How Much For Earlier Pick Up?

[Crazy8]

Just my opinion so Please don't flame me! You say "put it all back on the parents". In my eyes your punishing the parents for having a 8-5 job and then making them pay more for it. I personally would not like to have to pay more because my job is the hours it is.

If a provider wants to be off earlier then just take clients with that shift. I have clients that go to work anywhere from 7-9 and get off anywhere from 4-5. How I figure it is I'm getting paid per client not what hours they work (if that makes sense). Why should someone get to pay less for working 8 hours but gets off earlier and make someone pay more for also working 8 hours but getting off later. It just doesnt make sense to me.

its the same thing as having a shift differential in a job - you work the "less desirable" hours some jobs pay you more for it. You take a job working nights and weekends you will probably be paid more than the one who wants the M-F 9-3 job. Its a fact of life. I wouldn't be "punishing" anyone - it would be the rate if you require a later pick up time. Its just like charging late fees really - and I think ALL of us do that. And mine wouldn't have anything to do with drop off time so it would often be less hours that gets the "break". 7-4 pays less than 7-5.... but it does also mean 8-5 pays less than 7-4 - again, you are paying for that extra hour at the end of the day. If I could find all clients till just 4-4:30 I'd absolutely take them - but I think it would be more unfair to let a 5pm client go just so I can take a 4pm'er.

[Blackcat31]

Just my opinion so Please don't flame me! You say "put it all back on the parents". In my eyes your punishing the parents for having a 8-5 job and then making them pay more for it. I personally would not like to have to pay more because my job is the hours it is.

If a provider wants to be off earlier then just take clients with that shift. I have clients that go to work anywhere from 7-9 and get off anywhere from 4-5. How I figure it is I'm getting paid per client not what hours they work (if that makes sense). Why should someone get to pay less for working 8 hours but gets off earlier and make someone pay more for also working 8 hours but getting off later. It just doesnt make sense to me.

I wouldn't flame you!! Well, I see it like this: All the parents I have do work a pretty normal 8 hour day. They get their lunch breaks and breaks through out the day so I base my day on the same 8 hours. If they work more than 8 hours they get over time so I do as well. I also have almost all two parent families so there is always another parent that can pick up so the days don't have to be 9 or 10 hours long.

Plus, my rate for the full day until 5:30 ($185) is pretty normal for regular daycare providers around here so NONE of my parents feel like I am punishing them or over charging them becuase if they went else where for care, they would be paying the $185 per week either way even if they did only work an 8 hour day which in my opinion is the root of why daycares have kids all day every day....parents are paying for it so why not use it....kwim?

So I came up with a base rate that I could live with. I based my 8 hour day off that rate (which like I said is cheaper than other cares) and then simply added to it for anything over that time. The rates are still just as competitive as the next care place and the control is now in the parents hands.

You also said "How I figure it is I'm getting paid per client not what hours they work (if that makes sense)." See, but I am getting paid by the time I put in NOT per client.

and "Why should someone get to pay less for working 8 hours but gets off earlier and make someone pay more for also working 8 hours but getting off later. It just doesnt make sense to me" Because someone who works the same 8 hour shift but later in the day usually has a spouse that works the earlier 8 hour shift and can easily pick up the child themselves rather than go home and leave the child for the later working parent to pick up.

None of the businesses here in my community have shifts that start any later than 9 at the very latest and that is kind of rare since most jobs in this area begin at 8 or even at 7 am and since I am not open until 7:30, the parent who went to work at 7 can pick up while the parent who is going in after 7:30 when I open does the dropping off.

It has worked wonderfully for me and I will keep doing it. If I hit a snag, I will deal then but so far, there has been no issues with current parents and no complaints from new ones. As a matter of fact, it is very rare for a family to take me up on the longer hours and ALL find ways to cut their costs and love that I give them the ability to do so. IMHO, it only works because my base rate ($140) is the minimum I will take so win-win for everyone.

Does that make more sense?

