Interesting Pay for Daycare - What Do you Charge?

[momma2girls]

I fully agree, plus my payday is on Monday, the start of the week, so there is no way, one doing this could add up hrs. that way. I think it is much easier on the provider and the families, they both know each week, what you are receiving and what they have to pay!!

[tymaboy]

I also wonder about some of your before & after rates? I only care for one family's children which includes a school-age boy, a preschool girl & a toddler. When I initially wrote up the paperwork for the mom to sign (3 months ago) I had no idea what to charge for before and after school care. The mom led me to believe that her husband would be driving the school age child to school most days so I would only have him after school for about 1.5 hrs. Well, flash forward to when I started watching them she has always brought him with the other children in the morning & husband has NEVER driven the school age boy. Hmmmmmm, being so new at childcare I never said a word; however, now I am feeling quite taken advantage of b/c I agred to a cheaper rate under a falsehood, thinking I'd only have him for 1.5 hrs instead of almost 3. I know there is nothing I can do about it now but I do plan to raise his rate next school year. These are a teacher's kids so I won't have them in the summer. I am embarassed to admit I only charge $3 a day for him but I thought he'd only be here 1.5 hrs instead of 3 Come next year I think I will tell her his rate will raise to $25 for the week. DO you think that's fair?

Why don't you do a new contract at the beginning of 2010 instead of waiting till the next school year? If they say something about it then be honest & say you thought care for the child would only be 1.5 hrs a day.

Question for those who charge hourly...Why? It seems like it would be easier simply to charge by the day or the week...income would be more stable, less hassle to keep track of...

I find that a lot of parents like the hourly rate better then a daily/weekly rate. Most of the parent I have now is cuz I do hourly. I have to keep track of the times I have their kids no matter if they are hourly or daly rate anyway so for me it is no extra work.

[jen]

Just curious...why do you have to keep track? I don't keep track of the hours my kids are in attendance so I'm just wondering...

Yes, I believe that they do like it better because then they can pay less!

[momma2girls]

I totally agree with Jen!! If they are only at your home for 2-7 hrs. at only $2.00-$2.50 an hr. that is like onlly $4.00-$15.00 a day!!!
I charge about $26.00 a day for one child and if it is 5 hrs. or under I charge $20.00 a day!!
I don't have to keep track of any hrs. they charge the same amt. whatever is their contracted price, whether they are here or not!

[Childminder]

I'm in MI and charge $160 week with a $32 discount on the second child. I also do part time at $16 for less than 4 hours per day if any openings. My hourly rate is $3.75 and applies to state subsidy children. I'm open Mon-Sat and open 6am til 11:30p with overnites by request. I have not had a pay increase in 5 years but will at next contract in October.

[mac60]

Small town in NW Ohio

5 days 1 child $80 to $85
5 days 2 children $135
4 days 1 child $70
4 days 2 children $120
3 days 1 child $55
3 days 2 children $90

3 day minimum.

School age b/a school $35 Add $10 per day if no school

Our rates **** here. People expect sibling discounts, and it kills me. I supply everything at this rate and the rates definately don't relect the amount my expenses have went up in the past 2 years.

Honestly, I need to get a new rate sheet, cut back on the sibling discounts, and pay myself better. I do charge whether they are here or not, including sick days, holidays, vacations. But my vacation is no charge.

[jen]

Schoolagers: $75 per week school year, $140 summer
Children up to 1st grade: $140

I have one family of three, I charge them $350/week (Kindergarden, 3 years and 6months)

One family of two, $250/week (kindergarden, 2 yo)

They are "grandfathered" in on the multi-child discount. I don't plan on offering a discount in the future.

I do charge for holidays, but not for vacation.

[momma2girls]

Yes, you should, everything has gone up so high lately!!! If you actually sit down and figure up what goes out in expenses every month, and what you are buying for daycare(everything) I know you cannot be making much if anything at all!!!! That is sad!!!!

[jen]

Honestly, I need to get a new rate sheet, cut back on the sibling discounts, and pay myself better.

Yes! Yes you do!!!

[momma2girls]

Maybe you can get a new price sheet figured out starting Jan 2010 fast!!! This is what i do, although I have not gone up on my rates in over 4 yrs.

[tymaboy]

I have to keep track of the hours cuz it is one of the requirements for the food program I am on.

[Unregistered]

Rates

I charge $125 per week.I only take children 2-5 yrs. I only offer Full time up to 10.5 hours per day. Parents pay for all holidays and whether their child is there or not. I have two 1 week vacations per year that they do not have to pay for. They have one week vacation free of charge if they choose to take it. I am about to add 5 days paid sick/personal leave into my contract for the new year. I live in Wichita, KS. I will note that most home providers in my area charge closer to $100 per week. I feel my education, experience, curriculum, and learning environment warrent a higher price tag.

[seashell]

Im in CT

My rate is $32 per day which is $165 per week. I am on the low side for my town. The highest home care here charges $40 per day.

Centers here for an infant run around $250 per week.

[melissa ann]

Most days the kids are here from 6am-5pm. I have 3 from basically one family. 2 are 1/2 siblings the other is a cousin. The cousin is always here about 10 1/2-11 hours. Sometimes the other 2 are here from about 1:30-5, if the mother works the "dinner" shift at the restaurant where she works. When I had a half day rate the cousin would come in the afternoon but when I switched to a daily rate, he comes all day. Grandfather doesn't like paying when he's not here. I do not charge for holidays although I would like to. I know they would not accept that, plus they would both have to find other care because the grandfather works in retail and his daughter works in the restuarant business and work holidays.

[kitkat]

Great question, Iowa Daycare!

I'm in WI and my rates are:

$3.50/hr for 0-12 months
$3.00/hr for 1 yr to potty trained
$2.50/hr after potty trained

I do not offer a sibling discount. I don't have before/after school kids, so I don't have any rates for that. It's nice to see the other before/after rates so I can have an idea in case I would end up having to provide that type of care.