Early Hours

[SignMeUp]

This is my concern - I haven't been open that long - just a few months, really. So far everyone really likes my program but I don't have a lot of referrals coming in yet. I was pretty full until I had a sibling set that had to leave. Parents were going to move to the area, but the new job fell through. My others are part-time, except two, but they are SA. I definitely need replacements, and I'm a little concerned if I don't have extended hours, I won't get business. Hmmm ...

If I could tell you how many times I've worried ...
But I am still here, still in business, making a decent living. If everyone likes your program, you are doing well. That's where I started out If you have fall openings, let your current families know. I would do it one-to-one in conversation, but that's up to you
I have never offered a discount, never wavered in my hours (well, I do 'favors' for families who have a need, but only if I don't feel taken advantage of - once that starts, I stop ), and I hold to what I do, what I believe in, in my childcare.
I feel as if people who come here, come because they like and trust me, kwim? It is a business relationship, but unlike most business relationships. It is definitely based on personal trust.

I guess what I'm saying is, trust in yourself, trust in what you do, and they will come. I really believe it

[midaycare]

There are a few things that I think we childcare providers should change the 'standard' on. Pricing is one. The two-week-notice is another -- it is no longer reasonable.

Now I'm curious. What is not reasonable about a 2-week notice? Inquiring minds!

[SignMeUp]

Now I'm curious. What is not reasonable about a 2-week notice? Inquiring minds!

Well, maybe it's not the norm everywhere, but here, most people look at a couple dozen childcare settings So by the time they complete that process, it's a month or two until you get an answer. They expect at least a couple of visits with me, which I like also, for my own purposes and every last detail of our enrollment papers have to be filled out before children begin, so that is sometimes a process in itself. I have everything spelled out, but I can't organize their stuff :: I would if I could :: because I am the one who gets fined and written up if it isn't complete.

[saved4always]

I only took teacher's kids or families with schedules like teachers. I would be willing to start around 6:40 am but did not watch anyone past 4 pm. I didn't take anyone who could not fit these hours because that is what worked for my kids school schedules and me.

[midaycare]

I only took teacher's kids or families with schedules like teachers. I would be willing to start around 6:40 am but did not watch anyone past 4 pm. I didn't take anyone who could not fit these hours because that is what worked for my kids school schedules and me.

Unfortunately there are a few in home places around here that do that already. Everyone loves this woman, but fortunately she is usually full. For some reason, though, teachers seem to have a lot of family help raising their kids.

[nanglgrl]

This is my concern - I haven't been open that long - just a few months, really. So far everyone really likes my program but I don't have a lot of referrals coming in yet. I was pretty full until I had a sibling set that had to leave. Parents were going to move to the area, but the new job fell through. My others are part-time, except two, but they are SA. I definitely need replacements, and I'm a little concerned if I don't have extended hours, I won't get business. Hmmm ...

IMO The best thing to do if you need the money and have just recently opened is to have extended hours and then to gradually cut your hours back to reflect the needs of your clients. I've done daycare twice, once 20 years ago and then again for the past 11 years. When I first started the second time I did second and third shift and didn't take any paid days off. As time when on I gradually raised my rates, added paid time off and reduced my hours. The hours reduction was the last thing I did. Let's say I had a spot open and a few people wanted it..I would accept the child that had the earlier pick up provided they were a good fit...I did that time after time and eventually only had one client here past 3:30. Now most of my clients are gone by 3:15 except one who leaves at 3:45 but they pay quite a bit more than my other families.
Also when your doing interviews feel around for what they really need. I don't advertise my early closing hours and if the right family came along that was willing to pay considerably more I would consider staying open later if they really needed me to and I really needed the money. I can't tell you how many families I've interviewed that insisted that theyd need 10-12 hours a day and then once I tell them how much that would cost compared to an earlier pick up they can miraculously find a way to pick up earlier.
Of course I think all this depends on where you live too. I live near a college and there are a lot of companies that work third shift. I get a lot of students children and children who are here while a parent sleeps after working 3rd. If it wasn't for those 2 factors I wouldn't be able to do it with just the work from home or self employed parents.

[midaycare]

IMO The best thing to do if you need the money and have just recently opened is to have extended hours and then to gradually cut your hours back to reflect the needs of your clients. I've done daycare twice, once 20 years ago and then again for the past 11 years. When I first started the second time I did second and third shift and didn't take any paid days off. As time when on I gradually raised my rates, added paid time off and reduced my hours. The hours reduction was the last thing I did. Let's say I had a spot open and a few people wanted it..I would accept the child that had the earlier pick up provided they were a good fit...I did that time after time and eventually only had one client here past 3:30. Now most of my clients are gone by 3:15 except one who leaves at 3:45 but they pay quite a bit more than my other families.
Also when your doing interviews feel around for what they really need. I don't advertise my early closing hours and if the right family came along that was willing to pay considerably more I would consider staying open later if they really needed me to and I really needed the money. I can't tell you how many families I've interviewed that insisted that theyd need 10-12 hours a day and then once I tell them how much that would cost compared to an earlier pick up they can miraculously find a way to pick up earlier.
Of course I think all this depends on where you live too. I live near a college and there are a lot of companies that work third shift. I get a lot of students children and children who are here while a parent sleeps after working 3rd shift. If it wasn't for those 2 factors I wouldn't be able to do it with just the work from home or self employed parents.

