What Would You Charge?

[Little People]

I just had a call from a Mom that is in town for 4 months for Tax Season and needs chld care for a 2 year old from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. I explained to her that a child should not be in daycare for more than 10 hours a day. She is the Manager over 4 Tax places and need care asap.
At first I told her no, but she was a really sweet lady and I told her to come by and visit with me.

My full time children I charge $105.00 per week, so do you think that $200.00 per week would be fair?

[DCMomOf3]

While 12 hours is a little exessive, it's the max hours in WI and the 'standard' in MN. If it didn't run into the evening so late I would say it's still just full time, but that's me. I can see adding an extra charge for the evening hours, but I don't know about doubling the rate. I personally would go to $150 maybe.

[Lilbutterflie]

Well, I know a lot of ladies charge an extra $5-$10 per hour as an overtime fee for anything over 10 hours. I personally haven't come across this myself, but I think this is reasonable. Another factor is this 2 yr old will probably be with you during FAMILY time, the evening hours. I would add on an add'l charge for this as well.
So, figuring you decide to charge overtime of $10/hour, that adds an extra $100 for the week. So yeah, I think $200 is right where it should be! Perfectly reasonable.

[Live and Learn]

For me full time is 8 hours....so 12 hours would be 50% more a day for me. Minimum....to be honest $200 seems very reasonable.
.....I would be very firm about the 8:00 pick up and very clear about paying beforehand and whether the child is with you or not.....remember January, February, and March is still peak cold and flu season.
Good luck!

[momofboys]

My full-time rate is your rate, $105 for up to 45 hours of care. Since this is for 60 hours of care I would likely charge an extra $5-6/hr for every hour over 45 so that would be an extra 15 hours so $75-90/week extra or @ $180-195 or so a week. I think you are being more than fair.

[Little People]

Thank you Live and Learn...YES I have contracts and I only due contracted hours and times. And I get paid on Fridays for the following week. My rule is No pay on Fridays...A late fee of $10.00 for Saturday and a late fee of $10.00 for Sunday ( and I do not let them come and pay me on weekends as this is my family time). If fees and late fees are not paid upon dropping off the child/children, I will not accept the child/children. I may sound harsh on this, but for 20+ years, I have not one time had a parent not to pay me. And I only accept CASH!
But if a parent is late 2 times, then my late charges go up to $20.00 per day. I tell them this as we are reading my contract together. I have never had a parent want to pay the late charges!

But as far as this (maybe) new parent, I will tell her I am willing to help her out for these 4 months and the late charge after 8:00 pm will be $10.00 per 15 minutes and DUE at pick up. I have always had good luck with the way I tell my parents about payment and late charges.
I will let you know if she signs a contract.

Lesia

[Michael]

Welcome to the Daycare.com Forum Happy Hearts!

[Abigail]

I just had a call from a Mom that is in town for 4 months for Tax Season and needs chld care for a 2 year old from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. I explained to her that a child should not be in daycare for more than 10 hours a day. She is the Manager over 4 Tax places and need care asap.
At first I told her no, but she was a really sweet lady and I told her to come by and visit with me.

My full time children I charge $105.00 per week, so do you think that $200.00 per week would be fair?

Are you allowed to be open that many hours? You should let your licensure know you are going to be open those hours temporarily so you don't get in trouble if you are licensed. Secondly, what hours are you currently open? Definitely put it in a contract. Have the start and end date so she doesn't continue on with this through summer....something WILL come up.

Make sure that you stick to $200 a week if she wants to keep her child their 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, but I would offer two options if you need the money. I would offer her the option of picking up when you close at your standard rate and/or offering a middle-of-the-price-range if she picks up at 6:00 pm. You can give her names of babysitters that can watch their child after 6:00 pm or something. Don't burn yourself out over the winter.

[Little People]

Thanks everyone for great information!!

Abigail, I am not licensed, here we can take 4 children before we have to become licensed. And right now 4 children is great for me! And I have done contracts for 15 years and so far I have never had a problem with payment.
My hours are what ever.... My main day hours are 7 to 5:30, but I will help a parent in need if I can. All my children are grown and both live out of state I don't get to see my grandchildren very much. So I just love and take care of other peoples little joys!
I have done daycare for 25+ years and at one time I did independent living...which in detail was.. pregnant teenages. I had 10 girls and 10 babies all in my home!! That was a blast!! And yes some days "I wanted to scream" but most of the time it was exciting!

[BentleysBands]

Thanks everyone for great information!!

Abigail, I am not licensed, here we can take 4 children before we have to become licensed. And right now 4 children is great for me! And I have done contracts for 15 years and so far I have never had a problem with payment.
My hours are what ever.... My main day hours are 7 to 5:30, but I will help a parent in need if I can. All my children are grown and both live out of state I don't get to see my grandchildren very much. So I just love and take care of other peoples little joys!
I have done daycare for 25+ years and at one time I did independent living...which in detail was.. pregnant teenages. I had 10 girls and 10 babies all in my home!! That was a blast!! And yes some days "I wanted to scream" but most of the time it was exciting!

how awesome!!

personally i thinking doubling your rate is a bit excessive. i would do $150 or so.

[Little People]

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions!! I would of been doing 12 hours with him and that would of been breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, supper and evening snack....bath time and would of been his mom for 4 months. She did not call me yet today.

I did have an interview at 5:00 pm and she has a 6 week old and she filled my last spot!!! And the baby will be picked up at 4/4:30 and I am excited!!

I also got a call for a drop in 1/2 times a week for a 19 month old, for 2 hours in the late afternoon. She is coming tomorrow. I've only been open for 3 weeks now and am excited to say.... I am full!

This is a GREAT place to get help with questions!! I try to read all the posts at my nap time and in the evenings!!

Again THANKS for all the GREAT advice!!

[momofboys]

how awesome!!

personally i thinking doubling your rate is a bit excessive. i would do $150 or so.

We are talking about 60 hrs, that's a very long week.

[legomom922]

Well I'm glad you filled your spot, but I have to be honest..12 hrs is a longggggggggggg day! I have a 2.5 yr old that is here 2 days a wk at 12 hrs, and I love her to pieces, and have had her since she is 4 months, and she is awsome, but still, 12 hrs is wayy too much, and with yours, she would really be cutting into your family time, and by 7pm, she is going to be cranky and ready for bed. Mine is here from 630am-630pm, and even that sometimes cuts into personal things that I need to do. I would never do one from 8-8, for any amount of money! And boy, do 2 yrs old yak!! they never shut up!

[Lucy]

$180 would be $36 a day, which is $3 an hour. I'd go with that. If the little girl is a nice calm one, I'd probably do it.

[Lucy]

Didn't read on that you had already filled the spot, and then also noticed it was a boy and not a girl. My bad! ::