The agencies state $15,745 to $15,775 in initial fees across 4 of the 8 items; 3 are free; 1 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a daycare in Massachusetts?
$15,745 to $15,775 in state fees the agencies state, across 4 of the 8 licenses, permits and registrations; 3 are free; 1 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a daycare in Massachusetts
Drafted from the agencies’ own pages; some rows still wait to be confirmed. Open the official page before you pay anything.
- Stated state fees
- $15,745 to $15,775initial fees across 4 of 8 items
- Free items
- 3no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 1by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 8in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Certificate of organization (LLC) and the annual report Secretary of the Commonwealth Premium only Business certificate (DBA) The city or town clerk where the business has its office Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee MassTaxConnect registration: sales and use tax, meals tax, withholding Massachusetts Department of Revenue Free Local licensing: no state business license Your city or town’s licensing authority Free Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval, building permit and certificate of occupancy Your city or town building department Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Large group and school age child care license Department of Early Education and Care Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, paid family and medical leave, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Department of Unemployment Assistance Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Corporations Division LLC pages and filing fee schedule; 950 CMR 112.00; M.G.L. c. 156C; M.G.L. c. 110, section 5; town clerk business certificate pages (Milford, Middleton and Norfolk $50, Boylston and Southborough $40, Rochester $20); IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue MassTaxConnect registration pages; M.G.L. c. 64H and c. 64L; Massachusetts General Laws c. 140 (local licenses); city licensing pages (Cambridge License Commission, Boston Licensing Board); Board of Building Regulations and Standards (780 CMR); M.G.L. c. 40A (zoning); municipal zoning bylaws and ordinances; EEC application fee schedule (large group and school age, effective February 2010); 606 CMR 7.00; EEC group and school age program pages; Department of Unemployment Assistance employer contribution pages (2026 rates, $15,000 wage base); Department of Family and Medical Leave contribution pages (M.G.L. c. 175M); Department of Industrial Accidents workers’ compensation requirements; 830 CMR 62E.2.1 (new hires). Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.