How Much to Charge?

[Momof2Boys]

Hi there!!

I have been a member here for a couple of months, and have just been lurking...which has already answered a lot of my questions! I currently work part-time, but am considering starting my own daycare (I have two boys of my own - a 3 year old and a 6 month old). I am willing to get licensed if enough families are intersted in care.

Anyway, I had a lady contact me about watching her 2 year old and 4 year old daughters 3 days a week for about 13 hours a day (she works three 12 hour shifts at a hospital) and she asked me what I would charge. I know that licensed daycare providers have asked for about $35/day for an infant, and $30/day for a toddler for my boys when I was looking for childcare (so about $170 a week). The hours I needed were only 5 1/2-7 hours max per day!

At my current job I make about $200 a week (before childcare costs and gas), so I would like to be able to continue making this much. Do you think I would be asking for too much if I charged this lady $70 a day for her two girls? That would come out to be $210 a week.

Like I said, I am not licensed, but am willing to get this accomplished. And this fall, I would even like to start doing preschool activities with the kids. Should I charge more once I begin these things?

Anyway, I appreciate any information!

[jen]

I think thats more than fair!

[mac60]

Being licensed has nothing to do with what you should charge. Your quality of care, what you offer, etc, is where the cost should come in. As far as rates, you should probably research your area and go from there.

[momofboys]

Hi there!!

I have been a member here for a couple of months, and have just been lurking...which has already answered a lot of my questions! I currently work part-time, but am considering starting my own daycare (I have two boys of my own - a 3 year old and a 6 month old). I am willing to get licensed if enough families are intersted in care.

Anyway, I had a lady contact me about watching her 2 year old and 4 year old daughters 3 days a week for about 13 hours a day (she works three 12 hour shifts at a hospital) and she asked me what I would charge. I know that licensed daycare providers have asked for about $35/day for an infant, and $30/day for a toddler for my boys when I was looking for childcare (so about $170 a week). The hours I needed were only 5 1/2-7 hours max per day!

At my current job I make about $200 a week (before childcare costs and gas), so I would like to be able to continue making this much. Do you think I would be asking for too much if I charged this lady $70 a day for her two girls? That would come out to be $210 a week.

Like I said, I am not licensed, but am willing to get this accomplished. And this fall, I would even like to start doing preschool activities with the kids. Should I charge more once I begin these things?

Anyway, I appreciate any information!

I think that sounds fair. It would be a LONG day for you though so please take that into consideration when thinking of the pricing.

[nannyde]

Hi there!!

I have been a member here for a couple of months, and have just been lurking...which has already answered a lot of my questions! I currently work part-time, but am considering starting my own daycare (I have two boys of my own - a 3 year old and a 6 month old). I am willing to get licensed if enough families are intersted in care.

Anyway, I had a lady contact me about watching her 2 year old and 4 year old daughters 3 days a week for about 13 hours a day (she works three 12 hour shifts at a hospital) and she asked me what I would charge. I know that licensed daycare providers have asked for about $35/day for an infant, and $30/day for a toddler for my boys when I was looking for childcare (so about $170 a week). The hours I needed were only 5 1/2-7 hours max per day!

At my current job I make about $200 a week (before childcare costs and gas), so I would like to be able to continue making this much. Do you think I would be asking for too much if I charged this lady $70 a day for her two girls? That would come out to be $210 a week.

Like I said, I am not licensed, but am willing to get this accomplished. And this fall, I would even like to start doing preschool activities with the kids. Should I charge more once I begin these things?

Anyway, I appreciate any information!

What she is asking for is that you do a full week of day care in three days. You need to charge her a full week of pay. If licensed providers charge 35 a day for one day then you need to mulitply that by 1.5 because each day you are doing one and a half days. That's per child.

You will quickly tire of doing that many hours for 35 dollars per kid per day. It's less than three dollars per hour per kid. The Mom is getting a day and a half of pay for every day she works. You should too. By doing 35 a day per child you are basically giving her a half day of work free every day. People that work that long of a shift KNOW that child care is way more expensive than a traditional 9 hour working day. She may be looking for someone to do the extra half day for free so she can have "part time" day care rates instead of the full time rates for the hours you are actually doing.

[misol]

What she is asking for is that you do a full week of day care in three days. You need to charge her a full week of pay. If licensed providers charge 35 a day for one day then you need to mulitply that by 1.5 because each day you are doing one and a half days. That's per child.

You will quickly tire of doing that many hours for 35 dollars per kid per day. It's less than three dollars per hour per kid. The Mom is getting a day and a half of pay for every day she works. You should too. By doing 35 a day per child you are basically giving her a half day of work free every day. People that work that long of a shift KNOW that child care is way more expensive than a traditional 9 hour working day. She may be looking for someone to do the extra half day for free so she can have "part time" day care rates instead of the full time rates for the hours you are actually doing.

This makes perfect sense. After reading this I would also charge her for the full week.

[momofboys]

What she is asking for is that you do a full week of day care in three days. You need to charge her a full week of pay. If licensed providers charge 35 a day for one day then you need to mulitply that by 1.5 because each day you are doing one and a half days. That's per child.

