Tiered Tuition Question

[Baby Beluga]

I know many of you have tiered tuition based on pick up times. I have been trying to move over to this tuition model but have run into some interesting questions from parents. My question is, how do you explain to parents that it is based on pick up time vs total hours in care?

For example:

Pick up time of 4:00 - $120/week
4:30 - $125/week
5:00 - $130/week

What happens if child A is here from 7am to 4:30 and pays $125 per week for a total of 9.5 hours per day.

Child B is here from 9:00am to 5:00pm and pays $130 per week for a total of 8 hours per day.

How do you explain that child B is here fewer hours per day but pays more per week than child A?

[Blackcat31]

I know many of you have tiered tuition based on pick up times. I have been trying to move over to this tuition model but have run into some interesting questions from parents. My question is, how do you explain to parents that it is based on pick up time vs total hours in care?

For example:

Pick up time of 4:00 - $120/week
4:30 - $125/week
5:00 - $130/week

What happens if child A is here from 7am to 4:30 and pays $125 per week for a total of 9.5 hours per day.

Child B is here from 9:00am to 5:00pm and pays $130 per week for a total of 8 hours per day.

How do you explain that child B is here fewer hours per day but pays more per week than child A?

I don't count hours in care at all.
I bill only according to pick up time.

Makes it easier. for me.

Family A can drop off at 10:00 and pick up at 5:00 (7 hrs a day) and pay $200 per week
Family B can drop off at 7:00 and pick up at 4:00 (9 hours a day) and pay $170 per week

Once I am at work, I am working. 1 kid or 10 I don't care.

I only care about what time I am off work.

[Baby Beluga]

I don't count hours in care at all.
I bill only according to pick up time.

Makes it easier. for me.

Family A can drop off at 10:00 and pick up at 5:00 (7 hrs a day) and pay $200 per week
Family B can drop off at 7:00 and pick up at 4:00 (9 hours a day) and pay $170 per week

Once I am at work, I am working. 1 kid or 10 I don't care.

I only care about what time I am off work.

If a parent were to ask why the child in care fewer hours pays the least amount of tuition, what would you say them? Just reiterate that it's based on pick up times and not hours in care? And if they continue to question that they aren't a good fit for you?

[Cat Herder]

I considered it a couple of years ago and this was what I came up with. I revisit the idea every couple of years.

"Tuition rates are based upon the total number of hours available per week and chosen departure time.

To give families more control of their personal budget, *** Childcare and Preschool offers three tuition schedules to choose from.

You may choose which schedule works best for your family upon enrollment and change with a 30-day notice.

Late pick-ups will be billed at $1.00 per minute.

Overtime must be pre-arranged and approved.


A: Departure by 3:30 pm – 42.5 Hours - $130.00 week
B: Departure by 4:30 pm – 47.5 Hours - $140.00 week
C: Departure by 5:30 pm – 52.5 Hours - $150.00 week

* The earliest arrival time is 7:00 am. *

[Blackcat31]

I would tell them I’m only concerned with pick up time
If they ask about hours I just tell them it’s not how I bill
If the push they aren’t a good fit, I’d just say ok.. bye. 😊

That’s what works for me right now so that’s how I do it
They can take it or leave it

[Cat Herder]

"Late afternoon hours are the most labor-intensive hours. Children are tired, hungry and ready to go home for dinner. Earlier pick-up benefits both the children and the provider."

I don't think most understand that the late morning hours arrivals are more of a pain than a gift. I would be more inclined to charge more for after 8 am arrival than 7 am. I won't even accept them in after 9 am. I like starting/finishing breakfast, circle time and art on time. Later arrivals mess that up regularly.

If it benefits our program, it costs less. If it is a drag on our program, it costs more. << I recommend sugar coating that somehow. ::

[Baby Beluga]

"Late afternoon hours are the most labor-intensive hours. Children are tired, hungry and ready to go home for dinner. Earlier pick-up benefits both the children and the provider."

I don't think most understand that the late morning hours arrivals are more of a pain than a gift. I would be more inclined to charge more for after 8 am arrival than 7 am. I won't even accept them in after 9 am. I like starting/finishing breakfast, circle time and art on time. Later arrivals mess that up regularly.