[daycare]

I like blackcat's billing..

I am thinking about doing this too and here is why...

I have kids that attend 9.5 hours and some that are only here for 6 hours and they all have to pay the same rate. is that fair?? I don't think so.

The way she is doing it (in my eyes) is much like you would do if they were being charged hourly, except setting it at a base rate instead of having to figure hours each day. Wouldn't those parents that worked longer pay more than those that did not if they paid by the hour???

[My3cents]

you will end up knowing when they are picking up but you won't be able to plan your money because some weeks will be one rate and other weeks will be another depending on how the parent wants to pay you. I am not for it. I feel you should charge a base rate- then if they go over that time charge more. I always find out what the needs are, what the hours they work- I am open from 7-5 but if you work at 9 and get done at 3- come and get your kid. Your child should be with you if able. That time is important to a child and families. Now- if you tell me ahead of time- I can decide if I want to go over 3 till 5 or extend my hours on either side. Contracted hours with a base rate is the best way to go- In my contract it says that if you are late plan to come with cash in hand and call me, and don't put me in a place to have to ask for it. I am also forgiving for the occasional late honest parent. I also tell my parents don't ever rush to get to daycare- I want no one having a car accident or accident because they are scared of late fees or my closing time. I don't want that on my shoulders for life- I stress respect. I have learned a lot of that here :-)

Above has given me respect- and both sides feel good about the arrangement. My parents love that if they need "babysitting" beyond daycare hours that unless I have something going I usually am willing to do this for them and they treat me well for it.

One more thing- I only have so many slots available to take up. I need to make a good wage. I work darn hard!!!

best-

[Country Kids]

I like blackcat's billing..

I am thinking about doing this too and here is why...

I have kids that attend 9.5 hours and some that are only here for 6 hours and they all have to pay the same rate. is that fair?? I don't think so.

The way she is doing it (in my eyes) is much like you would do if they were being charged hourly, except setting it at a base rate instead of having to figure hours each day. Wouldn't those parents that worked longer pay more than those that did not if they paid by the hour???

I see what your saying but all my families that are here 8 hours pay the same no matter what time they pick up, same with the ones that work 9 hours. Some may pick up at 4 some pick up at 5 but they pay the same because the rate is the same for 9 hours no matter what time they pick up. Its the hourly rate x the hours=amount. So my 6-3 would pay the same as my 8-5 as they are both 9 hours, one just leaves earlier.

[MaritimeMummy]

I bill that way. I don't bill for hours per day so I could care less when they drop off and never assign a rate based on 8 or 9 hours a day. Instead what I do is take my base weekly rate which is $140.

I assigned my parents who pick up at 3:30 the $140 rate.

Parents who pick up at 4:30 pay me $160 per week (which is $20 more per week) and

the parents who pick up at 5:30 pay me $185 per week (which is $45 more per week)

The additional hour after 3:30 until 4:30 is billed at $4 and the hour between 4:30-5:30 is $5

Before I went this route, I had ALL my dck's ALL day every day but now I am done by 4:30 a couple times a week and still make the base pay ($140) per week that I need to have as income. I don't allow parents to pick and choose different days every week, they have to choose a pick up time and stick with it.

If they want extra hours of care here and there, they need to ok it first with me and put it in writing. I usually allow it, but I feel I have more control over it when they have to formally request it and I also feel it gives parents the option of making their daycare costs cheaper if they choose to do so. That way none of that lies on my shoulders.

Hope that helps.

