How Much To Charge

[LysesKids]

TN has a wide range of pricing/cost of living across the state, though! Two counties one way get triple what I get, two counties another way get half what i get, etc. When I did take state kids, the client had to match what I charged or I did not keep them. They need to update those subsidy rates but not gonna happen! The stars do offer a higher rate for subsidy pay but still not acceptable in my opinion. Not sure how other states are when it comes to child care pay!

Well unless WV has updated in the last 10 years when you take subsidy pay you can't ask the difference; I know a few other states have that same rule - you have to accept what the state pays and that is your final wage - most people in TN that receive subsidy help right now it's because they are on the families first program and as annalee states, we have to ask for the difference...

My understanding is that lower pay working families were frozen out of the daycare voucher program here in TN a few years back because there was too much of a waitlist

[Controlled Chaos]

I emailed a bunch of providers near me when I was first starting out and asked for their prices, about half replied and were happy to help. The one who didn't help...I asked DH to email them from his account as a prospective dcp I think its silly to hide them from each other. I would happily tell anyone my prices. There are plenty of kiddos to go around, no need to be sneaky.

I used to charged a flat rate, but then I decided I don't like infants and there is a HUGE demand for infant spots here. So I have made my 0-2 rate stupid high. Like center rates. Its the only way I can talk myself into even sibling infants of current kiddos. Then when they turn 2 it goes down to my normal rate, which is still a little high for a home daycare, but less than a center. I agree big kids cost more to provide food and supplies for, but its all about supply and demand.

[Indoorvoice]

Midaycare - I'm north of Grand Rapids in a rural area... Would that give you a good idea?i have several daycare friends in my area and I know what they charge. For what you say you offer I would think you could charge over that.

[midaycare]

Midaycare - I'm north of Grand Rapids in a rural area... Would that give you a good idea?i have several daycare friends in my area and I know what they charge. For what you say you offer I would think you could charge over that.

Yes, that would help! I think I'm low, but really have no idea!

[midaycare]

Midaycare - I'm north of Grand Rapids in a rural area... Would that give you a good idea?i have several daycare friends in my area and I know what they charge. For what you say you offer I would think you could charge over that.

Are you really that close? We are in GR all the time!

[Indoorvoice]

Most of my friends and other providers are charging anywhere from $28-33 flat rate per day. It's about 50/50 whether they charge based on attendance or enrollment. I am the only one I know of who charges higher daily rates for part time and drop in. Currently I list my rates as weekly to avoid the attendance argument. I do $150/week for full time, $100 per week for part time and $35 for drop in. I do not give vacation for families, but don't charge for my vacation.

[daycare]

Try calling your local child care resource and referral agency. Typically they can send you average rates per city/county etc.

this....this is what I get every year. I don't take subsidized payments, but I can get a copy of what they pay out, which is usually a good amount.

[CityGarden]

this....this is what I get every year. I don't take subsidized payments, but I can get a copy of what they pay out, which is usually a good amount.

Is there a website with the info or do you need to call?

[MarinaVanessa]

Is there a website with the info or do you need to call?

This usually depends on how your local R&R agency works. Ours has it on their website.

[jenboo]

I found a few daycares who listed their prices, i asked around and i emailed a few as a parent. I honestly wouldn't care of someone called me asking for prices. I don't care too much what other people charge.

I'm in line with centers. I do know one large home daycare that charges about $50 more a week than me.

[midaycare]

Most of my friends and other providers are charging anywhere from $28-33 flat rate per day. It's about 50/50 whether they charge based on attendance or enrollment. I am the only one I know of who charges higher daily rates for part time and drop in. Currently I list my rates as weekly to avoid the attendance argument. I do $150/week for full time, $100 per week for part time and $35 for drop in. I do not give vacation for families, but don't charge for my vacation.

Thanks! I'm higher at $160 a week, but still think I'm running low.

[CityGarden]

This usually depends on how your local R&R agency works. Ours has it on their website.

It seems you have a great R&R agency! My local agency seems to heavily just push Head Start but maybe that is because I have not yet developed a relationship with them.

[CityGarden]

I want to find out what home daycares are charging in my area, but no one posts their prices. I tried to ask someone, but they looked at me like I had 3 heads and wouldn't tell me.

I think I can raise prices by as much as $15- $30 a week. Not for current clients, but new ones.

How to be a sleuth and figure out prices?

I've tried Craigslist - that's just for crazies around here (I will take all of your babies for $3 a day!)

I looked at websites of local providers in my city and in surrounding cities with similar cost of living. I also looked and centers then I just started calling providers none directly in my city but in the close by areas that way I was not direct competition for them but could still use it as a bench mark - I also called those in my city but found they were less willing to be honest or had too different of a program from my own to compare.

[Alwaysgreener]

Go to great start to Quality.com. go in as parent looking for child care, search your ZIP code or your area. And then click on more information on the local daycares. The daycares that have stars are more likely to have their rates listed than the other daycares. In my area only 20% of the daycares have stars in about 75% of them have their rates on that site.
Remember it's against the law for you to call daycare and let them know that you're a daycare and ask for their rates. That's why even Tom, even suggest that you call as a parent looking for care verses calling as a daycare looking to compare rates.