Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about how Childcare Owl works, pricing, and setup.
What is Childcare Owl?
Childcare Owl is a daily operations platform built specifically for childcare centers and daycare directors. It replaces sticky notes, spreadsheets, and verbal reminders with structured task lists, room-by-room checklists, and automatic completion tracking — so directors always know what's been done and what hasn't.
How is Childcare Owl different from Brightwheel?
Brightwheel is built for parent communication — billing, messaging, and child check-in. Childcare Owl is built for your internal operations — staff task management, daily checklists, room routines, and compliance documentation. Most centers use both: Brightwheel for parents, Childcare Owl for running the center.
Does Childcare Owl help with childcare licensing inspections?
It can help you stay organized for one. Every task completion and manager signoff is logged automatically with a timestamp and the staff member responsible, giving you organized, dated records you can pull up when a licensor asks — though Childcare Owl isn't a compliance or regulatory tool, and it's still on you to know what your state requires. Pro plans can also export any report as a branded PDF to hand a licensor directly.
What's the difference between the Starter and Pro plans?
Starter covers a single center with up to 3 rooms and 2 custom task lists. Pro removes those limits (unlimited rooms and custom lists) and adds staff certification tracking with expiration alerts, PDF report exports, and custom center branding on reports. Both plans include the full system template library, unlimited staff members, and task completion tracking with manager signoff.
Does Childcare Owl track staff certifications like CPR and First Aid?
Yes, on the Pro plan. Childcare Owl ships with CPR and First Aid ready to track out of the box, and directors can add any other certification type their center or state requires. The Dashboard flags certifications that are expired or expiring soon so they don't slip past you.
Can I create custom task lists for my center?
Yes. Childcare Owl includes a library of proven system templates for opening, closing, safety checks, and sanitation. You can also build your own custom lists tailored to your center's specific routines. Starter plan includes up to 2 custom lists; Pro includes unlimited.
How many staff members can use Childcare Owl?
There is no per-seat limit. Your entire team — directors, managers, and staff — can all be added to the platform at no additional cost per user.
What types of checklists are included?
Childcare Owl comes with built-in system templates including Morning Opening, Evening Closing, Playground Safety, Classroom Daily Sanitation, Nap Time Setup, and Classroom Transition. These are ready to use on day one and can be customized or added to at any time.
Is Childcare Owl a replacement for my parent communication app?
No — and that's intentional. Childcare Owl is focused entirely on internal center operations. It works alongside tools like Brightwheel or Procare, not instead of them. Think of it as the operational backbone your team uses behind the scenes.
How long does it take to get set up?
Most centers are fully set up within 30 minutes. You create your center, add your rooms, assign task lists, and invite your team. System templates are already loaded — no configuration required to get started.
What happens after my 14-day free trial?
At the end of your trial your card is charged automatically for the plan you selected — $49/month for Starter or $99/month for Pro. You can cancel any time before the trial ends and you won't be charged. No setup fees, no long-term contracts.
Does Childcare Owl work for multi-room centers?
Yes. Childcare Owl is built around a room-based structure — Infant, Toddler, Pre-K, and any other rooms your center has. Each room gets its own task lists, assigned staff, and completion tracking. Pro plan supports unlimited rooms for larger centers.