Need A Boost Of Confidence

[awestbrook713]

Okay so I have been on here driving everyone crazy with posts about policies and rates well this is my last one I just need a little boost of confidence.

Thanks to some really awesome suggestions and ideas I have figured out what I am going to do involving rates and school age children. Here it goes:

1. Charging a weekly rate. I will figure this out by charging either $20 or $25 per child and then multiply the total from one day times how many days the child or children are there.
2. Getting rid of sibling discount. Not fair to myself I am not providing discounted care so why should I get paid a discounted rate (thanks to who said this it really hit home)
3. If a family has a SA child and a younger child there will be two rates a summer rate where they are both included and a school rate where I will charge a weekly rate figured out the same way as I explained in #1 just minus the older child. When the older child needs care they will be charged a drop in day care rate (thanks pfund for this awesome idea) this rate will be $25 or $30 depending on what rate I choose to use to figure out weekly rates.

So now that I have the above figured out I now have to decide to I take a chance and use the $25 charge, still below the area average for daily rates, or do I stay with my $20 rate I am charging now to be safe.

Here are what average rates in my area are:
--------------Under 1 1/2-------1 1/2-2-------3-5---------6-12
Weekly-----------$140------------$139--------$135--------$130
Daily--------------$30---------------------------------------->

[familyschoolcare]

I only do school age my rates are as follows.

not yet in kindy but still attending a school program for atleast 5 hours a day 5 days $113 3 days $72 and 2 days $59

k-1 5 days $100 3 days $63 and 2 days $49

grades 2-5 5 days $98 3 days $62 2 days $46

grades 6 and up 5 days $95 3 days $61 2 days $42


Summer and school holiday weeks are as follows

not yet in kindy but still attending a school program for atleast 5 hours a day 5 days $250 3 days $158 and 2 days $130


k-1 5 days $175 3 days $115 and 2 days $77

grades 2-5 5 days $171 3 days $116 2 days $73

grades 6 and up 5 days $167 3 days $117 2 days $69


I charge the same for before and after as I do for just after ... when asked about a discount for after only I ask what time do you think you will be picking the child up. so far the answer has always be 5:30 or later to which I respond yah that is perty normal for parents that do not need before schoold care I find that the parents thst use befores school care pick up at or before 4:30 and those that do not pick up after 5:00 so the rate is the same either way. I also do not charge extra for teacher in service days, I do not give a discount for the holidays I take off. Each week the same rate is due. I do not live where I need to deal with late start or school closures due to snow or bad weather.

Hope this information helps.

If the going rate in your area for 6-12 full time is 130 a week then I would charge $20 a day for care during the school year charging more for winter break spring break and presidents week.

[awestbrook713]

I debated charging the $20 for the school year rate but I feel like I am giving in. I only have two paying kids in the 6-12 category. The rest are 3-5 and I will have 1 paying infant starting november. I am meeting with my first parent today to explain what I am going to do with rates and hope all goes well. This parent runs their own business too and knows how hard setting rates is so hopefully she understands and supports my decision, if not at least I have until January to get out there and advertise and find families that will be willing to pay what I am asking.

The following is what I have typed up to sit down with the parent and explain the rate:

New Rates
Child x and Child y Summer Rate School Rate

$100 a week $50 a week


I am changing to a weekly rate as of January 2012. I have figured out the above rates using the daily rate of $25 per child per scheduled day. Your children are scheduled for Wednesdays and Fridays. Since Child y is in school and only comes on the occasional holiday or day when school is closed I have subtracted her half of the rate from the school rate. If she has a day during the school year she needs care you will be charged the daily drop in rate of $25.

Signature Parent_____________________________

Signature Provider_____________________________

Date______________________________

Sound good? I was also thinking about bringing to the table how much I spend on supplies weekly or monthly, would this be a good idea?

[awestbrook713]

So talked to my first mom and didn't get the response I was hoping for. She didn't say no she couldn't do it but she didn't seem happy about it. I keep thinking I should charge the $20 rate for school year weekly rate and the $25 rate for the summer weekly rate, but then I feel like I am giving in just because I can't get the parents I have to agree. I'm gonna stick to my plan and hope for the best if everyone else gives me the same response when I meet with them I guess I may go with the $20 rate but it is the only thing I am going to bend on. Anyone else ever change there rates and have an overwhelming bad response? How did you handle it and still be true to yourself?