You will quickly tire of doing that many hours for 35 dollars per kid per day. It's less than three dollars per hour per kid. The Mom is getting a day and a half of pay for every day she works. You should too. By doing 35 a day per child you are basically giving her a half day of work free every day. People that work that long of a shift KNOW that child care is way more expensive than a traditional 9 hour working day. She may be looking for someone to do the extra half day for free so she can have "part time" day care rates instead of the full time rates for the hours you are actually doing.

NOw that I read this I totally agree with it! My kids that I watch are "only" here about 9 1/2 hrs & that is a long day to me. I'd strongly encourage you to add $5-10 a day per child or more, whatever you feel comfortable with. When you talk prices with the mom explain that you typically charge "X" amount but that price is only good for X number of hours which is a standard work day. This is more like a day and a half. Good luck & keep us posted!!

[momma2girls]

I have $30.00 for a full day parttime or a fillin rate. My fulltime rate is $140.00/$130.00 potty trained. This is for a 9-9 1/2 hr. day. I have friends that do a max. of 9 hrs. per day- anything over that or 45 hrs. a week is considered OT for her. I agree with this. I think she receives $5.00 per hr. after the 45 hrs. THis is anything after 45 hrs. even if it is only 15 or 20 min.

[Pammie]

Just a thought to consider.....
Sometime in the future should you decide to offer daycare to other families that may have more traditional work hours in addition to this family..those 13 hour days are going to be very, very challenging - not only for you, but for your family as well.

It's too easy to burn-out in this profession by over-extending yourself. I truly encourage you to thoughtfully consider the impact on yourself and your own kids by just starting out in the world of daycare and for your kids to have to share their mom for so much over-time.

I commend all providers that can and do offer "overtime" care. I personally couldn't do it, and I know when my kids were younger, they really enjoyed their own time with mom after all of the daycare kids left for the day.

Just my very most humble opinion

[momma2girls]

Just a thought to consider.....
Sometime in the future should you decide to offer daycare to other families that may have more traditional work hours in addition to this family..those 13 hour days are going to be very, very challenging - not only for you, but for your family as well.

It's too easy to burn-out in this profession by over-extending yourself. I truly encourage you to thoughtfully consider the impact on yourself and your own kids by just starting out in the world of daycare and for your kids to have to share their mom for so much over-time.

I commend all providers that can and do offer "overtime" care. I personally couldn't do it, and I know when my kids were younger, they really enjoyed their own time with mom after all of the daycare kids left for the day.

Just my very most humble opinion

I agree with you- I am open 9 - 9 1/2 hrs. I think this is plenty of time for work and commute times for everyone. I know my family comes first! I wouldn't babysit any longer, I think 9- 9 1/2 hrs. a day is enough!!!

[SunflowerMama]

I think thats more than fair!

I totally agree and agree with pp people that you should charge a full week based on the hours you would be watching them.

[momma2girls]

I agree also it is going to be a full time in the amt. of hrs. you will be taking care of them, even though, it is only 3 days/week- That is still fulltime hrs.!!!

[Unregistered]

I have a part time rate of $62.50 per child for any care up to 20 hours and anything over that is $125 a week, thats the going rate in my area, for my doing by hours stops the arguing of it only being 2 or 3 days, if its over 20 hours charge full time..kiddie care

[Momof2Boys]

I want to thank you all so much for the responses! It never occured to me that it would be a full work week in only three days, or that she would be getting a day and a half pay. We are currently emailing back and forth, and the last one I sent her said that I would be willing to do $80 a day. The reason I said this amount, is because her girls would be dropped off around 5:45am, but they could be picked up anywhere between 6:00pm and 7:30pm, so I thought it would be a fair price regardless of pick up time. I will see what she says...

I do have one more question. She mentioned that she would need care 2 OR 3 days a week, so I am now wondering if I should charge a minimum weekly rate in case she only brings them 2 days one week, so that I can still count on a certain amount of income each week. How would you go about this?

I wouldn't plan on taking on any more kids unless they happen to need the same days as this family because I would want the rest of the week with just my family. Anyway, for this reason, I can't exactly charge her a "holding fee" for those spots in my "day care" because she would be the only family I'd be caring for.

You guys are great, and I appreciate your tips and info

[Former Teacher]

I want to thank you all so much for the responses! It never occured to me that it would be a full work week in only three days, or that she would be getting a day and a half pay. We are currently emailing back and forth, and the last one I sent her said that I would be willing to do $80 a day. The reason I said this amount, is because her girls would be dropped off around 5:45am, but they could be picked up anywhere between 6:00pm and 7:30pm, so I thought it would be a fair price regardless of pick up time. I will see what she says...

I do have one more question. She mentioned that she would need care 2 OR 3 days a week, so I am now wondering if I should charge a minimum weekly rate in case she only brings them 2 days one week, so that I can still count on a certain amount of income each week. How would you go about this?

I wouldn't plan on taking on any more kids unless they happen to need the same days as this family because I would want the rest of the week with just my family. Anyway, for this reason, I can't exactly charge her a "holding fee" for those spots in my "day care" because she would be the only family I'd be caring for.

You guys are great, and I appreciate your tips and info

I would charge her a flat rate. That way you are guaranteed money and she is guaranteed a spot ::