The agencies state $25,145 in initial fees across 4 of the 8 items; 1 are free; 3 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 Oklahoma?
$25,145 in state fees the agencies state, across 4 of the 8 licenses, permits and registrations; 1 are free; 3 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 Oklahoma
Drafted from the agencies’ own pages; some rows still wait to be confirmed. Open the official page before you pay anything.
- Stated state fees
- $25,145initial fees across 4 of 8 items
- Free items
- 1no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 3by 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 Articles of organization (LLC) and the annual certificate Oklahoma Secretary of State Premium only Trade name report (DBA) Oklahoma Secretary of State Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Business registration: sales tax permit, employer withholding Oklahoma Tax Commission Premium only City business license Your city’s licensing office Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city’s planning and building departments Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Child care center license Oklahoma Human Services Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Oklahoma Employment Security Commission 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
Secretary of State business filing pages and forms; 18 O.S. 2055 (filing fees) and 2055.2 (annual certificate); Secretary of State trade name report forms (SOS form 0039, amended trade name report, showing the $25 filing fee); IRS EIN page; Oklahoma Tax Commission business registration pages and OkTAP help center; Publication D (sales tax vendor responsibilities, three-year permit term); Oklahoma Department of Commerce guidance; Oklahoma City and Tulsa business licensing pages and ordinances; City zoning and building ordinances; Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission adopted codes; Licensing Requirements for Child Care Programs (OKDHS publication 14-05, effective November 1, 2025); OAC 340:110-3; Oklahoma Child Care Facilities Licensing Act (10 O.S. 401 and following); OESC contribution rates page and Important Numbers for 2026; OESC new hire reporting page; 85A O.S. 2 and 36 (Administrative Workers’ Compensation Act). Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.