Childcare Centre

This article details how a CWELCC daycare centre transition process goes for a share purchase agreement.

Starting a daycare business in Ontario comes with many options—and important decisions. Whether you’re opening a new centre, buying an existing one, or considering a franchise, understanding your eligibility for the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) program is key. This visual guide breaks down the most common pathways for both non-profit and for-profit operators, highlighting licensing routes, CWELCC eligibility, required experience, and the level of difficulty. Use this chart to help identify which path fits your goals, qualifications, and region’s requirements.

This article summarizes and keeps updated the latest CWELCC developments, with links to each region’s official child-care site.

This article explains the CWELCC allocations. It is based on the CWELCC 2025 guidelines, which may change as the government updates its policies. It is important to always refer to the latest official government documents.

The CWELCC program provides an estimator tool to help childcare centres project their funding allocations. Please note that this estimator is specific to the 2025 CWELCC funding year. As the program evolves, updated estimators may become available in future years. This article will guide you through estimating your CWELCC funding and understanding the potential allocation your centre might receive.

You might wonder — if daycare centres are a good business, why would anyone want to sell one? This article will discuss the common reasons.

If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to buy or sell a childcare centre that is enrolled in the CWELCC (Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care) program, the short answer is yes—but it must be done through a share purchase.

If you’re an aspiring daycare operator, you might be wondering what your options are for entering the industry. Generally, there are two main paths: building a daycare from scratch or buying an existing business. Each of these paths has several sub-options, depending on your background, experience, and risk tolerance.

This article is a checklist designed for new operators who plan to lease.