Parents Surprised When 3-6 Hours Is $50 For Drop-In....

[trix23]

Do any of you offer drop-in rates on an hourly basis? Or is it only a daily rate for a maximum number of hours?

[e.j.]

I charge the same hourly rate for drop in care that I charge for regular care. It wouldn't be close to $50 for a 3-6 hour day. You have to charge an amount that makes taking drop in kids worth it to you, though. If $50 for 3-6 hours does it for you, I'd stick with it.

[Leigh]

Do any of you offer drop-in rates on an hourly basis? Or is it only a daily rate for a maximum number of hours?

As a drop in, they're using you for a babysitter. You should get paid like a babysitter. I paid my sitter $70 yesterday for 6 hours of care for my 5 year old. I have other sitters who charge even more. If the parent doesn't like the rate, they can look elsewhere.

[LysesKids]

Do any of you offer drop-in rates on an hourly basis? Or is it only a daily rate for a maximum number of hours?

I stopped doing hourly because I have very limited spaces compared to when I was in another state... I ask $20 for 4 hrs, $32 for up to 8 hrs; anything over eight hrs is $6 hr. On special weekends & for Fall Football games (UT home only), I get 40 for 6 hrs.

I don't often have a space open, but I've made a few extra $$ this past week & I will get a little extra this week also.

[trix23]

My thought on it is that them coming on that day takes up a spot so they need to pay the rate for them spot. I've heard a lot about people doing hourly and then the parents complain or get down to the nitty-gritty of how much is due and then if they're not on time and all that fuss so I was figuring a daily rate with a maximum time limit would limit the amount of problems that could arise and also make it worth my time

[Claraskids]

I have both an hourly and a daily rate for drop-ins as space allows. This is only for ages 24 months and up. I make my hourly rate just high enough that most of my "regular" drop-ins pay the daily rate. It is much simpler to compute and pay that way. The rates are high enough to make the stress of non-regular kids worth it; but not so high that I can't fill a spot on a day when it is available.

[trix23]

And this particular lady has a 2 month old child. Lol

[MarinaVanessa]

I offer both daily drop-in and hourly drop-in.
The way I have it worked out now is that
PT 3 days is $1 more an hour than FT,
PT 2 days is $1.50 more an hour than FT,
Drop-in daily is $2.50 more an hour than FT (10 hours) &
Drop-in hourly is $3.50 more an hour than FT (4 hour minimum).

[trix23]

I don't understand. Can you give # comparisons?

Like $180 = full time
Part time = $ /hr etc

[MarinaVanessa]

I don't understand. Can you give # comparisons?

Like $180 = full time
Part time = $ /hr etc

So for example (saying that a full day is 10 hours)

$180/week full time @ 50 hours = $3.60/hr

Part time 3 days would be 30 hours so I'd add $1 more hourly
$3.60 + $1 = $4.60/hr x 30 = $138/week

Part time 2 days would be 20 hours so I'd add $1.50 more hourly
$3.60 + $1.50 = $5.10 x 20 = $102/wk

Drop In Daily would be 10 hours so I'd add $2.50 more hourly
$3.60 + $2.50 = $6.10/hr x 10 hours = $61/day

Drop In Hourly I'd add $3.50 more to my hourly rate so
$3.60 + $3.50 = $7.10/hr
I have a 4 hour minimum for drop in regardless of how many hours they need me so I'd make a minimum of $28.40 for 4 hours.
I sell full days by pitching it as them saving $10 if they pay for the full day when really it's just a free hour etc.

Hope I made sense ::

[Blackcat31]

I charge weekly.

5 days of care is approx $165 (daily rate $33+/-)
4 days of care is approx $140 (daily rate $35+/-)
3 days of care is approx $110 (daily rate $36.6+/-)

Drop in rate for the day is $45

Drop in rate for a child under age 2 is THE full time weekly rate as space for the under 2 crowd around here comes with a year or more of waiting/waitlists so I don't technically offer a drop in rate for kids under age 2 but if I did, it would be the weekly rate.

That age is tough and like Leigh said, if you want me to be the babysitter I have NO issues with that....but it will cost you because of the difference in relationship terms when being a regular provider on a day to day basis or just watching your child for an afternoon etc...

[jenboo]

I have one drop in family on my old rate of $40. Most days they only come for 3-4hrs.
My new rate is $50. They can come 1hr or the full day. Either way it's the same.

[Pestle]

My weekly rate is the same as four days at my daily rate.
My daily rate is the same as seven hours at my hourly rate.
I only do the hourly rate for friends--mostly kids my own DD's age.

[hwichlaz]

I have one drop in family on my old rate of $40. Most days they only come for 3-4hrs.
My new rate is $50. They can come 1hr or the full day. Either way it's the same.

I charge hourly for drop in, because frankly I'd rather not have them a second longer than their parents need them here. Drop ins are hard.

[finsup]

My rates for full time families average about 35/day now. My drop in rate is 50$/day (7-5, they supply everything but food...for regular clients I provide everything). If they only need from 7-12, I charge 35$. 3-5 is 20$. This is only if I have space which is not often.