Question For Those Who Have Been Open For A While...

[littlemissmuffet]

I've increased rates 120% in 5 years.

[Blackcat31]

When I first opened I was charing about $65 less per week than I am now.

[MarinaVanessa]

My rates have gone up by $10 in the last 10 years. Although my rates go up $1 a week every year I don't raised my current client rates but when I get new clients I charge them the new rate. I know $1 doesn't seem like a lot but it's the same as raising my rates by $5 a week every 5 years so it works.

I know I talk about getting a new bigger home a lot (but we are so close I can taste it) but when we actually do I am hoping to find a house with either a second living room or some type of enclosed patio or large room to have dedicated daycare space. Once I have more room I am planning to incorporate a lot more of FCCERS-R standards and include a better curriculum. I have planned activities but I could do so much more if I had more space including space for storage. Once I can do that I plan on raising my rates again to match those of providers that have better curriculum which means an immediate $10 bump up in rates.

[juliebug]

my rates haven't went up alot but i first started in 08 and charged $20 a day but only when they children were here.
in 2010 i added paid holidays and a flat weekly rate of $110 a week so while my rate didn't change i did get paid holiday and paid for day children were sick or absent
then in 2011 i raised my rates to $125 a week and that is where it has stayed.

[blandino]

When I first opened I was charing about $65 less per week than I am now.

How long ago did you open ? The family I was referring to is about $60.00 away from the tuition they paid when we first opened 10 years ago. So I'm just curious since we are talking an increase around the same amount.

[Kim]

Good thread! Never thought about it til now. When I first opened 5 years ago I was 20% lower across the board for all ages. It took me a couple years to realize I was low what I offered- preschool program, dedicated space, degree and background in early childhood, etc. Now I'm on the top end of the average in my area.

[Blackcat31]

How long ago did you open ? The family I was referring to is about $60.00 away from the tuition they paid when we first opened 10 years ago. So I'm just curious since we are talking an increase around the same amount.

I started my first family in '92 but didn't get licensed until the next year.

[AnythingsPossible]

When I opened 11 years ago, I charged 20 dollars a day. I currently charge 25 dollars a day so my rates haven't increased that much. A few years ago, our economy was doing really well due to oil and gas fields in our region. Numerous providers raised their rates dramatically, 40 dollars a day wasn't unheard of, I left mine alone. When the fields moved on, the providers still wanted their large pay and people weren't willing to pay it anymore so numerous providers went out of business.
Next fall, I plan on going to monthly rates and it will be slightly less then the 25 I am charging now, but it will be guaranteed, which is more appealing to me in the long run. My monthly rate will be $550.00 with a $20.00 fee if the want to participate in preschool program.

[AnythingsPossible]

That's what I did. I had the majority of my clients leaving at 3:30 and then one family with three kids that was here until 5:30 but of course they were my most difficult family. I decided to term and then I only advertised for 1 year old and up and with hours from 7:30-3:30. Almost everyone arrives at 8:30 and they are all between 22 months and 2 1/2 years so it is perfect. Some of my clients don't need the entire slot but I encourage them to use it so that I don't have drop offs and pick ups throughout the day. I hope I never have to go back!

How do you find people who only work till 3:30? Even my teachers work till 4. I would love to have earlier hours, but I always seem to get 2 or 3 kids that are here till right at closing.

[MarinaVanessa]

How do you find people who only work till 3:30? Even my teachers work till 4. I would love to have earlier hours, but I always seem to get 2 or 3 kids that are here till right at closing.

I have one that picks up at noon, and some that pick up at 2pm. The rest pick up after 5pm. In my case the noon mom goes to school and gets off at that time, as for the others mom goes in to work at 3am so she goes home to get DCG (her older sister is home with her) and drops her off at 10 am (grocery store) then comes back to pick her up at 2pm (sister takes college classes). The other family DCD drops off at 8am because DCM also goes in to work at 3am and DCM picks up DCB at 2pm.

[nanglgrl]

How do you find people who only work till 3:30? Even my teachers work till 4. I would love to have earlier hours, but I always seem to get 2 or 3 kids that are here till right at closing.

I live in a college town so I end up with some parents who are students and it's a fairly wealthy area so I also have a couple of clients that don't have jobs but bring their children here to socialize. I also have a couple of clients that have grandparents or other family members pick up so they can have them in my program.
I have a really nice dedicated daycare space and do a lot more than the average in my area so that helps things. Most daycare homes in my area charge $150 for full time, I charge $125 for full time since I close earlier (but I have more paid days off). I originally had my tuition based on pick up time, 3:30 pick up was $125, 4:30 pick up was $140 and 5:30 pick up was $155. I found that parents would find ways to have their child picked up at 3:30 if they were going to save $25 a week and have a great daycare.
This is a recent change. I only had one family that needed me until 5:30 and they were my problem family so I let them go and started getting off earlier. I have one spot open and have realized that I will have to advertise like a madwoman if I want to keep this schedule for the long haul. So far so good!

[mom2many]

When I opened in 1986, I was charging $20/day for an infant and was only working from 8 am to 4 pm- 3 days a week.

My rates slowly increased over time, but my hours were consistently 8 am to 5:30 pm.

Five years ago, I was at the peak working from 7 am to 6 pm and charging $50/day.

However, two years ago, I lowered my rates when the economy took a dive and and now charge $40/day. I've also increased my hours to 6:45 am to 6:15 pm. It's hard going backwards, but there are a ton of family daycares in my area and lots of people unemployed, so I was forced to make some adjustments to keep spots filled.

[Childminder]

When I opened I was paid $25 a week and now charge $175 a week. 600%? is that correct? I opened licensed in 1973. I did lower prices in 2009 till this year because of drop in enrollment and economy. Centers in my area get $225-$250.