I have kind of changed things around. I'm still offering later hours, but the parents will have to pay more for them. Everyone who comes here states that I am the cheapest and offer the most. One couple told me I am the cheapest by $25 a week, up to the most expensive they toured, an extra $85 per week.

So I ended up charging as craftymissbeth does, only she charges per 15 minutes, and I am now charging every 30 minutes from 3:00-6:00 p.m. I have no idea how this will work out, but hopefully ... people choose the earlier times. It will be an experiment!

[Atoz]

I too am very interested in trying lower rates for earlier pick ups. Im sure the rates are put in your contracts but what if a parent wants to change their rates? How often do you allow them to do this?

[Blackcat31]

I too am very interested in trying lower rates for earlier pick ups. Im sure the rates are put in your contracts but what if a parent wants to change their rates? How often do you allow them to do this?

I would allow a parent to change their agreed contract time once.

In the 20+ years I have done this, I have yet to run across a parent that would need to change hours more than that.... and if they did, it would probably mean they have other issues planning and managing.

I re-new contracts annually so parents are always free to change things then but I wouldn't allow continuous changes month after month.

If that were the case, I would give them the latest pick up time I had and they would have to pay for it.

[sariejohnston]

I just moved to Texas from Missouri I have been Job searching and I have noticed almost all of the Daycares here are early 6:30am to 6:30pm. Which is odd for me because where I am from the day Cares I have worked for open at 7:30am end at 5:30pm and I had early day's like go in a 7:30 get off at 12:30 or 7:30 to 4:30 there were times I would stay until close or a little after close even but for the most part I had early days off...

[BrooklynM]

I would allow a parent to change their agreed contract time once.

In the 20+ years I have done this, I have yet to run across a parent that would need to change hours more than that.... and if they did, it would probably mean they have other issues planning and managing.

I re-new contracts annually so parents are always free to change things then but I wouldn't allow continuous changes month after month.

If that were the case, I would give them the latest pick up time I had and they would have to pay for it.

Blackcat- can you PM me the forms you use for this please? I'm updating all I my policies and I think this will be a good time to switch to this format.

Thank you !

[Blackcat31]

Blackcat- can you PM me the forms you use for this please? I'm updating all I my policies and I think this will be a good time to switch to this format.

Thank you !

PM'ing you now.

[NightOwl]

::
My drop offs can be anywhere between 7-9 am. I don't allow drop offs after 9.

Pickups and the corresponding weekly rate:
3:00 $90
3:15 $95
3:30 $100
3:45 $105
4:00 $110
4:15 $115
4:30 $120
4:45 $125
5:00 $130

Drop off between 5-6 am is $5 per day per child.
Pick ups between 5-6 pm is $5 per day per child.


All of my parents chose the absolute earliest time they could get someone here to pick up so they could save some $$. Like BC said, THEY are in complete control of their rates. They get to set their budget... as long as the pick up time corresponds with what they want to pay

I may have missed it if this question has already been asked/answered. What happens when a parent arrives after their scheduled pick up time? Do you charge by the minute as if they arrived after closing time? Or do you bump the whole week up to the next time bracket? Or is there a flat daily charge for each infraction?

[craftymissbeth]

I may have missed it if this question has already been asked/answered. What happens when a parent arrives after their scheduled pick up time? Do you charge by the minute as if they arrived after closing time? Or do you bump the whole week up to the next time bracket? Or is there a flat daily charge for each infraction?

I treat it as if my "closing time" is their pick-up time so if they show up after their contracted pick-up time then late fees start accruing.

My late fee is $5 per fifteen minutes (or portion thereof) per child.. so, yes, technically it DOES simply bump them to the next bracket, BUT I also offer much cheaper $7 per hour fee if they ask 24 hours in advance. I have one family ask me every once in awhile for that extra hour, but I've never charged them. They're my awesome family so I just use that as my way of showing my thanks to them.

ETA: Also, even though the $5 fee per fifteen minutes does bump them to the next bracket they do NOT get to use the extra time for the rest of the week. So one family is contracted until 3:00 and pays $90 per week. Another family is contracted until 3:15 and pays $95 per week and gets to use that extra 15 minutes all week. If family one shows up late one day they get charged the $5, but do NOT get to pick up at 3:15 the rest of the week. I hope that makes sense ::

[Atoz]

Black cat can I please have that info too. I too am switching to adjustable rates your right seems like a win-win to me too. Thank you for sharing.