Daycare startup costs in Indiana.

Plan a child care center’s monthly numbers in Indiana. Typical prices, pay and ratios are filled in, and you can change any of them.

Sources: National Database of Childcare Prices, U.S. Department of Labor, Women's Bureau; Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Spots by age group

How many children your license will allow in each group.

Infants, birth to 2

1 adult per 4 children: the strictest Indiana ratio here (birth to 12 months).

Toddlers, 2 to 3

1 adult per 5 children: the strictest Indiana ratio here (24 to 30 months).

Preschool, 3 to 5

1 adult per 10 children: the strictest Indiana ratio here (3-year-olds).

School age, 5 to 12

1 adult per 15 children: the strictest Indiana ratio here (5 to 13 years).

Weekly tuition by age group

Infants, birth to 2

The price database has no figure here. Type your own.

Toddlers, 2 to 3

The price database has no figure here. Type your own.

Preschool, 3 to 5

The price database has no figure here. Type your own.

School age, 5 to 12

The price database has no figure here. Type your own.

Spots filled (percent)

100 means every spot is filled and paid every week.

Staff pay and hours

Lead teacher pay per hour

Indiana median for preschool teachers, May 2025. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Assistant pay per hour

Indiana median for childcare workers, May 2025. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Director pay per year

Indiana median for preschool and daycare directors, May 2025. Type 0 if you direct.

Lead teachers

We start with one per age group with spots. The other adults are assistants.

Hours open each week

Your own number. 50 is 10 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Rent

Monthly rent

Your own number, with any building costs you pay each month.

Setup costs

Your own one-time costs before you open.

Equipment and furniture

Renovation

Licensing and insurance

Your estimate

Add spots by age group to see your estimate.

Estimates from your own numbers. This is not financial or legal advice.

What we filled in for Indiana

Each figure with its source and year. Change any of them in the calculator.

What	Figure	Source and year
Weekly tuition, infants	None published	U.S. Department of Labor, no price for this state
Weekly tuition, toddlers	None published	U.S. Department of Labor, no price for this state
Weekly tuition, preschoolers	None published	U.S. Department of Labor, no price for this state
Weekly tuition, school-age children	None published	U.S. Department of Labor, no price for this state
Lead teacher pay	$17.62 a hour	Bureau of Labor Statistics, Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education (25-2011), median, May 2025
Assistant pay	$14.51 a hour	Bureau of Labor Statistics, Childcare Workers (39-9011), median, May 2025
Director pay	$58,740 a year	Bureau of Labor Statistics, Education and Childcare Administrators, Preschool and Daycare (11-9031), median, May 2025
Ratio, infants	1 adult per 4 children	Indiana licensing rule for birth to 12 months, last changed June 18, 2026
Ratio, toddlers	1 adult per 5 children	Indiana licensing rule for 24 to 30 months, last changed June 18, 2026
Ratio, preschoolers	1 adult per 10 children	Indiana licensing rule for 3-year-olds, last changed June 18, 2026
Ratio, school-age children	1 adult per 15 children	Indiana licensing rule for 5 to 13 years, last changed June 18, 2026

Run a program in Indiana? Bloomily handles enrollment, billing, check-in and family messages. See how it works

Plan your program

How to start a daycare in Indiana
The steps, from license to opening day.
Indiana licensing guide
Ratios, trainings and the checklist the state asks for.
Startup costs in another state
Pick any state.

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to open a daycare in Indiana?

It depends on your building, size and plan. Type your own setup costs to see the months to cover them.

How much do daycare workers make in Indiana?

Childcare workers earned a median of $14.51 an hour in May 2025. Preschool teachers earned $17.62.

How many staff does a daycare need in Indiana?

For infants, the strictest ratio is 1 adult per 4 children. For preschoolers it is 1 per 10.

Is owning a daycare profitable?

It depends on enrollment, tuition, pay and rent. The calculator shows what is left each month from your own numbers.

Where the numbers come from

Pay starts at the state’s median pay, May 2025, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Lead teachers use preschool teacher pay, assistants use childcare worker pay, and directors use their own.

Ratios are the state licensing rules on our licensing pages, last changed June 18, 2026.

Each age group uses the strictest ratio the state sets for any age in it.

Spots, hours, rent and setup costs are your own numbers.

Staff pay is pay only. It leaves out payroll taxes, benefits and paid time off.

Every result is an estimate from your own numbers. It is not financial or legal advice.

Questions about childcare in Indiana?

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