DCP Wants To Go Cut Back One Day

[Guest]

I have a dcp that wants to go pt. taking one day off. At first didn't think much of but now I remember my contract with her states that she has to pay full time even if they go part time. And now that I think about I want the full time pay. What do you think?

[Abigail]

Where you going to charge part time rates? I have my rates broken down to the day so if someone wants to come four days instead of five they can save $10 or so. It's not much, but it's SOMETHING.

[athomemommy]

I'll have to look at my stuff. I think I had it 125 a week. And I think she was thinking 100 a week. I like the idea of 10 Off I don't like the whole 25

[Abigail]

I LOVE my rate schedule. Right now everyone pays the same, but before I had difference schedules and it worked out nice! I decided to do the daily breakdown because I wouldn't mind having someone just 3 days or just 4 days to enjoy lighter days. I'm not in it to make 100% profit either, I want to enjoy my job and not overdo it!

I want to push part timers to join because I want the variety. I miss having someone just T/TH to break up the week and keep me on track. Now everyone is full time and I'm lost between M and F who knows the days all run together now! LOL.

I don't like how someone says oh $125/week is $25/day. YES, but if you want less days you don't sign up for only 3 days at $75, it's automatically known around here to be $90 so think about how much it went up. It went from $25/day up to $30/day part time. So figure if someone needs only 4 days they pay $27.50/day right in the middle which is $110 or you can choose a little more as long as it's making sense to explain.

I would say $125/5, $110/4, and $90/3 days is very fair. This is what you need to make sure though.......if they want to add a day, it's their current daily rate not $25. So if your 3 days need 4 they pay $30 more. If your 4 days needed that 5th day they pay $27.50 more. KWIM? I did that for my rates.

I had someone in here only 2 days a week and my contract said if you needed additional days IF approved they paid the daily rate (half their current rate) so once my part time family needed a full week and paid for 6 days in the end. They were a little shocked I said it was their daily rate x the days because it was so much cheaper full time. My theory is that no other daycare will charge less than 3 days a week around here so it is very fair and I enjoyed the extra income that week.

[jojosmommy]

Where you going to charge part time rates? I have my rates broken down to the day so if someone wants to come four days instead of five they can save $10 or so. It's not much, but it's SOMETHING.

I do this and love it! Just enough to get them to do it, but not enough to affect my budget. And really nice to have less kids atleast one day a week!!!!!

[Blackcat31]

I would give a small rate decrease but NOT an entire day's rate. Like jojosmommy said, enough that they get the day off and you get one day without the child but NOT enough to effect your budget.

[Live and Learn]

I would make sure that the day she is cutting back is a set day each week no shifting around ......especially is you are considering offering her a rate cut. Good luck.

[momma2girls]

I give a break with fulltime children. I am at $140.00 per week, or $35.00 per day.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I would charge full-time.

My full-time rate is $145/week.

[DCBlessings27]

Where you going to charge part time rates? I have my rates broken down to the day so if someone wants to come four days instead of five they can save $10 or so. It's not much, but it's SOMETHING.

I do this. I have one who doesn't come Fridays. So, I charge $10 less than my ft rate. It's not enough to break my budget, and I enjoy a slightly lighter day on Fridays.

[athomemommy]

I LOVE my rate schedule. Right now everyone pays the same, but before I had difference schedules and it worked out nice! I decided to do the daily breakdown because I wouldn't mind having someone just 3 days or just 4 days to enjoy lighter days. I'm not in it to make 100% profit either, I want to enjoy my job and not overdo it!

I want to push part timers to join because I want the variety. I miss having someone just T/TH to break up the week and keep me on track. Now everyone is full time and I'm lost between M and F who knows the days all run together now! LOL.

I don't like how someone says oh $125/week is $25/day. YES, but if you want less days you don't sign up for only 3 days at $75, it's automatically known around here to be $90 so think about how much it went up. It went from $25/day up to $30/day part time. So figure if someone needs only 4 days they pay $27.50/day right in the middle which is $110 or you can choose a little more as long as it's making sense to explain.

I would say $125/5, $110/4, and $90/3 days is very fair. This is what you need to make sure though.......if they want to add a day, it's their current daily rate not $25. So if your 3 days need 4 they pay $30 more. If your 4 days needed that 5th day they pay $27.50 more. KWIM? I did that for my rates.

I had someone in here only 2 days a week and my contract said if you needed additional days IF approved they paid the daily rate (half their current rate) so once my part time family needed a full week and paid for 6 days in the end. They were a little shocked I said it was their daily rate x the days because it was so much cheaper full time. My theory is that no other daycare will charge less than 3 days a week around here so it is very fair and I enjoyed the extra income that week.

