WWYD- Provider Day off

[Cat Herder]

Flat fee = pay the same rate each week REGARDLESS of absences

For me this does not include prescheduled closures by me, though. Absenses don't count, but my closures do.

Pay for space = pay for ONLY space you use or attend

That's where I was confused.

Hmm.... Maybe I am not 100% flat fee? IDK. ::

[lovemykidstoo]

I know I'm being really dense, but can someone tell me what "sa" stands for?

[lovemykidstoo]

Flat fee = pay the same rate each week REGARDLESS of absences

Pay for space = pay for ONLY space you use or attend

That's where I was confused.

Oh, I had it mixed up too. I am flat fee then.

I don't really charge different depending on the parents job either. My parents pay for the amount of days they're contracted for regardless if they're here or not. The only time they do not pay is if I'm off for my vacation or my illness. If it's a holiday and their normally in my care, then they pay. I charge the actual holidays, none of the before or after the actual holiday. For Christmas week, I am taking that as vacation so I only charge them for Christmas Day and New Years Day.

[Cat Herder]

I know I'm being really dense, but can someone tell me what "sa" stands for?

School Agers

[wahmof3]

Would that be so bad? I would try to fill their spots with year-round workers.





HOW are you "holding" their spots? Do they pay a deposit or a holding fee?

Otherwise you are doing something for free and they are not having to do anything. Not very fair.


NEVER base what you do off what other providers do. Do what works for you. Starving all summer isn't working for you.

I require my families to pay all year. My job is not seasonal.

No holding fee, deposit- nothing. Yep they get free. Yep all while I struggle. I totally understand what you are saying.

I feel like I am running my business completely wrong.

Its no wonder I feel a constant burnout. I don't know how fix this.

Get this, I have one teacher who is expecting a baby in December & I want to charge her 1/2 rate for DCG and new baby while on 8 week leave BUT I seriously think she will FLIP OUT.

No wonder I am ready to throw in the towel.

[wahmof3]

I was under the impression that it was common to take your weekly rate, multiply it by 52 weeks, then divide that number by the number of weeks they would be in attendance that school year.

They paid a higher rate for the privilege of returning in the fall.

Has that changed?

Not common in my area.

The normal is a daily rate, as far as I know and unless you are in a center.

But that MAKES PERFECT SENSE

[Country Kids]

I don't charge for teachers summer breaks either and I don't have them do a deposit fee.

I know-.

[Nickel]

school age.

I do not have teachers kids but I do have college students. And quite a few actually.

I have a seperate contract for students than non students. So this may work for you, but it may not. I charge for spots and for holidays. But for me the holiday is the actual day, not the week. So Christmas eve and christmas day is a holiday, other days I take are unpaid. Thanksgiving is a holiday, Black Friday I am closed unpaid vacation day. If dck do not attend Wednesday they still must pay for it.

For students they get spring break free time off, break between semesters free time off and summer free time off with a small holding fee. I am open all of these times, but I have my school age daughter who is home. I personally want that time to spend with my family, so the lower ratio works for my family. I budget for those times of less money. If I needed the money I could take on a school age child. But I want to be able to g et up and go during the summer and cannot do that with a ton of children. School is also out most of December to beginning of January, my daughter is out of school 3 weeks during the time.

That works for me and my family. You need to find what works best for you and your family.

[Cat Herder]

Wow Ladies...

Don't let them walk on you!! They get retirement, pensions, summers off and insider info for their own kids through school (PRICELESS BTW).

You at least deserve to eat year round. lovethis

[lovemykidstoo]

School Agers

thanks, I figured it had to do with that but couldn't figure out the correct words

[Blackcat31]

Hmm.... Maybe I am not 100% flat fee? IDK. ::

You are right, I would probably give a discounted week too if I closed. But ONLY if it were an unplanned closure. I guess I rarely, if ever, have those so forgot to include that concept.

No holding fee, deposit- nothing. Yep they get free. Yep all while I struggle. I totally understand what you are saying.

