What to Charge?

[Unregistered]

I charge around $65 to $70 per day (in LA)

[daycarediva]

I'm having trouble figuring out the standard market. No one advertises on Craigslist here - at least licensed providers. It's pretty much word of mouth or Facebook. But no one lists prices. I would have to go for an interview with another provider to find out, and I really don't want to waste their time. I would be ticked if someone did that to me.

Can you look up what social services (or whatever in your area) pays for child care? That's how I set my rates, they are just above the going rate for FT care for the age groups I accept.

[midaycare]

Can you look up what social services (or whatever in your area) pays for child care? That's how I set my rates, they are just above the going rate for FT care for the age groups I accept.

Ah yes, good idea. But how many hours do you base it off of?

[melilley]

I charge $140 a week and p/t is $70 for 2 days, $110 for 3 , and $130 for 4. I have 2 p/t children that I make more off of per week compared to 1 f/t child so I don't mind doing p/t care as long as the child adjusts well. I haven't had any problems so far.

Have you gone on the great start website yet? Some providers list what they charge.

[momofsix]

My daughters keep telling me I'm way too low too. They have told me what their profs pay for home daycare that doesn't have any "extras" and it's been a lot higher than what I charge. When I look on craigslist though I seem about average (except for those low cost unlicensed SAHM's).
I charge full time 130/week
4 days 120/week
3 days 100/week
2 days 70/week
1 day 35/week

[Blackcat31]

My "niche" is that I take the best of a Center and the best of a home daycare and combine the two. I put a lot of money into the start up of the daycare - the dck's have Center-type manipulative and toys. I do a curriculum, have a Spanish teacher come in two times a week, and have a reading specialist work with all of the kids.

Of course, this means I pay a lot more out of my pocket 1 because I pay for the Spanish teacher ($20 an hour) and the reading specialist ($10 an hour). The curriculum is $130 per month, yada yada.

I'm confused too... what is the "best of a center" and the "best of home daycare"? What does that mean...

Also, what are center type manipulative and toys exactly?

I'm not trying to be dense or nitpicking what you write, but I'm always curious when providers say things like that.

As a parent...they have to wonder too..kwim? Wondering if maybe those things were easier for parents to understand or be aware of, they pricing part would fall easily into place.

I understand the extra teachers coming in part though...that makes sense as to your rates needing to match those expenses.

Does that make sense? Like I said, not trying to give you a hard time...just trying to understand better..

[midaycare]

I'm confused too... what is the "best of a center" and the "best of home daycare"? What does that mean...

Also, what are center type manipulative and toys exactly?

I'm not trying to be dense or nitpicking what you write, but I'm always curious when providers say things like that.

As a parent...they have to wonder too..kwim? Wondering if maybe those things were easier for parents to understand or be aware of, they pricing part would fall easily into place.

I understand the extra teachers coming in part though...that makes sense as to your rates needing to match those expenses.

Does that make sense? Like I said, not trying to give you a hard time...just trying to understand better..

I should rephrase to what *I* think is the best parts of a Center and what *I* think are the best parts of a home daycare. I had my ds in both. I've also talked with tons of parents, trying to figure out what they like & dislike about each.

*In my experience* - please, no one flame me for this, because this is my opinion - I like that centers offer curriculums, a lot of variety of toys, and more experiences in general. I chose home daycare, for the most part, because centers didn't seem to have enough one-on-one attention and I liked ds having a father or mother figure in a house. I have had him with both male and female providers because we moved a lot.

I'm not saying home daycares don't offer toys and centers don't take care of kids - I just run my home daycare a little differently, and that it not just my opinion. That is what the parents tell me. I just had a parent tell me, "You offer all this in a home daycare??!!" So I'm thinking I'm a little different than those around me, since other parents now with me have been to other daycares besides me.

Parents seem to understand. I have it on my website stated like that, and I explain my program and no one's ever been like, "huh?" Everyone has always been like, "Wow! How much for deposit! And by the way, you are super affordable!"

[spinnymarie]

Centers around here are similar, slightly higher at about $50/day. he average rate here is $25/day, but the 'best' home daycares in town charge more like $36/day.
We offer a slightly different schedule, with no payment due for holidays/breaks, but if we were regular full-year we'd be close to $36/day too.
I think $35 sounds totally reasonable for what you are offering in your area.

[Annalee]

I should rephrase to what *I* think is the best parts of a Center and what *I* think are the best parts of a home daycare. I had my ds in both. I've also talked with tons of parents, trying to figure out what they like & dislike about each.

*In my experience* - please, no one flame me for this, because this is my opinion - I like that centers offer curriculums, a lot of variety of toys, and more experiences in general. I chose home daycare, for the most part, because centers didn't seem to have enough one-on-one attention and I liked ds having a father or mother figure in a house. I have had him with both male and female providers because we moved a lot.

I'm not saying home daycares don't offer toys and centers don't take care of kids - I just run my home daycare a little differently, and that it not just my opinion. That is what the parents tell me. I just had a parent tell me, "You offer all this in a home daycare??!!" So I'm thinking I'm a little different than those around me, since other parents now with me have been to other daycares besides me.