If it benefits our program, it costs less. If it is a drag on our program, it costs more. << I recommend sugar coating that somehow. ::

Exactly! Thank you.
I would much rather everyone be here by 8, possibly 8:30, but even that is pushing it so that our day runs smoothly.

[Baby Beluga]

I would tell them I’m only concerned with pick up time
If they ask about hours I just tell them it’s not how I bill
If the push they aren’t a good fit, I’d just say ok.. bye. 😊

That’s what works for me right now so that’s how I do it
They can take it or leave it

Touche

[Blackcat31]

The morning arrival time does not bother me at all.
I do circle time with whomever is present.
We serve morning snack to kids that are here.
All activities move along at normal pace.
1 kid or 10 kids; makes no difference to me.
If they arrive late it was their time lost not mine.

Most of my parents are really good about arriving when they say they're going to. I have one DCK that schedules a 9am arrival and arrives at all sorts of times.

DCK has missed out on a lot of things over the last few months but like I said, it's not my loss.

Which brings me back to pick up time.
I just want to know when I'm going home.
That's all I need.

[Second Home]

I do a tiered rate . I let people know that each family can have a different weekly rate depending on pick up time , earlier pick up is less. I also let them know that pick up time factors into the decision on whether or not I enroll a family.
If people need different pick up hours depending on the day then I charge the higher rate for the later pick up and the less rate for the other days .
A 4 pm pick up is $30 a day or $150 a week .
A 5 pm pick up is $35 a day or $175 a week .
So if a family needs 4pm three days a
week ( $90) and a 5pm two days ($70) then their weekly rate is $160.

[Blackcat31]

So if a family needs 4pm three days a
week ( $90) and a 5pm two days ($70) then their weekly rate is $160.

I charge weekly so if that happens here, they get charged the weekly rate for the latest pick up time.

If they only need me until 4 on 2 of the 5 days then they can either pick up their kid at 4 and call it good or they can use that extra hour to do whatever. I don't have time to do that much math.

[Second Home]

I

If they only need me until 4 on 2 of the 5 days then they can either pick up their kid at 4 and call it good or they can use that extra hour to do whatever. I don't have time to do that much math.

I hate math but love earlier pick up more .

[Blackcat31]

I hate math but love earlier pick up more .

Me too happyface....

....what usually happens here most times is the parent that needs later pick up only one or two nights per week doesn't want to pay that higher weekly fee so they miraculously have several family members or friends that can pick up at the earlier time so I still get an earlier pick up and no math. ::

For those few times it doesn't work out, I end up with a kid a bit later (with additional pay for that week) but still no math.

[Snowmom]

I don't discuss anyone else's rate or timeframe, that's confidential information and everyone's contract is unique. Ultimately, that's what I'd say if someone inquired.

I ask what timeframe THEY need and adjust my rate accordingly. Like the others above, later hours costs more here. I start at 7:30 no matter what, so arriving any later than that doesn't affect my day at all... staying later DOES.

[Unregistered]

Monthly rates

I charge a weekly rate for fulltime and daily for parttime/per diem . It doesn’t not matter the amount of hours they are they are there.... because it is a body I am responsible for. If there is a serious injury, it doesn’t matter whether the child was there 5 minutes or 5 hours when the injury happens.... it is still under MY responsibility and MY INSURANCE.

Now I do offer a $100 discount if my fulltime parents pay monthly on the first. ( I pay my entire monthly budget on the second then). All my full timers take advantage of this bonus. They are not allowed to be late even if the first falls on a weekend. But I use PayPal and cashapp so it isn’t an issue.

My part timers can receive $10 off per day for paying in advance for the moth with a minimum of ten days. Nurses like this. But some simply pay the fulltime charge just in case they go over on days.

Most of my clients are nurses, cops,attorneys, and two judges... so they like my flexibility in hours so they don’t mind paying my monthly fee even if they don’t use the whole month. They have sporadic schedules, and call offs.

If you give good, safe, fun care and you are flexible in urgent situations ... they feel they are getting a great value for their dollar. I’m firm on my pick up time but not rigid ... as I use to be a firefighter... so I know about being held over. When they feel you have their backs ( without taking advantage of you)... they will often tip you extremely well. Sometimes I think we forget what parents need daycares for... real and true working hoursand bank holidays .... because we are wrapped up in what is easiest for us.