Before/After School Care

[Buxterboo]

How do you charge for school age kids that just come a few hours a day? I dont think its fair to charge my drop in rate $5/hr up to 6 hrs, then a flat $30 for the entire day (they HAVE to reserve in advance for the flat day rate. if they just drop off and dont know when they will pick up they pay $5/hr till they show up)... Maybe it is and I just dont realize it? I am asking because I have an interview this weekend with a family that needs care for their 5 y/o. I feel like my drop in rate would end up costing them too much and they might go elsewhere. I am not desperate, but i wouldnt mind having a p/t kid to help suppliment my income. I dont have plans to fill up all of my open slots anytime soon. So a p/t would work well for my situation at this time...
My full time rate is $140 (for people on subsidy). and I do work with people that need help but just dont qualify for subsidy. I am lucky that I dont need to be super strict with my rates. As long as I get fair pay and feel like its worth my time/energy to have the child in care at that particular rate.

Wow, thats alot of info...

[Country Kids]

$75 a month for before or after school care

$150 a month for before and after school care

[Buxterboo]

The before/after school program charges $13/day (this is the break down based on the monthly tuition divided by the number of school days in the month) for regular school days and an additional $30/day for half/no school days. hours are 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. & 2:45 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Would it be reasonable for me to charge $10/day for reg school days (So if there was 19 days that month the family would pay $190/month) and my normal $30/day for a full day if needed?

To the PP: how did you come by these numbers? Im not saying its bad, Im just wondering what the break down would be...

[melissa ann]

When I had sa, I charged $10/day and for 1/2 or no school days, it was my reg daily rate.

[DaisyMamma]

It really depends on your area, of course, but you could give the option of drop in rate or flat rate and explain exactly what you said to us: you are willing to work with them and don't want to overcharge.
Maybe you should call local daycares and ask for their rates.

[Buxterboo]

Thats a good idea about calling daycares! I am a military provider and this is a military family. I know that the base before/after school program is not available for this child because he is 5 (they want kids to be 6). I started doing this because I had no options for care when I needed it for my son (no available providers for mine and my husbands crazy hours.) So I want to be able to help other other families that are dealing with the same thing and I get the bonus of a little extra cash to pay off some of our debt.

[Buxterboo]

It really depends on your area, of course, but you could give the option of drop in rate or flat rate and explain exactly what you said to us: you are willing to work with them and don't want to overcharge.
Maybe you should call local daycares and ask for their rates.

I will definitely do this! thank you

[Country Kids]

The before/after school program charges $13/day (this is the break down based on the monthly tuition divided by the number of school days in the month) for regular school days and an additional $30/day for half/no school days. hours are 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m. & 2:45 p.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Would it be reasonable for me to charge $10/day for reg school days (So if there was 19 days that month the family would pay $190/month) and my normal $30/day for a full day if needed?

To the PP: how did you come by these numbers? Im not saying its bad, Im just wondering what the break down would be...

No breakdown, just rates I picked and what people feel is reasonable around here. We have a boy/girls club that charges 25 or 50 dollars for the year!

[Buxterboo]

No breakdown, just rates I picked and what people feel is reasonable around here. We have a boy/girls club that charges 25 or 50 dollars for the year!

WOW. Ok, I think I will just have an honest talk with mom and see what they feel is reasonable/can afford. If the kid is only in the half-day kindy then I might charge a part time rate rather then a $10/day rate... We will see once I have more info and can talk with mom this weekend.

Thanks for the help everyone!

[DaisyMamma]

I will definitely do this! thank you

No problem!

$75 a month for before or after school care

$150 a month for before and after school care

WOW. I charge $75/week for aftercare only, 3:45-5:30. I wouldn't do it for less and even then don't take them unless they have a younger sibling here. SA kids are a handful.

[Country Kids]

No problem!

WOW. I charge $75/week for aftercare only, 3:45-5:30. I wouldn't do it for less and even then don't take them unless they have a younger sibling here. SA kids are a handful.

Below are the rates that are state pays. Sorry the chart is a little hard to read. I can't get it to fit real well on the screen. This is what most providers base their rates on though. So even though we work real hard the state keeps our rates down.


Registered Family Rate Certified Family Rate Certified Center Rate
1-62 63-135 136-215 1-62 63-135 1 36-215 1-62 63-135 136-215
Hourly Part-time Monthly Hourly Part-time Monthly Hourly Part-time Monthly
Infant $2.50 $341 $455 $3.00 $371 $495 $3.60 $446 $595
Toddler $2.50 $338 $450 $3.00 $345 $460 $3.52 $431 $575
Preschool $2.50 $319 $425 $3.00 $338 $450 $3.12 $356 $475
School $2.50 $300 $400 $2.65 $375 $500 $3.12 $345 $460
Special Needs $2.50 $341 $455 $3.00 $371 $495 $3.60 $446 $595