Just wondering how you would handle part time children? I have 4 childcare spaces and only one of them is full time. Then one comes 2 days a week and another comes 3 days a week, and the 4th child's mom gives me a schedule of her shift works and books what days she needs me per week based on that. So I could have that child anywhere from 1 to 4 days a week. She chose me for child care based on my flexibility, it would be unfair to start charging on a weekly basis. I like your method but I don't think it would work for me. :-(

[Blackcat31]

Just wondering how you would handle part time children? I have 4 childcare spaces and only one of them is full time. Then one comes 2 days a week and another comes 3 days a week, and the 4th child's mom gives me a schedule of her shift works and books what days she needs me per week based on that. So I could have that child anywhere from 1 to 4 days a week. She chose me for child care based on my flexibility, it would be unfair to start charging on a weekly basis. I like your method but I don't think it would work for me. :-(

I completely see where you are coming from as far as not feeling it would be fair, to start billing by the week as I too used to really base my business on being flexible but after nearly two decades of doing this, I am no longer as flexible as I once was.

ALL my families pay a weekly rate. Even if they only need three days. Their rate would be a bit cheaper as I do like having quieter days but they still take up a whole spot. Plus, over the years, I have learned that my stress came from managing the part timers and flexible schedules so I decided to stop doing that and simply offer spaces per week. I used to have 20 kids enrolled and I had to spend a good deal of time working around one parent's day off and fitting another part timer in but then only to have the first mom come back and want to switch days up.....waaaaay too much work.

Now I look at it this way: I am licensed for 10-12 kids. I have 10-12 spaces period. Each child gets ONE space and the parent gets access to the whole week. No juggling for me and no worries if their schedules change. I do the flat $140 for families who maybe only need 3 days per week but need different days each week because it is still tough to juggle that and work other kids around there off days and still maintain an income I can budget with.

For the families who want flexibility, they understand that if they pay for the whole week, then they don't have to worry about space not being available. I would probably work out a rate that is fair to both myself and to them if they only came 3 days a week but wanted 10 hour days for those 3 days. Having 2 quieter days (where the kid doesn't attend) would be a fair trade to having a kid here for 10 hours per day as long as it is only 3 days.

All my families also have to give me their schedule including times so I still know what time I will be off for the day.

I use my basic billing as a standard format but that isn't meaning I won't work out arrangements to meet everyone's needs. I am a child care provider so I do understand the need to at least compromise. I just don't want to be dealing with so much change and differing hours and days for part time families so I now charge per child per week. Simplifies it in my opinion for not only me but the parents as well.....and is much easier on my personal budget and paycheck.

I honestly don't deal with too many part time families as good daycare is not too easy to find around here so parents know full well that they need to make sure they have space available to them when they need it so that means paying too.

I don't normally take kids that don't come a minimum of 3 days per week. If they do want to use me, then that would be drop in care for several reasons: I can't make a good living/income from drop in kids and because the drop in kids are tough to manage when they don't come routinely. My drop in rate is a daily rate and is $45 per day. I have two moms who use it. I see their kids 4 days a week sometimes and only 1 time another week or maybe not at all for a few weeks as it depends so that parent pays a higher cost for a more flexible schedule.

I choose to do things this way so I could budget and know ahead of time what my income will be each week/month. Anything beyond my base rate per week is a bonus.

Hopefully all that makes sense?

[countrymom]

I would do contract hours, then you have an idea what time they will come. If you give the parent your hours then of course they are going to come and go as they please. By having contract hours gives you some control. I started doing this 2 yrs ago and its amazing, and people pick up on time. But I do charge up to 9 hours, during thier contract hours, anything past their 9 hours is an additional fee. But I do close at 5pm so I don't take clients past 5pm.

by offering early pick up discounts, you are going to have to keep immaculate records, because at the end of the week your going to have to prove that the parent picked up early. Just too much headache.

[Crazy8]

you will end up knowing when they are picking up but you won't be able to plan your money because some weeks will be one rate and other weeks will be another depending on how the parent wants to pay you. I am not for it. I feel you should charge a base rate- then if they go over that time charge more. I always find out what the needs are, what the hours they work- I am open from 7-5 but if you work at 9 and get done at 3- come and get your kid. Your child should be with you if able.

best-

I think you are totally missing the idea here - cause we are talking about the exact same thing. It WOULD be a base rate, they'd pay the SAME AMOUNT every single week, I would know exactly how much I'd be making AND I would know the latest a parent would pick up. BUT I would know that time is 4pm, not a possible 5pm.

