Contracted Hours vs. Open/Closed Hours

[Provider_Manda]

Ok so I am a little confused when it comes to Contracted hours vs. open/closed. What does it all mean?
I say I am open for 7:30 till 6, but I always ask what time someone will be here and if no one comes at 7:30 Im sleeping! But I was just wondering what is easier, and is there really a difference. I have 2 kids moving and Im trying to get everything in working order before I sign on any newbies...Any advice would be great, I guess I just don't understand it all.:confused:

[nanglgrl]

Contracted hours means just because you are open from 7:30-6 does not necessarily mean clients can come anytime or the whole time from 7:30-6. Clients sign up for exact hours. Most of my clients come from 8:30-3:30 but I have some that are contracted until 5:30 pm. If the clients that are contracted until 3:30 show up at 3:45 they are charged a late fee, it doesn't matter that you are still open, that's not their contracted pick up time. It cuts down on clients leaving their children with you all day even when they don't need all of the hours and can also help you fill open slots with part time children. If a person only contracts until 3:00 you could have an extra schoolager come after school and make more money.
I do mine a little different. It's a combination I guess of what I've learned on here. I open at 7:30. If a client contacts until 3:30 they pay x amount, if they pick up between 3:30-4:30 they pay a little more and if they pick up at 5:30 they pay my maximum fee. If they pick up at noon they are charged the same as a 3:30 pick up.

[Chatter Box]

whoops, somehow I replied one one post and it posted to another. ??

[daycare]

here is what I do..... I offer time blocks

here is what my time block are:
7:45-4:45
7:45-5:00
7:45-5:15
7:45-5:30
All the way up to 6pm

Basically they are set apart by 15 minutes. They can choose to drop off later or earlier, but will agree to those set times daily. I allow 9.5 hours each day any time over that is charged at the rate of $6.50 an hour or fraction thereof.

I will not open before 745 and will not stay later than 6. I may do it on occasion if it is arranged in advance on a temporary basis.

[lovemykidstoo]

I am open 7:30 - 5:30 and charge $35.00 per day whether they use 7 hours or 10. All of my people are pretty consistant on what time they drop off and pick up. I don't charge extra if they normally come at 4:00, but come at 4:15. Flat rate per day.

[Blackcat31]

I run on contracted hours. I am willing to work between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. but parents contract with me for the number of hours per day/week they want to use.
Those hours become their contracted times.

They are billed according to their contracted times so someone picking up at 3:00 has a cheaper rate than someone who contracts care until 5:30. If a parent contracts to 3:00 and picks up at 3:30, they are considered late and billed the appropriate late fee.

I prefer doing things this way because I am better able to plan my day, activities and meals as well as knowing EXACTLY when I need to open and when I am able to be done for the day.

[countrymom]

since I started doing this it has been awesome. I also don't have kids sitting here all day.

[Country Kids]

What do you guys do though if parents contract for your entire opening time and will be at work?

I have some that do do this and work 8,5-9 hours but will contract 10.5 hours so that they can stay and get caught up on more work. Then if they manage to get off earlier would they be charged a lesser rate for the day?

By the way I charge a flat rate by days.

[Blackcat31]

What do you guys do though if parents contract for your entire opening time and will be at work?

I have some that do do this and work 8,5-9 hours but will contract 10.5 hours so that they can stay and get caught up on more work. Then if they manage to get off earlier would they be charged a lesser rate for the day?

By the way I charge a flat rate by days.

Nope, mine pick one contracted time. If they think they might work a long day then you best be contracting enough time to not be late for pick up(or early for drop off).

If they do get done early, they can pick up their child if they want or leave them....I don't care but their rate stays the same.

I do not reduce fees once we sign the contract. I will add appropriate late fees for late pick ups but I don't allow contracted times to be flexible or variable.

[nanglgrl]

Nope, mine pick one contracted time. If they think they might work a long day then you best be contracting enough time to not be late for pick up(or early for drop off).

If they do get done early, they can pick up their child if they want or leave them....I don't care but their rate stays the same.

I do not reduce fees once we sign the contract. I will add appropriate late fees for late pick ups but I don't allow contracted times to be flexible or variable.

Same here. I would rather know the contracted times and have the child here all day than have varied schedules. I tell parents I charge the same no matter if their child is picked up at noon or 3:30 so It's fine with me if they want to go run errands and keep the child here as long as that's what they are contracted for. I like not having people coming and going at all times plus if the parent gets off before 3:30 the child might as well eat a healthy lunch and get a good nap here instead of going home. If they pick up after their contracted hours they are charged fees.
I also put in my contracts that if you are contracted until 3:30 you have to pick up at 3:30. If you are regularly picking up at 2:00 your contracted time will be changed to reflect the new time even though the price is the same. I allow this to happen on occasion but it can't be a weekly occurrence. I didn't want people picking the 3:30 pick up time just to cover their butts and then pick up at different times every day. I wanted consistency.
It works for me. Most of my kids play all morning, eat lunch, take a nap and then leave as soon as they wake up from nap. This means I can pick up everything and don't have to do it later in the day. In the end you have to pick a combination of what works best for you and what the comparable market is like in your area. If you offer more than the norm in your area do whatever you want!

[e.j.]

What do you guys do though if parents contract for your entire opening time and will be at work?

I have some that do do this and work 8,5-9 hours but will contract 10.5 hours so that they can stay and get caught up on more work. Then if they manage to get off earlier would they be charged a lesser rate for the day?

By the way I charge a flat rate by days.

In my case, the hours parents contract for are the hours they pay for. If they pick up early, they still pay the contracted amount. If they need to work earlier/later hours, they need to check with me first. If I can do it, I charge for the extra time and they include the extra money in the next tuition check.

[Michael]

More threads on the topic: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...+vs+open+hours