I agree with Ashliegh - setting your fees depends on what the market can bare in your area combined with the service, experience and so forth that you offer in comparison to others ... in London fees range anywhere for $25 - 40 a day depending on the area you live in, demand for care and service being offered....definitel y research your competition so to speak.

As for toys and equipment ... I would opt for choosing open ended materials in your playroom to start .... materials that can be used in a variety of different ways and can be used different by various age groups. I have very few 'baby toys' in my program aside from 'teethers' - babies play with the same thing everyone else plays with just differently.

IMO key areas to have are:

A dramatic play area for role playing and fantasy play ... things to dress up with, to make meals, play restaurant with, take care of babies, go to 'work' and so forth as they explore with their imagination - Value Village is a GREAT place to seek real materials for this area that can be used by all age groups .... fabric strips can be used for 'dress up' can be explored by babies as they touch different textures, pots and pans for clanging and putting things in and out of and so forth while older children will actually create imaginary play with them, collapsible crates, keyboards, phones, cameras, hats, jackets, dresses, aprons. Collect REAL things from your recycling like milk cartons, boxes, containers and so forth for 'fridge' which are FREE and no skin off your nose if they get ruined or chewed - just toss em out and collect some new ones. Large river stones from the dollar store can be 'food' in the kitchen centre, can be money and a variety of other things in the playroom. Save the 'lids' from dried out markers they too make great food as well as 'animal claws' or finger puppets - have seen my crew use these for hordes of things - even connecting them and making them 'roads' for cars or towers in the block area

A block area with a variety of wooden blocks, vehicles, little people, animals and so forth for building cities, zoos and other 'imaginary play' with.

A book nook ... books, puppets, felt board stories. puzzles and so forth for exploring literacy and story telling and 'quiet' play.

A small table area for creative exploration and sensory exploration as well as a place where older children can play with materials that the smaller 'babes' cannot knock over or disturb.

With those four areas covered children should be able to stay engaged for long periods of time ... you can than build and add any floor toys or 'rotational' toys to these areas as your program grows and define and develop on these areas

For ideas on your playroom set up - google home childcare settings and daycare centre set ups and see what inspires you

Congratulations on your new endeavor!