Frustration

[awestbrook713]

I charge weekly rates I figure out the weekly rate by multiplying # of days a week by $25 a day so at max my parents are being charged $125 a week for 5 days. My drop in rate is $25 also. The average in my area is $30 a day and $140 a week so why am I being made to feel like I am charging outrageous rates.

How many of us charge by the spot and not a dollars per hour rate?

I keep telling the parents they are paying for their spot not there time here. I am open 6am to 5pm and have never limited the amount of time the kids our here but I am not about to tell the parents they can use all 11 hours each day because that will open another can of worms.

I received an email from one of my parents that she can't afford the $50 a week she is paying for two 3 to 4 hour days. I am also holding this parents school aged daughters spot for nothing.

I was talking to my own mother about my rates and she even said she thought they sounded high, I mean if my own family can't be on my side how can I be confident I am doing the right thing.

I guess what I am looking for is some assurance from fellow daycare providers that I am not charging or doing anything out of the norm.

I really get bent out of shape over this because these parents that keep screaming they can't pay my rates are the ones with the best of everything, getting their hair done every other week, buying their children name brand everything, while I struggle to pay my bills and pay for the expenses of my business.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[bunnyslippers]

I charge $55 per full day, and $40 per day if the child is here less than 5 hours. I charge regardless of attendance - if the spot is yours, payment is expected. You are not a babysitter, you are a qualified provider who cares for these children like your own. If you are comfortable with what you charge, then do not worry about what other people have for opinions! It is a business - I am sure you are not doing child care as a hobby or a favor. They wouldn't question a dry cleaner, the cable company, a baker, etc. about what they charge. It is not Let's Make A Deal. You charge what you charge - take it or leave it!

[awestbrook713]

I am comfortable with my rates, its just when I get the sob stories about being short on money that I start second guessing myself, I am too nice sometimes. I am actually going to be calling my licensing office today to have them send me subsidy paperwork so she can try to get that. I really like this mom and her kids and don't want to lose them but if this doesn't work out I know it wasn't because I didn't try to work with them.

[melskids]

My rates are the same as yours.

3 or 4 hours is part time, so I can see how some parents might argue paying the full day rate.

I understand where you are coming from though, and agree. I charge per day and that's just the way it is. If someone only needs me for three hours, its very hard to fill in the rest of those hours with someone else.

That's why I just don't take part timers.

I have two leaving in the fall for "real preschool" (Don't get me started...that's another thread) half days. Both families know they are STILL paying me the full time rate to hold the spot. If they don;t agree to that, then they may have to find care elswhere.

My advice is no matter what YOUR policies are, ALWAYS stick to them. If families don't respect you for that, then they aren't the right family for you.

[awestbrook713]

I did the whole part time thing last year and was getting taken advantage of, so I decided a strict daily rate would work best and gave them all ample time to decide if they were financially capable. I have been more then accomodating and can't see how I can do anything more to help without providing free daycare and making myself go broke.

[mac60]

I don't do part time hours. My minimum rate is 3 days per week which is $60. There is no center that I know of that would only charge them for the few hours they want of care. All the centers here charge for full weeks only regardless of attendance. I have to make it worth my while to even have a family as a client, hence the 3 day minimum. Your rates are more than fair. Call around to the centers and ask what their rates are then let her know. She is getting a deal.

[Meyou]

I think it's reasonable. I have a family now paying a FT fee when their child attends preschool 3 half days per week. She arrives at noon MWF but the fee is still the same.

[Zoe]

If someone is only here for three hours, I do a half-day rate. I'm not thrilled about it, but right now it's all I'm getting. Plus I don't feel right charging my full day rate of 25 a day, so I do 15 a day. If there wasn't so much competition I would charge the full day however.

[countrymom]

I charge:
under 4 hours---20 dollars (flat rate)
up to 9 hours---30 dollars (flate rate)
anything over 9 hours is 1 dollar a minute unless its schedualled (I have parents who work downtown and we live in the county so it does take a bit with traffic)

I found that when people see the total everyday, it doesn't seem like a whole bunch then giving them a total at the end of the week for care. I don't know, its like a psychological game.

[Country Kids]

I still charge by the hour and probably one of the last to do so. I actually found out I lost money by doing the daily rate or part-time rate. I make more than I would if I did the other way. Also, it gives the parents a realization when they see how many hours their child is in care and what it cost for that care. I've had a few complain over the years but then when they see what they get for their money the complaining stops pretty quickly.

[wdmmom]

I charge based on a few different factors. I charge a minimum daily rate in addition to how many total hours care is needed per day and the departure time.

For example: I have a child that comes in at 730am and leaves at 345pm. They are charged $140 a week.

I have another child that comes in at 730am and leaves at 430pm. They are charged at $150 per week.

The more hours care is needed per day, the more it costs.

[jenn]

I tell the parents that I am open from 7:15am-6:00pm. My fee is $30 per day. How many hours you choose to have your kids here is up to you.

When I first opened, I tried doing hourly, but found it's just too much for me to keep track of.

I prefer full time (5 days a week), but if I'm desperate to fill a spot, I will take part time with a 3 day pay minimum. In other words, $90 per week minimum.

I do have one child that comes Monday-Thursday full time ($30 per day) and only comes for 3 hours on Fridays. Since this is their consistent schedule, I agreed to half day pay for Friday.

[Blackcat31]

I offer spots. These "spots" are available on 3,4, and 5 day a week slots. I also offer part time slots. These spots are available in 4 hour blocks BEFORE lunch and a four hour block in the afternoon after lunch and nap time.

I don't do any part time spots over the lunch or nap hours. Waaaaaaay too much trouble.

Part spots are NOT guaranteed but open only when there is space available.

[morgan24]

I had to change to all hourly from a weekly rate. Jobs are hard to come by here and most everyone wants part time. I hate doing hourly because I don't like the extra paper work but it's the way it is in my area now.

[PitterPatter]

I charge by day. If a child is not here due to illness, day off work etc I do not charge for that day but they are still guarenteed a spot even if they miss some time. I do drop the rate by 1/2 day cost if children are here less than 4 hours.