)

• Some intangibles/working capital (within program rules and lender structure)

B) Bank + Credit Union lending (with a strong daycare business plan)

Many daycare owners also finance through:

• Traditional business loans (banks/credit unions)

• Equipment financing

• Operating lines of credit (after stable enrollment)

Lenders typically want:

• Licensing plan + timelines

• A clear staffing plan

• Market demand evidence (waitlists, population growth, new housing density)

• Solid projections (enrollment ramp-up + break-even month)

6) Step-by-Step: How to Start a Daycare in Metro Vancouver

Step 1: Choose your city + exact neighborhood

Start with your “service radius” (10–15 minutes driving for parents) and confirm:

• Family density

• Competing centres and waitlists

• Lease pricing reality

Step 2: Confirm the right licence type and facility approach

Home-based vs centre-based drives everything:

• renovation cost

• staffing

• insurance

• compliance complexity

Step 3: Build a funding-ready business plan (don’t skip this)

A daycare business plan should include:

• Your daycare model (age group, hours, capacity)

• Pricing approach and funding assumptions (e.g., CCOF eligibility timing)

• Startup budget (renovation + equipment + permits + marketing + working capital)

• Hiring plan (ECE roles, support staff, wage strategy)

• 3–5 year projections + monthly cash flow (especially year 1)

Step 4: Secure location + plan renovations

Your biggest cost risks are usually:

• leasehold improvements

• delayed licensing

• slower-than-expected enrollment ramp-up

Step 5: Submit licensing application and prepare policies

Expect a process; licensing is not “overnight,” so your plan should include a realistic timeline and cash buffer.

Step 6: Pre-enrollment marketing (before opening day)

In Metro Vancouver, many successful centres build:

• a waitlist before opening

• partnerships with local parenting groups

• referral relationships with nearby schools and community orgs

7) How Daycare Can Fit BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration

If you’re outside Canada (or newly in Canada) and exploring business immigration, child care can be a strong business concept because it aligns with community needs and steady demand.

BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration generally expects:

• A viable business that benefits the local economy

• Credible operations plan + job creation (often relevant depending on stream and structure)

• Proof you can execute (industry experience helps)

A daycare business plan for BC PNP should be:

• market-specific (choose a real Metro Vancouver city/neighborhood)

• compliance-aware (licensing and staffing readiness)

• financially defensible (realistic startup costs and enrollment ramp-up)

(This is exactly where a well-built, funding-ready business plan matters—because it supports both lending conversations and immigration plausibility.)

FAQ

Is daycare a good business in Metro Vancouver?

It can be; if you choose the right neighborhood, manage licensing timelines, and budget for ramp-up. Demand is strong in many cities, but success depends on compliance + staffing + cash flow planning.

Do I need a licence for a home daycare in BC?

If you’re caring for 3+ children not related to you, you generally require a community care facility licence. 

What funding programs exist for licensed providers?

BC’s Child Care Operating Funding (CCOF) is a key program supporting eligible licensed providers.