Frustrated

[TwinMama]

I just want to cry.

So....I'm wanting to get started, but I'm having a difficult time finding families. It's only been about a month, but I just had a woman find out my prices and tell me she was going to look elsewhere because it's too expensive.

I live in a small town in Wisconsin and I am wanting to charge:

$150 a week per child for full time.
$35 a day for part time with a 2 day minimum.

She wanted 2 days a week for 10 months because her job is seasonal.

She has two small children and one school aged one. The school aged child would only need care in the Summer time. Normally she gets charged $55 a day for all three. Otherwise she only gets charged $40 a day for both of her younger children.

I want a very small group so I can spend time with the kids. Most of the daycares in my town have up to 10 kids and keep taking more.

The reason she's looking for daycare is because her youngest was scared at his previous daycare and the provider wasn't very nice to him. She also wouldn't let the kids go outside.

Now I'm scared, because she works at a local business. I'm worried that she's going to tell everybody that I'm overpriced and I'm going to have an even harder time trying to find families.

[AmyKidsCo]

Hi TwinMama!

I'm in WI too, and your area will totally affect your rates. Check with your local CCRR to see what the average in your area is, to make sure you're reasonable for the area.

IMO $55 is way too cheap for 3 children - you get what you pay for!

[TwinMama]

Hi TwinMama!

I'm in WI too, and your area will totally affect your rates. Check with your local CCRR to see what the average in your area is, to make sure you're reasonable for the area.

IMO $55 is way too cheap for 3 children - you get what you pay for!

What is CCRR?

I agree. She's had problems with them and she's not paying anything for people who technically have illegal daycares. I'm not licensed, but I'm also not going to be having enough kids to need a license in our State.

I think $55 is waaaayyy too cheap for anybody. Which means that provider probably has to have multiple kids to make up for what she's losing in money. Which puts more stress on her and more stress on the children she watches.

[TwinMama]

Hi TwinMama!

I'm in WI too, and your area will totally affect your rates. Check with your local CCRR to see what the average in your area is, to make sure you're reasonable for the area.

IMO $55 is way too cheap for 3 children - you get what you pay for!

I called and found that in my county the average rate for a certified provider is:

$152.50 for full time
$4.50 per hour for part time

I don't know what it involves, but I'm kind of thinking about getting certified. I still don't want to take anymore than 3 children though. Which technically makes me license exempt, but if I do get any families and they want to have a baby, one more would put me over.

I feel better about me having reasonable rates though. I have a hard time competing with all the illegal daycares in my area that have so many kids and are so cheap though. That's why I'm wanting to be a provider. I can't find places that don't have 10 kids, and that have a nice environment. They're all for older kids that have one big play date....not so much for little ones.

[AuntTami]

I called and found that in my county the average rate for a certified provider is:

$152.50 for full time
$4.50 per hour for part time

I don't know what it involves, but I'm kind of thinking about getting certified. I still don't want to take anymore than 3 children though. Which technically makes me license exempt, but if I do get any families and they want to have a baby, one more would put me over.

I feel better about me having reasonable rates though. I have a hard time competing with all the illegal daycares in my area that have so many kids and are so cheap though. That's why I'm wanting to be a provider. I can't find places that don't have 10 kids, and that have a nice environment. They're all for older kids that have one big play date....not so much for little ones.

My weekly rate is $135 and I'm also in wisconsin. I don't think you're outrageously priced. And $55 for three children is way too cheap! Just hold tight. If she's balking at your rate already, you probably don't even want her as a client as she'll probably complain about any other charges ie late fees etc. I wouldn't even let it bother you. You'll find families who will pay your rate because they see your WORTH that much.

[Givingthemgrace]

I too am in a small town in WI. I charge $160/week, meals included. The center in town has prices that start at $175 for an infant and the rates go down as age goes up, so I end up being a little more expensive. IMO, you want families who are willing to pay a little more because they want that lower ratio and like what you have to offer. I don't want the parent looking for the cheapest care, I want the parent looking for the best care. Hang in there, and hopefully you will be rewarded with a good family who knows what your program is worth!

[Leigh]

I just want to cry.

So....I'm wanting to get started, but I'm having a difficult time finding families. It's only been about a month, but I just had a woman find out my prices and tell me she was going to look elsewhere because it's too expensive.

I live in a small town in Wisconsin and I am wanting to charge:

$150 a week per child for full time.
$35 a day for part time with a 2 day minimum.

She wanted 2 days a week for 10 months because her job is seasonal.

She has two small children and one school aged one. The school aged child would only need care in the Summer time. Normally she gets charged $55 a day for all three. Otherwise she only gets charged $40 a day for both of her younger children.

I want a very small group so I can spend time with the kids. Most of the daycares in my town have up to 10 kids and keep taking more.

The reason she's looking for daycare is because her youngest was scared at his previous daycare and the provider wasn't very nice to him. She also wouldn't let the kids go outside.

Now I'm scared, because she works at a local business. I'm worried that she's going to tell everybody that I'm overpriced and I'm going to have an even harder time trying to find families.

I'd have told her that she got what she paid for the last time, and that if she wanted better care, she would have to pay the "going rate", and assure her that your rate is reasonable. I would charged $42.50 per day for each child, with no guarantee of availability-only full timers get guarantees. She needs a babysitter.

[TwinMama]

Thank you so much for all of your responses. I feel so much better about it. It's disheartening anyhow to try and get people to call, but when they finally do and they turn right back around it's even worse.

You're right though...it's probably a good thing, because she'll get what she pays for.

I simply responded and said,"Thank you for responding with your decision. Good luck in your search. Merry Christmas."

She's going to put her kids right back to a similar situation that she left with those prices.

[Unregistered]

I too am in a small town in WI. I charge $160/week, meals included. The center in town has prices that start at $175 for an infant and the rates go down as age goes up, so I end up being a little more expensive. IMO, you want families who are willing to pay a little more because they want that lower ratio and like what you have to offer. I don't want the parent looking for the cheapest care, I want the parent looking for the best care. Hang in there, and hopefully you will be rewarded with a good family who knows what your program is worth!

Agreed! I charge a higher fee than others around my area. When I get calls and they find out my fee, they say wow that's expensive, and move on. It took a while for me to get full, but once I got my first set of families, I filled up quickly. I have a website that shows what my program offers so I am confidant that parents that are looking for quality care will see why my fees are higher than the rest. It helps that my current and former families work in professional industries and continue to refer me to co-workers, friends, and clients. Word of mouth is the best advertising you will get.

Good luck and hang in there, it will get better. Do not settle for just anyone just to get kids. I learned this the hard way with my very first dck.

[delferka]

I too am in a small town in WI. I charge $160/week, meals included. The center in town has prices that start at $175 for an infant and the rates go down as age goes up, so I end up being a little more expensive. IMO, you want families who are willing to pay a little more because they want that lower ratio and like what you have to offer. I don't want the parent looking for the cheapest care, I want the parent looking for the best care. Hang in there, and hopefully you will be rewarded with a good family who knows what your program is worth!

You are so right! You want the best care. Lose that person and stick to your rate! I charge the same. My set of twins are $70 per day. And they have awesome care!

[delferka]

You are so right! You want the best care. Lose that person and stick to your rate! I charge the same. My set of twins are $70 per day. And they have awesome care!

I charge $175.00 per week and it doesn't matter if you are related