MarieAP

Hello, I'm a childminder living in the UK and I really want to move to the states. Can anybody tell me how easy or difficult it would be to start my own childminding/daycare business in the states?
It's something I really want to do so any information you could give me would be greatly appreciated

Pulaski

If that is your plan, it is impossible unless you have a substantial investment (think $200k+, more is better) to start or buy a business, (and probably arrange additional financing when you have no US credit history, which at best will be extremely difficult), in which case you would need to apply for an E-2 visa. ..... You would need to find a business seller of such a business, or the owners of suitable premises to rent, who are willing to wait for several months while the sale is "in escrow" while your visa is bring processed.

MarieAP

Wow, well I certainly don't have those funds. I wasn't expecting it to be that difficult, I thought I'd be able to buy or rent a home and start my business from there the same way I do it here.

Anian

I've not really seen any childcare practices like UK childminding. Seems to be mostly daycare centres and looking after the children at the parent's house.

Noorah101

No, unfortunately it's not that that easy.

Rene

MarieAP

I've looked into being a nanny as it's pretty much the same thing but at their home opposed to mine. The only problem is I have a one year old and nanny's who have their own children get paid half as much as those who don't. It wouldn't really be worth my while.

christmasoompa

I'd suggest you read this Wiki article to see the kind of jobs that would qualify for an employment based visa for the US and enable you to move permanently. Pulaski's Ways: How to Live and Work in the USA : British Expat Wiki

HTH.

Nutmegger

Depending on the regulations of the state in which you set up the business, you would be subject to background checks, bonding, high liability insurance rates, and local laws governing such operations.

Pulaski

"In home daycare" is very common, though not widely publicized. Given that (i) they are around half the cost/child of a place at a "daycare centre", but (ii) are capped at, IIRC, only five children/adult (in NC, which I assume is fairly typical), these in-home childcare businesses are often filled entirely by word-of-mouth through friends, neighbours, church, and work.

Pulaski

Typically HOAs prohibit using your home as a business premises, and while some people fly under the radar, if you have parents coming and going dropping off and collecting children it is rather hard to avoid being noticed.

Nutmegger

I wasn't even thinking of a home -- the only way something like this might fly for a visa would be buying an E-2 business, with "real" rented premises, not something going on in the basement!

Pulaski

Might I ask why you are interested in moving to America, especially with a small child? .... And you make it sound like you're a single parent, so do you realise you would need the father's permission (or a court order) to remove your child from the UK? ..... Do you have any particular state in mind?

Pulaski

Agreed 110%, as per my post #2, above.

Nutmegger

LOL -- I wasn't sure why you brought up a home business, as my post was thinking in terms of the regs governing a legit concern such as you mentioned in #2, not a "just drop 'em off at my place" arrangement!

Sally Redux

I thought you meant running an agency or something like that.

Childminding where we lived was either after-school clubs or 'housekeepers' from Central/South America.