The market for center-based child care is highly fragmented, with 90% of U.S. providers operating 10 or fewer centers, according to the company.

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The break-even point for most child care centers is around 65% to 70%, estimates Mark L. Rosenberg, treasurer of the National Child Care Association--but that's assuming your center is large enough to generate economies of scale.

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DeParle describes the lives of two white working class, college-educated women who work together at a Michigan child care center.

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If the property is already zoned for a child care center, getting approval should be a snap--unless you're planning to serve hot meals for children, in which case you'll need to meet requirements similar to a restaurant's.

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As for toys and educational materials, Lakeshore Learning Materials offers one of the broadest selections--books, toys, paints, tricycles, climbing equipment and more--at decent prices, says Michael Olenick, president of Child Care Resource Center, a child care facility located in Van Nuys, Calif.

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