Thinking of Raising a Family's Rates

[SilverSabre25]

Family has been here almost 3 years and I've never raised their rates. My other two current families are paying $20 more /week than this one. I watch dcb 4-5 days/week (sometimes as few as 3), but that almost always includes Saturdays (which I didn't know enough to charge more for at the time). DCB is often here 10+hours a day because both parents work retail and long hours.

I had been fine with this arrangement until last Friday when it came to light that DCB, who is 5 years old, needs absolutely constant supervision. I can't leave him in the playroom and make lunch in the kitchen. I can't leave him painting in the kitchen and attend to other kids in the nearby playroom. I can't leave him without my presence and eyes *at all*. Ever. This makes him more work than *any other child* in my care, up to and including the 8 week old. I'm resenting him being the most work, hardest hours...and lowest pay.

But I am afraid of raising their rates. I know they struggle to make ends meet and I don't know what another $80/month will do. He's only here through the fall. Maybe. DCM might want/need me to keep watching him on school breaks and on Saturdays.

How do I go about this?

[Scout]

Family has been here almost 3 years and I've never raised their rates. My other two current families are paying $20 more /week than this one. I watch dcb 4-5 days/week (sometimes as few as 3), but that almost always includes Saturdays (which I didn't know enough to charge more for at the time). DCB is often here 10+hours a day because both parents work retail and long hours.

I had been fine with this arrangement until last Friday when it came to light that DCB, who is 5 years old, needs absolutely constant supervision. I can't leave him in the playroom and make lunch in the kitchen. I can't leave him painting in the kitchen and attend to other kids in the nearby playroom. I can't leave him without my presence and eyes *at all*. Ever. This makes him more work than *any other child* in my care, up to and including the 8 week old. I'm resenting him being the most work, hardest hours...and lowest pay.

But I am afraid of raising their rates. I know they struggle to make ends meet and I don't know what another $80/month will do. He's only here through the fall. Maybe. DCM might want/need me to keep watching him on school breaks and on Saturdays.

How do I go about this?

If he's only there until the fall I would leave it be and if she decides to still bring him after have her sign a new contract with new rates then. Just think of what the word of mouth would be from them since you have never raised their rates in 3 years....quite happy I'm sure!

[rmc20021]

I agree...at this stage I wouldn't raise his rates if he's only going to be here until school starts. I realize you are still losing money, but I'm such a softie and with the short amount of time left I'd just leave it be.

BUT, I would also term when school starts because I no longer take sa kids. IF you do, then yes, I would create a new contract for whatever you charge for sa kids at present.

[MarinaVanessa]

If he's only there until the fall I would leave it be and if she decides to still bring him after have her sign a new contract with new rates then. Just think of what the word of mouth would be from them since you have never raised their rates in 3 years....quite happy I'm sure!

Yes this. Leave the rates as is for now OR raise their rates by just a little (like maybe $5 or $10 more per week if you wish) but really, they are almost gone anyway. I personally would just tough it out.

I'd approach them now and ask them what their plans for him are once he starts school and specify that you want to know soon so that you can start planning for the Fall and need to know if you will have a spot to fill once he starts school (I'm assuming that's why he is leaving) or if he will continue to remain with you to do after-school care and how they plan on getting him to you etc. Since it's just May you are really just plugging in the idea so they'll start thinking about it.

Around the end of next month I'd bring it up again and hand them a written notice with a deadline to sign a new contract by which says that the current contract will expire the business day before school starts (give them the exact date). I'd make the deadline to sign the contract at least 2 weeks before the start of the new school year so that if they don't tell you either way you can then start advertising to fill his spot.

[wdmmom]

If the child will be enrolling in kindy in August, I would leave the rate alone...unless they are needing more hours than what you originally contracted.

If you know DCB won't be going off to kindy, I would issue a rate increase letter.

And, even if DCB goes off to school in the fall, I would NOT watch him on Saturdays...especially if he's the only one in care that day.