I’m Losing Too Much Money- Need Advice and Support

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Ugh.... fell for a year old post, again.

I know she figured this stuff out...

Dang it! Me, too! ::

[Familycare71]

No advice, but definitely commiseration. We are in a stuck/****y place financially, too. I actually decided this morning that I'm done advertising until we have the money/time to do some work on the front of the house because I think that might be a lot of what's losing me clients--our front fence (stupid expensive TERRIBLE vinyl thing) broke and was torn down but the posts are left and it looks stupid. Digging out those posts though is going to be hhhaaaarrrrrdddddd so I haven't done it.

I have decided that I'm going to go forth with my plan to get Montessori certification and start running this as an affordable Montessori program out of my home. I think there's a market for it around here and I hope I'd be able to sign up either a full complement of kids for an AM/PM type thing or for a MWF/T TH kind of thing. I'd be making more that way than I make now, lots more. But ONLY if I could get the kids signed up. It'll take me a couple of years to get to that point though.

OT but unless you are going to instal a fence in the same place I would just cut the posts at just below ground level rather than trying to get them out. You would only have to dig an area around each post and saw off just below ground level- then fill with dirt and grass seed

[DaisyMamma]

Ya know whenever I am in a bad situation that started out with good intentions such as yours, I don't view it as if I can't change it because this is MY business and I can change things.

I see no issues telling a parent "Hey Sally, when I made these arrangements with you it was because I was financially able to do so but now the arrangement we have is no longer working for me and this is what I need to do to change it__________".

Look at it this way: you were unemloyed, so you took a job at Burger King for minimum wage and saved yourself from the line at the local food shelf. Fast forward a few months and now you have bigger and more financial obligations and this minimum wage job is no longer working for you....what do you do? You go look for another job with higher pay or you ask your current employer for a raise or more hours.

SAME thing. You were ok with the fee per week and extended absences because it worked for you then but now it doesn't, so there is nothing wring with re-evaluating the agreement you have with this family.

I raise my rates every year. Sometimes I choose not to and make a point of saying that I am opting out of my chance to raise my rates. Some years I have raised them significantly and other years I have only raised them a teny tiny amount.

The first thing you should do is let the family with the extended Nov-Mar absence know that you will not be holding soaces anymore without payment. I would also "warn" them that you will also be raising your rates to be more competitive with other area providers. If they balk at this, this you know you will need to find/enroll new clients.

Bottom line though is you are running a business and one that must generate enough for you to live and pay your bills. Dont ever stress about doing whatever it is you need to do to make ends meet.....after all, parents will always do what is best for them so providers shouldn't feel guilty or as if they cannot do the same.

Sounds right. It is your business and you should change it as you see fit.
I doubt the nov-mar family will pay for the time they are gone so start advertising now. Make sure the new clients know that you take one week of PAID vacation and that payment is due 52 weeks per year, regardless of attendance, or whatever you choose your policy to be.

Sometimes its easier to find new clients who are willing to accept your policies then implementing the new policies on the old clients, but they might surprise you.

And you can always have different policies for new families and leave the old families as is until youre financially.able to require the old families to either comply or walk.