Help with Pricing

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  • Kym2098
    New Daycare.com Member
    • Mar 2012
    • 92

    Help with Pricing

    Hi Everyone,
    I have my 1st interview in a week for a baby that will be born in August. happyface The family will be looking for care starting in October. As of right now they would only require 2 days a week 5 hrs each day.
    I was thinking of charging a flat rate of $40-50 a day, is this unreasonable?
    I live in NJ, am CPR and First Aid Certified, and am in the process of being certified by the state of NJ, I will also have liability insurance.
    Any feedback would be appreciated!
    Thanks,
    Kim
  • CheekyChick
    Daycare.com Member
    • Dec 2009
    • 810

    #2
    I would charge them for two full day spots since it would be hard to fill the remainder of the day with another child. I would charge them $50.00 per day AND let them know that the entire day is theirs to use as they please.

    Comment

    • Crazy8
      Daycare.com Member
      • Jun 2011
      • 2769

      #3
      I am also in NJ - really depends on where you are. Rates vary a lot by region - you will see providers here in other states who get $25/day. Within a state it really can vary A LOT from one town to another. Northern Monmouth County and north I think you can get the $50/day type of rate. South of that probably not, except some areas. I have a friend in Middlesex County that was getting $60 day (but only watching one child so more of a nanny in her own home).

      Comment

      • Crazy8
        Daycare.com Member
        • Jun 2011
        • 2769

        #4
        Originally posted by CheekyChick
        I would charge them for two full day spots since it would be hard to fill the remainder of the day with another child. I would charge them $50.00 per day AND let them know that the entire day is theirs to use as they please.
        see I wouldn't do that.... I would make them give me THEIR required contracted hours and make them stick to that. Especially if I am starting out and have no other kids I want to know when I am done for the day - not have the possibility of them not picking up till 5pm when they "normally" come at 3pm. I wouldn't give them much of a break from the full day rate (maybe $5 less) - but I wouldn't be telling them that - I would just give them the rate based on what they are contracting. Not telling them they can use the other 3-4 hours of the day. No way!! I never give out rates until I know the hours a family needs.
        $50/day is too high for around me, even for a 9-10 hour day. You really need to find rates for your specific area.

        Comment

        • CheekyChick
          Daycare.com Member
          • Dec 2009
          • 810

          #5
          Originally posted by Crazy8
          see I wouldn't do that.... I would make them give me THEIR required contracted hours and make them stick to that. Especially if I am starting out and have no other kids I want to know when I am done for the day - not have the possibility of them not picking up till 5pm when they "normally" come at 3pm. I wouldn't give them much of a break from the full day rate (maybe $5 less) - but I wouldn't be telling them that - I would just give them the rate based on what they are contracting. Not telling them they can use the other 3-4 hours of the day. No way!! I never give out rates until I know the hours a family needs.
          $50/day is too high for around me, even for a 9-10 hour day. You really need to find rates for your specific area.
          BUT... What if they decide after they feel comfortable leaving the baby, that they could actually use the entire day to work longer or get errands done? It wouldn't seem fair to charge them MORE than the acutal daily rate if they want to increase their hours. That's why I don't deal with contracted hours. I feel if a parent pays for a day, they can use the entire day - or not.

          Comment

          • Crazy8
            Daycare.com Member
            • Jun 2011
            • 2769

            #6
            Originally posted by CheekyChick
            BUT... What if they decide after they feel comfortable leaving the baby, that they could actually use the entire day to work longer or get errands done? It wouldn't seem fair to charge them MORE than the acutal daily rate if they want to increase their hours. That's why I don't deal with contracted hours. I feel if a parent pays for a day, they can use the entire day - or not.
            Everyone does what works for them, I wasn't picking on you at all, just saying I wouldn't do it that way! I do not want to be sitting around till 5pm because mom who gets off work at 2:30 and normally picks up at 3pm decided to go grocery shopping today. I want set hours - at least reasonably set hours! They contract care based on their work/travel times. If someone is picking up at 3pm I will charge them less than the full daily rate of someone picking up at 5pm. So when mom decides she's ready to work more hours a day we change the contract and I up it to the full daily rate. Has never been an issue in the 11 years I've been open. Guess people just expect if they need more hours they will pay more than what they were paying before.