Parents seem to understand. I have it on my website stated like that, and I explain my program and no one's ever been like, "huh?" Everyone has always been like, "Wow! How much for deposit! And by the way, you are super affordable!"

Home daycares in my area offer cirriculum that is play-based and offer multiple learning centers to enhance the learning environment. The one-on-one adult/child ration is a huge "seller" for me but my record for having children ready for Kindy is also something I and others here are known for....actually, home child care gets a plus-plus for the extra social skills learned being in a mixed age group setting. I worked center for 3 years before beginning my own FCC and I do not prefer center because I do not want to hire persons....Child care is my passion...this business needs providers who want to contribute to children, not someone who is needing a paycheck which is a problem some of my center friends have....and it causes them licensing violations because persons do not show up on time, follow ratios nor treat children per guidelines....I change my room out monthly to meet my themes but I do NOT drill children, they learn through play in my set-up environment!

[SignMeUp]

I should rephrase to what *I* think is the best parts of a Center and what *I* think are the best parts of a home daycare. I had my ds in both. I've also talked with tons of parents, trying to figure out what they like & dislike about each.

*In my experience* - please, no one flame me for this, because this is my opinion - I like that centers offer curriculums, a lot of variety of toys, and more experiences in general. I chose home daycare, for the most part, because centers didn't seem to have enough one-on-one attention and I liked ds having a father or mother figure in a house. I have had him with both male and female providers because we moved a lot.

I'm not saying home daycares don't offer toys and centers don't take care of kids - I just run my home daycare a little differently, and that it not just my opinion. That is what the parents tell me. I just had a parent tell me, "You offer all this in a home daycare??!!" So I'm thinking I'm a little different than those around me, since other parents now with me have been to other daycares besides me.

Parents seem to understand. I have it on my website stated like that, and I explain my program and no one's ever been like, "huh?" Everyone has always been like, "Wow! How much for deposit! And by the way, you are super affordable!"

I get it One of the things parents commonly tell me is that my setting provides the best parts of home and preschool Quite similar

[SignMeUp]

Home daycares in my area offer cirriculum that is play-based and offer multiple learning centers to enhance the learning environment. The one-on-one adult/child ration is a huge "seller" for me but my record for having children ready for Kindy is also something I and others here are known for....actually, home child care gets a plus-plus for the extra social skills learned being in a mixed age group setting. I worked center for 3 years before beginning my own FCC and I do not prefer center because I do not want to hire persons....Child care is my passion...this business needs providers who want to contribute to children, not someone who is needing a paycheck which is a problem some of my center friends have....and it causes them licensing violations because persons do not show up on time, follow ratios nor treat children per guidelines....I change my room out monthly to meet my themes but I do NOT drill children, they learn through play in my set-up environment!

Some of what you said addresses what I believe happens here too. Preschoolers understand, when they look at the toddlers, that not long ago that behavior ('scribbling', not understanding how to share, etc.) was their behavior.
They seem to develop an understanding that not everyone is at the same stage, and that translates well to classroom social skills, where some children's skills, in various areas, are more developed than others.

It also works well when children with special needs are in the classroom, as well as when they are here in our setting. They have caring & tolerance for, instead of disdain for, people who are not functioning right at their level.

[midaycare]

Some of what you said addresses what I believe happens here too. Preschoolers understand, when they look at the toddlers, that not long ago that behavior ('scribbling', not understanding how to share, etc.) was their behavior.
They seem to develop an understanding that not everyone is at the same stage, and that translates well to classroom social skills, where some children's skills, in various areas, are more developed than others.

It also works well when children with special needs are in the classroom, as well as when they are here in our setting. They have caring & tolerance for, instead of disdain for, people who are not functioning right at their level.

Well said

[midaycare]

I get it One of the things parents commonly tell me is that my setting provides the best parts of home and preschool Quite similar

Hooray! I'm glad someone gets me

[Annalee]

Some of what you said addresses what I believe happens here too. Preschoolers understand, when they look at the toddlers, that not long ago that behavior ('scribbling', not understanding how to share, etc.) was their behavior.
They seem to develop an understanding that not everyone is at the same stage, and that translates well to classroom social skills, where some children's skills, in various areas, are more developed than others.

It also works well when children with special needs are in the classroom, as well as when they are here in our setting. They have caring & tolerance for, instead of disdain for, people who are not functioning right at their level.

Yes, and one of the compliments I get is when kindy teachers tell me they know a child from my fcc because the child listens and follows directions....

[SignMeUp]

Yes, and one of the compliments I get is when kindy teachers tell me they know a child from my fcc because the child listens and follows directions....

So nice
When my child was in school, I volunteered there a half day each week. Once as I walked through the hallway, two teachers that I didn't know came up to me and asked if a particular child had attended my child care. She had
Apparently some of them had a game going, of guessing which kids came from my house ::