Moved & Restarting

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  • saltmom75
    New daycare.com Member
    • Jun 2012
    • 8

    Moved & Restarting

    Hello there! So I'm having one of those moment where I know what I'm doing is right but I'm second guessing myself and I need some support. Backstory: so I have an in home daycare in MO for 3 years packed full at $125/week no sibling discounts. I have great references from these families too. But we relocated to IN in a town that is much smaller and economically not as well as where lived before. In fact, most of the town in my opinion is pretty run down but we did our research on got on "the right side of town". I have a website and I'm just getting started to I'm not worried about the lack of interest yet. BUT I did decide to lower to $100/week knowing the poor economy. I feel any lower than that and it's not worth my time, you know? So I definitely don't want to give sibling discounts since that would make it lower than $100 a kid but at the same time I wouldn't mind getting people in. Double edged sword and all that. Anyway, I had this guy contact about caring for his 2 sons but one would only be for the summer. I told him there was no discount butter now I'm wondering if I should say yes since the 5 year old is only for the summer and the other kid (21 mo old) would be long term. Thoughts? And if I did go back on that discount decision for him how should I go about doing it? Thanks!
  • LysesKids
    Daycare.com Member
    • May 2014
    • 2836

    #2
    I've been in your position and I have worked both states… in Indiana the one saving grace for me was I could take 6 as opposed to 4 as a registered childcare. There are areas that you might actually have to lower to just under $100 just because of the poverty levels (Evansville is one that comes to mind). I would take the summer kid only just to get started, as you said, the other child is hopefully longterm

    What are centers charging in your area? What are childcare market rates for homes? Something I always consider when setting rates.

    BTW, I did well by offering pay by the day/Drop-in for 2 of my 6 spaces, only reason I closed up and moved was my father was dying of cancer and I wanted all my kids closer to him before he left this earth

    Comment

    • Blackcat31
      • Oct 2010
      • 36124

      #3
      If you really really really need to get kids in so you can survive financially, have you considered offering a sign on bonus type thing?

      Maybe offer discounts for siblings for a temporary time period only or offer a free day (or week) of care AFTER they have attended for six months etc

      Or offer a discounted rate for the first 30 days. Have them pay regular rate for those 30 days but then after the 30 day period is over, you can apply the discounted $ to their billing invoice.

      I wouldn't offer anything upfront in cash (I would only do "applied later type discounts) or you will find parents who sign on just to get the cheaper rate or good deal and then leave as soon as it's up...kwim?

      Comment

      • butterfly
        Daycare.com Member
        • Nov 2012
        • 1627

        #4
        I too was going to mention the sign on bonus. I would consider a sibling discount for the summer only - since it seems like that's really what they want anyways. I would just make it clear that the discount ends on X date, so that if they decide to use you for B/A school care then they aren't expecting a discount for that too.

        Comment

        • saltmom75
          New daycare.com Member
          • Jun 2012
          • 8

          #5
          I am giving a grand reopening special which is one week free with a signed contract and paid deposit. The deposit is one week of daycare fees that covers the last week of daycare.

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