Your Rate Compared To Local Centers?

[Sunchimes]

As of about a year ago, I was $12 less for toddlers and $27 less for babies. I have more flexible hours, but my families have been with me a long time and I won't raise their rates right now. I could probably get more without any problem because both centers in our town have a lot of high level citations. I've heard from parents who tried them that they are not very good. Maybe I'll go up a little next year.

[Starburst]

I'm a little different in that I charge one rate for my spots no matter the age. I only have 3 spots. So this means that for toddlers I charge about $200 less per month, for 2/3 I charge about the same but for preschoolers I end up charging slightly more. My home and program are totally different than most if not all centers around here so it works for me.

Thats what I was thinking of doing too- just a flat weekly "time slot" rate no matter the age but depending on the number days or hours attened (a full-time, part-time, or drop in rate). Thats what I see a lot of people doing in the area I plan on moving to. I think that way is better in some ways because then I wouldn't have to worry so much about when the child is potty training that the parents insist on their child being "officially" potty trained to get a cheaper price and having to worry about making up that income or feeling like I am getting a pay cut for working with them longer than If I just got a new child. I was thinking since I will do preschool maybe see about having a flat rate for just preschoolers who are only their for 1 or 2 hours a day (maybe a higher drop in rate or just charge them a lower daily rate that is still manditory wheather they are present that day or not)

[daycarediva]

I am pretty close to the local centers. However, they do not offer preschool and I do.

Preschools in the area (with after care included) are around $200-250/week or $25-75 more and are in SUPER high demand, waiting lists for 1 year+.

I also have a waiting list.

[JLH]

I charge $25/day to all of my old clients.

My new rates are $30/day for 18 mo to 2 years. $25/day for 1/2 day kinders and $20/day for all day kinders and school-agers. Those rates stay the same regardless of the amount of hours the kids are in my care and regardless of school closures, 1/2 days, etc. I do really like the idea of charging a flat rate for the spot though.

The center down the street charges around $38/day.

I thought that by getting a house right in the middle of town (right on the highway and literally surrounded by big businesses, restaurants and strip malls) I would always be full and I could charge as much as the centers in my area. My home is even zoned residential/commercial and my driveway looks like a small parking lot for about 3 or 4 cars. However, it hasn't worked out like that. We are also surrounded by a lot of big centers and they really do seem to stay full where we seem to have to work a bit harder for it. Maybe it's just because we are still pretty new though...

[SilverSabre25]

The crappy-looking "National Child Care Center" in a beat-up strip mall across the street from my neighborhood charges $180/week for toddlers my son's age. I try to get $140 for all ages, though have been as low as $100 or $120 within the past year or so. I consider that center to be one of the bottom of the barrel ones and certainly never a place I'd EVER send my child. But I still charge less than them and still get people rolling their eyes at my rates.

I think for a decent center, we'd be looking at $220 or more/week but I'm not sure. I only know about the one center because I was fed up with my son one day and seriously considering sending him to daycare.

[Evansmom]

Thats what I was thinking of doing too- just a flat weekly "time slot" rate no matter the age but depending on the number days or hours attened (a full-time, part-time, or drop in rate). Thats what I see a lot of people doing in the area I plan on moving to. I think that way is better in some ways because then I wouldn't have to worry so much about when the child is potty training that the parents insist on their child being "officially" potty trained to get a cheaper price and having to worry about making up that income or feeling like I am getting a pay cut for working with them longer than If I just got a new child. I was thinking since I will do preschool maybe see about having a flat rate for just preschoolers who are only their for 1 or 2 hours a day (maybe a higher drop in rate or just charge them a lower daily rate that is still manditory wheather they are present that day or not)

Yes, it's much less stressful to have a more dependable income and there is less haggling over days/pricing and you don't have to calculate weekly invoices. My tuition is due at the first of each month, no exceptions. No refunds for missed days. They pay for a spot. If I have a sick day I do not charge but I do not refund so the day is deducted from the next month's tuition. Does that make sense? Also I don't charge for my 3 weeks vacation. But I do for federal holidays.

[Patches]

I charge much less than centers around here, which I'm pretty sure is the norm for home daycares.

I'd say on average about .......
$40-$60 less per week for infants and toddlers

and it gets closer in cost as they get older. I might charge about the same for a 4 year old

[Patches]

Same here! The sahms on Craigslist kill me with those rates!

^Ditto

[frgsonmysox]

Everyone around here, all home daycare, and CL SAHM's charge about $20-$35 per day. Those closer in Omaha charge more, I live in the suburbs so I charge $25/day because I offer a very expensive prek program and I have a lot of experience. Since I live in a military community though, and am military myself, I have a LOT of competition with military families babysitting one or two families for super cheap. I don't live in Base housing anymore so I was able to actually set up a prek room, and by word of mouth from my first few families I am getting a lot of attention.

I've had a lot of people try to talk my prices down. I'm already working for less than min. wage. Some people expect too much.


I was on care.com the other day looking at local jobs. This one lady wanted a full time nanny for her two newborn twins, all nigh feedings, during the day all care as well as 100% devotion to educational activities for them, housework, all errands and groceries, as well as all meals provided. She was offering $5/hour. I was flabbergasted.