What insurance does a daycare business need? (2026)
Most daycare operations carry a stack of commercial-insurance lines — some legally required (typically workers' compensation when you have employees), most commonly carried because clients, landlords, lenders, or regulators expect them. Below: the lines that bureau filings most often cite for daycare operations. Confirm what's legally required vs commonly carried with a licensed agent in your state — requirements vary state by state.
Typical insurance coverages for daycare operations
Most daycare businesses carry a stack of 2 commercial-insurance lines — based on common industry practice and the lines that bureau filings most often cite for this vertical. Workers' comp is typically required by state law where employees are involved; the rest are commonly carried but not always legally mandated. Confirm with a licensed agent in your state for what's legally required vs commonly carried.
- Workers' Compensation →Medical bills + lost wages for employees injured on the job. Typically required by state law where employees are involved (TX is voluntary).
- General Liability →Third-party bodily injury, property damage, and personal/advertising injury claims arising from your operations.
Want pricing detail for daycare?
See the full daycare insurance cost guide — industry-typical ranges, cost drivers, ways to reduce premium, and recent filed-rate citations.
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Insurance requirements for other industries
Browse the typical insurance coverage stack for other verticals. Each links to that industry's standalone requirements page.
| Business activity |
|---|
| Babysitting services, child care |
| Babysitting services in provider's own home, child care |
| Before-school and after-school educational programs, separate from schools |
| Child care babysitting services |
| Child care, before or after school, separate from schools |
| Child care services |
| Child care services in provider's own home |
| Child day care centers |
| Day care centers, child or infant |
| Day care services, child or infant |
| Family child care homes (excluding private households employing nannies) |
| Group day care centers, child or infant |
| Head Start and Early Head Start programs, separate from schools |
| Infant care services |
| Infant day care centers |
| Nursery schools |
| Pre-kindergarten centers (except part of elementary school system) |
| Preschool centers |