How Much Do Daycare Centers Usually Charge?

[CAPA]

Say the building is fairly new, it's newly renovated with a 50-60 child capacity. Near a park, in a middle-class neighborhood. The building has a parking lot with a lot of space for cars. The building looks good on the outside and inside. The location is in a city close to downtown (within 5 minutes) and is on a side street off a major roadway. The daycare center also provides more comprehensive care than just daycare because the director/owner is a licensed professional with a degree in k-12 education/early education/ and special education.

How much should a place like this charge? How much does the average center charge?


Thanks

[Michael]

Here are some previous threads on rates: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=rates

[daycare]

its really hard to say. What state are you located in? what do others charge in your area?

I am in cali SF bay area. there are preschools that range from 900 a MONTH to 1800 a month depending on where it is and what it has to offer.

I would find out what the other centers in that area are charging, then compare your programs to see what they offer vs what you will offer. Then base it off of that.

[lovemykidstoo]

I charge per day for 10 possibe hours. I'm open from 7:30 to 5:30, so no matter how many hours in that day someone uses, they still pay $35.00 no matter what.

[CAPA]

Here are some previous threads on rates: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=rates

Thanks, I'll check them out.

[CAPA]

its really hard to say. What state are you located in? what do others charge in your area?

I am in cali SF bay area. there are preschools that range from 900 a MONTH to 1800 a month depending on where it is and what it has to offer.

I would find out what the other centers in that area are charging, then compare your programs to see what they offer vs what you will offer. Then base it off of that.

Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh).

I called 2 daycares that were closest to where I want to start. They charge around 32-35/ full day. But the location of these places weren't next to a park and didn't have the parking in the back along with the space inside the building. They looked ok, but not that great. The areas were not that great either. I know there are other places (like Kinder Kare) that charge more. I am looking compete with these higher-end daycare centers but I have to be mindful of the income of families in the area. The advantage of being near a main roadway is that I don't have to limit myself to the neighborhood/adjacent neighborhoods.

[daycare]

Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh).

I called 2 daycares that were closest to where I want to start. They charge around 32-35/ full day. But the location of these places weren't next to a park and didn't have the parking in the back along with the space inside the building. They looked ok, but not that great. The areas were not that great either. I know there are other places (like Kinder Kare) that charge more. I am looking compete with these higher-end daycare centers but I have to be mindful of the income of families in the area. The advantage of being near a main roadway is that I don't have to limit myself to the neighborhood/adjacent neighborhoods.

I would offer an attractive rate to start. Being the new kid in town is hard sometimes.

Then perhaps you can have an annual or bi-annual increase in your rates for either existing or new clients.

I had a lower starting rate when i moved from up state. That was 4 years ago. I now charge almost $10.00 more a day then when I started.

I think that with a center you could make that happen faster.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'm a center. $185 per week.

[DaisyMamma]

If I were you I would go with the $35/day and raise your rates later on.

Here In CT center's range a lot between 165-250. It depends on age and location.

[ILoveTeaching]

I'm in the Pittsburgh area and charge $30/day...I want to be lower than daycares in the area. Ido in-home daycare/prek.

[pandamom]

I work at my military base childcare center- it's also NAEYC accredited.

Familie's pay a sliding scale based on total household income. Familie's that earn more than (I want to say off the top of my head) $100k+/year don't qualify for the subsidy and pay $220/week/child. The lowest category pays $58/week/child.

Eta: this is the second military center I've worked at. I'd say about 1/3 of the caregivers have or are working on early childhood or have an educational degree. The one I'm at now has lots of caregivers that have teaching degrees and most have a CDA. We get lots of training.

[lovemydaycare0912]

All depends where you are. Near me, centers range from 265 to 400 a week!!!!!!! Sometimes they don't even include food or diapers. It's crazy.

[CalCare]

As others said it just depends on your area. And, to be honest, your director's qualifications aren't really unusual and wouldn't indicate 'more comprehensive' care. The center where I sub is NAEYC accredited and the toddler teacher has a Masters in ed. BUT they charge about the same (a little lower) than our average places here. It's all supply and demand! If you can get them to want it, you can charge whatever they'll pay. This place that I sub, does great marketing. She's always full (4 classrooms from 18 months to 5yr). She likes it to feel like family and she makes everyone feel like she charges quite low for what they are getting. It is around $1000/month full time. It's more than some and less than others and it is a fully qualified staff. There are specialists coming in all the time for children because that is a free service provided by the state anyway so she doesn't need any sped herself... Just saying, I guess, set your prices high and market it, if you think there is a demand!

[Ariana]

I think based on your location you could bump it up to $40 or close to, more for infants I assume. Being near downtown means people who live in the suburbs that commute to downtown can easily use your daycare.

The location however may just mean you are in more demand and that spaces are filled easily which is always better than charging more.

[laundrymom]

Are you looking for honest reactions?
I feel you have a great base but have more questions.
As far as rates:
They vary so much based on location that it's hard to give a fair amount.
At 50-60 capacity you will need many staff. What will their backgrounds be? Because a directors training is great but a teacher w special Ed qualifications has focused very little on the emerging needs of the under 5 group which is what you will be catering to, correct?
Try to focus on any specialized certs and quals for the age range you enroll. I think it's great to have a k-12 educator but early education is completely different.
Little's are a whole different set of guidelines and recommendations.
In ECE we focus on getting their minds wondering and searching. We open their eyes to concepts and big, abstract ideas instead of subjects and facts.
I would publicize the ECE aspect of their background more than the k-12.

Another thing that popped out at me was the information about the nearby park. Is this the only outside pay area available or does the location have a playground as well? That would be a huge item for me both as a parent and teacher. The younger the child the more outside play they deserve. Many centers across the nation are starting to focus on the idea of outside classrooms and meals. Some even allowing room for outside napping. I follow quite a few forest schools and their popularity is astonishing. Parents want active play and will pay out the nose for the few coveted spots available.
I do think an additional outdoor play area is enriching but feel if it's only available offsite, the parents may feel it won't be offered enough.

Not trying to offend, just giving my personal opinion from the info provided.

Say the building is fairly new, it's newly renovated with a 50-60 child capacity. Near a park, in a middle-class neighborhood. The building has a parking lot with a lot of space for cars. The building looks good on the outside and inside. The location is in a city close to downtown (within 5 minutes) and is on a side street off a major roadway. The daycare center also provides more comprehensive care than just daycare because the director/owner is a licensed professional with a degree in k-12 education/early education/ and special education.

How much should a place like this charge? How much does the average center charge?


Thanks