Child Care Center Business Support
Basic Business Resources
Child Care Center Tools and Resources
- Center Financial Management Toolkit (Opportunities Exchange)
- Center Financial Management Self-Assessment (Opportunities Exchange)
- Center Budget Template (Excel Download, Opportunities Exchange)
- Center Chart of Accounts (Opportunities Exchange)
- Salary Scale Template (Opportunities Exchange)
- Child Care Management System Software (Software to help you run your business). Frequently Asked Questions (Opportunities Exchange)
Facilities Help: NJEDA
The NJ Economic Development Authority (NJ EDA) operates a Child Care Facilities Improvement Program to provide grants to NJ child care centers for facility improvements that will contribute to high quality early childhood learning environments. The application period is currently closed in order to review and award grants between $50,000 – $200,000 to child care center applicants. NJEDA is not out of funding so periodically check to see if a new grant submission period is announced. More information is here.
Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs)
Free Small Business Counseling Near You
Small Business Development Centers receive funding by Congress to support start-up businesses and help current businesses manage their financial practices (from budgeting & planning to best practices).
- Find a free SBDC business consultant near you.
U.S. Small Business Administration business management resources.
Understand the Iron Triangle!
Access to Capital – Loans
Federal Help for Child Care Businesses
- Small Business Administration (SBA): Support America’s small businesses. The SBA connects entrepreneurs with lenders and funding to help them plan, start and grow their businesses.
- Women Owned Business Center: Find your local Women Owned Business Center for support for women business owners.
- Score: The nation’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors. They have helped more than 11 million small business owners since 1964.
Emergency Planning
Federal and state laws require all regulated child care businesses to have an emergency plan.
There are many templates. Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency today for help in drafting your plan!
A Key Business Resource to Manage Your Day to Day Success
Check out the business resources in the NJ Shared Resources Platform.
- Discounts on frequently purchased products!
- Business templates
- HR Support
- Forms, policies, ready-to-use templates
- And more!
Contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agency if you need help gaining access to the NJ Shared Resources Platform. Or, if you would like support in connecting the many resources within the platform to your daily work! Download this cheat sheet of resources contained in the platform.
Thriving by Three
The Thriving by Three Infant and Toddler Child Care Grant will help support the development and creation of infant and toddler slots and provide technical assistance to providers for the expansion of child care spaces.
Thriving by Three grants for licensed child care centers and Head Start/Early Head Start programs accepted applications from March through June 2023. To learn more, visit the Licensed Child Care Centers and Head Start/Early Head Start Division of Family Development web page.
For year 1 of Thriving by Three grants,
- $3,000 per new infant or toddler child care slot
- Minimum of 4 slots
For more information, see the Division of Family Development Thriving by Three web page.
- Watch this DFD video for an overview
Also, remember to apply for the NJEDA Child Care Facilities Improvement Grant Program, which can be used to expand space for infants and toddlers (once the application process is open again for centers). Stay tuned!
Key New Jersey State Agencies
Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development
Department of Children and Families, Office of Licensing
- Child Care Center Manual
- Family Child Care Manual (also see CCANJ’s FCC Business Support Resources)
Health Insurance Resources
The American Rescue Plan makes health care coverage more affordable! If you do not currently have health insurance or, have health insurance through Get Covered New Jersey, you may be able to get free or greatly reduced cost health coverage. Read our one pager to learn more!
- American Rescue Plan Health Insurance One Pager (August 2022)
IRS Information
The Employee Retention Credit
The Employee Retention Tax Credit or ERTC is a refundable tax credit for businesses and tax-exempt organizations that had employees and were affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, filing for the credit means filing an amended tax return for wages paid to employees between March 13, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021.
You can check to see if your business is eligible by using the IRS checklist tool. If you think you may be eligible, reach out to a trusted tax professional for guidance in filing amended tax returns.
Note: The IRS continues to see aggressive marketing that lures ineligible taxpayers to claim the ERTC. While the credit is real, many promoters are aggressively misrepresenting who can qualify for the credit. In many instances, the IRS is seeing businesses and tax-exempt organizations being misled by promoters into thinking they’re eligible when they are not. Anyone who incorrectly claims the ERTC must pay it back, possibly with penalties and interest.
Links to Internal Revenue Service Forms & Material
- IRS Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return(Form and Instructions)
- All IRS Forms and Publications
Templates to Use
Quick Access Information for Your Toolbox!
Child Care Aware of New Jersey:
- Child Care & Record-keeping (One Pager, May 1, 2021)
- Expense Tracker Template