Is The Food Program Worth It?

[LysesKids]

Only solid meals need to be scheduled, bottles are on demand.

I realize that but all my babes still flip flop naps & meals quite a bit; still not worth the headache of the extra paperwork or having her show when kids are asleep instead of eating - I have only 2 babes right now that would actually be fed meals (I have a MacBook & here they work off Windows only online) and I only can have 4 kids total, no kids of my own still @ home. The one parent doesn't want breads or cereals fed either, so right there screws meals

[TomCopeland]

Food Program

If we aren't on the food program, would we deduct the cost of everything we serve or is it better to use the standard rates they pay us as a guideline? And is it merely 'a wash' if we are on the program? Is one way(on or off the food program) more beneficial than another?

Thanks!!

Providers are always better off financially if they join the Food Program!
You can deduct food expenses in the same way whether or not you are on the Food Program. You can use the standard meal allowance method to claim food expenses whether or not you are on the Food Program.
It's not a wash!
If you spend $4,000 on food and are not on the Food Program, you have a $4,000 deduction.
If you join the Food Program and receive $3,000 in reimbursements, you still deduct the $4,000 in food expenses.
So, joining the Food Program gets you $3,000 in income in this example. You will pay taxes on the $3,000, but you will still have a lot more money after taxes than before.
Get on the Food Program!
See my article: http://tomcopelandblog.com/is-the-food-program-worth-it

[hwichlaz]

I realize that but all my babes still flip flop naps & meals quite a bit; still not worth the headache of the extra paperwork or having her show when kids are asleep instead of eating - I have only 2 babes right now that would actually be fed meals (I have a MacBook & here they work off Windows only online) and I only can have 4 kids total, no kids of my own still @ home. The one parent doesn't want breads or cereals fed either, so right there screws meals

My sponsor doesn't expect me to wake sleeping kids for meals. Even big kids. The kids only need be present at the meal time, and the food needs to also be present. So if 4 are still napping because they have colds, and one is awake eating snack when she comes to inspect...it still counts. As long as she see that I have enough for the kids that are sleeping to have their snack when they wake up.

[hwichlaz]

Also, they only inspect 3 times per year with the food program. So if you have to wake them up for the meal...only three times in one year....that's a lot of money to turn down for 3 messed up nap times over 12 months.