Question If You Charge A Flat Day Rate

[Country Kids]

So how does it work if its a varing schedule? I have one that is here 10 hours one day and then 6 or 7 hours the other.

I guess what I'm really wondering is how does this work with Minute Menu? They have the part where you can put in the rate but if it changes constantly what would you put in? That seems to be why hourly works great for me as the parents can see exactly what time they checked in/out and why the amount is what it is. I'm just thinking at least I know what I would be getting every day.

[daycare]

Then you set your base rate at $25 per day. Depending on your open time....you put the $25 at an 8 hour day and add around $3.00 per hour ( or whatever amount you want) for anything over the 8 hours. so your families that are there 10 hours would pay you $31 per day.

An 8 hour day for me is a 3:00 pick up time. Make sense?

I so wish I could do what you are doing cat....but the parents I have, money is no object, so the would not care if I charged more money after a certain time.... Ready for this. One of my daycare kids needs 10.5 hours of care each day, which is basically my open to close. I am making $75.00 a day off of this child. I bet if I tried to change it and charged more, the parents would not bat an eyelash.... I only offer 9.5 hours of care....

[Blackcat31]

I so wish I could do what you are doing cat....but the parents I have, money is no object, so the would not care if I charged more money after a certain time.... Ready for this. One of my daycare kids needs 10.5 hours of care each day, which is basically my open to close. I am making $75.00 a day off of this child. I bet if I tried to change it and charged more, the parents would not bat an eyelash.... I only offer 9.5 hours of care....

Well, at least you are being compensated for the long hours then. I am here 10.5-11 hours a day no matter how many kids are but at least when I do have a kid longer than their parent is working I feel better about the fact that I am getting "over time" pay.

I have a couple who would pay me to keep their kids 24/7 so it isn't always the money but more the principle of it. If you want more than just working hours for care, then there has to be something given in trade...kwim? and since money is the only way to get that compensation, I go that route.

If I had a mom who maybe did hair styling or something, I would consider "trading" with her but all my DCP's are teachers or therapists so.... well you get it...

[daycare]

Well, at least you are being compensated for the long hours then. I am here 10.5-11 hours a day no matter how many kids are but at least when I do have a kid longer than their parent is working I feel better about the fact that I am getting "over time" pay.

I have a couple who would pay me to keep their kids 24/7 so it isn't always the money but more the principle of it. If you want more than just working hours for care, then there has to be something given in trade...kwim? and since money is the only way to get that compensation, I go that route.

If I had a mom who maybe did hair styling or something, I would consider "trading" with her but all my DCP's are teachers or therapists so.... well you get it...

.... I know exactly what you mean. Most of my kids go home at 4:30, then there is this kid who stays until close. I do get extra $, but it really is not enough to have to stay open for only one kid.

[CheekyChick]

It would drive me nuts to worry about who should pay more for additional hours. I charge a flat rate and they all have 10 hours to use per day. Some use 7 hours and some use 10 hours. As long as they're paying me, they can do whatever they'd like to do with their day.

[daycare]

Well, at least you are being compensated for the long hours then. I am here 10.5-11 hours a day no matter how many kids are but at least when I do have a kid longer than their parent is working I feel better about the fact that I am getting "over time" pay.

I have a couple who would pay me to keep their kids 24/7 so it isn't always the money but more the principle of it. If you want more than just working hours for care, then there has to be something given in trade...kwim? and since money is the only way to get that compensation, I go that route.

If I had a mom who maybe did hair styling or something, I would consider "trading" with her but all my DCP's are teachers or therapists so.... well you get it...

I do have a questions about your pay structure...how do you charge for this? Is is always consistently the same pick up time and drop off time each day?

Do parents have to give you schedules?

[Country Kids]

It would drive me nuts to worry about who should pay more for additional hours. I charge a flat rate and they all have 10 hours to use per day. Some use 7 hours and some use 10 hours. As long as they're paying me, they can do whatever they'd like to do with their day.

Could you pm me. I have some questions for you since we are close in area by a an hour or so!

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I don't mind them using the hours as they need to.
However, I do mind people being habitually late. Late to pick up, late to pay their bi-weekly payment for the next two weeks...

[saved4always]

I charged a flat rate but I had contracted hours with each family. The parents had to drop off and pick up by thier personal contracted time.

[Half-Pint Hide-Out]

I have a flat daily rate, but I have parents sign contracts with the times their children will be dropped off and picked up each day. I charge late fees of $1/minute after their contracted time. I close at 5:30 and charge $3/minute for late pick-up after that point. I schedule my out-of-daycare activities around the contracted times of my daycare kids, so just because my hours are until 5:30, doesn't mean that I'm always open until 5:30. I just recently added the late pick-up fee past contracted time, because I would have parents contract to be here until 4:00, so I would make plans for 4:30, but then they wouldn't show up or call me until 5:30. I've had to use the late fees twice this year, but I think once I put it in writing that I have those fees, people pay more attention.

[Blackcat31]

I do have a questions about your pay structure...how do you charge for this? Is is always consistently the same pick up time and drop off time each day?

Do parents have to give you schedules?

I will PM you

[Soupyszoo]

Well, at least you are being compensated for the long hours then. I am here 10.5-11 hours a day no matter how many kids are but at least when I do have a kid longer than their parent is working I feel better about the fact that I am getting "over time" pay.

I have a couple who would pay me to keep their kids 24/7 so it isn't always the money but more the principle of it. If you want more than just working hours for care, then there has to be something given in trade...kwim? and since money is the only way to get that compensation, I go that route.

If I had a mom who maybe did hair styling or something, I would consider "trading" with her but all my DCP's are teachers or therapists so.... well you get it...

I might trade daycare for therapy!!! ::::

[CheekyChick]

Could you pm me. I have some questions for you since we are close in area by a an hour or so!

I sure will.

[Rachel]

Do you require the parents to come at a certain time or since they are paying anyhow do you not mind if they come right at closing time? I have a family who gets off work at 2:30 and has never come a minute before 5:30, which is my closing time. I realize they are paying a flat rate but feel torn about this.

If they are paying until 5:30, they get until 5:30. Most of mine are students or work swing shifts. They are not coming straight from work. I am paid from 7:00 - 4:30 regardless of when they pick up. Three of mine consistently pick up at the last minute. Yes, it's annoying especially when they tell me in the morning they will be home the whole day (school vacations), but I'm paid for that time so it's fair.

[texascare]

I charge a flat rate per week per child so that I know what my income is. I charge before and after hours fees as well. Most parents drop off at 8 and are back by 5:00. My hours are 7:30-5:30, but they are paying for the spot so they use it as they see fit. Yes it erks me that they have the day off and send the kids all the time and then gripe when I take a day off becuse they say they have no more time off from work and I just smile and say "i told you not to use all your days playing golf!"....But at least I am guaranteed a certain income per week and i don't have to fool with adding up hourly charges ets. My clients also pay 2 weeks up front.