New Here - Going Thru the Daycare Start-up Process

[grammyt]

Hi all! I have been babysitting for almost 20 years now. I have had success and downfalls . I have never been licensed or registered. i am now doing the paper work for Mississippi. I have to do the Health dept. 1st, then on to family services. I am going to be registered, I really dont want more than 4 children at any time. I have always charged $20 a day and I feed the children. The paperwork wants to know what my fees are. I have had other moms tell me that I need to at least put $30 a day. any ideas?
at this moment I am so confused. Thanks!!

[Ariana]

Maybe see what others in your area are charging and go from there based on your qualifications and quality of programming.

[Cat Herder]

I just pulled up an average rate site and it says $166 per week is the average for Mississippi. Some higher, some lower.

$35 per day sounds reasonable to me.

My state average is $92 per week, so $19 per day. Subsidy pays $67 per week, so that tends to keep most from raising prices, fear of private payors realizing that. I am not sure they will be able to keep most in line that way much longer. The sheep are finally catching on. ::