I feel like I am running my business completely wrong.

Its no wonder I feel a constant burnout. I don't know how fix this.

Want to hear the icing on the cake?? I have one teacher who is expecting a baby in December & I want to charge her 1/2 rate for DCG and new baby BUT I seriously think she will FLIP OUT.

No wonder I am ready to throw in the towel.

You should definitely be charging the teachers the same YEARLY rate as everyone else, but just divide it up by the number of weeks in the school year to get your normal weekly rate. Basically teachers would pay a higher weekly rate than others but they also get the whole summer off.

Not common in my area.

The normal is a daily rate, as far as I know and unless you are in a center.

But that MAKES PERFECT SENSE

Sometimes, changes to what is considered normal in an area won't or can't change until someone makes the first move.

Why not be the first one to change how teachers are billed? I can't imagine that they are the only ones looking for daycare in your area that you HAVE to take them.

If you need help setting up a consistent rate schedule, let me know. I can try to help.

I would also not give the pregnant mom any type of discount for either child or to her hold space. You are a business NOT a babysitting service.

Think of yourself more like a landlord. Rent is the same each month regardless of whether you spend 4 or 7 nights at home each week.

What is the child care situation like in your area? Lots of calls and hard to find spaces or too many child cares and lots of daycare hoppers?

[lovemykidstoo]

My teachers still send their kids 1/2 the time in the summer. I tell them that that is fine as I normally like to have the open spots for siblings of my other kids. If I didn't have room for the siblings that would open up a whole other problem for me.

[wahmof3]

You are right, I would probably give a discounted week too if I closed. But ONLY if it were an unplanned closure. I guess I rarely, if ever, have those so forgot to include that concept.




You should definitely be charging the teachers the same YEARLY rate as everyone else, but just divide it up by the number of weeks in the school year to get your normal weekly rate. Basically teachers would pay a higher weekly rate than others but they also get the whole summer off.



Sometimes, changes to what is considered normal in an area won't or can't change until someone makes the first move.

Why not be the first one to change how teachers are billed? I can't imagine that they are the only ones looking for daycare in your area that you HAVE to take them.

If you need help setting up a consistent rate schedule, let me know. I can try to help.

I would also not give the pregnant mom any type of discount for either child or to her hold space. You are a business NOT a babysitting service.

Think of yourself more like a landlord. Rent is the same each month regardless of whether you spend 4 or 7 nights at home each week.

What is the child care situation like in your area? Lots of calls and hard to find spaces or too many child cares and lots of daycare hoppers?

Great analogy!

I get calls in waves. I was getting several calls a few weeks ago & only 1 call this week. Most need CRAZY hours and "tell" me they cannot afford $125 per week.

Infant care is extremely hard to find in my area and that is what most of the calls are for.

[Nickel]

Great analogy!

I get calls in waves. I was getting several calls a few weeks ago & only 1 call this week. Most need CRAZY hours and "tell" me they cannot afford $125 per week.

Infant care is extremely hard to find in my area and that is what most of the calls are for.

Sounds like you live near me! :: 90% of my calls are for newborns and 5% for school age (which I don't accept).

Even a call a week is good! It took me what seems like forever to fill my spots! And I've had many people tell me they coudn't afford me fees. I finally dropped my prices from $125-$100. And people still don't want to pay that! Jeez!!!

[lovemykidstoo]

No holding fee, deposit- nothing. Yep they get free. Yep all while I struggle. I totally understand what you are saying.

I feel like I am running my business completely wrong.

Its no wonder I feel a constant burnout. I don't know how fix this.

Get this, I have one teacher who is expecting a baby in December & I want to charge her 1/2 rate for DCG and new baby while on 8 week leave BUT I seriously think she will FLIP OUT.

No wonder I am ready to throw in the towel.

so you want to charge her 1/2 for the current child you have and also for the new baby? the current dcg won't be coming to you during maternity leave?