Okay I am going to go with this. $125/5, $110/4, $90/3, $75/2 but what should one day be? $30? Thanks for your help. Is it okay to change to her contract in the middle. It is not up until the jan 2. How do I handle that?

[Crazy8]

I LOVE my rate schedule. Right now everyone pays the same, but before I had difference schedules and it worked out nice! I decided to do the daily breakdown because I wouldn't mind having someone just 3 days or just 4 days to enjoy lighter days. I'm not in it to make 100% profit either, I want to enjoy my job and not overdo it!

I want to push part timers to join because I want the variety. I miss having someone just T/TH to break up the week and keep me on track. Now everyone is full time and I'm lost between M and F who knows the days all run together now! LOL.

I don't like how someone says oh $125/week is $25/day. YES, but if you want less days you don't sign up for only 3 days at $75, it's automatically known around here to be $90 so think about how much it went up. It went from $25/day up to $30/day part time. So figure if someone needs only 4 days they pay $27.50/day right in the middle which is $110 or you can choose a little more as long as it's making sense to explain.

I would say $125/5, $110/4, and $90/3 days is very fair. This is what you need to make sure though.......if they want to add a day, it's their current daily rate not $25. So if your 3 days need 4 they pay $30 more. If your 4 days needed that 5th day they pay $27.50 more. KWIM? I did that for my rates.

I had someone in here only 2 days a week and my contract said if you needed additional days IF approved they paid the daily rate (half their current rate) so once my part time family needed a full week and paid for 6 days in the end. They were a little shocked I said it was their daily rate x the days because it was so much cheaper full time. My theory is that no other daycare will charge less than 3 days a week around here so it is very fair and I enjoyed the extra income that week.

This is how I've always done it too (although my rates are a little higher) - always worked well for me. I have posted the exact same explanation in the past, I don't mind not making FT rate x5 kids. I actually can make MORE if I can coordinate 2 part timers to fill a FT spot!

[Texasjeepgirl]

I would give a small rate decrease but NOT an entire day's rate. Like jojosmommy said, enough that they get the day off and you get one day without the child but NOT enough to effect your budget.

I no longer offer part time rates..
I tell all clients that my full fee is due regardless of attendance..

If they only want to attend a few days a week...that's great...but the fee remains the same..

BUT...as Blackcat said..
don't discount by dividing your full time fee by 5 days..
in other words..if your full time rate is $125 per week... then don't call it $25 per day...
The way I used to handle it was..
I always made sure that my daily drop in rate was higher than the full time rate divided by 5...
so for example..
if your weekly rate is $125... Then tell this client that if she chooses to give up paying the fulltime 'discounted' rate...then she will be responsible for paying by the day at the rate of... let's say...
$30 per day..
so if she wants to give up 1 day per week.. her new fee will be 4 days times $30 per day = $120 ...
If she questions or balks on that..
Just say.. I'm sorry.. my full time fee is actually the price point...
you recieve a 'discounted' rate by agreeing to pay a full time fee regardless of attendance..
If you don't want to pay that full time rate...then you must pay my 'by the day' rate...and it is higher per day..
Then if she ever were to need you for that 5th day.. don't allow her to pay the $125.... say no.. it's another $30 for that day... you don't get to pay the 'discounted' rate when it is convenient for you and your budget...if you need all 5 days this time.. it's $150... $30 per day times 5 days..
Do not let your clients dictate to you how you will run your business...and your budget... these are the fees.. charge them.. make it clear this is how it works... and don't back down...

[athomemommy]

So its okay to change her rate even though her contract is until the first of the year? Do I make her wait or change it? Do I type of a list of the new rates or just give her what 4 days and what it would cost if they needed that 5th day. Btw loving the idea wish I would have thought of this before. . Living and learning is the name of the game.

[Blackcat31]

So its okay to change her rate even though her contract is until the first of the year? Do I make her wait or change it? Do I type of a list of the new rates or just give her what 4 days and what it would cost if they needed that 5th day. Btw loving the idea wish I would have thought of this before. . Living and learning is the name of the game.

If she wants to drop down a day....then SHE is actually voiding and changing her own contract....kwim? I would simply tell her the rate for 4 days is $xx and if she wants that extra 5th day, I would add it at the drop in rate for one day.

Her (the DCM) price point should be 4 days if that is the schedule she is wanting.

The 5th day will no longer be hers to use as she chooses since she is essentially giving it up. IF she does want to use a 5th day every once in a while, I would tell her it is drop in and ONLY when available or when YOU choose to take her.