            Comment

            • CheekyChick
              Daycare.com Member
              • Dec 2009
              • 810

              #7
              Originally posted by Crazy8
              Everyone does what works for them, I wasn't picking on you at all, just saying I wouldn't do it that way! I do not want to be sitting around till 5pm because mom who gets off work at 2:30 and normally picks up at 3pm decided to go grocery shopping today. I want set hours - at least reasonably set hours! They contract care based on their work/travel times. If someone is picking up at 3pm I will charge them less than the full daily rate of someone picking up at 5pm. So when mom decides she's ready to work more hours a day we change the contract and I up it to the full daily rate. Has never been an issue in the 11 years I've been open. Guess people just expect if they need more hours they will pay more than what they were paying before.
              No worries. I didn't think you were picking on me.

              That makes sense... It would be fair to charge less for 5 hours and then move up as they need more hours. I just didn't think it was fair to charge them the maximum without giving them the ability to use more hours for the same rate.

              Comment

              • DaisyMamma
                Advanced Daycare.com Member
                • May 2011
                • 2241

                #8
                Originally posted by Crazy8
                see I wouldn't do that.... I would make them give me THEIR required contracted hours and make them stick to that. Especially if I am starting out and have no other kids I want to know when I am done for the day - not have the possibility of them not picking up till 5pm when they "normally" come at 3pm. I wouldn't give them much of a break from the full day rate (maybe $5 less) - but I wouldn't be telling them that - I would just give them the rate based on what they are contracting. Not telling them they can use the other 3-4 hours of the day. No way!! I never give out rates until I know the hours a family needs.
                I agree. They don't need to know you would be willing to do 3-4 more hrs at no extra cost. TMI! IF they ask for a longer day, fine.
                But I feel the same, if mom gets out of work at 2:30 I want that kid gone at 3. It is possible that I would charge $10 less for the day because it is short. Everyone does things differently.
                As for the rate I am in New England and I would go with 50/day per kid part time. Fulltime 200. Call a couple of daycares around you and ask for rates.

                Comment

                • Kym2098
                  New Daycare.com Member
                  • Mar 2012
                  • 92

                  #9
                  Thanks everyone I appreciate the feedback. I live in Morris County. My daughter went to a provider and she only charged 30bux a day, she was not legal, but my husbands family knew her. All my kid did was watch tv all day everyday.
                  That is not the kind of care I am going to offer!!!
                  Thanks again!
                  Last edited by Kym2098; 04-17-2012, 01:47 PM. Reason: Spelling

                  Comment

                  • Crazy8
                    Daycare.com Member
                    • Jun 2011
                    • 2769

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Kym2098
                    Thanks everyone I appreciate the feedback. I live in Morris County. My daughter went to a provider and she only charged 30bux a day, she was not legal, but my husbands family knew her. All my kid did was watch tv all day everyday.
                    That is not the kind of care I am going to offer!!!
                    Thanks again!
                    of course it can vary in every town but I would think for Morris County you could charge the $50/day. Definitely call around - even if you just call centers - it will give you a general idea. With this one only being 5 hours a day I'd maybe go with the $40/day rate and then raise it to $50/day if she goes to a full 8-9 hours.

                    Good luck!!!

                    Comment

                    • Kym2098
                      New Daycare.com Member
                      • Mar 2012
                      • 92

                      #11
                      Thanks I appreciate it!!!


                      Originally posted by Crazy8
                      of course it can vary in every town but I would think for Morris County you could charge the $50/day. Definitely call around - even if you just call centers - it will give you a general idea. With this one only being 5 hours a day I'd maybe go with the $40/day rate and then raise it to $50/day if she goes to a full 8-9 hours.

                      Good luck!!!

                      Comment

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