How Do You Afford An Assistant?

[MCC]

I agree, it all depends on where you live. Daycare cost go up and down with cost of living, but minimum wage does not. No matter where you are, your assistant is going to expect $9-10/hour, regardless of what you're bringing in.

I live just outside Washington DC, so it's a very HCOL area, and I'm in a planned community, in one of the top school districts in the US.

I have 7 spots, I charge $300/week, no part time, no discounts. I pay my assistant $10 for 35 hours a week. I budget about $400 for taxes, SS etc, and what I pay my payroll company.

IN $2100
OUT $400
LEFT $1700
per week.

If I stayed within my ratios to do this alone, I would not be able to afford rent in my area, almost all the home daycares in my town have full time assistants b/c we need the extra spots to be able to live in this area.

[Unregistered]

what do you do if your assistant is sick?

What do you do if your assistant cant work then your over ratios. Do you close? Or if they up and quit on you. What do you do?

[Play Care]

What do you do if your assistant cant work then your over ratios. Do you close? Or if they up and quit on you. What do you do?

My ratios do not change because I have an assistant. I would need to upgrade to a group family license in order to have more kids. Not something I'm interested in.

[KiddieCahoots]

I'm in the same boat Wednesday. Don't feel I can afford an assistant.

Isn't it a lot of work obtaining an assistant?

[Unregistered]

I have a family daycare I thought maybe someday down the road I may consider going group but what do you do if they call out or dont show up to work.

[Play Care]

I have a family daycare I thought maybe someday down the road I may consider going group but what do you do if they call out or dont show up to work.

The group family cares around here have back up providers. Basically if one has to call out, the back up comes in and the main provider takes the day with out pay. The back ups do act as assistants - covering appointments and such.

[Play Care]

I'm in the same boat Wednesday. Don't feel I can afford an assistant.

Isn't it a lot of work obtaining an assistant?

I have a fantastic assistant. I only use her PT, but she is amazing.
When I think of all the school events I'd have to either miss or close for, or doctors appointments I'd not be able to get to, etc. it doesn't make sense for me to NOT have someone. I also feel it gives me a competitive edge because I have a highly qualified back up - parents are less likely to have to miss work.

I pay well because when I only offered minimum wage, I got minimum wage help. My current assistant has a BA and taught Kindergarten - and it's obvious ::. To be honest, having a PT assistant (even a well paid one as mine is) is maybe slightly more than the cost of having a house keeper come in once a week. And I can't leave the kids with a housekeeper so I can attend a concert at the school

[DaisyMamma]

I see lots of you who refer to having an assistant, sometimes two or three, and I'm curious. How do you afford this? I would love to have one, even just part time, but I can barely afford a substitute when I need one! I have 6 full time children @ $125 weekly. It's pretty good money, but I can't see having to pay an assistant. But I also have 4 children of my own, so maybe it's because my personal expenses may be higher? Sigh.... I dare to dream...

I didn't read other replies.
I live in an area where I get $175-$225/week per child. I can only have 6 full time, but personally I find 6 to be too many, so that 6th kid pays their salary. If I lose that 6th kid I lose the assistant. However the cost of living is higher here so its all relative in regards to price per child.
So it really depends on what your expenses are for living and if you have another adult helping provide for your household income.