I guess I haven't been stating this clearly, I think BlackCat is the only one who understands cause its what she does.

The problem has been my parents always contracted to 5pm even though they know they are picking up earlier every day. This isn't even about parents who go home for an hour before picking up their kids - this is about the parent who ALMOST ALWAYS comes right at 3:30 or 4pm or whatever time. The problem is that on that piece of paper it says they COULD pick up as late as 5pm. I want to get rid of that. That is what I mean when I say I want to know what time I am done - I don't want to be held back from making appointments/plans because there is always the chance that they could pick that day to do something till 5pm. Of course if a family needs a later time (till my max) I can do it but I want it to be something they have to request - not just something that is in their contract so they can use "just in case".

Does that make any more sense???

[Crazy8]

I would do contract hours, then you have an idea what time they will come. If you give the parent your hours then of course they are going to come and go as they please. By having contract hours gives you some control. I started doing this 2 yrs ago and its amazing, and people pick up on time. But I do charge up to 9 hours, during thier contract hours, anything past their 9 hours is an additional fee. But I do close at 5pm so I don't take clients past 5pm.

by offering early pick up discounts, you are going to have to keep immaculate records, because at the end of the week your going to have to prove that the parent picked up early. Just too much headache.

again, I guess I really worded my first post wrong. I AM talking about doing contracted hours, all paid in advance - not one day you pick up early you get a discount. That wasn't what I was saying at all!!!! I would be doing the exact same thing you are doing BUT if someone contracts 7-4pm they pay $175, if someone contracts 7-5pm they need to pay $185 or 195 or whatever. That is the way it was SUPPOSED to be from the beginning (not the rate difference, but them contracting the hours they need) BUT I always get "well, whats the latest I can contract?" and then they put down 5pm.

[countrymom]

I get it, they pay extra after lets say 9 hours. so its an extra charge (heck we all do it) but you know what I've been doing, is asking parents what their work schedual is, this way then I know they are not just doing anything. I never blurt out what time I'm open to, I keep asking the parents the hours they need, if they start skirting the question, then I know that they want to dump their kids all day, and it aint happening here.

[Blackcat31]

***Ok, don't think I can change the title when I edit but I should not have used the word "DISCOUNT".

I removed the word "discount" from your thread title.

Yes, I do get it. I am available to work until 5:30 but really want to know which days I won't be needed that long so I can make appointments or simply have a shorter day.

If you say you are going to close at 5:30.....parents hear "you can leave your kids here until I close no matter what time you are done work" and then they do.

Even when there are parents who pick up early, you always get that one family who will not show up until the minute you are closing.


~Countrymom.......I do keep immaculate records but only have to work with a max of 10-12 families (usually less as some kids are sibs) and I personally write their drop off and pick up times on the sign in sheet myself and hand them the clip board to sign and date. NO arguements possible.

Easy peasy and literally takes maybe 30 seconds per family and even with 10-12 families that is still only approx 5 minutes per day so not very much hassle at all.

[Crazy8]

I get it, they pay extra after lets say 9 hours. so its an extra charge (heck we all do it) but you know what I've been doing, is asking parents what their work schedual is, this way then I know they are not just doing anything. I never blurt out what time I'm open to, I keep asking the parents the hours they need, if they start skirting the question, then I know that they want to dump their kids all day, and it aint happening here.

This is how I always planned my "contracted hours" to be... its why I never "publicize" my rates, etc. but somehow it ended up where they are all contracted till my latest time when many don't need it and don't use it - but I still can't plan something because that will be the one time they do use it!

Blackcat, thanks for fixing the title - I think that one word was throwing some people, LOL!

[Country Kids]

This is why in a way hourly works wonderful! You get those people that want to have their children there all day long each and every day till they get the bill then they see there is cost involved and it hits them hard.

Thats when they get realistic about their hours with you then!