# The COACH Act: A Resource Guide for Child Care Businesses

The COACH Act requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create and regularly update a comprehensive resource guide specifically designed for people running child care businesses. Think of it as an instruction manual that helps child care providers navigate the business side of their work. The SBA must publish this guide within one year of the law passing, and then update it at least every five years after that.

The resource guide will cover six key areas that child care business owners need to understand. First, it addresses operations like marketing and management planning—basically, how to run the day-to-day business. Second, it tackles finances, including budgeting, finding loans, handling payroll, and getting insurance. Third, it explains how to comply with relevant laws, including tax rules. Fourth, it covers training and safety requirements for equipment and materials. Fifth, it explains how to meet quality standards and access government child care funding programs. Finally, the guide can include any other topics the SBA thinks are important.

Before creating this guide, the SBA must consult with the Department of Health and Human Services, state child care agencies, local child care resource organizations, and other relevant experts to make sure the information is accurate and helpful. The guide will be published in English and the ten most commonly spoken languages in the U.S., including Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean, so it reaches a broader audience. The SBA will distribute it through its offices and partner organizations like women's business centers, small business development centers, and veteran business outreach programs, making it accessible to child care providers who might not know where to find business resources.