Childcare Research, Ready to Deploy
The first independent quality rating system for childcare. 400+ providers scored across 5 cities — built for organizations that serve working parents.
The Gap
GreatSchools rates K-12. Nobody rates ages 0-5. Parents searching for childcare have no Consumer Reports, no independent rating system, and no structured way to compare providers on quality, cost, or safety record. They rely on Google, Facebook groups, and frantic waitlist signups.
Shortlist fills that gap. Every provider is independently researched and scored A through D across licensing compliance, staff qualifications, program philosophy, cost transparency, and inspection history. No sponsored listings. No paid placements. Published methodology.
See for yourself — browse any city below. Enter an email for full access to editorial reviews, score breakdowns, and cost data.
Seattle · Chicago · Denver · Kansas City · Charlotte
How Organizations Use Shortlist
Employers & Benefits Teams
Childcare navigation as an employee benefit
Parents who can't find reliable care delay their return to work, reduce hours, or leave entirely. Shortlist gives your employees independent, quality-assessed childcare research — so they make confident decisions and come back focused.
- Branded childcare portal for employees in covered metros
- Scored providers with editorial reviews, cost comparisons, and inspection analysis
- Turnkey delivery — no build required on your end
- Aggregate usage dashboard (no PII)
Relocation Management Companies
Childcare search for destination services
Every relo package includes school search assistance. None includes childcare search. Relocating parents arrive in a new city with zero local network and no way to evaluate childcare quality. Shortlist provides the same kind of structured, quality-assessed data that destination services already delivers for K-12 schools.
- Childcare navigation reports for relocating families (branded or white-labeled)
- Pre-move research — families can compare providers before they arrive
- Cost-per-care-hour normalization across provider types and neighborhoods
- Optional concierge consultation for complex placements
Benefits Brokers & HR Platforms
A new benefits category your clients can offer
Childcare navigation sits between backup care and nothing. Most employers offer parental leave and maybe Bright Horizons for emergencies. Nothing helps parents navigate the permanent childcare decision — the one that determines whether they come back to work at all. Shortlist is independent research your clients can offer without the cost or complexity of on-site care.
- Voluntary benefit placement alongside existing family benefits
- White-label integration into benefits platforms
- No maintenance — Shortlist updates all provider data continuously
- New cities added based on client demand
What Makes This Different
Independent research
Every provider is individually evaluated using public records and direct investigation. Not aggregated reviews, not a marketplace, not a directory.
Cost normalization
The only source providing apples-to-apples cost-per-care-hour data at the neighborhood level. Compare a Montessori program to a home daycare on the same basis.
Stability signals
The same factors Shortlist scores — inspection compliance, staff stability, financial transparency — are leading indicators of provider instability. We monitor for closures, licensing actions, and financial distress across our coverage area. In the past year, multiple providers in our covered cities have closed with little notice, including a KC program that displaced 289 children. Employees using Shortlist start with providers that score well on stability indicators.
No competitor does this
Bright Horizons provides backup care. Care.com is a marketplace. Winnie is a directory. GreatSchools covers K-12. Nobody independently rates childcare quality for ages 0-5.
Coverage
Five metro areas with 400+ providers researched and scored. Expanding to 15-20 cities in 2026-2027 based on partner demand.
Seattle · Chicago · Denver · Kansas City · Charlotte
Need a city not listed? Partnerships can include research in additional metros.
Start a Conversation
Whether you're a benefits leader, a relocation firm, a broker, or an employee who wants this at your company — we'd like to hear from you.
Email [email protected]