What Do I Need To Do Differently?

[Little Star75]

Yep, I finally caved not too long ago and went with Nan's style of charging as well but like you I didn't want to charge in 15 minute increments either. I did however go with 30 minute increments. Like you, if they are scheduled until 4:15 they get charged until the next block (4:30 for me) and they are still late if the go past 4:15.

And I agree about the "prettier they are the more likely they are to read and remember it" thing. You are so RIGHT! Ever since I changed my layout to my handbook and contract a few years back I don't have as much trouble with people coming in and saying they never read it or they "forgot" about that clause. happyface

So do give a weekly rate or daily rate? :confused: for example if a parent needs Childcare M-F 7am-3:30pm will you charge $165 your FT rate or $150 based on your $30/day?

[Michael]

This information is so helpful for those of us just starting out (even though Blackcat warned us not to ). Thank you all for sharing!

A couple of questions:
Could someone point me to, or explain to me, Nan's approach to rates

Nannyde has a blog here on Daycare.com

https://www.daycare.com/nannyde

The Rates Article is here: https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/how-...care-rates.htm

For those of you starting out, Nannyde consults providers and it she is well worth it. http://daycarewhisperer.com/

[mamac]

Here is my rate sheet. My weekly rate (the amount I HAVE to have to survive financially) is what a 5 day a week parent picking up at 3:30 would pay.

Let me know if you have questions, I'll gladly try and help

Do you have a minimum of 3 days per week to enroll or do you also offer 1 or 2 days? If you do, how do you charge?

[AcornMama]

Nannyde has a blog here on Daycare.com

https://www.daycare.com/nannyde

The Rates Article is here: https://www.daycare.com/nannyde/how-...care-rates.htm

For those of you starting out, Nannyde consults providers and it she is well worth it. http://daycarewhisperer.com/

Thank you!

[Blackcat31]

Do you have a minimum of 3 days per week to enroll or do you also offer 1 or 2 days? If you do, how do you charge?

Anything less than 3 days per week is considered drop in.

Drop in rates are $50 per day IF there is space available.

Drop in fees are due at drop off daily.

My 3 day a week minimum requirement has rates for both 3 set days and 3 varying days per week.

HTH

[MarinaVanessa]

So do give a weekly rate or daily rate? :confused: for example if a parent needs Childcare M-F 7am-3:30pm will you charge $165 your FT rate or $150 based on your $30/day?

For me FT is 4 or 5 days per week so I charge $165 for the week whether they come 4 or 5 days a week. That comes out to be $3.30/hr. I can't fill one day a week with a regular client so 4 or 5 days means FT and they pay a flat rate of $165 every week.

Anyone on a regular schedule 3 days or less days per week is considered PT. PTers go by the other rate schedule which goes by the time that they leave (doesn't matter what time they start). A client that needs childcare 3 days a week from 8am-6pm pays (according to my schedule) $40 per day which comes out to $120/week ($4/hr). Even my client that arrives at 10am and picks up at 6pm pays this same rate even though she loses 2 hours. To me it doesn't matter what time you drop off, only what time you pick up.

To answer your question ... a client tells me what their child care needs are and we discuss a schedule with an appropriate time to commute to and from work. Based on this schedule I figure what the clients payment is each week. I charge flat weekly rate for all FT and PT clients. Only my drop-in clients get charged daily.

So client A needs PT child care on Mon 8am-6pm, Wed 10am-6pm and Fri 10am-3pm.
Which breaks down to Mon $40, Wed $40, Fri $28 = $108/week
Client A will then pay $108 every week.

Client B needs PT child care on Tues 9am-5pm and Thur 8am-4pm.
Which breaks down to Tues $36 and Thur $32 = $68/week
Client B will then pay $68 every week.

Does that help?

[mamac]

Anything less than 3 days per week is considered drop in.

Drop in rates are $50 per day IF there is space available.

Drop in fees are due at drop off daily.

My 3 day a week minimum requirement has rates for both 3 set days and 3 varying days per week.

HTH

So you would never contract a 2 day a week client to fill the days between a 3 day slot which would essentially give you a ft slot at a higher rate? I understand the one day being a drop in but don't you get people needing a 2 day a week schedule? Or do you just charge them the drop in rate but have it guaranteed if it fits with your other 3 day part time slot? Orrrr.... do you just charge the 3 day rate even if they only want 2 days? (I know the answer has got to be in one of those questions!:

btw, I also use a varying and set day rate for my pt. I tried modeling the rates as you did but my pt rates seemed ridiculously high for some reason. I know what I want my ft rates to be but I'm having a hard time figuring out the pt rates. I think I may have to go incognito and start making a few calls to some other dc's in my area to see what they charge for pt to see if I'm actually too high.